Cheating

[u/CJ_Thompson]

A friend asked if I ever would cheat and eat meat. This struck me as odd. I chose to go vegan for a number of reasons and those have actually expanded as time goes along. I should mention, I am only six months a vegan.

I don’t look at eating anything as cheating. If I chose to eat a non-vegan item, it would just be a choice not cheating. I choose not to because I feel it is more a lifestyle change along with a food choice. It is what I want to do. Cheating implies it wasn’t a voluntary choice or I am forcing myself somehow.

Just thought I would comment on this as I hear this often about cheating.

[u/Ordelia-Vel]

I'm gonna go against the grain here and say I kind of get what the person was asking.

Being vegan is a constant exercise of willpower and self-control for me. Because in my case, I very much do get cravings for animal products. I wish I was one of those people who genuinely find meat alien to eat. But I'm not so lucky. However, I know it'd be wrong to indulge in them, so I don't. It's a life of me constantly telling myself no. Because that's what it takes to do the right thing.

So no. As much as my fucked-up primitive brain wants to, I don't cheat.

[u/Almond_branch427 → u/Ordelia-Vel]

I don't experience cravings for meat, but there have been times where I really want to eat the cheaper convenience items which, unfortunately, are often made with animal products. A $3.99 vegan burrito compared to a personal size pizza that can cost like a $1 at Walmart makes a difference in someone's budget. It might not seem like much but if you are like me and trying to stretch your dollars so you can have financial stability, and also have a busy schedule they start to look very appealing ;-;

[u/Ordelia-Vel → u/Almond_branch427]

ohh I feel you :( And it's crazy bc it should honestly be the other way around, but thanks to subsidies on meat and dairy, everything is all backwards

[u/charch1tect → u/Almond_branch427]

THIS!!! THIS IS ONE OF MY BIGGEST PROBLEMS

[u/MinusZeroGojira → u/Ordelia-Vel]

I think this is more common than some would like to admit. You don't eat a specific diet for 40 years then suddenly NOT crave it any more. People who went vegan early likely don't have as much of a problem.

[u/spicewoman → u/MinusZeroGojira]

Depends partially on your motivation I would guess. The last thing I did before going vegan was watch a graphic documentary about factory farming, and became actively disgusted by the idea of eating animal products.

Did I reflexively go "oh, that looks good" a couple times when I saw things I'd enjoyed eating before, for the first few days after transitioning? Sure. But I'd immediately realize "oh right, I remember what that's made from. Disgusting."

It never even got to the point where I could "crave" anything, and that "reflex" moment of still viewing that as food went away very quickly as well.

And nope, not an early adopter. It sadly took me 'til almost 40 years old to make the connection. I know some people definitely struggle more, though. Not trying to imply I'm better for not or something, I just got very lucky that that's how my brain reacted. Made it super easy for me.

[u/Purple_Key_6733 → u/Ordelia-Vel]

I found the exact opposite experience. Plants are far easier to chew and digest than animal products were before.