I started my vegan journey about six years ago, and I am completely happy with the choice my 15-year-old self-made.
Not only did I begin feeling lighter and more energized, but also lost weight and felt great in the choice that I was making, the choice to save animals.
I have heard every kind of question along the way (What do you even eat?) (How do you get protein?) (Why?) and even gotten friends annoyed with me because I couldn't eat somewhere they wanted to. I've gotten family members worried about my sanity (at least in the beginning) and had to turn down many delicious-smelling meaty temptations.
So if you're planning on going vegan, know there are pros and cons.
Pros:
1. You are saving the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of animals.
2. You will be healthier and feel healthier. (A vegan diet has no cholesterol, less fat and more plants and fruits involved).
3. A vegan diet is better for the planet. Choosing to go vegan is good all around. Animal production creates a lot of waste and takes a lot of resources.
4. Random pro: I personally dislike attention but if you don't mind it, your new diet will be an interesting topic of conversation.
Cons:
1. You may not be able to eat just anywhere when you go out with your friends or family. (Get very comfortable with the phrase "look they have salads!")
2. Once you are vegan for long enough, if you ever want to go back to eating meat, it will most likely be very uncomfortable or even painful. Eating meat most of your life, you don't notice the effect it has on your digestive system. Once you are without it for a while, you will really feel it.
3. If you don't like cooking at least a little, you're in trouble. It will be almost impossible to stick with it. Eating microwaved veggie burgers will only sustain you so far.
4. If you don't eat a varied diet, you will be bored and all of the benefits of veganism will be thrown out the window since you won't be eating very healthy anyways. This goes pretty much for all eating lifestyles but especially vegan because some might feel it's restrictive. It's easy just to eat the same thing because it's simple and fast.
5. If you don't eat various food, you could become vitamin deficient and develop health problems.
6. You will be tempted to cheat if you see a yummy non-vegan dish in front of you, so you must have WILLPOWER to some degree.
So yes, it seems like there are more reasons to not become vegan than there are to start. But the pros, in my opinion, carry much more weight than the cons.
I love being vegan, and nowadays I still consider myself so (although just more flexible). I sometimes eat vegetarian, but never meat.
I have no regrets in becoming vegan, so you probably won't either unless any of the cons I listed will be difficult to overcome. It is a great decision for your body, the lives of animals and the planet. Good luck!
