The Broccoli Hut: Quick Update

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Quick Update

Hello all! This is just a quick update regarding my veganism decision. Apparently my recent posts regarding a vegan diet caused quite an uproar on the homefront. My mother is extremely concerned about my adoption of a vegan diet; on the phone, she sounded quite upset about the matter. She thinks I am still too thin, and that veganism would put me in danger of losing weight again. Also, she seems concerned that my change in diet would disrupt family gatherings at restaurants, etc. In a way, she's right: no ice cream parlor near me sells Tofutti, and I doubt that there is a neighborhood vegan pizzeria either.

**Warning: Gross Comment**
In addition, I continue to have a condition called amenorrhea, a vestige of my anorexic days. If you don't know what that is, I suggest you look it up.

In light of all this, I think it is best that I rescind my decision regarding veganism. I will continue to consume dairy, although only organic, if possible. I still plan to expand my options regarding calcium-rich foods; I remain convinced that it is possible and healthful to live dairy-free. My vegan lunch habit will continue as well. Veganism is perhaps one of those things that I need to reserve for the future, when my body (or my mom!) is ready for it. I tell you all this so as not to appear hypocritical or insincere. I value all of your opinions and hope you will continue to read my blog:)

Enjoy your Saturday!

23 comments:

ChocolateCoveredVegan said...: Wow, girl, I really admire your candidness regarding your health issues. And I definitely think you are doing the right thing by putting your health first. After all, mother knows best, right? ;o)

Hope you're having an awesome Saturday!; April 19, 2008 at 6:28 PM
Anonymous said...: It sounds like you've made a good decision, as long as you are happy, that's what matters. Your mother wants what's best for you, and although sometimes our families may not understand veganism, they can learn. But you should follow your heart and what you are comfortable with. =)

Do you have an email address I can contact you with regarding some other elements of this post?; April 19, 2008 at 7:17 PM
LizNoVeggieGirl said...: Caroline, I 100% support your decision, since it sounds like it IS the one that you wanted to make. I am, and will continue to be, a loyal reader of your blog; and remember, you DO have my email address, so NEVER hesitate to send me an email, if you are in need of some support. I'm here for you! :0); April 19, 2008 at 8:01 PM
Mama Mia said...: yes, health always comes first. There are plenty of ways to eat healthy without being a vegan. In an ideal world I would also want to be vegan but it's very difficult for me and my lifestyle.; April 19, 2008 at 8:03 PM
ChickPea said...: CCV: I hope I wasn't too candid. Nobody likes a blog with TMI...
Romina: my e-mail is cwy4@duke.edu
VeggieGirl: Thanks so much for your kind words. It's people like you that make me value the blogging community so much:)
Lina: you are SO right. Sometimes the circumstances just aren't quite ripe for veganism. I appreciate your common sense!; April 19, 2008 at 8:17 PM
J said...: Of course we will continue to read your blog! Don't be silly! :-)

You have to do what is best for you and your health. I too admire your honesty and doing what is best for you. If in the future, it becomes an option that works, then great, if not, that's fine too.

Have a great weekend!; April 19, 2008 at 8:39 PM
Jill said...: Great choice, it's always important to put your health first! Not always the easiest thing to do.

I think I'm going to keep organic dairy in my life as well - just for the yogurt which I cannot give up! We should make up a name for what we call our diet!

May I e-mail you as well?; April 19, 2008 at 8:58 PM
Lindsay (Happy Herbivore) said...: you have to do what YOU think is best and what YOU want - parents do not always have our best interests at heart even though they think i do.
For instance your mother tried to make you feel bad about making family outings less "easy" - thats not a health concern at all but merely a one regarding convenience. You should talk to a RD and Dr - both who are familiar with your past issues and the vegan diet. Not all vegans are twigs, in fact many are over weight. They make vegan icecreams and other high-fat vegan foods.; April 19, 2008 at 9:18 PM
Anonymous said...: No one knows better than YOU if this is the right time to make that switch - and if now isn't the right time, it will always be an option in the future.

Your honesty is much appreciated - keep your head up chica!; April 19, 2008 at 11:32 PM
ChickPea said...: Jennifer: Glad to know that you will be hanging around:)
Jill: We should be Fage-tarians or something...Of course you can e-mail me!
HH: You're right about parents not understanding veganism. It won't surprise you that I am the only veg in my family, so everyone already considers my eating "restrictive." Whatevs.
Runroamrecycle/erika: you're definitely right--it's not like this is a now-or-never decision. Those yummy vegan foods will always be available to me:); April 20, 2008 at 12:06 AM
Anonymous said...: Of course we'll still read! It amazes me how honest all the bloggers are with your readers... it makes for such a warm, comforting blogging environment and I seriously cannot get enough. I admire how mature you are being in this situation, health should always top priority. For some that may be why they go vegan, but for others it could also be what's holding them back. And both are completely fine. We are all human but our bodies want, need, and crave different things. I hope you're at piece with your final decision and please know that you always have our support. Best of luck with everything :); April 20, 2008 at 4:44 AM
Anonymous said...: Smart young woman for listening to your mom...she is older, wiser, and has your best interest at heart and she has no agenda when it comes to food either. As you well know, your history of anorexia puts you in a totally different category. Before you eliminate any food/food groups you should seek counsel from those who love you and know you well or are professionals in dealing with anorexia.; April 20, 2008 at 10:40 AM
Anonymous said...: Of course we will all still read! I, too, appreciate your candid-ness with your prior health issues. Way to go for putting your health first...

Good luck with your choice ;); April 20, 2008 at 10:49 AM
Simple and Divine said...: YOU KICK ASS CAROLINE. Period :) (And we're reading your blog whether you want us to or not, so ha!) lol; April 20, 2008 at 3:48 PM
Anonymous said...: Of course, you have to make your own choices. I just want to chime in as a formerly-anorexic vegan whose switch to veganism was the BEST thing I ever did for my body and my recovery process. If eating better/healthfully is the goal, why eat something that doesn't sit right with you? It is easy to be a healthy vegan.

Of course, you need to listen to your body, and you definitely need to get healthy to the point where you're not experiencing amenorrhea. I think you can have it both ways, though. Several nutritionists that I've worked with have backed me up; you should talk to yours.; April 20, 2008 at 4:51 PM
ChickPea said...: Danielle: I figured it best that I be straight-forward in the matter. There are enough people with ED in their pasts out there that I figured at least a few readers might be able to relate. Plus, secrets just make things complicated. Thanks for your support!
Anonymous: Yes, unfortunately anorexia will always impact any decision I make regarding my health. I have to be careful not to fall into that same trap again.
loveofoats: Glad to know you'll be sticking around!
S&D: Thanks! I'll keep on kickin a$$ if you keep reading...
Anonymous: I am glad to hear of another fully-recovered ED patient who is vegan. It gives me hope for the future!; April 20, 2008 at 8:41 PM
Erika said...: Hi Chickpea! I just came across your blog this evening and wanted to send you a little message. I too am a recovering anorexic still suffering from amenorrhea (which is not gross, by the way) and I think it's admirable that you've been so open about that since for most of us, it is such a private disease. I also understand your mother's weariness about your going vegan. Mine responded the same way. She saw it as a way of reverting back to my disorder which probably had a lot to do with my intentions at that time. You're right that we should focus on getting our bodies back to a state where they can a handle it once we do inherit that lifestyle.
If you'd ever like to talk sometime, please e-mail: elevans81@gmail.com
Hope to hear from you!; April 20, 2008 at 11:19 PM
Unknown said...: I'm surprised my head didn't come off seeing as how, when I was reading abour your decision, I totally identified. I've wanted to make the transition into vegeterianism but am concerned because of an ED past.

You have no idea how much I support and admire the way you've put your desire to become vegan on hold in order to focus on your overall health.

Thank you for trusting us, your readers, and I hope you succesfully continue your recovery!

p.s. in regards to the amenorrhea (I also had/have it...its weird), have you contacted a gynecologist? although i don't like taking pills, they prescribed some pills that regularized my hormones.; April 20, 2008 at 11:27 PM
Anonymous said...: Carla--
Actually, doctors who are knowledgeable about EDs are now recommending that adolescents with EDs do NOT go on the pill, as the birth control pill is not helpful in giving one a real period and can actually be harmful (especially since girls feel like their amennorrhea is cured when they get a "period" from the pill). The pill does NOT give a real period that protects one's bones; rather, it gives a placebo period, which is just an absence of the heightened estrogen hormones that causes bleeding the week you take the placebo pill.

http://eatingwithyouranorexic.blogspot.com/2007/10/birth-control-pills-in-anorexia.html; April 21, 2008 at 12:23 AM
ChickPea said...: Erika: I am so glad you stumbled upon my blog--it's nice to find people who can relate to your situation. After talking to my mom again yesterday, she seemed to be more open to a "gradual transition." I think she is afraid that she will come to pick me up from school in a few weeks and find me emaciated. My email is cwy@duke.edu if you want to talk some more!
Carla: I have seen a gynecologist, and she gave me a prescription for birth control. I took it for a month but ultimately decided that it was giving me a false sense of security. It's frustrating when nobody can really explain why your periods are absent.
Anonymous: Yes, when I had an ED doctor, she seemed reluctant to put me on the Pill, saying that it really doesn't fix the problem at hand. I had hoped that taking a month's prescription would somehow wake up my system into normal functioning, but it didn't seem to work that way.; April 21, 2008 at 10:58 AM
Anonymous said...: Hey there I have amenorrhea too and have just been diagnosed with osteoporosis, I am absolutely devestated. I was just wondering how long have you had amenorrhea?; April 24, 2008 at 6:44 PM
Amy said...: hi! i just recently found your blog (i love reading about vegan/vegetarian cooking adventures - i've gotten some great ideas!).

i was so excited to read some of your entries, because i felt like i could completely relate. i am also a vegetarian/almost vegan. i was underweight, stressed, overexercising, and not eating enough a few years ago, and i'm still dealing with the amenorrhea/irregular cycles that came with it. i've also just always been small-boned, and i am careful to be sure that i'm maintaining and/or gaining weight - sorry if that's too much information :)

my family was also concerned that i was being too restrictive in my food choices, so i backed away from being a 100% "strict" vegan, and i feel like it is the best place for me to be in right now. i was really happy to read about someone else in the same boat!; June 5, 2008 at 8:20 AM
ChickPea said...: Amy: It IS nice to know that someone else in my same boat. And no, it was not too much information:)
I think we're both in a unique situation--we want to do what would be a healthy thing for most people, but in our condition, it might not be the best idea. Like you, I think eating organic yogurt and cottage cheese is the best thing for my body right now. Please keep in touch!; June 8, 2008 at 10:03 PM