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Hey Group!! I'm interested to know if it is normal to experience withdrawls from not eating meat within 2weeks of following juicing & eating fruits and vegetables?

Can you please describe "withdrawals", do you mean actual symtoms or just cravings? If symptoms what are those, please?

Initially I had detox symptoms. I think those were worse than others here usually describe, because I have several food intolerances. Those symptoms were mostly tummy issues for me, but not I think "withdrawal" in the sense you might mean.

I had a strong craving for cheese the other night - my past drug of choice (though ice cream has about an equal pull that way) and it's been many months now that I have been on the program.

I never missed it, but then I originally went veg (then vegan) for ethical reasons. IMO that makes it easier--I was, by the time I went veg, utterly disgusted by meat.

This is not a "juicing" program, BTW. It is actually recommended that you EAT your veggie and fruit calories, not drink them.

I've never had meat withdrawals but I was vegetarian 10 years before going vegan. I would be interested to know what you mean by the term "withdrawal." I have friends who say they don't feel good if they don't eat meat. I've never heard of meat withdrawal, maybe that's what they are feeling.

If you're juicing and eating fruits and vegetables, maybe you're just not eating enough food, enough calories. Add some grains, some potatoes and see if those withdrawal feelings go away.

Yes, you can experience 'withdrawl' from meat, as it is physically addictive.
Dr. Neal Barnard discusses the addictive properties of meat in the following videos. They are well worth watching:

Breaking the Food Seduction:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDgA3T_J ... ata_player
and
Chocolate, Cheese, Meat, and Sugar -- Physically Addictive
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VWi6dXCT7I

Kate

Oh Yes! I had meat withdrawals! I was irritable and short tempered for about a week! I was very surprised because I didn't expect that. I expected 'cravings', which I didn't get except if I actually could smell meat being grilled coming out of a restaurant as I walked by. I'm not a meat lover, never was, so it was surprising that I had the emotional reactions when I gave it up. It has to be the drugs they give the animals that we become addicted to.

I never thought of becoming addicted to the drugs that they put into the animals before they become food. That's totally scary.

Even before I went vegetarian 12 years ago I ate very little meat and found milk disgusting. Maybe I was just lucky not to have had withdrawals. I have a different perspective now in talking to my friends.

Thanks for the education.

I had no problems whatsoever. I just stopped eating meat, dairy and eggs one day. I did have some digestive issues because of the increase in legume and fiber consumption, but that went away in about three weeks or so.

You're welcome. I've never liked cow's milk either. I just felt like I was drinking something.. bad for me.. never liked the taste.. I always wanted to cover it up with Quick or some other flavor..I really love soy milk on my cereal..I also drink a lot of almond milk. Though it's a little fattening..