Vegan Since 1977! Rae Sikora's Story & Perspectives!

[@VeganLinked]

Rae has a book titled "Little Jew On The Soul Train" that you can get here!: amzn.to/3lqi4nU

[@23Bentley45]

What a wonderful woman. I have been a vegan for 11 years, and I wish I had awakened long before. Thank you for your wisdom and your compassion.

[@11235Aodh]

I think that's our collective regret, not going vegan sooner.

[@kyledan9405]

such a beautiful lady, such a beautiful soul, such beautiful dogs and such a beautiful home. deep respect !

[@BlackVelvetMagazine]

Love these videos. 45 years vegan is amazing... inspiring. I've been vegan for 19 years so far. Vegan for life! For the animals.

[@karadevereux1049]

53 years for me! Very inspiring, I agree.

[@BlackVelvetMagazine]

@@karadevereux1049 Wow, amazing!

[@bumblebee4024]

20 years ago when I found out what veal really was - a calf - I refused to ever eat it again. Calves should be bouncing around the meadows & frolicking, not on a dinner plate. I’m a new vegan & so excited at all the plant-based options & how much healthier I’ll be. 🍋🍎🍓🍇🍊🥑🥦🫐🥥🥒🧅🧄🫒🫑🌶

[@karadevereux1049]

There is a special place in hell for people who eat veal. Welcome to the world of veganism, glad you found us.

[@carolynbrown3379]

I came through the Health Door as the result of a health crisis with a total disconnection as to animal welfare. However, picking up one end of the stick exposed the other and at 79 I am here to stay. Peace💚

[@monaantony9096]

I saw this today and resolved to be a vegan have been vegetarian last 3 years but no more dairy for me EVER

[@VeganLinked]

YES!

[@VeganLinked]

This may help too ❤ kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5SxaIZ9fNR2hKs

[@katiestewart1361]

❤

[@akal28k]

Rea you're inspiring. you look so good, You're gorgeous. I've been Vegetarian for 44 years and Vegan/rawfoodist for about 20 of those years. Im big on fruits.

[@homestead.design]

22 years now, Thank you!

[@VeganLinked]

Hey, where are you located???

[@Mllet3d]

Seeing someone like her makes me think what a beautiful mind that can challenge and change the status quo.

[@ThatcanadianguyHey]

I've been slowly moving to vegan for the past couple of years. It's so hard when you're surrounded by people who either are against it, or make fun of you. I'm doing it for two reason, for the animals, and health. I'm mostly whole plants foods but I will have a beyond meat burger couple times a year. I don't force it on anyone and when invited for lunch I try just to stick with fruits and veggies. If there is nothing there for me I will just have coffee, tea, or water.

[@bloodbuddy7]

What a beautiful soul. When I hear this it makes me feel less alone and more hopeful.

[@Dyastarre4993]

This is a great interview. I came through the compassionate and health doors at the same time. I was in California in the 80’s and driving from LA to San Francisco and ran into cattle being driven into a slaughter house. I stood watching that sight in horror and decided never to contribute to this industry again. At the same time, I was taking nutrition courses and realized I could eat a healthy plant-based and get enough protein without animal protein which was contradictory to what I grew up believing. But as Rae points out, it was not that easy in the 80’s, but I persevered. Glad I did 😁

[@VeganLinked]

awesome, hit me up sometime, I'll be back in California again hopefully soon, maybe I can get your story!

[@karadevereux1049]

A wonderful decision! I started in 1969 when the vegan world was such a different place, it is wonderful in this time to see so many people like me and so many wonderful healthy choices.

[@amandagloverart2425]

Rae became a practicing (love how she puts that) vegan when I was one year old. I'm going on my four year anniversary as a practicing vegan. Like her sister, I came through the health door. Yet I find that you can't be a part of vegan spaces online or in real time, and not learn about (sometimes see) the animal cruelty that occurs for s to have our meat/meat products. So, while I started for my health, even if my health suddenly no longer mattered, I wouldn't go back.

[@danacohen2180]

Such a powerful, beautiful, truthful talk Rae. Thank you so much you most lovely woman.

[@raymundjagan47]

Thank you madam.. You're so concise and articulate.. amazing..

[@JakeRichardsong]

Appreciate her ability to link experience to mindset and changing behaviors.

[@2lee885]

So powerful. Thank you so much. "The cellulite door" 😂 love it!

[@ER-dn3pk]

Respect Ray Sikora 🙏 and thank you very much !

[@babycoleangel]

What a beautiful soul. So genuine and real, sooo refreshing to see. Thank you for blessing me with this video... 🙏

[@chwayitayose845]

What a magical home and a magical human ❤️. Thank you for sharing 🤗

[@tofuneverbleeds]

Beautiful soul. She radiates love and positivity 💗 #govegan

[@bgrune1]

I started out plant based for health but made the ethical connection almost immediately and I've been vegan for 13 years now. One of my greatest regrets is that I didn't go vegan sooner.

[@WaterlooExpat]

I could have said the exact same thing, including the 13 years.

[@ginafinch3307]

@@WaterlooExpat and bgrune1, let's never regret what we have not done as all is an experience for our soul. Let's be joyful where we're now.

[@isabellezablocki7447]

14 years and yes I wish I had been educated before.

[@cindylou9884]

Me as well. Only 3 years so far though. It changes your heart.

[@CM-um8ot]

Me as well, just 2 months ago. I'm so happier and feel more compassion, freedom, and energy

[@normhanson981]

Terrific lady. I’ve had no meat for 40 years , 59 now , never felt better . So wish that more people would wake up. Thanks.

[@ZambeziKid]

I love her anecdote about the chickens. I really believe that if others thought of other species as being real individuals, like they do with their pets generally, they would not murder them. We just need to break through their wall of (often self-imposed) ignorance.

[@AntonioAlves-wm8ie]

Thank you for sharing !! I’m vegan for 25 years !! Living in New York City and I’m 54 years old and activists too

[@VeganLinked]

Awesome, I'll be in NY again hopefully soon. I'd love to get your story. Send me an email if you're interested [e-mail]

[@gabrielekennedy6123]

I am loving this woman. Such a sweet gentle soul

[@elizabethparker1441]

Love the analogy you used to your dad about dog for Thanksgiving. I also love your lil brown doggy sleeping.❤❤❤

[@hollydaze5625]

Beautiful interview. Just know that not all Christians think they are at the top of the food chain. In fact, many Christians see heaven on earth when the lion will lay down with the lamb. We eat the whole plant foods that God created. Peace 🙏🏻

[@roddygelabale816]

I agree beautiful interview. Just that part kind of disappointed a bit. One thing I have learned in this life is that we are all ignorant. With all of the education and theory we have, we still know nothing.

[@wendywitchner7401]

I made my first connection with animal sentience in 1976 after visiting a pig farm in Humboldt. The owners had a pet pig that followed them everywhere and was trained like a dog. He had arthritis and they were planning to butcher him the following month. I was absolutely horrified after that experience and quit eating all red meat. That was my first hurdle, I then gave up eating poultry 10 years later and was a pescatarian for the next few decades (mostly salmon because I lived in Alaska). I’ve now been vegan for 10 years.

[@VeganLinked]

I had exactly the same progression, vegan since 2011 ❤

[@joantendler6518]

@@VeganLinked Forty five years ago, when I was a vegetarian, I was also ignorant of facts. But now, "published figures suggest that, in Australia, producing grains (modern oils) results in: at least 25 times more sentient animals being killed per kilogram of usable protein, more environmental damage, and a great deal more animal cruelty than does farming red meat." I now eat mainly farmers market meat, eggs, and vegetables, and local goat milk, and try to avoid all food coming from factory farms, especially tea, coffee, chocolate and sugar, as they involve slavery or child labor, and contribute to rain forest destruction.

[@VeganLinked]

@@joantendler6518 I made a video that addresses this kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKOVpqqlecl4ntU

[@michellehashish5341]

@@joantendler6518 I don't believe that is accurate at all. Are those published figures from the agri industry? Most of those grains are being produced for animal agriculture - to fatten up the animals slaughtered for food ( even the ones mislabelled as grass fed ). An Australian Simon Hill from Plant Proof has some good information on this. Animal agriculture is so destructive for the environment.

[@joantendler6518]

@@VeganLinked The study in that video has major problems. 1. It makes light of the huge problem of protein, mineral and vitamin bioavailability in plant foods. Vegetarians are low in both zinc and iron which causes many problems, such as depression, which is high with vegetarians. My daughter, raised as a vegetarian, tested very low in iron, was probably low in zinc, and was very depressed. Zinc and iron are very difficult to get enough of as supplements. Now she mainly eats beef and is finally happy and energetic. Herbivores manage to get their nutrients from plants rather than animals because they have a working cecum, but humans don’t, so we simply aren’t herbivores. But the authors write problems of bioavailability off as nothing. 2.The 1 to 1 comparison of plant protein of low digestibility, and way too much high nitrogen, non-essential arginine as opposed to the essential amino acid lysine, with bioavailable animal protein is very misleading. Limiting arginine, which is very high in grains, seeds, nuts, and legumes, is even more important now, considering that arginine depletion is one strategy to avoid severe covid symptoms. 3. In their food value calculations they didn’t take into account the enormous amount of fat that we get from animals, that contributes not only calories, cholesterol, and saturated fat in our diet, needed for brain health, sex hormones, thyroid hormone, vitamin D, stress and anti-inflammatory hormone cortisol, and bile, but also essential fats DHA and arachidonic acid. ARA protects against stroke, and vegetarians have greater risk for stroke, so it’s nothing to make light of. ARA also is necessary to fight pathogens, like covid, as well as for controlling blood pressure, rational thinking, to turn off inflammation, bone and vision health, and for healing. Eating a lot of fatty meat on a low carb diet, like I do now, also protects against stroke, as well as diabetes, seizures, Alzheimer’s, and mental illness. This may also be because ketones, made mainly from ARA and other animal fat, also using lysine, are the main source of energy for your heart, as well as your kidneys, muscles, and gastrointestinal system. This lack of energy made me consume non-food crops coffee, tea, chocolate, and wine, just to get through my day. But, unlike eating fatty meat, consuming these things results in a complete waste of land (including rainforest destruction), fertilizer, water, pesticides, transportation costs, and energy. And yet vegans do this, probably because they’re suffering as much as I did without them. 4.Food waste should have been taken into account in this study, and meat is the least wasted food of all. So the calculations in this study failed to present anything close to an accurate picture of efficient food consumption. So I have to doubt the other figures you threw out there as well.

[@lorimoss8762]

You have such a lovely way of expressing Rae.... I am inspired by your warmth and willingness to creatively meet people where they are...

[@MrDefiance000]

She is a good human being! Lovely lady! I love her!

[@Nora-rv5sc]

Just wonderful. I would love to get to know her. I share her opinion in so many ways! 💛💛💛

[@iamdebmiller]

I enjoyed this interview very much, getting know Rae and JC. How loving! Beautiful people like them give me much hope. Nice job filming, editing, sound production, etc... too.

[@VeganLinked]

Thanks! I wish I would have had more time to get some b-roll, drone shots, etc... It was very run and gun!

[@iamdebmiller]

@@VeganLinked Even so, it was still very well done. I am happy so many individuals are able to post their ideas on KZbin but honestly sometimes in spite of being very enthused about the content, the lack of production value, i.e. fluctuating volume or music that is overpoweringly loud, causes me to not be able to finish a video. You do a good job with all of that!

[@rawimenezes4578]

Thanks to you Rae, I watched Game Changers and what a revelation it has been. So much gratitude for your work and dedication to being vegan, compassion and love for all creatures at its highest value.

[@carlo6912]

What a wonderful, caring human being. Thank you so much for sharing your story.

[@jeannieware6014]

Beautiful, beautiful interview. Thank you, Rae.

[@Kiyarose3999]

‘’ Compassionate Living is about making connections between the way we live, and others suffer’’( The Late Kathleen Jannaway, Co Founder of the Vegan Society, 1944). Also founder of the Movement for Compassionate Living( MCL, 1983)

[@verenamartini8695]

Great interview ! The cellulite door :))) I came through the health door with severe issues and I quickly feel so good.9 months later I was finally able to watch documentaries like cowspiracy, what's the health.... And I knew that never, ever again my way of life would exploit the animals

[@susanjohnson6251]

Love this video Rae and I always loved your approach to activism. Great seeing the doggies in this video too !!!

[@susanebel7810]

Thank you Rae for sharing your beautiful, truthful and compassionate story of your "Family" whether biological, chosen or animals. They are all sentient Being's. I have been "Trying....Practicing" Vegan for about 6 months and after watching your video my heart became wide open to every door that you spoke about and I am fully in!! I am fully practicing Vegan! Thank you! Love to see more videos of you and your story of compassion.

[@Atheria444]

OMG I know Rae! She must have gone vegan at age 5! :-) I have threatened to move onto her beautiful property here in NM. This is a wonderful interview. UPDATE: She went vegan at 20?! I never would have guessed her age. WOW!

[@VeganLinked]

You better save room for me lol

[@annababinska3648]

Wow amazing interview

[@marisaworsley2241]

Thank you! I loved the way that you explained why choose chicken?! Keep educating … the people on this world needs to wake up about cruelty do the inocente animals and healthy… it does break my heart too… I grow up in the farm and I was crying when my father was killing chickens & pigs… I was vegetarian then vegan … a love to eat simple it is hard to educate people… I learned a lot with u! Thanks again

[@mindyr7302]

You could fill an auditorium, Rae! ❤️

[@mattgarner6097]

Great channel! Love the interviews

[@someguy2135]

Thank you for letting me get to know a little bit about a wise and compassionate person.

[@flyswapple]

I just started my Vegetarian/Vegan lifestyle last June. I came through watching people abuses children and animals. Now, I understand what is Vegan is all about I wish I’d started sooner. I’m in my 60’s, cooking meat for my husband is hard now since we have been together for 40 years. Thank you for your testimony on this lifestyle.

[@VeganLinked]

Cook him beans, potatoes, greens, veggies, mushrooms, grains, etc. Instead! ❤ thanks for watching and sharing. Best wishes with your hubby!

[@debbielente4766]

how fortunate i am to see this video Rae, i just viewed your partners, how wonderful is that, beautiful environment you all share. take care

[@janerosebrough395]

Dear Rae, So delighted to see you on KZbin today (10/13/21). Best wishes from your now WFPB elder from Michigan, Jane 🌹

[@10buk2]

I was driving through Texas a couple of years ago taking the back roads and started to smell something really bad for miles and low and behold I came upon a fenced-in cattle standing shoulder to shoulder in manure. That smell lasted for miles, then much later smell came back, same smell, same shoulder to shoulder black cows. I too am vegan before I met you. Thank you for sharing.

[@naturewoman1274]

We really are a horrendous society, I'll never eat meat again I was vegan for eighteen months, had a lot of pressure from my family so I weakened and ate meat again but I never enjoyed it sometimes I never touched what was on my plate I gave it to my husband to eat, I will never listen to anyone again except myself.

[@Bluegrassman12]

Great job. Keep listening to your heart and the hearts of the animals . It gets easier . If you always look at it from the victims point of the view (animals ) it will also make it easy for you as well when people pressure you or try to cut you down . When your ready start to speak up for them . That will fill your passion

[@naturewoman1274]

@@Bluegrassman12 Thanks Joe

[@sharonabraham3676]

Love what you said listen to yourself, people always have a story what you should do, i experience the same, stay on course. Blessings

[@naturewoman1274]

@@sharonabraham3676 Thank you so much blessing to you too xx

[@cares3262]

Very much enjoyed your story in becoming a vegan. Thank you.

[@JaredSix]

I had never heard of Rae before. (Like she herself said, there are so many people going vegan these days that it would be virtually impossible to keep up with them all.) I'm grateful that I decided to watch this, because not only was it great, but it was from the heart! I went vegan back in 2008, and there were so many people at the time who didn't understand veganism and who thought it was an unhealthy and crazy diet, that whenever I hear about people going vegan a full 10, 20, or even 30 or more years before I did, I can't help but admire them for it, because without all the information that we currently have at our fingertips, you would have had to follow your heart and intuition instead. Thank you Rae, for doing what you do, and for doing it as long as you have!

[@pikenmehta1]

You are an incredible soul! Jains look at it from that point of view. Wow!!! Parsparograha jivanam!

[@naturewoman1274]

Thank you for the fantastic scenarios I'll be using some of them you're a wise lady

[@RVP1955]

I love your talk. I have been vegan since 88; I am 66 yrs. old. I love my green smoothie, really purple because of beets, for breakfast and lunch. What really surprised me was when you said your favorite book was ISHMAEL; I read mostly nonfiction, but the one fiction book I have is ISHMAEL. I love that book. I never hear anyone talking about it. Now for my favorite non fiction book, which would be two in this order. THE POWER OF NOW AND A NEW EARTH, by Eckhart Tolle. I hope to hear more from you.

[@VeganLinked]

Where are you? Maybe I can get your story one day?

[@VeganLinked]

send me an email if you're interested in my capturing your story [e-mail] :)

[@mayparsels2232]

Very much appreciated

[@mikesmith1702]

love the dogs...!!!!

[@andrea0195]

you r a wonderfull vegan 65 long life to you be blessed

[@leanna2721]

What a beautiful interview. A great way of approaching people when I am got at for being vegan. It is so important people don't feel attacked for making different choices.

[@bcusaaus4749]

thanks for sharing your story! My journey started 3 years ago as Pescatarian , then vegetarian and now vegan for the last 18 months. My only challenge is socializing with friends at dinner parties/restaurants. I stick to my values but some Just give me negative comments. any advice is appreciated.

[@tikvahboy]

Your friendships may shift for a time.....but the compassionate vegan community is growing rapidly and before you know it, you will have a huge chosen family of caring vegans. We love our giant global vegan community. Also, eventually, the friends who want to know your heart will be open to your choices.....Those who currently give you negative comments probably feel a bit judged for their choices and want to criticize your choices to feel better about theirs. Don't worry. Their words are just that...words. If we were talking about issues like human slavery, you would stay consistent with your value based choices and not take it personally if people were critical. It is all about non-violence and social justice....human or non-human. Unfortunately, people take human injustice more seriously. Stay on your beautiful loving path.

[@Magar6]

Amazing interview, thank you. 💖

[@MrJustforkicks]

What a kind, compassionate woman. When you turn vegan, you realize how much death and horror humans cause to the animal world. It's so crushing! It's very rare to come across people who make you feel so good, and show the infinite capacity of kindness humans can have. I hope she lives to be a 120 years and converts even more people to the path of compassion.

[@shinigglory3689]

Thanks for this great information ❤❤

[@gauritiwari4802]

A beautiful person! Loved listening to her ❤

[@gabriellemedeiros3161]

You are so enlightening!

[@fnhc2023]

I saw a video on utube of that cow separation…..very sad. I was a vegetarian for many many years from 14yo, however, in past 15 plus years am not but getting back to it now, as I did feel better as veg.

[@marybelforero4679]

You are so awesome person ❤️ ❤️

[@cathmaj8615]

'Why should one life matter more than another?' 🤔

[@paulveg8524]

Inspirational! Bravo! Thanks for the many suggestions.

[@unlockyoursoulmemory4199]

oh, I love Ismael as well... such an amazing book

[@lauraestes9304]

I read a book called How to Get Rid if the Poisons In Your Foods by Ralph Nader and I never ate meat after that day in 1986. I was all alone in my diet and I didnt care. I already hated eggs and dairy so I was actually happy to find out I didn't need to eat animal carcasses to survive

[@VeganLinked]

Awesome I would love to get your story sometime if you're interested is you're interested ❤.

[@georgemarino434]

I love your home! It looks so cozy and comfy. All those different floor levels, archways, nooks and crannies, so interesting and fun. What style home do you call this?

[@VeganLinked]

Dome home

[@riccarwile1633]

Thanks, your video is outstanding,... so beautifully said✌

[@cloro1238]

Amazing woman 💚

[@AudreyDunham]

Wow, so powerful. Thanks for sharing your story.

[@marcelomiceli5291]

After being vegetarian for 30 years I had the same experience seeing a video. It broke my heart, I could not believe how humans can be so heartless, never touched dairy again in my life.

[@VeganLinked]

You're awesome!

[@CoyoteCanyon72]

Well done Rae!

[@diesusi3844]

Beautiful mind ❤ 🌱

[@auikerngesund5624]

Danke , vegan ist die beste Lebensweise

[@LaSorciereFeuillue]

"It's a stolen product from a suffering being" is my new answer to "Why?"

[@mattiewilliams6730]

I been vegan for on month. I love eating this way. I wish I had known about this sooner. I have made a good choice and I am not going back to my old ways. 12 -3 -2021

[@natalieamore8195]

❤️🙏Shared

[@mr.fixdaplate]

Beautiful story...###LET'S EAT...

[@Capcommunist]

Profound. ❤️

[@MMCoala]

I agree with everything you said! 🐷🐶🐵🐭🦊🐮💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

[@hannahrl]

RAAEEE!!!

[@deancooling3480]

I very much enjoy your interviews, and.... Would you consider asking the interviewee what their typical daily eating would be. This is of interest to me, and I'm sure others. It brings it back to the practical daily behaviours that are so important. And we can learn what has worked for these successful vegans. Thanks for considering.

[@VeganLinked]

I try to ask that and I will try to hone in on it better but I will have a video that focuses specifically on that soon

[@VeganLinked]

It's best to use the daily dozen app by nutrition facts to put together a meal plant specific to your liking. It's essentially beans greens grains fruits veggies mushrooms nuts seeds herbs and spices...

[@deancooling3480]

@@VeganLinked Thanks - I've been into whole food plant-based for 35 years, but I still find it interesting and pertinent, and a study into individual approaches, to know what people do on a daily basis. Just this can reveal much.

[@Cindyscrossstitch]

Beautiful lady. The 10 commercials can away from the interview with all the interuptions.

[@VeganLinked]

Pay for a KZbin subscription and you won't see the commercials.

[@michaelscoots]

Oh man, you’ve got to interview her sister!

[@VeganLinked]

Hit me up with details at VeganLinked.com/GetInTheMix

[@michaelscoots]

@@VeganLinked Her sister went from going vegan for vanity (cellulite) to animal activist within a year. You’ve got to interview her!

[@VeganLinked]

@@michaelscoots cool, if you say so, hope to get a message. ❤

[@robecarb1300]

This is a very enlightening story that details an excellent prospective view to this great issue that is animal cruelty & why we eat them when not only we do not need to but ut us detrimental to our well being , thank you so much!

[@kimlarjohnson2263]

What blew me away was calling a product natural/organic and all the farmer has to do is have a window open! that just angered me and all i could think of how industries lie!!!

[@kimlarjohnson2263]

all you have to say is Animal Cruelty and get choked up and cry. i am terrible for it. i started with the health door but animals door so more important to me.

[@robinjames7967]

I hope to look half as good as you when i hit 65..

[@joanavicente5493]

What a wonderful beautiful woman.

[@aniaj-ifashiontv87]

hi this is an amazing video thank you for making things so clear ! I have a question, what do you feed your dog? can dogs be vegan?

[@tikvahboy]

Our dogs were vegan for decades (different dogs came and went as we do foster and rescue). They lived to be 16, 17 and 18 years old on a vegan diet. We did buy some vegan kibble, but mostly just made them a stew with veggies and rice and lentils and they loved it. Dogs are canines and canines are scavengers, so they can really thrive on just about anything. Now, our four rescue dogs get both the stew and they get animal products because we are dumpster divers and prvide food to ours and other homes from what we get at the dumpsters. Beef, fish, chicken, eggs. But honestly, I think our strictly vegan dogs were healthier. Although I must say that they supplemented with bones and other wonderfully gross items found in the forest on hikes. Our dogs still find bones on the trail all the time and bring them home. Hope that helps

[@aniaj-ifashiontv87]

@@tikvahboy thank you so much yes this helps and I wish I had this info sooner :( my beautiful dog of 12 passed a month ago today .... and he was on a meat veggies rice diet always :((( he was diagnosed with carcinoma 🐾💔😢 anyhow thank you for your answer

[@VeganLinked]

This is such a common question, would have never thought...lol

[@VeganLinked]

It's interesting to know that one of the oldest dogs was vegan :) Bramble!

[@nathalieyates5016]

❤

[@jojofids]

This is one of my favorite interviews. What does vegan forward mean? I started out vegan in Oct 2019, but only ate processed foods And got so sick. So I added in a tiny bit of fish and then eventually egg and dairy once in a blue moon. By Dec 2022, I had learned to prepare wfpb meals and cut out egg, dairy and then fish. So would I be vegan forward since 2019? And now vegan? Just curious what that term means. Thanks!

[@VeganLinked]

Well, vegan is an ethical philosophy. So, vegan forward is when your intent and actions aligned, it isn't something you claim when you are though because that would be a bit of an oxymoron for lack of better words since you either are or you're not vegan. Once you become vegan, only then it seems appropriate to say you "were" vegan forward when reflecting because you actually became vegan philosophically, ethically at the core. And having become vegan proves you literally were on that path. Some people may use it more losely of course to describe people that are veg curious or mostly living the way a vegan would. The more I learn from other people's stories and reflecting on my own the more I realize that while I may say I went vegan in 2011 I also have realized I was primed up for it by then from decades of moving in that direction so I think I was vegan forward since 1991 when I first decided to stop eating red meat because I realized what it was and also that it was gross because it might have worms in it I heard at the time. But even prior to that when I ate duck accidentally once in the '80s I was very repulsed when I realized what it was because I had a pet duck. And I definitely did not want to eat my friend. I learned more about health in the mid-90s when I was in college. But still not enough to know really what to do. But I got sick of chicken so I kind of gave her that up in college and since the '80s and through the 90s my predilection for beans and greens increased. But it wasn't very convenient to my diet was pretty s*****. I've only recently been eating with health in mind since about 2017. Prior to that it was pretty pathetic compared to what I know and do now. But still learning and still trying to discipline myself, fine tuning things like the amount of food I eat and the time of day and how frequent and trying to get more into intermittent fasting and hoping to do a fast again. Trying to do more Greens and beans, and get a proper variety of legumes greens grains fruits veggies mushrooms not seeds herbs and spices

[@VeganLinked]

Fish was last to go for me too and a lot of people :)

[@jojofids]

@@VeganLinked wow thank you so much for the response! I love reading your story. Your interview with the woman from Fish Feel gave me the courage to give up fish. I watched a few slaughter videos on her website and it was so horrible. I never knew fish slaughter was so gruesome. I guess I had never considered it before.

[@queenvee9729]

Cellulite door 🤣 For me, I experienced the same with the animal slaughter at a farm. It was really eye opening..But honestly, I've ended up just starving and going back to eating meat... But I'm back to try again, this time it's permanent. I hate the guilt. but I still need to find what to eat. Maybe food will no longer be about enjoyment and more nutrition. Still doing my research on vegan recipes that will take good

[@VeganLinked]

Between the beans, greens, grains,fruits, veggies, mushrooms, nuts, seeds, herbs and spices there's thousands of recipes and ways to be satiated.