After 8 years of living and breathing the vegan lifestyle, I have outgrown the “vegan” label.
I’m trying to give myself grace in this massive transition because it’s quite a shocking shift but one that has been a long time coming. The decision did not come easy, as you can imagine. I’ve quietly pondered about it for some time and it wasn’t until I was postpartum that the idea became feasible and necessary for my physical and mental health.
I’m truly sorry if anyone is disappointed in my decision. I’m deeply sad but have come to accept this new way of life. Giving birth to my baby caused some major waves and shifts and a total re-birth of who I am, but I like to think my daughter brought me back to my true intuitive self.
So, what happened?
Well, I thrived for the first 5 years as a vegan but the last 3 have been a struggle for my gut health, in particular. And before you want to recommend a probiotic, it is not that simple, trust me. I am a integrative health practitioner. I have tried everything under the sun while staying vegan. Every probiotic and supplement. You name it, I’ve tried it (well as much as I can do while breastfeeding). I have major issues going on in my gut.. most likely intestinal permeability and SIBO (amongst mold and probably parasites) but, any high fiber food either bloats me like no other or leaves me in pain, as if there is a constant brick in my stomach. Any high histamine or high oxalate food triggers my mold symptoms (I already don’t eat gluten or refined sugar). The thing is, most plant based foods are naturally high in fiber and many are high in oxalates and histamines as well.
I’ve been living in quiet agony.
Until you have experienced such sensitivities to EVERYTHING you eat, it may be hard to understand. It got to the point that I ran out of food options which is a dangerous road to go down (being vegan is restrictive already). I found myself feeling scared to eat anything and/or not wanting to eat at all, to avoid the painful bloat. This is not like me because I love food and have a big ole appetite. I want to nourish my body not deprive it.
It’s puzzling right? Vibrant green juices, nourishing smoothies, rainbow salads, what could go wrong? The plant based diet is all the rage. The “healthiest” diet around (or so I thought). And for some people who don’t have underlying gut issues, I believe it can work. Maybe not forever, but we are all different and what works for one person may not work for another.
I went vegan before it was cool, back in 2014. I’ve watched veganism become trendy. I’ve promoted it on this blog for the entirety of 8 years. I did it the right way, not the junk food way. I did everything I was supposed to. I took B12 and monitored my protein intake and ate a lot of healthy fats and carbs. I never did raw vegan, never did a juice cleanse either. I always focused on “real whole foods”. Again, I felt amazing the first 5 years and could not imagine living life any other way. I was entranced in the lifestyle and everything about it. I made amazing friends through the community. I inspired hundreds if not thousands of people to eat more plant based meals. Even up until a year ago I couldn’t imagine stepping away from veganism (although I had thought about it from time to time).
For me, the bloating started a few years ago and it’s hard to pinpoint why because I was so unaware of what being bloated was like… I just thought I was gaining weight (which I was as well, the body holds onto weight as a protective mechanism in the presence of toxicity). There was so much inflammation that I was completely unaware of. But I started to realize that most of the plant proteins (which are pretty essential to live a health-focused vegan lifestyle) were starting to affect me. Same with high oxalate foods like spinach, beans, berries and chocolate which I was eating EVERY SINGLE DAY for years. I even hopped on the celery juice train for a while (terrible idea) but couldn’t figure out why it made me feel so crappy? Hello, the oxalates. Eating too many oxalates while you are dealing with mold in your body is a recipe for disaster. I had no idea I was dealing with toxicity but right around this time is when I started learning about Microbe Formulas, Cellcore, parasite cleanses, all things gut related, mold, food sensitivities, etc., all in trying to figure out my bloating issue. Healing is a wild ride.
About fiber: fiber is great for bowel movements and to help bulk up your stool but you can overdo it and I believe I have over the last 8 years. (FYI, animal products are devoid of fiber which is why they don’t affect me).
Lentils are the WORST offender (hello high fiber), same with most beans, grains, nuts, raw veggies, leafy greens and fruit. Fruit and dates bloat me like no other which sucks. Um hello, I can’t have fruit (except apples) which is nutzo. I don’t have time to soak/sprout all my grains and beans and nuts to remove the phytic acid/phytatea and it honestly doesn’t even help (I still bloat). I can’t have smoothies. I can’t have yogurt or anything with probiotics. Sometimes there is no rhyme or reason to why I bloat, but uncomfortable bloating everyday is not normal in case you were wondering. Not to mention it really effs up my body image.
The only options I had left were tofu and cooked vegetables which I was fine with but it’s not sustainable forever, at least not for me. Is that happiness? Tofu and cooked vegetables are all I was left with to not feel like sh*t on a daily basis? This was my breaking point. Especially because I’m breastfeeding and need to make high-quality milk… this way of living wasn’t cutting it anymore. I was so exhausted from wondering what the heck to eat. I still dread the thought of breakfast and it possibly ruining my entire day as it had for literally years. Side note: all of my symptoms went away during pregnancy and I felt AMAZING being pregnant. But every symptom returned full-force postpartum).
When I went vegan overnight (read my vegan story) it was for the animals. I was disgusted with our food system and mistreatment of them. In the last 8 years the vegan movement has been incredible in opening people’s eyes to what goes on in factory farms. The grocery store shelves are lined with unbelievable vegan food alternatives (that aren’t real food though…) I also believe the movement has guided more non-vegans to support smaller farmers who use the most ethical of practices, instead of supporting big business farming practices. I know some vegans will disagree with the idea of “ethical farming” because I was also in that headspace only a few years ago. But then I watched The Biggest Little Farm and my mindset shifted. I opened my eyes to other possibilities besides my little vegan bubble of a community.
So you may be wondering how/when this change happened?
I tried fish a few times over the summer and felt like I was breaking all the rules. As if I was betraying myself and my readers and doing something “bad”. On the other hand, branching out was nice, plain and simple. It was nice to enjoy a piece of fish with my husband and not feel like crap afterward. I’m pretty sure he thought it was a random fluke or just a phase I was going through. He supports me no matter what but I don’t think he saw this change coming either. After all, he only knows me as being “vegan”. It’s been an adjustment for everyone to say the least.
Anyway, before our trip to Florida this past November, I made the decision to step away from the vegan label for good and gave myself total food freedom while on vacation. I ordered fish and cooked vegetables most nights and my stomach was fine, no symptoms. A miracle! I can’t even tell you how freeing it felt. Such a weight had been lifted, like I had been missing out for so long. It felt so “normal” in a way and I no longer felt like an outcast or like so many foods were off limits for me.
When we got home I decided to try eggs but that didn’t go as well (update: I tried eggs again and they seem to be okay for me now!). I’m staying away from dairy for the time being until I further heal my gut after breastfeeding. I’ve tried turkey in chili and chicken in homemade chicken noodle soup (so healing with bone broth too). It still very much weirds me out (especially to talk about fish and chicken and turkey on this blog) but I know it will take time to get used to this change. I’ve been adding collagen powder (<< this one is free of glyphosate) to my king coffee and find it really soothes my gut lining while adding protein and amino acids that my body so desperately needs. I’ve also been taking liver pills which are so nutrient-dense and they make a noticeable difference in my energy, seriously. My body is loving them even though it’s still so surreal. I’m also taking these digestive enzymes before every meal – they really help.
Making any kind of big life change is challenging and healing is not linear… but deep down, this feels right.
There was never a moment where I craved red meat like some do. I purely crave the freedom to eat whatever my body wants and to heal my irritated stomach while bringing down inflammation. I’m not saying animal products are the answer to all of my problems because I need a specific root-cause protocol to truly heal, but animal products do not trigger my symptoms and that’s the most important part in my journey at the moment. I need a break from the constant bloat. I also crave the simplicity of using an egg in pancakes or banana bread instead of making a gummy flax egg. Or ordering fresh fish when I’m in Florida vacationing with my family instead of a crappy salad just because I’m vegan. Or not having to be the picky weird one while out at a restaurant. I don’t want to order from the sides menu anymore. Or taking my daughter out to breakfast someday when she’s older and being able to order anything we want. Feeding her food has been a whole new level of fun and re-learning experience for me, while trying not to imprint my food “labels” or ideas on her. It’s back to the basics. These are things I think about! I’m re-learning what it means to eat intuitively with more options and not confining myself to such a small box. That type of living is in the past for me.
While my heart is heavy, I still believe the plant based lifestyle has a time and place for whomever feels called to it. I love and loved everything about it. It gave me so much. It taught me so much. It is a HUGE commitment. Huge. Did I say it’s a huge commitment? Because my god it is. The vegan lifestyle evolved into my identity and ultimately my entire career. I’m forever grateful for the experience, I truly am (cue the tears streaming down my face). My three books are my proudest career accomplishments yet and are centered around balancing hormones on a plant-based diet. I wanted to give women the option to heal with plants if that is what they are drawn to. Do I still believe in my books? Absolutely. The foundations will always be the same regardless of your diet. I still make the recipes multiple times a week but maybe I will add in some meat or fish instead because I can’t tolerate most plant proteins right now.
Through this experience, I’ve learned that how we eat doesn’t have to be all or nothing. There can be some wiggle room. I’m not a bad person for stepping away from being vegan even though it was such a huge part of my life.
From now on I’m done with the labels. I CRAVE FOOD FREEDOM. For myself, for my daughter and for our family as a whole.
I hope you always listen to your body too, and don’t let a label get in the way of true inner health and happiness. Intuitive eating and living is something I’ve preached since day one and this change is not one I was expecting. But right now I feel at peace. I feel happy and content and excited for where this new journey will take me.
While I don’t know what the future holds, I do know this blog is everything to me. Not having the mental capacity to blog for the last 5 months has been wrecking me. I’m aching to get back and have posts lined up to share more about my gut health journey I’m on, healthy recipes, happy hormone tips, mom life and more. I hope you’ll stick around.
Love you all,
Shannon
Surely if you were ok when pregnant the problems are hormonal? I understand that fiber makes you bloat. I have the same problem but I’d prefer that than the animal products lining my arteries, raising my cholesterol and unbalancing my hormones. I can not support how meat is produced. If we continue to eat meat I. The volumes we eat we will not have a planet to eat it on. I think if people aren’t plant based then significantly reducing consumption will save our healthcare systems and planets. Meat and dairy have become the staple diet and that at least has to be reversed. A good watch that explains this is “what the health on Netflix” everyone needs to be educated to make informed decisions that are right for them.
Thanks for posting. I’m in the same boat. Vegan for 12 years and I always thought: How could someone stop being vegan? And now I know. I’m still healing but experienced a lot of your same symptoms, even though I ate pretty healthy as a vegan. I know it’s not an easy choice, but we need to choose our health above all else. Otherwise, we have nothing.
Your diet was terrible and you have some stomach upset, so now you’re jumping on a new fad diet. Just eat a low fiber vegan diet if that’s your issue, I do that as well as I have Crohn’s disease. You can’t call foods “healing” and unless you’re having a colonoscopy after dinner you have no idea what your “gut lining” is doing. Taking a bunch of probiotics and supplements is of course going to make you have an upset stomach — there’s no reason to take probiotic pills unless they are prescribed by a doctor when treating c. dif or another serious infection. It sounds like you made yourself sick by following food trends, and now you’re following another one. The paragraphs talking about narcissistically seeking pleasure and convenience are the most convincing. Your ethics appear to be hollow and I hope you feel shame and go back to being vegan.
I totally agree with you have to say.
The things in when people like you and I speak up and speak out and give a counter view we are regarded as militant and giving the vegan community a bad name. Err no! We are just speaking up some truth and they don’t like it.
If she had SIBO, bile acid issues or bacterial overgrowth of one kind why was there no testing done at a lab? This cold have been done? The lack of enzymes? Was that discussed? So if the tests were done why are they not shared here? I don’t think they were done. What about intolerances as a result?
For an Integrative Health Practioner I would expect a more thorough examination of the issue and why would the diet fail after so many years? That’s anecdotal because there are plenty of healthy vegans walking the planet and one just died way past 100 years and was a medical surgeon and he had NO issues with being 100% on a healthy vegan diet (not that you have to be 100%) but this sort of articles just smell fishy to me (pardon the pun). Wrapped up with anecdotal opinion not backed with scientific (unbiased scientific) evidence so anyone with a similar issue just goes, “oooo, oooo fantastic that’s me hurrah, I can eat a juicy steak again,,,,, because you know,,,,, it makes sense”. Nonscence!
Are you even serious? Shaming another person for not following your idea of being a « good human »? C’mon. You are living in a mental construct.
To whom are you directing your not necessary snippy remark?
As time goes on people are going to start to understand that these kind of things you’re describing are caused by their vegan diets, which just are not nutritionally adequate long term even when they go the extra mile like you did. A lot of people will damage their bodies for years in their reluctance to accept that they need to change and mature when the diet that best aligns with their values let’s them down. I see it a lot. The area I live in was way way way ahead of the vaganism trend so it’s consequently also way ahead in people who’ve been vegan for an extended time figuring out that it’s caused them health issues. Vegetarian diets seem less problematic but if I were a medical practitioner of any kind I certainly wouldn’t feel like it would be ethical to recommend either as a healthy way to eat long term, just like I’d never feel ok telling anybody that it’s healthy to eat eat red meat more than 2-3 days in a week.
good for you i am in the same boat. Have always had food sensitivities and have developed many more. Was down to 10 safe foods celery and olives being 2 of them. Eating fruit and veggies only I developed ibs problems and swelling so transitioning back to some animal products. My digestion is still adjusting but feeling somewhat better already.
All the best to you
I am done beating myself up over food choices and completely finished with labels as well. Sometimes just looking at meat grosses me out. When that happens, it’s simple; I don’t eat meat. Other days I go out of my way to eat meat because that is all I crave. Intuitive eating is what every one should be doing. What works for one has never been and will never be a one size fits all formula or diet. Everyone should just do what works for them and their health.
“Intuitive eating” is a really iffy phrase cause it’s predominantly used to refer to something way way less healthy than you seem to be suggesting. Usually it’s the “fat positive” community who uses that phrase and they essentially use it to mean “eat whatever you feel like eating cause your body is telling you need it”. Really, nobody who is hoping to hear that it’s ok to keep eating whatever they want is ever going to hear “Intuitive eating” and interpret it in a healthy way. Many people have genuinely never been presented with the idea that they shouldn’t go get a plate of food when they aren’t even hungry just cause the clock says lunch time. I think “do I actually feel like eating meat today?” would break some brains lol. Whatever it once meant, the phrase has been corrupted beyond repair now. We need a new name for what you’re doing!
I agree totally!
I’m proud of you for choosing what’s best for you and your family. I just recently read your Happy Hormone guidebook and loved it but found myself thinking “there are so many other foods that could be included to provide these nutrients”. I’m excited that you’re on a healing journey!
I’m proud of you for choosing what’s best for you and your family. I just recently read your Happy Hormone guidebook and loved it but found myself thinking “there are so many other foods that could be included to provide these nutrients”. I’m excited that you’re on a healing journey!
Hi Shannon, I just read your book and have to admit, checking out your blog and reading that you’re no longer plant-based has been a bit of a shock for me, seeing as I’m a long-time vegan myself. While I do think everyone has to decide for themselves what they do or don’t eat, the way you describe it makes it seem like going vegan was a mistake, which could give other people the idea that a WFPB diet ist generally not a wholesome and longterm option – while the science overwhelmingly states that a plant-predominant diet is the healthiest diet. On your instagram, you use hashtags like recoveringvegan, which in my opinion makes it seem like veganism is just as bad for your health as alcoholism oder drug addiction. That’s what I find really disappointing, much more so than your shift away from diet labels, which of course is up to you and has to feel right for you.
It is now my opinion that a long term plant based diet is not a viable or healthy or wholesome way to eat anymore (long term). My views have completely changed although the foundations in my book remain the same. I do not wish to sway anyone but I am recovering from 8 years of depletion and I will not be sorry for my experience. What bothers me is that I wrote my book 4 years ago and I’m not allowed to change or evolve as a person? Who gets to decide that? As I said, the foundations of hormone health remain the same with an addition of animal products.
My experience is so much the same as yours. The first 5 years of being vegan were wonderful. The past 3 years…..not so much. Constant bloating, bowel hell, my face and body have aged 10 years in the past 2. What was once a joy to be in the kitchen doing my thing has become a constant chore and I have little desire for it – that wasn’t a conscious thing either…it just started happening and I didn’t know why. But my husband and I both started to become weak and listless. We were starving without being aware of it. So for the past 3 weeks I’ve begun to reintroduce meat back into our diet – not so much dairy though. The turnaround is astounding! I know I have a long way to go. We walked into that forest for 8 years. It will take time to walk out. But I was so happy to read your post as it is so close to my own experience. I don’t condemn vegans but it sure has its real dangers that I was totally unaware of. Thank the Lord for giving me the experience and for bringing me out of it. Bless you and your family, Shannon.
I have been plant based 10 years and i got your happy hormones book a few years ago. I started just recently taking it seriously. After getting off of levothyroxine for hashimotos, the realization hit hard that we as female need to pay attention at the nutrient and mineral density of our food a lot more and a plant based diet with the lack of vitamin and minerals in fruit and veg from over farming soil isn’t cutting it for me anymore. This week i am starting back with trying fish and doing eggs too. I will still eat mostly plant based and use your wonderful book to help me create meals around my cycles because it has helped me so much already feel great. I understand. Thank you.
I am interested to hear/read where you have evidence that their are a lack of vitamins and minerals in fruit and veg from over farming soil? Because in which case, this will apply to animal feed to? Eggs are fine but only in small doses.
Don’t believe me? I suggest you follow Simon Hill on YT. Why? Because he interviews the top scientists and gets to the truth of the matter. Unbiased evidence too.
I am sorry but for an Integrative Health Practioner there was no mention of getting gut health tested with the right tests and how to go about this and what the results mean. So much for that qualification!!!! You can have these issues too on any diet not just a vegan diet. Bile acids can be tested as well as SIBO and a plethora of other bacterial over growth issues. Gojiman on YT offers these tests and so do others. He has a PhD in nutrition and specialises in vegan health. So yeah, like Simon he knows what he’s talking about.
I agree, do what is best for you. I tried raw vegan and my gut felt so much better and I found i did not need to wear arm deodorant. However, I started experiencing low energy and other abnormal symptoms. I added more protein with meat and feel much better. I think we should give our bodies a break from meat, but not long term.
Might be a great idea you rewrite your books according to your new opinion instead of selling something you no longer believe in.
Which « foundations » can remain the same when its pretty much the opposite?
Was going to buy your book but now don’t feel like it’s authentic, hope you’ll make an update.
Actually see made it very clear at multiple points in her article that she’s NOT against vegan diets and she did also repeat that she felt really good for a whole 5 years. Coming to the correct conclusion that a vegan diet is not in one’s best nutritional interest LONG TERM definitely doesn’t mean that she regrets being a vegan, nor does any part of the article read that way if you do actually read the words. She even made a point of mentioning how much good it did and how she learned so much. It really seems like you heard what you wanted to hear because it’s so much easier to just dismiss what somebody who denounces something important to you says about it. It’s much less easy for people to stomach hearing that somebody who sees the value in that important thing also has found flaws in it that you don’t want to be accurate. I live in a place that was unusually far ahead of the trend, with vegetarian and vegan options being extremely easy to find even 10 years ago. Because of this we’re already in the phase where people who’ve been vegans for many years are discovering and having to come to terms with the problems that their chosen life style has caused long term. It is absolutely inevitable that over the next decade or so articles like this will become abundant, and a lot of them are going to be written by people in nutrition and medical fields.
Nicely put!
Science doesent support veganism as the healthiest diet Healthiest diet is Medditerean/Pesceterian
Hi,
I have had a similar experience as you. I tried every diet to help my mold symptoms. Some things you may not have tried are learning about the connection of the pituitary gland-adrenals-kidneys-lymph system. I know you have had issues with your adrenals and the vegan diet helped you; However, mold takes a lot of time to get rid of. Parasites, fungi, bacteria, viruses, heavy metals all get held in if those systems I said are not healthy or are blocked. It took me a long time and a lot of research to figure out that kidney and lymph (spleen) health is where it all needs to start to heal, and you need all the building blocks to get these organs at full health. Changing your diet was smart because you listened to your body when it told you you were lacking somewhere. When you said fish made you feel better I immediately thought your pituitary needs help and your adrenals are still weak. An alkaline diet with a balance in electrolytes, fats, appropriate protein for kidney damage, and vitamins/all other minerals is needed. I hope I have helped you some. I help women with illnesses do research for their own health journeys so I pray this information gets to you. Take care.
Shannon, I’ve followed you for several years now and although I was quite surprised when I read this, I say hooray for you! I’m glad you’re feeling better and have stepped away from the labels. As humans we always want to put each other in a box/label. While I am still plant-based, I give myself the freedom to change and add back in animal products in the future, if my body decides it needs them. Things are changing, and farming practices are changing. There is a lot of hate and extremism with some, and that’s pretty scary. In my opinion, and this is my opinion only, we should extend grace when a decision has been made after all of the careful consideration I’m sure you put into this. I wish you and your family nothing but the very best, and look forward to continued awesome content. Take care.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS!! I have been vegan for 8 years also, and also had a baby about 6 months ago and have been feeling the need to back away from the vegan label and add in animal protein. This was the permission I needed and I surely hope you offer the same guidance you always have!!!
I commend you for being open to doing what is good for you as a new mom! It’s super scary to see people choosing to nurse on a vegan diet and then pushing the same kind of diet on the child once they’re eating solid food. Children on no-meat diets have a waaay higher rate of being under weight, which is in the majority of instances due to inadequate nutrition rather than excessive activity level or underlying disease. Adults have a significantly harder time losing weight, whether intentionally or accidentally, so the signs of inadequate nutrition do not become visible so easily. A baby gets what you get, so even if you decide that going right back to your preferred diet is in your future it’s good that your priority now is your little one!
It’s taken me time to digest; I never react in emotion.
I’m not a vegan who tells people what’s right for them; I don’t claim to know anyone’s body, or what feels right for it.
I wish you all the best in your journey, and hope that you understand that I won’t be following you as I generally seek vegan recipes only. As I do look for recipes to make for my *definitely not* vegan Dad at times, I will keep you in mind, and bookmarked.
Kindest wishes, and I hope you feel quite well soon. 🙂 Thanks for your creativity.
This isn’t an airport, honey. Nobody needs to know that you’re departing.
To whom are you directing your not necessary snippy remark?
Thank you so much for sharing this! I was vegetarian for many years, but it wasn’t sustainable for me. I am married to an avid hunter and fisherman and seeing the way the harvest meat has changed my entire perspective. Hunting connects us to Mother Nature and eating the meat from her very self is the greatest gift you can receive.
I have recently dived back into the yoga world and was feeling this pressure to stop eating meat. Seeing this post was perfect timing and a good reminder to just listen to my and do what it needs❤️
I must say your new perspective makes much much more sense so I’m glad you’ve found it, although I’m sure you did gain valuable things from your former vegan life as well!
Please share anything your doing to treat Sibo and bloating
I’ve tried everything
I’m not vegan myself but have enjoyed your recipes and your blog for many years. I often make them as meal prep and eat vegan lunches during the week. Thank you for sharing your story, it takes great courage to put that out there! I hope you are able to heal. And I hope you continue sharing your story and your recipes.
My first impression:
… you were healthy, prior to going vegan.
And by going vegan, you set up a gradual personal type of malnutrition.
Over time.
Little by little, bit by bit.
The most important component, I feel …
And they are vital to the breakdown of cellulose and fiber and absorption of nutrients, are
Digestive enzymes.
As we age they diminish. And they are so vital. Without an adequate and substantial amount of digestive enzymes… The body simply cannot break down fiber properly and can not transport entrance form all of those nutrients and vitamins and minerals into usable fuel, delivered to the blood and the cells.
I think you need enzymes!
And heme. Complete protein from a non-plant source.
Quite possibly, your body simply craves complete protein and simply needs completely spectacular those wonderful digestive enzymes. Smile. 🙂
All plants are a complete protein.
Digestive enzymes issues are linked to bacterial issues in the gut. That takes place no matter what diet a person is on.
If she had SIBO, bile acid issues then why has she not advocated getting those things tested? Gojiman on YT actively deals with this.
He’s vegan
Got a Phd in Nutrition
This woman is an integrative health practioner?!!! Just goes to show doesn’t it how useful that certification was.
I’ve followed you for YEARS, I am not vegan but I love your recipes and learning from you. To be honest, a lot of times when I make your recipes, I add chicken or turkey to it and they always come out delish! I am so inspired by your bravery in shedding your identity and doing what is right for you, especially when you have such a big platform. I know how easy it is to get sucked into your way of eating becoming your identity and it’s really hard to break free of that. It’s so great to see all your loyal followers supporting you through this! Cannot wait to learn from you as you evolve on this journey!
<3
I am so proud of you for listening to your body & accepting the changes with grace. I can’t imagine how difficult it was to share this information with your followers but I hope you are blessed with even more for your authenticity & honesty. I was vegan for 7 years & pregnancy & postpartum changed everything. I developed severe aversions to everything I ate before pregnancy & dreamed about & craved meat. It never passed. Then postpartum I developed the severe bloating after meals. I started dipping my toes back into the non vegan diet with eggs & fish but I still feel like my body needs more. I’m looking forward to your new recipes that support postpartum breastfeeding former vegan moms! Like you, I could never have imagined not being vegan as it was such a huge part of me. Instead I’m taking what I learned about compassion, continuing to eat lots of plants, & giving myself grace. I too, have to heal my body & so what’s best for myself & my family. Lots of love!
Good for you for making a change when you need to. I’ve been vegan for 5 years and just had a baby 3 months ago. I am curious where do you get your meat from and eggs? What kind of meals are you looking at now a days? I’m also thinking about when going out somewhere to choose normal things with my child too.
Also as for improving breast milk have you noticed a change? What things, now animal products, are you doing for better breast milk ?
Hey Shannon,
Well done you for setting the example of putting your health above what others may think. We are all individuals and what works for one may not work for another. I went vegan 4 years ago because my body rejected all animal products, I hated the smell, taste, everything and would get nauseous easily when near eggs or fish. In the past year, I’ve started eating eggs again on occasion, some goats cheese..why? Because that is what MY body feels good on. Our bodies change (especially postpartum) and if we truly care for ourselves we will listen to what our body needs, not what others think we should be doing, as you have so bravely done.
Keep blazing a trail, I look forward to your future recipes and posts.
All the best for your health moving forward, please do continue to share your journey, you never know who may be helped by something you experienced and found a solution to. Much Love to you.
For what it’s worth, I have tried several times to go vegan and my body outright rejects it every time. I loved your recipes for the options to add more plants into my diet, but not exclusively. So I am really excited to see what recipes you will share in the future. You haven’t lost me as a reader! If anything I’m even more excited about what’s to come. I’m so thankful for your courage and I think you’re setting a wonderful example for your daughter to be true to yourself no matter what. Best wishes to you!
No matter what anybody (especially most trendy vegan influensters) may want you to think, NOBODY has an easy time adjusting to eating a fully vegan diet. Most people have to do it gradually or it’s just way too rough on their bodies. And why wouldn’t it be? Eating foods that are natural doesn’t magically equal a natural diet for a human to eat, especially long term. It’s natural for humans to eat meat. This isn’t any more debatable than the sky appearing blue to us on a clear day. I don’t think anybody should go vegan with the idea that isn’t going to be a long term thing. My hope is that eventually people will learn to balance veganism for the sake of their life long health. Perhaps by cutting dairy completely (we don’t really need it) but going 3 years off meat/fish/poultry and 1 year back on it to help ward off problematic deficiencies and overload of things that contribute to development of sensitivities and poor gut health.
That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard in all my years of a health sciences graduate and going to conferences to on public health and diet. “1 year back on” what the hell are you talking about!!!! This is anecdotal nonscence. You are talking about sensitivities to the gut of which you know very little about what the hell you are talking of.
For anything like this, get your gut health checked with blood tests (no matter what your diet is) and see a plant based Dr for guidance.
My body might feel great on cocaine, it doesn’t mean it’s good for me.
Syncronisity in this article for me. Thank you for sharing. I’m in the beginning phase of shifting from vegan diet myself due to major gut discomfort and weight gain etc. My community and husband will hopefully except this as gentle as your community has.
Hurray for a new beginnings in 2022!
Dear Shannon,
I’ve never reached out, but this feels like the perfect opportunity to tell you that your book Happy Hormones has changed my life. Thank you! My body never appreciated a strictly vegan/vegetarian lifestyle so I stuck with my usual mantra of Mostly Plants, but eating with my cycle has changed my cycle. I used to get horrible depression for ten days during my follicular phase of all phases!!! Supposed to be on top of the world and I would be miserable. This is a thing of the past thanks to your book! Some people have to be trailblazers because of the challenges they run into, and we all benefit from your passion and experimentation. Thank you!
As someone who used to be plant-based for not even as long as you – I can imagine this was incredibly difficult to share but know that you are not disappointing anyone – and if you were, that’s besides the point because your health is more important! As someone else said, there is no one size fits all diet or way of eating. Being flexible is so important!
Can you please please please go see a gastroenterologist and get tested for MRSA in your gut. As far as no longer being vegan- if that is what’s best for you than that is great but I had the same exact issues as you and after a long battle with the same symptoms, and many many tests, I found out it was mrsa. It’s hard to put that out there. I was put on a course of antibiotics and I immediately felt better. I am vegan and have been for many years but I will never judge anyone for their food choices. That’s a personal thing. I just want you to feel better and if I can help any one going through the same thing as me then that would be amazing to me. It’s an easy test and it is worth it and if you don’t have it that is great but one less thing you have to think about.
It took immense courage and bravery to post this, and I am so grateful that you did. Thank you for sharing your journey with us, and bravo for taking care of yourself!
Shannon, you’re brave to post this and the reason is so good and about you and your health. Thanks for sharing with us and I know I am still reading your posts, suggestions, recipes, etc. You model true healthy behavior, we all need this vegan or not.
Thank you so much for sharing this step in your journey. I was once in the same exact position as you, coming back to animal products for my own health reasons and while you know you’re doing right by yourself and thats all that should matter, it’s still difficult to adjust. But you just keep doing you and your crowd/following may shift a bit but you will be helping many along the way as you journey through this yourself.
Hey, don’t be hard on yourself. Everything changes! To embrace change and gracefully adapt your life is the best, for you and your family. No guilt, no regrets, no apologies…..I’m 74 yrs old and can say that. My life changes all the time and I roll with it. It took me too long to get there. Pls keep up your blog, I love it and you’re an inspiration.
Thank you for sharing! So glad that this may open up more of the intuitive eating habits you mentioned, habits that might have been limited with the vegan lifestyle. I love your recipes and have both your cookbooks! I can’t wait to see what new recipes you come up with and will definitely be getting your next cookbook when that comes out
This is actually AMAZING! and so relatable. Toxicity and gut health is close too my heart as my mother passed away from too much food restriction. I look forward to your posts with this new life which connects with me on a much deeper level as an intuitive and meat eater . Wonderful!
Thank you for sharing, Shannon! This is a beautiful and powerful story. We are all on a journey and knowing when to switch gears for our physical and emotional health is wisdom. These bodies of ours are amazing machines but they don’t all need the same things or at the same times in life. So glad you have found what works for you now and can embrace this new season and all that it means. Hugs!
I know that this post was likely hard to make for you, but your transparency has made just made me more of a “fan”! Take care of you. 🙂 Looking forward to seeing what you come up with for the future!
I just recently came across your blog but I could so much relate reading this post just now. I think it was extremely strong of you to listen to yourself and take this step to care about your health. Having been diagnosed with two autoimmune diseases five years ago and caring about our environment, I have been vegetarian for long before but after these diagnoses, I tried to cut down everything because I thought- and also everyone told me- that vegan would be best for me. However I’ve gone back to eating fish and eggs mainly when I feel like it too and since then I do have less pain and feel more at peace with my body.
I’m happy you made this decision for yourself and your family and wish you all the best!
Proud of you for following your gut, literally and figuratively. You don’t owe us an apology for taking care of yourself. Be well. xo
Thank you for sharing. I can’t wait to see what the future brings.
Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us! I think it’s great that you are listening to your body and modeling a healthy lifestyle for your daughter. I am excited for all the recipes and blog posts to come! Keep doing what you’re doing, Shannon
As a mostly plant based eater, I understand. You need to do what is right for you. I look forward to reading more and hope to see posts with suggestions for menopausal women. Take care
You go girl! Honestly no size fits all for a way of eating. I have tried vegan, paleo, gluten/dairy free…sometimes there’s just food that makes you feel good and food that does not. Keep posting seriously, I really look forward to all the content you put on here and it is just so honest. Hard to find that in this day and age!
If you drink cow’s milk at this point, then you were never really vegan to begin with. You didn’t make it. That milk is stolen by manipulating another female animal’s reproductive system. You were never vegan, dont worry about that. Enjoy your milk.