I get B12 shots. Sucks getting them weekly, but you do what ya gotta do.

 

No judgement whatsoever! I feel that things like people's diets are a constantly evolving thing. Because I don't eat fruit, I have to make sure everything else is well balanced (including extra veggies to make up for it) so that I get a proper amount of things such as Vitamin C, etc.

Also, being as how meat isn't in my daily eating schedule, I have to be aware that I'm getting other sources of it in on days that are meatless. Otherwise, I seem to get fatigued much quicker.

I'm glad you've spotted the issue and are taking steps to correct it!

Have a good Monday, Sarena!

 

I do try to pay close attention to my nutrition - especially since I am also an avid exerciser and lift fairly heavy weights. Protein is a huge one for me. I also take multi-vitamins and a B vitamin. I try to use nutritional yeast often. I wish I could offer some advice, but I will say that you have to do what is right for your health and your body.

 

Wow! I am so grateful you posted this. Odd ailments and symptoms I have been experiencing mimic yours. I just did a mental check list and sure enough I can 99.9% guarentee I am too low on B12. You just saved me a Drs bill and now I am off to make myself feel better. Egg yolks anyone?!?!

 

Oh, hon, I feel you. I never cared too much about this until the past year. I've recently added chicken back into my diet for protein purposes and I've been feeling great! No judgement up here in Cleveland! :)

 

I have no judgement whatsoever. I mean, I think one of the main things that would help with the animal slaughtering issue is if people stopped subsisting on their steaks and burgers and meat-eating contests.

If you need animal sources of nutrition without terribly expensive, nauseating, or inconvenient means, I say that the occasional consumption of animal by-products is warranted.

 

I think it's great that you posted this. People need to know what starts to happen to your body when you're B12 deficient so that they can spot it for themselves. I take a vegetarian B12 vitamin about once a week since I'm still eating enough meat to not have to really worry about deficiencies too much yet. I'm really glad that you're starting out by addressing your problem with food, rather than pills though.

 

I have not always been great at taking supplements (it's a constant that I strive for!) but I do get vitamin IV one or two times weekly - we've gotten down to a science, I go in, the lab tech inserts the line, hands me the (big) needle and I push. 20 minutes in-out, and he's a friend so we chat, listen to music... I love them, they energize me!!

no judgement here, I hope the new changes will have you feeling better and can put you at ease. ...and a GREAT argument for egg yolks! :)

 

Thanks for sharing this Sarena! Glad you hear you're on your way to feeling better :)

I eat everything in moderation and try to balance things out. I don't take a B12 supplement, but do take a multivitamin.

 

Thank you, again, for deciding to share this with us. It's true - we only learn from mistakes, whether ours or others. For your sake I wish it weren't true - but as you said, I imagine there is so much worse that could happen, especially if you let it continue.
When I read that you still take your multi but weren't getting your B's from it I rushed to check out mine and to my relief, they do. So that's one source that I NEED to be more diligent about! (and I had a mac and "cheese" with nooch last night thanks to you ;) )

 

Oh wow - is that why I haven't felt good lately? I am a forced gluten free, non-dairy vegetarian, and have cut out eggs this last month as I have been trying an elimination diet. I have completely overlooked B12!!! I am off to eat an egg for lunch. Thanks so much for the heads up, and for your amazing blog which has helped me so much!

 

Thank you for sharing what's been going on Sarena! It is an important subject - especially for vegetarians, as you said. I'm glad that it didn't get worse and that you are working on getting all back in order. I do sometimes worry that I may be missing certain nutrients - maybe I should pay more attention (and finally try nutritional yeast!).

Hang in there and feel better soon, lady.

 

I have to get the shots as well. I have what is called pernicious anemia, which means the B12 is not absorbed in my intestines like it should be, so no matter how much I take orally, it won't be absorbed. The shots aren't bad though, I just give them to myself!

 

B vitamins make me nauseas, too! Glad you are feeling better and liking nutritional yeast!! I find it to be very yummy, especially blended with cooked beans.

I'm all about moderation, too, but I also want the most nutrition out of the majority of foods I eat.

I struggle with my love for animals and eating them. It's hard at times. If you ever consider adding fish oil into your diet, krill or salmon, I think it would offer a lot of benefits as a supplement to an overall balanced diet.

Feel better!

 

I do eat eggs, I raise my own chickens so have healthy eggs available at all times, also use nutritioanal yeast and take a multi with b12 in it.

 

I have a stack of vitamins I really need to get back in the habit of taking. I know I need to up my calcium, too, since I don't eat dairy either.

 

No judgement at all, and I appreciate you being open enough to share.

I know that I am not as aware of my vitamin situation as I should be. I just assume that since I take a multi vitamin, everything is covered, when in fact that's not true.

Good for you for making the dietary changes necessary to take care of your health!

 

I'm so sorry to hear that you're having to go through this-- I know how frustrating it must be for you :-(

Honestly, I probably don't pay as much attention to vitamins and macro-nutrients as I should. I have a B12 supplement, but I only remember to take it every five days or so.

 

Glad you figured out what had you feeling off and hopefully you will be back to normal asap. I know you will do what it takes to care for yourself without sacrificing what you believe as well. Hugs!

 

Finding out what is going on is always such a huge relief though... you'll be back on track in no time! I love egg yolks... can't get enough of em. And nooch waffles... you're my hero! :D

 

I'm glad you're feeling better. I think we're so lucky to live in a country where we can choose not to eat meat. There are millions who have no choice in what they eat and make do with what is there. Eat what is good for your body and keeps you healthy Sarena. I know you have moral issues, but your health is more important for you and your family. Good luck!

 

Glad you are taking the right steps for your health and eating things that make you feel great :) I hope your vitamin b-12 gets better. Michelle and I feel our b's are low, right now all we do is have nutritional yeast and have a b-12 patch we were a few times a week. But no real difference yet, we hope to share more tomorrow on our blog. HUGS

 

The funny thing is I feel like I get plenty of B vitamins from drinking Red Bull and XS (the Amway brand that has waaay more B vitamins than Red Bull).

I'm not chugging these all the time, just once in a while, so I don't actually rely on them, though.

Good luck!

Sarah

 

I was getting worried how you have been feeling ill for a while. I'm glad you found the problem before it got worst and hopefully you will recover much faster!

I haven't been to a doctor for my problems but I experience being really cold at times where everyone is really hot, I lose feeling in my arms and fingers (circulation) and sometimes I feel weak.. headache, nausea etc. I always thought it was before I had low iron levels. I hear munching on ice can mean this and I tend to much on ice.. But besides all that I always knew my body needed red meat. So I try to consume red meat at least 1-2 times week. I feel amazing and have more energy. So when I start losing my circulation in my arm or fingers, I know it is time for have some meat for dinner.

I tried to do a vegetarian base diet, which is simple and delicious.. but I was lacking on certain minerals and vitamins. So like you said everything in moderation. Luckily my food palate is very diversified and I like to eat all kinds of food, prepared in different ways!

 

Totally no judgement at all! I definitely think about the nutrition that goes into my meals, and usually adjust what I make for dinner to make sure that I've gotten everything I need. I take a B complex vitamin for days when I know I didn't get enough B-12, and flax seed oil if I feel like I didn't eat enough fats. I also take chlorella for iron. I try to have these supplements only as needed and not every day. As a gluten free, non dairy, non processed food vegetarian, it's so important to think about. I have been on - and -off anemic since I was super young, and recently tested negative for anemia, which made me happy!
Hang in there, make those little adjustments, and I'm sure you'll feel better in no time. I hope you feel better soo, Sarena!

 

I know I should think about getting B12, but I never remember to eat things that contain it!

 

I read this post during the day but I didn't have time to comment. THank you for sharing this with us..there is no judgement what so ever. You do what you need to do to be healthy and feel your best!! <3

 

My hands get blue and the fingers get whitish when I'm cold. I always assumed it was Raynaud's but maybe it's a lack of B12. I should probably ask the doctor about that. Especially since I self diagnosed myself with Raynaud's in the first place!

 

Glad that you figured out what was going on! I hope that you are able to keep up with the vitamins :)

 

My B12 levels got really low about 2 years ago. I wasn't eating a lot of animal products and my doctor put me on a high dose of B12 drops. I could not believe the difference they made - it was almost immediate. I would drag drag drag every afternoon, and all of a sudden I had so much energy. Now I make sure to include plenty of foods rich in B12 in my diet, and I feel soooo much better. I figure it's something that my body needs to function properly, and now I try to get it from my food rather than rely on vitamins and supplements.

 

P.S. Happy belated to Tony! :)

 

I've never gotten the shot but I do take B12 supplements!

 

I should take supplements too. I have been thinking about nutrients a TON more lately because I gave up eating meat a few months ago. I'm starting to wonder if it IS the right choice for me because despite making a concerted effort to get adequate protein I don't feel as good on this diet.

 

I have been having stomach issues for 5ish years and I'm recently discovering what I need to do. I just had a blood test done while at the gastro clinic. Today I found out my ferritin (iron) levels are extremely low and in the abnormal range. My doctors only note on the test was "Labs look good." So I'm trying to figure out the right vitamins and supplements I need for myself also. Thanks for sharing your story! I used to take B12 daily and totally forgot about it until now!

 

So glad you figured out what was going on, Sarena. And so sorry your health has been suffering but so happy you have corrected the problem and identified it...that's half the battle, right there.

Here's to you doing what's right for you, right now, amen sista.

 

Zero judgment! I was a vegetarian for about 8 years before I started getting sick for a whole slew of reasons, and it was basically because I wasn't keeping track of what my body actually NEEDED to eat. After a lot of soul searching I decided the best thing for ME would be to start eating meat again. It was a tough choice, but I know it was the right thing for me to do at the time and my body is a lot happier for it.

 

Sarena - thanks for sharing this. I too went through some similar experiences a few years ago, when I went Vegetarian. I was also teaching Yoga 6 days a week, on top of my own practice. Then one day, I could smell a bbq happening at the neighbours. My mouth started to water....I returned to eating meat and have never felt better. My body clearly showed me that a Vegetarian diet was not working for me. Now having said that, we only eat farm raised, antibiotic hormone free meat. We also include at least 3 Vegetarian meals a week. So far this has worked out well for me, three years later. We all need to find out works for our own bodies - good luck!

 

I'm just happy that you figured out the problem and feel better!!!

 

Sorry to hear about the issues you are going through - and no judgments here at all!

To be honest I don't pay enough attention to the nutrition I get -- I need to.

 

I definitely think about nutrients in every meal. But...I'm a nutrition teacher and wellness coach, and am trying to balance a lot of my health issues with food. I add nutritional yeast to a lot of things...and don't otherwise worry about B12 so much. I do have supplements of it in my cupboard though. Not so much a fan of taking them---I tend to see them sitting there and then remember to eat more nutritional yeast!

I think everyone has to figure out what combo of food and supplements work best for them to feel the best---the fact that you're figuring it out (even though it may seem like it's taking a while) is awesome!

 

This is an important part of special diets- it's good you included it.
Also I know you're also the budget queen, but if the egg yolks' taste is what puts you off them- the vegetarian fed and/or organic eggs taste a lot better. Also there seems to be less sulfur in them. (Take that where you want to. :) )
Cat Story

 

Sarena -- RE: my post on supplements --Making that post made me think of you and how you're super on top of knowing where to get the nutrients you need!

 

I'm a vegan so I make sure to take B-complex supplements daily. I usually use a liquid or sublingual tablets because pernicious anemia runs in my family. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, "high-dose oral therapy is considered to be as effective as intramuscular injection". You can read more here http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/vitamins/vitaminB12/
I hope that helps...all the best to you!