Why People Stop Being Vegan

Last week, one of my favorite influencers in the wellness space announced that she was “no longer vegan.” And it made me so sad. Of course it made me the most sad for the animals, but it also broke my heart for this individual who was suffering from health issues. In addition, there were 100’s of people who commented on her post who had also stopped being vegan. So, this got me thinking. Why do people stop being vegan?

I think that there are many reasons why people start eating animals again, but here are just a few of the reasons that I have come up with:

• Not having a strong enough “why”. I think that sometimes people go vegan because they are following a trend or because it’s the cool thing to do. When you have a stronger motivation, you are more apt to stick with it longer. If you need a powerful reason, please watch Dominion, What the Health, Earthlings, Cowspiracy, visit an animal sanctuary or even a slaughterhouse.. Once you make the connection with the animals, there will be no going back.

• Pre-existing gut issues! I have heard many people who stop being vegan because they had gut issues, were bloated all the time or started losing their hair. What we don’t often realize is that if we have a pre-existing gut issue, you are simply adding fuel to the fire when you go vegan. Animal products don’t contain any fiber but plants are loaded with it. If you start piling that on to an unhealthy gut, no wonder you feel bloated and uncomfortable. Side note: gut issues can stem from all kinds of fun things like parasites, glyphosate, a malabsorption issue (hence, the hair loss), stress, toxins and more. And parasites can come from animal products and linger in your body for 10 years.

• Not supplementing! Being vegan is amazing and there are so many nutrients that we can get from our food. But there are a few that we can’t. For example, B12 comes from a bacteria that is found in the soil. Because our soil is depleted and we wash everything so well, we don’t get B12 without a supplement. I also recommend D3 and possibly a vegan EPA/DHA.

• Not doing enough research or giving it enough time. Just like with any big change, being a successful vegan takes time. It’s important to do your research and to understand where you get your protein, iron, etc. (you can also let me do the work for you with my Vegan 101 Guide) It’s also crucial that you test out recipes and discover new flavor combinations. It truly does get easier and easier over time so don’t give up!

I would love to hear your opinion. Why do you think that people stop being vegan? Is there something that you are struggling with that has tempted you to eat animals again?

Also, be sure to check out my Instagram Live about this very topic.

From Lyme Disease to Animal Activist

On October 29, 2015, I got one of the worst calls that I have ever received.  It was from my doctor and he said that my "Lyme disease diagnosis was positive".  He went on to explain that although I had "acute Lyme", I would most likely have ongoing symptoms for the rest of my life.

At this period of my life, I was in horrible pain. I had extreme fatigue, severe muscle cramping (imagine teaching fitness classes when you can barely feel your legs!), tingling in my extremities, brain fog, depression and crippling digestive issues.  I would lay in bed every night and cry.  I had no idea why this was happening to me and couldn't imagine spending the rest of my life in this immense pain.  I was incredibly scared, frustrated and felt completely alone.

Luckily, in this day of age there is the Internet.  I was able to find a Lyme community and friends who helped me through the misery and also found solace in those who had recovered.  There was hope!  Fortunately, three years later I am mostly symptom free and am extremely grateful for my recovery.

So, how did someone with a debilitating illness go from being stuck in bed to becoming an animal activist???

The answer is so simple:  when you have experienced suffering, pain, fear and loneliness, you do not wish that on any other sentient being!  You can watch a graphic video of an animal at a slaughterhouse and completely empathize with them and the feeling of not wanting to lose your life.  I can feel it in my bones and can feel the fire in my heart, trying to come up with strategies to make it stop!  You see, animals know exactly what is going to happen to them.  Most are sick, starving and have been tortured up until their death.  They are scared and cannot make it stop...and they cannot turn to the Internet like I did to get support.

Today, I am a Lyme warrior and an animal rights activist.  I spend my weekends volunteering for our local chapter of Anonymous for the Voiceless (that I am a proud organizer of).  I spend time at local sanctuaries and try to educate the public daily about the horrors of the animal agriculture industry.

And today, I am grateful for my Lyme disease diagnosis.  Who knows?  If I hadn't suffered the way I did, would I still have the desire to fight for the animals?  I will never know but I truly think that everything happens for a reason.  Maybe my reason for Lyme was to find my true passion in life as an animal activist.

 For more information about my Lyme disease journey, please click here.