My 2-Week Experience with a Vegan Diet: What I Learned

My decision. A lot of case reports, meaning people who shared their experiences, showed that health benefits and physical wellness started within 2 weeks of the diet. If you’ve watched my vlog posts or read part 1 or part 2 of the “What the health” blog posts, you know that I had a small accident while in medical school and have had neck and back pain ever since. So I was definitely interested in how the diet might affect me. At first, I believed that participating in this 2-week trial would be extremely difficult for me.  I love cheese and all kinds of animal protein, even more so eggs. First, I was nervous, to say the least. Then the trial started.

I was able to eat other foods that I loved in higher quantities.

This included hummus, veggies, and fruits. I even found dairy/cheese replacements that, in my opinion, were quite delicious. Many people I spoke to disliked the vegan cheese options, but I myself loved them. Luckily, my diet already included tons of greens, fruits, and complex carbs and grains.

I didn’t eat white rice as much and had been eating more quinoa and black rice than other kinds of carbs. I definitely think that for those who rarely eat “healthy” foods, this diet might be and probably will be more difficult to manage because it would have too many changes all at once.

Overall, over the next two weeks, the changes I experienced were quite great.

I used to experience the midday slump all the time. Whenever I felt sleepy or tired, I would crave a refreshing cup of coffee. Then, I found myself drinking less coffee than usual, yet still had more energy than before.

I also felt great when I went to the gym.  I would do my full weight training program, and then I still had the energy to run or bike or do easy steps for 15 minutes or more.

At that time, I felt very energetic.

With my previous eating habits, I would wake up a bit tired and didn’t feel like getting out of bed. Some people might say, “Oh, maybe you’re depressed.” Not really. I was just worn out. But after starting the vegan diet, I felt a different mood in the mornings. I also noticed I had a better temper. Not that I was a super angry person all the time, but certain things would get on my nerves, which is normal. On the vegan diet, my temper was more tolerant of things that would normally bug me. Being free from certain things was a pleasant experience. I went on a 2-week trial of a vegan diet after I watched the “What the Health” documentary on Netflix.

I felt overall happier, more energetic, and healthier. 

My body felt healthier, and I looked forward to meals. I didn’t get tired after a few hours of eating, and I didn’t feel tired halfway through the day. And guess what? Neck and back pain improved.

Don’t I usually always have neck and back pain, maybe around a 7 on a scale of 1 to 10?

 (1 being no pain, 10 being the worst pain ever). So my pain was definitely consistent and sometimes really bad. I did yoga, swam and ran, lifted weights, etc., and stayed active physically. These things all helped, but it wasn’t until the vegan diet that I actually noticed a lower level of pain. I felt the difference in pain almost immediately. After the first day, my back and neck felt better. I thought it was psychological, so I ignored it and kept on with my diet. Then, after the 3rd or 4th day, I noticed that my back and neck hadn’t been bothering me as much.

By days 7–8, the pain had reached a 4 on a scale of 1 to 10. The pain consistently remained at a manageable level of 4. In those 2 weeks, I felt neck and back pain maybe 3 times, whereas I used to feel it every day. 

So this was a big change for me and my way of life. Please keep in mind that living with pain is also associated with a worse mood. Could there be a connection between my decreased pain level and my improved mood? Very likely.

The last Sunday of my vegan trial, I made a crazy decision. I would extend the diet; the end date is TBA (to be announced). 

Towards the end of the third week, my nephew turned 8 years old, and we had a party for him at a park. I broke my vegan streak and indulged in a hot dog and a burger throughout the day. I was so nervous. Nothing happened.

The next morning, I had egg and avocado toast for breakfast. Still, nothing happened. My mind went back into my usual habits. And that afternoon, my neck and back started hurting. I assumed it was the usual occurrence of pain while on the vegan diet, but it didn’t go away.

That day, for dinner, we had pizza. I ate a slice of Hawaiian. Which is my favorite second to pepperoni? I immediately regretted it and felt gross, so full, that “ugh” feeling. I waited to digest and went for a late-night 3-mile run. Then, I felt somewhat better and went to bed. The next day, the pain was back. Not to mention, this vegan diet has made my bathroom visits very regular. All of a sudden, I wasn’t as regular as I had been in those 3 weeks of being vegan.

Regular Bowel Movements Are Important—Get Them With a Vegan Diet

Gross topic. I know, but a lot of people will benefit from me discussing this, and regular bowel movements are important! It was easier to replace unhealthy snacks with healthy snacks. I felt fantastic; my cravings were gone, I was in a better mood, and I had more endurance in the gym. I loved it. Since the end of the third week, I have “broken” the vegan streak a total of 4 times. This morning was the 4th. I had Kellogg’s chocolate cereal with vanilla soy milk and freshly cut strawberries. I felt bloated and gross. It can be psychological.

I feel guilty, and so my body is reacting and feeling nasty to support my psyche’s guilt. The mind is a powerful tool, but I felt so good on the vegan diet that I decided to return to it and only occasionally eat dairy or animal protein. If any of you haven’t done it yet, try the 2-week vegan trial!

Just 2 weeks, eating enough food, taking vitamins like B12, etc. Before deciding to undertake this trial, consult with someone or conduct research to ensure you do it in a healthy manner. If you’ve already done it, please let me know what changes you noticed! I want to know your experiences, and I’m sure others will want to know too.

Whatever your experience, please share it with me! There is no judgement here! Only information.

If this info makes you make a change for a healthier lifestyle, then perfect! If it makes you question things, perfect. And if it makes you question me, even better! Never take just my word. Get involved in your health, guys! And if you need the motivation, the support, and fun facts about healthy foods and habits, then I’m here for you. A healthy lifestyle is not just a choice; it’s a way of life. There’s no need for you to do this alone!

Love, Dr. Vero, a vegan diet

PS: I will upload another blog post featuring some of my favorite meals while I was on the 3-week trial. Send me some of your favorite recipes so I can try them too!