kinda scared to post this but oh well LOL sending u all a hug!!! xoxo follow me on IG for more updates + pics of my food hehee!!! ✪ INSTA @_amberalexander ✪ TIKTOK @amberyeet ✪ SPOTIFY @amberalexanderr
It’s interesting how similar our experiences were at the beginning. I went vegan a few weeks before my 14th bday and it was basically my last attempt at losing weight bc I had already tried many diets prior to that. As I was listening to you, I genuinely almost felt like you were talking about me 😅. I’m still vegan, but just like you, my reasons changed as I matured. Now I’m actually majoring in nutritional sciences, working on becoming a registered dietitian. My relationship with food has changed quite a lot and I’ve learned so much more studying nutrition. I think you worded everything very well and I’m glad you were willing to be open about this even though some people can definitely be judgmental at times. The idea has been created that vegan = healthy automatically when that’s just not the case. I’m glad to hear you’re prioritizing your health and feeling better about yourself! I think for anyone trying to improve their relationship with food, going to a dietitian is a great first step (shameless plug for my future self). Unfortunately, not everyone has access to those resources, but at least obtaining your information from the right people/places such as (again) registered dietitian accounts and not from people who just want to spread misinformation and fear. Keep doing you Amber!
YES! People’s food journeys are NOT linear! They change throughout our lives and I appreciate you so much for being transparent because sometimes it’s hard to be open about our relationships with food. Thank you for being open about it even though we aren’t entitled to know! Much love to you!
But that's just the thing....veganism is not (just) about food. It's an animal rights movement. She didn't stop being vegan, she stopped being plant based. There's nothing wrong with that but being vegan (animal rights) and EATING vegan is not the same thing and yes, the difference is very very important.
It feels so wonderful to finally hear someone put my exact thoughts and emotions towards veganism into words. I love vegan food and its positive effects, but I have also suffered from an ED in the past and just cannot be monitoring all of my food intake the way I’d have to if I were 100% vegan. I completely understand where you are coming from Amber, and I am happy that you are able to prioritise yourself and your mental health like this! Being 100% vegan is just not meant for everyone at every stage in their life, and that’s okay!
This is not true. Every major dietary organization has said that you CAN be vegan at aby stage of life. Her issue isn't veganism, it's having an eating disorders. Which you can have regardless of being vegan. You don't have to restrict yourself as a vegan, that's such an annoying stereotype. I feel like she lacked so so much education on the diet part on veganism. And yes, you can lack education despite being "vegan" for so long. If she wasn't then she would know you don't have to restrict yourself the same way she claims. Especially if you actually cared about animal rights. Its very sad how quickly these people can make excuses to eat products born of suffering. I wish she had better supportive environment of other vegans to cheer her on. Because objectively, veganism IS the best thing you can do for the environment. It absolutely is that simple.
@@sola_a I’m not talking about dietary needs though, I’m talking about mental health. Veganism can feel more restrictive because it forces you to mimick a lot of eating disorder behaviours, simply because it is still not completely accessible everywhere. If I were to eat 100% vegan all of the time, I could not be able to challenge spontaneous treats, or eating out together with my friends without checking the menu beforehand, or just being flexible in terms of food, all things that scared me when I was in my eating disorder. In a perfect world there would be just as many vegan options as non-vegan, and it wouldn’t take as much conscious effort and involvement to choose to eat 100% vegan. But the reality is that vegan foods are still not as common as non-vegan foods, and being vegan still means you have to say no to a lot of options and often find yourself with a sad salad when others can have a proper meal out. Non-disordered people can deal with those kinds of situations, but when you’re trying to recover it just adds another dimension to the struggle. So no, not everyone can be fully vegan at any stage of life, and choosing to incorporate animal products into your diet again to heal your relationship to food is a personal choice that has nothing to do with lacking education or willpower.
@@papercut6020 my point still stands. Veganism doesn't have to feel restrictive, it's a matter of educating yourself sufficiently. I say this as someone who had a difficult relationship with food before going vegan. So I think I know what I'm saying when I say veganism is only as hard as you make it hard. For example, I'm the only vegan in my friend group but my friends are actually supportive to the point where we only eat at places where all of us can eat. We cook together a lot. Good friends will look out for you. You can have a difficult relationship with food with any diet, that doesn't make the diet the issue necessarily. Us vegans aren't going about life restricting ourselves to unhealthy degrees and I'm so so tired of non-vegan (including the girl in the video) claiming that to denounce veganism for their own short comings. There is nothing personal about a "choice" that involves harming another. Your choice ends where it directly harms another. At that point its no longer a choice but a violation
you were one of the people that helped me become vegan. other animals deserve liberation from suffering and needless death. they aren’t a food group like you see them as. they are individuals like you and me. i’m sorry that you felt like it restricted your eating and that you needed to feel socially normal and mentally well by paying for other beings to suffer and die. i know that the world isn’t perfect and there’s no ethical consumption under capitalism, but animal products always have a victim unless they’re lab-grown. it’s intentional and unnecessary harm. hopefully, someday we’ll have lab grown flesh, body parts, and breast milk that everyone can enjoy soon. i also struggle with disordered eating and feeling like i can’t eat with everyone around me. i grew up in a culture with a lot of animals served as food, roasted whole pigs on tables, and all that. but culture can change and evolve. i can’t live with myself knowing that i’m eating the body parts and secretions of nonconsenting beings who can’t escape from their pain.
I just hit three years of being vegan and I know I definitely didn’t start for the right reasons because I was also restrictive and hyper focused on food, but now I intuitively eat and am in a way better relationship with food. Overall, I really related to this video and try not to worry about what people think and do what’s best for you! ❤
fFr any new starters the best option to start vegan diet is to try indian food. I have been vegeterain my whole life(not eggs) and i have never felt the need to eat meat becuase there just so many options but the problem is a lot of people don't know how to start and they end spending and stressing a lot it. The most stressfull is protien intake but if you start right with all the beans and dals then its a no brainer.
@@armdoor8346 i’m vegetarian as of october 2022 and i want to try indian food so bad! i know a decent chunk of the population in india is vegetarian which makes me happy. i feel like i’d have a great time visiting there and trying different foods. i don’t live near any indian restaurants right now, but hopefully i’ll be closer to some when i go to college in august.
It’s not about u. It’s about your victims. They don’t need to suffer and die becuase of u. But u r selfish and harm others for a taste preferences. For animal testing, fashion, entertainment. So selfish so self absorbed. Think of you victims
Maybe we shouldn't always think of ourselves only. Veganism is a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude-as far as is possible and practicable-all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of animals, humans and the environment.
i love how you’re super honest on how you became vegan to show both negatives and positives on changing your diet up like dat!! mucho love on whatever journey you follow💟😊😊
Wow this such a great video. I relate so much despite not being vegan. I was a young kid looking into veganism for the sake of losing weight and developed an eating disorder which I still struggle with as a now sophomore in college. I also still struggle with eating in public. It’s really crazy how much the internet warps young minds this way. This vid really comforted me about my own eating habits. I’m really glad ur bettering yourself tho!! Xx
You've never been vegan because you've never understood: Veganism is a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude-as far as is possible and practicable-all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of animals, humans and the environment.
i’m so grateful to have found kind youtubers like spencer barbosa, nutrition by kylie, and fitgreenmind who make body positive and health positive content. younger me needed that really badly. though, my mindset was awful and even though i was aware of the right things to do in regards to weightloss and insecurities, i was still horrible to myself. thankfully i’ve gotten out of that and i treat myself better. i’ve become healthier not only through food but by speaking kindly to myself. i’m not vegan though i’d love to be closer to one some day. i’m actually vegetarian as of october 2022. the social aspect and the money aspect of veganism is definitely a deterrent for me as of right now. being vegetarian, i have access to more things. i appreciate your transparency. as viewers of other’s content, you never know what goes on in someone’s life no matter how l things appear online. i’m happy you’ve decided to step away for your own mental health. you deserve to eat! from what i do know about you, you’re such a beautiful and hilarious person, you deserve to feel good about yourself!!
social media was def the main cause of my disordered eating habits. it’s so sad how you, me and so many other young people develop bad eating habits bc of influencers at such a young age. i remember under eating starting from the age of 12 and i got super restrictive and got depressed bc i wasn’t looking different (thinner). I even told my parents that I wasn’t gonna eat meat for a month to “try it out bc I was curious” but in reality, I just heard influencers and social media saying cutting meat will help weight loss. uGHHH I JUST RELATE TO THIS VIDEO SO MUCH AMBER, tysm for being so open and honest :,)
i honestly appreciate you so much for sharing what you’ve gone through with food, it gives a much needed perspective in the vegan yt space! i started watching you and ashley, and i think the trader joe’s haul made me look into veganism😭 i watched the documentaries and did some research too. my mindset was focused more on the health aspect cutting out processed foods etc. but i can see why for many people it leads to harmful restrictions. i actually didn’t eat meat other than chicken so it wasn’t that different. i actually never saw it as a restriction for myself, but just for the animals mostly. the idea of meat/ and meat industry started to gross me out tbh. i was vegan for three years but i stopped in 2020. i was vegetarian up until recently, i realized something similar that it wouldn’t make me a bad person if i ate meat again. i was conflicted for a while but i desperately wanted a chicken taco one day and i stopped lol💀 i think i’m seeing it as i can have more experiences through food like you said being with friends or trying foods from other cultures. i still only eat chicken and still enjoy some vegan/vegetarian options but i honestly wasn’t eating balanced so i felt pretty tired most of the time. i can tell i’ve improved some energy wise. and honestly it kind of seems like we can’t win even if we are vegan or vegetarian when there’s billion dollar companies polluting the earth every second😔 but anyway thank you for sharing your story!! i know it’s helpful for a lot of people that went through the same thing❤
proud of you for doing what you needed to do to heal and grow!! ❤️ i relate so much to everything you said. i was extremely restrictive a few years ago to lose weight, then found out ab veganism. i would tell ppl i went vegan bc i cared ab animals & the environment but i knew deep down it was also bc i wanted an excuse for a restrictive diet. about a year later i got extremely sick and couldn’t heal quickly bc i hadn’t been nourishing my body. so i went back to eating fish and eggs. and recently i’ve been wanting to just eat whatever i felt like eating. it’s so hard to eat out w friends & family and there’s so many foods that look so damn good but can’t eat bc of my diet 😭 i love how you said eating whatever you want is a way to heal from the restrictive mindset you’ve had in the past. i think thinking in that way can help me heal too! ❤ (sorry this is so long 😭 i just related so much and felt like sharing)
I’ve been a vegan for about 3 years. I started doing that because I wanted to be more healthy and consume more veggies and fruits. However I’ve developed some bad digestive issues due to mineral deficiency. Now I will try to slowly incorporate fish, meat, eggs in my food. I’ve had a craving for meat and fish before but completely ignored it due to my commitment not to eat any animal products. It is always crucial to listen to your body and don’t overlook it !
Same here. This was my 3rd year being vegan, just quit. Spent the last year battling GERD, other issues. The moment I started consuming meat, fish and eggs my body came back to life. I didn't know how truly stressed my body was until that moment.
Wow this was so well spoken and thought out 💕Thank you for articulating the struggles that can come with being vegan. I’m the same age and have been vegan since I was 14 too. Thinking back to when I brought like 6 bananas to school for lunch in high school is crazy to me 😂 Although I don’t share many of the restrictive experiences and habits you mentioned, I’ve had a very similar journey and sympathize with how it can be a lot to handle when trying to not restrict yourself and especially in social settings as well. Hearing someone else have the thoughts I have too is sooo validating. My way out of my restriction was fitness so I’m still going strong w/ veganism🌱but I'm happy you’re so aware of the effects it was having on you and have found freedom too in your own way❤️
amber!!!!!!! thank you for being so transparent with us and voicing out your whole thought process!! every time you have these sit down videos i get smacked in the face ( in a good way ?) with how thoughtful, well spoken, and intelligent you are! thank you for using your platform to truly speak your mind and share your experiences to reinforce + promote positive habits and self care!!! you tell things how they are, and word it in such an inspiring way .. i have so much appreciation for you and am so happy that you’re happy! i barely follow along with any youtubers and rarely comment but whenever i see you post SUM PART OF ME HAS TO VOICE MY ADORATION!! i can see just how much you care about the message that you send and AGH!!! i just love when people talk so passionately about anything and the way you are so self aware ... YAS! BUT YEAH!! U R SO AMAZING!! thank you so much for updating us even though u absolutely didn’t have to!!
Tried the vegetarian diet which had some vegan meals included and I honestly kept it up throughout the summer and then winter came and I had developed such a weird fear around eating food which had never happened to me because I was and still am the biggest foodie on earth and it scared the sht out of me which made me stop immediately with the vegetarian/vegan diet. Because everytime I would eat food with a dense structure I’d get panic attacks out of fear not being able to swallow it?? Like wtf? Still don‘t really know where that fear came from but changing my diet definitely triggered that a lot which again, made me change back to my old diet. Now I listen to my body and eat what my body craves. It took me half a year to heal my relationship with food again and since then I never looked back. So thank you sm for sharing your story! It‘s so important that we honor our bodies and listen well when they talk to us❤
Yeah, there is hundreds, if not thousands, of them. I was vegan for about 10 years and it helped so much to see that I wasn't going through this alone...
I never realized how I always assume that people choose vegan diets based only on personal values about animal products so its really eye opening to hear you talk from your perspective of restrictive eating. As someone who has dealt with an E.D. in a different way, I love hearing how far you've come and how a casual relationship with food can be so freeing!! Love you as always
This is not meant to disrespect you or invalidate your experience, but I really wish people in general would stop seeing veganism as a diet or a meal plan to lose weight. Veganism is a sociopolitical movement to stop animal explotation, cruelty, and to see them for the intelligent, sentient, worthy of respect and compassion beings they are, what you eat in consequence to those ideals is just part of it, so when someone says "I am no longer vegan", were they really vegan? Does it mean they stopped caring for animals? Does it mean they no longer respect their lives? Probably not. What they really mean is that they stopped eating a plant-based diet, which is totally valid, because one can choose to have a plant-based diet for reasons other than animal liberation, such as health, the environment, to treat a condition, etc., so when it no longer works or feels right, you can change your diet to something that makes you feel better. Having said that, I'm happy you're in a place where you feel better and more comfortable with what you eat, and that your relationship with food and self image is improving.
@@JamesW81 You can call a plant-based diet that does not contain animal products a "vegan diet," but that's only one use of the term "vegan." This use only came about because the most OBVIOUS example of living out veganism is food. At its core, veganism is not just about food: it's about refraining from using ANY product and supporting ANY practice that causes unnecessary suffering to animals. This includes things like wearing wool or fur, going to zoos, going to bullfights, practicing hunting as a sport, etc. If you care about animal rights and animal suffering, you can't just all of a sudden stop caring about those things. That doesn't make sense, does it? So while you can certainly stop eating a plant-based diet (or a vegan diet, if you'd like), you can't "stop BEING vegan." There's a difference between BEING vegan and EATING plant-based (or vegan).
Growing up during the rise of critical vegans on YT was truly difficult as a young girl . I remember eating such unbalanced meals during HS I felt miserable 😞Thanks for sharing your journey Amber. it truly takes a lot for one to repair their relationship w/ food
@@nicktheveganchick *A vegan diet can never be a balanced diet. You are deficient in at least 15 micronutrients ONLY found in animal products. You are MALNURISHING yourself. You have an eating disorder. GET HELP*
Your courage to make this transition into your new healthy eating habit is so inspiring Amber. Watching you grow into the most organic and true version of yourself is unmatched. Keep being you Amber!!!!!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Amber this is beautiful 🥹 thank you for being so honest and vulnerable. I am so happy you have found pure JOY out of eating good food and feeding your body what it desires. I am proud of you for developing a better relationship with food and with yourself. Here’s to more love within yourself and everything you eat!!! 💛💛💛💛
your video popped up on my feed, maybe because I'm vegan (i'm from india). here is my take on your video amber, science is very clear that vegan diet (planned as every diet should be) is healthy and nutritionally adequate for all stages of life. Veganism is not a cult, fad or diet (whoever says it is, is not in it for the animals). Veganism is a social justice movement for animals. we recognize that non-human animals, deserve our moral consideration and basic right not to be exploited or killed by humans for 15 minutes of taste pleasure. animals are not commodities; they are sentient beings who can feel pain, suffer just like us. When you view animals as just food, it's very easy to be disconnected from what really happens to animals (unnecessarily inflicting pain, suffering & ultimately death). I hope you revaluate your position on veganism. you are young and have lot of influence on people too with your RU-vid channel. True Vegans (ethical) don't support animal welfarism, we only support animal liberation. I recommend you watch slaughter footage (or) dominion(2018) (or) Earthlings (2005) and make up your mind whether what we are doing to animals is justified? highly recommend you check out 'Earthling Ed' RU-vid channel and his talks. "You Will Never Look at Your Life in the Same Way Again" talk by earthling ed.
@@lenorabarclay275 I support this decision because she made it. It’s her body, her choice. If that counts towards murdering a human baby, it counts for this. Where do you think they grow the plants that y’all use for your oat, almond, soy, cashew, (and whatever other plant) milk? They grow them in places where they cut down whole forests. They destroy the habitats for SO MANY ANIMALS. But now, because she made a choice that is completely her own, and un affects you run every way, you’ve decided to hate on her, and the ones that support her decision. Get your liberal but off your bed and do some real research, for both sides. You clearly have read the vegan side, now find something that disproves it and go into it with an open mind.
Thank you for this video! I’m vegetarian for almost 7 years, but have started to have the rare nibble of salmon. I’ve been thinking of going back to eating meat, but every time I feel that way something just sets me back (the icks I get thinking of meat). I initially became vegetarian when I was 13, and just like you for the wrong reasons 😅 It was a light sense of “maybe I’ll loose weight” so I became vegetarian. Eventually after 2 or so years, I became passionate about veganism and craved being vegan but relying on my parents for meals allowed them to tell me I cant be vegan until I’m 18. After a year or so, I wasnt as passionate anymore and just remained vegetarian just because I’ve been it for so long and that’s where I’m at now. I’m 19 & am indeed missing out on the social aspect because I would LOVE to try Korean BBQ without worrying about the vegetarian options knowing I wont be full. Even a simple pho soup will taste flavorless because of the broth being vegetarian instead of pork (or so, which I imagine to be flavorfullll). I also am more “restrictive” to where I dont eat dairy yogurt & dont eat dairy milk, but I still eat eggs and cheese. I would love to just casually have sushi without thinking about “do they have avocado rolls?” or without spending way more money on a speciality vegan sushi restaurant. I love vegetarism but I know I’m not doing it right. I dont eat beans, lentils, chickpeas, etc. and I occasionally add tofu. I thought I’d forever be vegetarian and even go vegan at one point, but now I’m just continuing it because I’ve done it for so long :-/ I appreciate this video so much 💗💗
I love when you touch on how you’ve already made an impact from the many years. Everyone should celebrate the impacts big and small people have and accept that 100% 24/7 isn’t the only option :) even one meal or one week is something and no one should feel that it’s all or nothing
This video was so refreshing and honest… I am really proud of you, Amber! You are such an insightful person, and I really feel like I’ve learnt a lot from you, as someone similar to you in age who has been watching your family’s content for over 4 years now. Not only are you endlessly funny, you are also massively wise and in-tune with yourself. Thank you for sharing these parts of your life with us, because it really does help me to check in on myself, too
This video was so insightful and inspiring. You honestly did not have to explain this decision at all - it was yours and yours only - but I am so glad you made this video since I know it will inspire so many to find themselves and heal their relationship with food! I hope you live your best life!
Hi Amber, I decided to become a Vegan about 5 months ago after getting negative results from a recent medical exam. I also decided to go very low oil and very low carbs and sugar. A restrictive diet was never a big deal for me because I come from a Kosher home which is already very restrictive. In fact, being Kosher in many ways is way more restrictive than just being Vegan. So far, I really love being Vegan. For most of my life, I already ate Vegan a few times a week so the transition wasn't that difficult. I don't really care about organic, processed foods or GMO, so I probably had more options than you did in some ways but less in others because the Vegan products I buy also have to be certified Kosher and you would be surprised just how many aren't. You would think all Vegan products are certified Kosher and I am sure a lot more of them could be but the manufacturers probably don't want to spend the money on certification. Many others also produce their Vegan products on the same production lines where they make other foods that are absolutely not Kosher so they could never be certified. I don't count calories and of course, I rarely eat out but my favorite thing about being Vegan now is that I can eat a lot more food and I seem to be losing weight even though I am eating more. I found a lot of foods I really love and really don't miss meat or dairy all that much. I don't know if I will remain a Vegan for the rest of my life but so far, I really like it. Did Ashley give you a hard time when you gave up being a strict vegan? Do you cook non-Vegan foods now that you're living together? I guess you would because she lived in a content house with many other non-vegans and she never complained, at least not on camera.
I really feel you on this. I have been vegan for the last 4/5 years (mostly, I still eat honey and in later years have eaten some eggs from my aunty's hens and mussels from my Dad's farm), but recently I have started being less and less restrictive with it. We are opposite in the way that I did not start veganism at all with the idea of losing weight, but it eventually grew to that point. I don't know that I could ever eat beef, pork, venison or chicken again (personally), but i've been afraid to potentially start eating eggs, dairy and maybe even fish again as I am afraid of gaining weight as I now have a slightly slower metabolism than when I first started with veganism (where I was legit a stick). I am now very much conciously considering whether I should try going back to being just veggie and even then not be too stressed about if I slip up. I really wish I could eat meat cause I do think that humans are mostly meant to be omnivores, but we'll just have to see what happens! Thank you for posting this Amber
Thank you for sharing your story! When I was younger I struggled with body image as well. Which led to unhealthy habits. Once I started college, I became vegetarian and eased my way to becoming vegan. Throughout that process I started to discover myself and grew a healthier relationship with food. Got to experiment with different foods. It made me become more connected with my food than I had ever been. For me, it was life changing and definitely worth the journey! You had a great influence on me a few years back because I would rarely get on YT but when i did, I found you and your sister, which were similar to by age and were vegan. I was like woah I’m not the only one and a POC vegan. Made me feel reassured, but it’s saddens me that you had to go thought all that! But I’m proud of you for searching your journey & gained a better relationship with food! Thanks again for putting yourself out there because it is not an easy task! I hope to someday spread body positivity and holistic healing as a POC vegan as I approach my degree in Nutrition!
So cool that you're willing to share this with us!! Listening to this makes me happy because we've gone through similar struggles and hearing that you're growing out of them gives me strenght and I'm sure many others would agree, thanks Amber :)
Not gonna lie I always compared myself to people on the Internet, also to you and Ashley. I always analyzed what you ate in the videos to a point I thought this is the only way I should eat, so that I will also have amazing skin/body etc. Especially since you were vegan and I always thought I have to be vegan to have good skin. But hearing you talk about your struggle with food/veganism just helped me so much!!!!! Not that I am happy to hear that you didn't feel great for a long time, it just made me realize that so many people have a complicated relationship with food, and we never know what's going on in their life and shouldn't compare ourselves. I've always struggled with restricting/under eating and I am still not at the point where I am ready to give up my old bad eating habits lol BUT I have to admit that your video really changed my perspective on my diet/comparison to other girlies on the internet. I am very proud of you for taking care of your body, you deserve to be happy and healthy and I really am excited for you to try sooo much other amazing food in the future!! I can't stress enough how amazingly mature you are for your age, I am not even half that wise yet lmao you always find the right words to express your emotions, and I've been really enjoying your sit down and talk videos lately. Your growth is honestly so inspiring, love ya x
Even as a 31yr old, I struggle with disordered/restrictive eating and I think without the help of the internet, I would've never known that I had an eating disorder. Personally, the hardest part for me was getting to the age where we as women, often can't tolerate carbs the same way we used (simple carbs, not complex). I also just found out that I have an illness where it is better for me to eat lower carb. I guess after years of trying to make small and healthier swaps, I still feel stuck as ever. How does 1 eat intuitively while also still technically "restricting"?! I will probably eventually work with a nutritionist if I can't find a way to manage my POTS symptoms on my own. Nourishing your body is SOOO important, especially during your younger years and this is why intermittent fasting really isn't the way to go unless a Dr recommends such. Look at professional gymnasts, they usually don't even start their periods until they are past the age of 14 because we NEED carbs for energy. I still see so many YTers claim they eat intuitively but still restrict, restrict, restrict and as women, we shouldn't be encouraging other women to eat less but eat to nourish our bodies instead. It's hard to know the right balance between what is healthy and what is not enough. ps; have you tried sushi yet? ^-^
As someone who is way older than you, I want to say that this video was beautiful. You will inspire so many young and older vegans, nonvegans, those who are going through eating disorders with this video with how important food is! Although I’m not vegan myself and never been, I respect all type of diets, cultures. Thank you so much for sharing!!! Btw!!! NEW WHAT I EAT IN A DAY!! I know you’re gonna be so experimental with new food and would love to seee!!!
As someone who is older than you I can say that this is not inspiring. It's excuses only. You never understood: Veganism is a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude-as far as is possible and practicable-all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of animals, humans and the environment.
@@realbonbonbon you’re very inspiring, although unfortunately not everyone can follow this type of diet. Kudos to you! Thanks for helping the environment. I’ve been using cruelty free products as much as possible so that’s all I can do for now. I work out, am a new grad nurse, and need as much protein for my energy and muscle. Also don’t have the right financial needs right now to buy anything high protein that’s vegan cause canadas been tough with high prices on food and I also live with in a Filipino household under my parents. So unfortunately I won’t be able to maintain a vegan diet. But awesome how you and others do so!
Veganism is good,but is hard to keep cause the food industry is a big mix of ingredients, and is far more healthy than a omnivor diet.I had two friends who died, meat lovers,42 and 46 years...heart and brain failure .Medical clinics are full of people with heart disease , and trust me ,not for eating salad.I have gout for 13 years , I do not eat meat(and other things) anymore.
I'm so glad that you shared your story. I know this is really going to help a lot of people!! Also great job putting this video together, you presented the topic in a positive way and you literally wrote an entire essay!
thank you for being so honest! this video was AMAZING and honestly voiced all my feelings about my relationship with being pescatarian! i’m currently 19 and became pescatarian when i was a sophomore in high school (14/15), because I wanted to lose weight. I was so strict with it at that time and I was also wishing to have have an eating disorder which just goes to show my mental state at that time. I had a horrible relationship with my body because I was always shamed for being bigger by my family and peers. when i was 17/18 I developed an eating disorder and just a few months ago came out of it. I now have an amazing relationship with food where I just eat what I want! no restrictions and no guilt!! I’m still mainly pescatarian but I’m not strict with myself if I want something that isn’t pescatarian I’ll simply have it. This has helped my relationship with food so much and now I love going out to eat with all my college friends!
i’ve been vegetarian for about 7 years now too and it’s started to become apparent to me that i do the same thing of using my diet as an excuse to eat or not and i’m proud of u for sharing this side of it that nobody talks about
the fact that you’re now sharing your story with us after a year of being vegan free just shows how careful and aware you are of your viewers. absolute queen amber!!! thing about this life journey thing, whether it be food or whatever else is that we’re all still navigating trying to find what works for us and what doesn’t 💛
Agreed, not everything is so black-and-white. Loved the message of your video! I think it’s so great that you were able to heal from your experience with food. Sharing food with friends, and the social aspect is one of my favorite parts of food too! I never realized that until you pointed that out.❤️❤️
Maybe your title should say " why I no longer eat plant based" because there is a difference. We're you vegan or plant based? Because it sounds like you were more plant based, due to you eating plant based foods for the health and diet aspect. Veganism today, is not a diet or a fad or a health based lifestyle . You are vegan because you just do not want to eat animal products, which cause animals to be hurt, exploited, & slaughtered. You believe animals have the right to live just like you do, and would never want to pay for someone to hurt them. You do not want to wear animal products either. It is not really the health aspect. You still can eat junk food vegan foods, unhealthy vegan foods, and an array of foods that are similar to their meat counter parts. Because it is not a diet, or fad diet if you are a true vegan. But if you do it for more health reasons and do it for the animals, then that is more of plant based eating lifestyle. Plus it sounds like you followed extreme plant based crazy nuts, that did not help in your journey. But there are also extremists in other fad diets like the Atkins diets, keto diet, pretty much in every diet craze. Too bad you were exposed to those types of people, which affected you, and maybe enhanced a slight eating disorder. Hope you have a good healing journey in life.
literally the exact same for me except im 25 and went vegan at 17 when i started college, initially it started with looking up easy recipes and turned into an easy way to restrict. like you said, it was so nice to just say “i cant eat that, im vegan”. still trying to heal from those years. thank you for making this video, it seems like so many others can relate. i loved the bit at the end, there’s so much nuance involved with being sustainable and taking care of yourself should be a #1 priority. proud of you 💕
Thank you so much for opening up, i find this video so relieving and important! In the past few years i watched a lot of your sister's videos, especially the "what i eat in a day", i used to be obsessed with those type of videos during quarantine, because i was trying to find new recipes that could be healthy, vegan but still good; i tried to make myself enjoy some things, especially the desserts, but in reality i didn't like some of them at all. It was only last year that i realized how much control i was putting on the food that i was eating, forcing myself not to eat the desserts that my boyfriend's mom was making because they were containing eggs or cow milk, feeling nervous and frustrated when i was eating outside or at someone's place because i didn't have the control. I was being so hard on myself on so many levels, and i decided to break this circle and i finally feel free to eat whatever i want; i haven't eaten meat in 4 years and i'm happy with this choice, i try to eat mostly plant-based but it makes me so happy to enjoy a sushi date with my boyfriend from time to time or baking a cake that actually tastes good.
This RU-vidr has definitely proved to me that I can be strong with meat instead of Boring Vegan Foods. I wish i knew that from the start because as a person who never liked diets at all, i was so naïve to eat, And due to that I never drank or ate anything and that became a problem for me, until 2009 when i started eating and that became a life changer for me. It helped me to be more cautious about not eating, and why It causes me to be hungry everyday. With meat, I knew that it made me who i am since 2011 when the first time i tried spaghetti bolognese and i fell in love with it instantly and to this today i never felt sorry for eating it 😂. All Jokes Aside, you definitely know how to explain the reason why Vegan food is terrible without being disrespectful and im proud of you because of that. Continue the kindness that you share with your videos everytime you film it and post it online on youtube ❤😊.
self healing journies are sooo refreshing! ive been dealing with it for a couple years now and it gets pretty lonely. seeing that you are my age and have struggled with self image and eating behaviors is soo relatable to me! it really makes me happy that i can relate to you about healing our relationship with food! so proud of you girly 🥰🥰 hugs from san diego!
Your reasons for not being vegan anymore make a lot of sense, from the inaccessibility at college to the restrictiveness feeling like an ED. That was also such a good point about how it's not all or nothing, you can still make a difference while not being completely vegan. It's awesome to see that you have a new love and enthusiasm for food! I've also had a fear of eating in front of people for a long time but for me it wasn't really about WHAT I was eating, it was HOW I was eating, i.e. just wanting to eat neatly and not chew oddly and stuff like that 😄 I also went vegan in high school and have been for a little over 7 years. I did it purely for animal-related reasons and not for weight/diet so maybe that's why I still feel comfortable with being vegan? It does get tough sometimes with the social aspect, and the convenience of just being able to grab whatever quick. I love my favourite go-to vegan brands of oat milk, oat ice cream, and other desserts, and I never really had an appetite for eggs, meat , or fish, so maybe my taste buds are just weird or something lol.
So proud of you Amber!! I'm curious as to how Ashley feels since you and her did veganism together for so long? I'm sure your family is so glad to see you growing into a healthy woman 🥺❤️
Thank you for sharing this! I found a lot of healing in your words💜 Even though I’ve never been vegan, I’ve struggled my whole life with my body image and in the past 5 years with eating less and basically starving myself to reach this image. Hearing your journey and how you’ve reached this confidence in your body and who you are as a person is inspiring and reminds me that beauty is not one image nor one size. It’s who you are that’s beautiful🫶🏻💜
I hear you. I'm 5 years vegan and i dont want to change it, but I also got into it for the "wrong" reasons. Since then, I have mended my food obsessions and I hope to be vegan forever, but I TOTALLY hear you and I am so proud of you for explaining your journey.
amber you are so cool for staying so real and for sharing things you struggled with, I am and I'm sure others, can definitely relate. thanks for putting yourself out there - it inspires me to do so as well! love you amber!! 💜
so happy for you amber ! thanks for being so vulnerable and sharing this with us. you are so strong and i’m so excited to see this new journey in your life !
You're just like me fr, lmaooo. Brooo, we had a similar experience with veganism! I went vegan for a few months in spring 2016 (around April or May, I believe. I remember because it was my freshmen year and it was during the outdoor track season). I was introduced to veganism by the RU-vid algorithm or something. Obviously being in a sport, I was trying to figure out the best foods to put in my body to nourish it and get energy/perform better at practice and on the track. So naturally, looking up healthy meal ideas, veganism-related videos showed up. I remember the Freelee the Banana Girl, the vegan couple (Mr. and Mrs. Vegan--I don't remember their name), and that one dude who would make videos and would only feed his dog vegan food (smh, feel bad for that dog). It was a weird time for the vegan community on RU-vid and for the RU-vid algorithm. Anyway, clearly I was interested in the diet (somewhat the lifestyle as well) because I wanted to eat better, but also, the documentaries and videos made me want to go vegan to prevent animal suffering on my end, at the time. A key reason I even adopted the diet was because I had high cholesterol and high triglycerides at one point after some annual bloodwork in middle school and the doctor presented and explained what that meant in a way that made it seem very life-threatening (like I would get a heart attack/heart disease soon, even though that was not the case at all). I adopted the diet almost blindly for those reasons. I obviously did some research, but it wasn't sufficient as much as the approach and diet wouldn't be sustainable for me. Eventually, my iron level was very low during that summer/fall. I eventually went back to eating an omnivore-based diet (majority plant-based and like at most 20% animal-based----I'm pretty sure it was a similar diet to the one I had prior to adopting the vegan diet). But yeah. I definitely felt better going back to my normal diet around late fall of 2016 (my sophomore year of high school). I'm 22 now and I will say my iron level was low this past January, but I took iron supplements daily as instructed by my doctors and now my iron level is within the healthy range! It was most likely low to begin with because of my PCOS and if not that, the fact that I don't really eat iron-rich animal proteins, specifically red meat. Like I said, by nature, my diet is pretty plant-based or even vegetarian at that. Anyway, if anyone read this, you're for real a G. Lol. It's somewhat comforting to know I can relate to someone my age and someone who had a very similar experience, especially in terms of being introduced to veganism.
Also, LOL, the MyFitnessPal thing was so real. I started using it in spring 2015 (I was finishing 8th grade, lmao). I didn't have an ED or anything, but definitely some form of body dysmorphia because I thought I was fat, when I really wasn't, and it was during that tumblr era and shit where people where the "thigh-gap" agenda was so present...abs too. LMFAO. Crazy. I was literally 14...using MyFitnessPal to try and get a thigh gap. Crazy. I didn't do restrictive eating though, I was just counting my calories within the range someone my age with my goals should be intaking. It's still bizarre to reflect that I lived that moment in my youth, lol. I always think about how sensitive and vulnerable young children and adults are when they have access to the internet and misinformation. It's definitely a thought I think to myself, especially when I think about having kids in the future, not gonna lie. LMAO. Deep.
I love everything about this video! How you articulated your thoughts, how open you were about your intentions, and how you’re choosing your health and happiness over everything. I’m not vegan but this video really changed my view on food and inspired me to see it in a more neutral way. Thank you and I’m so proud of you! ❤️❤️🥰🥰
you don’t know how big impact this video has on me. i’m so proud of you amber!!!! thanks for opening about your feelings and it’s really great to see you feeling good, ily so so much and thanks again
Very happy for you and your growth! Although I've never dabbled in veganism, but I can very much relate to struggling to understand how to have a good relationship with food and my body. I wish you luck as you continue on your journey
I don't know why this made my eyes a bit teary cause i can't really relate to this. But I just can't help but feel so proud of you, Amber!🥺 I can tell how sincere you are in this video and how happy you are right now in your life, cause girl you're 💖glowinggg💖 Excited for the next chapter! xx
This is literally one of the longest, most drawn-out, cop out experiences/moans I’ve ever heard. Vegan for the animals, plant-based for other reasons. She was plant based. The animals and seceretions from animals she eats now means loss of life quite simply, because she couldn’t be fucked to actual plan her diet effectively. It’s so easy and there’s zero reason to start eating animals and dairy. Veganism doesn’t restrict you 😆 She says shit like ‘you have to check every nutrition label’ - most people buy a lot of the same foods, which they know are vegan. Bullshit excuses ‘I don’t want to do this anymore’ - this tells me it was never about the animals
Veganism often feels restrictive when around people who are consistently eating animal products. Did you ever eat at any restaurants like Veggie Grill? There was one near my college and it always felt incredibly relaxing. Often if you have the right space, being vegan can feel incredibly expansive and abundant. It always helps to let go at times in a place you can trust. I imagine this could be even worse in a cafeteria setting where it feels like you're the only person choosing to stand against animal exploitation and cruelty. In the future, if you decide to reattempt being vegan, you might want to look for shortcuts to finding products without animals in them. For example, checking whether there is cholesterol tends to be a really easy "yes or no" type thing. (It's very rare to find animal products in something that has 0% cholesterol.) There are lots of little tricks like that to speed up the process. To be honest, it sounds like you still have some side quests to complete before you are ready to be vegan. You made a good attempt at it though. As your diet does still seem to be plant based. :)
bruh amber i related so mcuh it was literally painful. i used to do gymnastics cheer tumbling etc. and that's when my restrictive eating started and I remember it even messed up my relationship my my mom bc culturally foods we eat literally do not agree with veganism, vegetarian, etc and it is such a painful feeling to have to put so much though into something that more or less does not matter. thank you for this video
I've never been a vegan and am older than you but I wanted to say this was a really powerful message and journey to share. Your analysis was spot on throughout and you were very thoughtful and spoke from your perspective and experience. I liked that you remained nuance and were clear about your convictions. I particularly liked your emphasis on self-acceptance, grace and patience. There is no successful loving life without those things. It is simply impossible. So happy for you and that you are at this place in your journey! A reminder to everyone else, growth isn't obviously linear and hindsight is 20-20. That's why patience, grace and self-acceptance are key like Amber said. Lovely to see you caring for yourself Amber. Best of luck!
yas i'm so happy for you Amber!! my brother is vegan and he struggles with going out to eat with family and friends bc they rarely ever have food options for him. thankfully he doesn't restrict himself too crazy but at most restaurants he'll get fries or a random side. he recently tried going vegetarian so that he would have more options. i low key praise anyone who is vegan bc it's such a hard lifestyle. i constantly go out to vegan restaurants, taco trucks, etc with my brother to show the vegan community some love in hopes that one day it's a more common option especially in smaller towns. im glad to see you being open and taking care of YOURSELF!! bc that's what matters most🫶🏼
thank u for sharing amber u explained everything so well! it was really interesting and educating to hear about this side of being plant based, it’s very overlooked. i be pescatarian but i could still relate and understand a lot of what u were saying. i bet i could write a whole novel on the things i gotta deal with and don’t like lmao. very proud of u!
I was vegetarian in middle school-I did it for the animals bc I’ve always been very passionate about doing as much as I can to save the environment-but after about a year, I started eating meat again bc I realized I didn’t know how to cook good, nutritious vegetarian foods. As a stupid middle schooler, I was eating so many carbs every day and I wasn’t physically feeling great bc of it. Fast forward to about a year ago when I met my s/o who’s vegan, we bonded over how we both chose our diets for environmental reasons! And after learning how to cook more nutritious vegetarian food from my s/o and google, eventually I made the switch back to vegetarianism, and I’ve been on it for a little less than a year :) Although I’ve never had an ED, I understand the struggle of constantly reading labels and rejecting lots of food. That’s one of the reasons I always try to make sure my s/o eats enough especially for lunch/at school, since I know a vegan diet can be so restrictive, but that doesn’t mean you should stop eating with your friends! Food is certainly a huge aspect of social culture in America!! I’d also like to add, since you mentioned other ways of lessening your environmental impact, I also found ways to lessen my impact during my years of not being vegetarian. For example: - purchasing products that don’t contain palm oil to prevent mass deforestation - using bamboo products like a bamboo toothbrush instead of plastic products - using reusable grocery bags at the store - using plastic/silicone (REUSABLE) containers to store/bring food with me There are SOOOO many ways to lessen our environmental impact; going vegan/vegetarian are only a few of the many options!
Thank you for always being so transparent with all of us Amber. You are so articulate in the way you explained everything and your experience with being vegan. It's very nice to see you share your story and journey! We love you girl
I have been vegan for 2 years now and I love it and will never go back, but I do hear your reasons. Personally, I think it is really easy to be vegan, especially in Los Angeles and NYC where there are so many vegan options. It is also really simple to make modifications at restaurants. Ashley eats out at restaurants in all of her videos with her friends and family. Plus, I don't know about your college dining hall options but my dining hall has lots of vegan options. I would rather put in more effort to my food choices than contribute to climate change and suffering of so many animals everyday. I also do not want to develop health issues in the future. I also feel like I am not really missing out on anything by being vegan because of so many new products and substitutes now available. You are not a bad person for not being vegan anymore this is just my perspective. I understand your story is different as I have not suffered from ED, but I just want to share my views. I personally feel happier eating this way and I believe animals are not food! I do agree you can sustainably eat eggs if you have chickens but not meat and other products. I developed a fear of oil from freelee too lmao luckily I got over that
Thank you for sharing your journey ❤, I became vegan for similar reasons and now I am pescatarian, but it’s nice to know I wasn’t the only one influenced by vegan RU-vidrs when I was younger 😅
Thank you so much Amber. This video, and your precious, genuine words of your experience really hit smth in me. I've noticed that I'm really cautious of what I eat and find that I'm punishing myself for eating and feeling guilty for the things I eat. I also have this idea that (similar to what you mentioned,) I want to have a 'healthy girl' look in front of my friends and so at school all I eat are fruits, veggies and other nutrient foods, and so when I see my friends eating chips or chocolate or smth, I just don't understand how they can be so thin and happy eating all of that (did that make sense?) Sorry for oversharing, but I think my mindset about food and my body has changed now because of you. I know that sounds silly, but it's true. Thank you Amber
amber!!!! way to go!! im so happy for you that you break free from the ugly chain of restrictive food eating, and finding what you really want and above all, what your body needed. im still struggling with it myself, but seeing you being so unapologetically happy and tough it out gave me so much warmth and confidence. good luck on your future ventures, i hope you cook warm food and share with your loved once forever.
I completely relate to the restrictive eating and body dysmorphia. It makes me sad to look at the person I was when I was a kid trying so hard to be someone else. Now I’m developed a great relationship with food, I don’t count calories, I eat because I love food and I love my body. Great job in making this decision Amber! Proud of you💜
aww this is so wholesome in a way. the social aspect of sharing foods with your loved ones is so cute. also, the bangs and your makeup in this video are so gorg. proud of you amber 💞
im a junior in hs and i hope you know how much u inspire me and how much your videos make my day :)) thank you for this video and for your genuineness, i really needed this
Hey! It's your first video I've ever watched. I am a vegetarian who is trying to be vegan right now. I am so glad that you got out of your ed and living your best life right now:) altough i would have called you plant based rather than vegan, cause as you might know veganism is not just all about the diet but the mentality. I have never understood some people who try to push veganism onto others. If it doesn't come naturally to you, like you don't feel guilt and stuff and you only do it beacuse some people says that this is the only right way then what's the point in doing it? Not everyone is the same. The world doesn't need a few more super strict vegans, it needs a lots of people who are conscious with their actions and eating habits. I am not rushing going vegan for similar reasons. Instead of going fully vegan right now and not knowing what to do with my life suddenly, i prefer to go slowly and learn as much as i can during this time. I don't want to hate this lifestyle just beacuse I jumped right into it without knowing anything about it. Right now I prefer to experinece it as it comes, and at some point in my life I know that i'm going to be knowledgeable enough to go for it fully. It's not a competition:)
Amber, this was such a great video!! I have never commented on a youtube video before, but I was MOVED and felt that I wanted to say that I am so proud of your decision. You're literally so funny and awesome and.I love how genuine and authentic you are to your community. WE LUV UUUU AMBERRR!!!!!
Omg I did not expect my reaction…but I straight up cried after you pulled out your laptop. I’m so happy you’re in a better place now with your relationship with food. 😭💕
I had such a similar experience with veganism during college! When eating was already difficult to stay on top of, veganism acted as another barrier. I would simply not eat dinner even if there was readily available, easy to prepare non-vegan food because I felt as though eating it would make me a "terrible person". I have a much healthier relationship with food now, and I'm so happy to hear your experience and how much better you're feeling ❤
amber, great to hear your journey and how much u have been through! im 18 and have been struggling with my relationship with food and having early symptoms of binge eating + overly restricting my diet. this side of youtube focusing more on how we feel and our mental health rather than looks is just super wholesome. hearing your journey has given me so much inspiration and comfort, and what you wrote is so powerful (insert mic drop) thank you so much for ur video amber, lots of love!!
I've been following you three since like 2019, and your growth is so impressive. I'm the same age as you are, and my life also changed a lot thanks to having time to myself during the pandemic, so it sort of felt like I had a partner in change jajajaja . I'm so so happy for you, for this healing journey you're on and how far you've gone. It's amazing and something you really should be proud of! And also, I think this is something many people need to hear because if veganism is triggering you, it's making you unhappy, stressed, it's ok to stop, it doesn't make you a bad person. We sometimes focus on being the best person for the world forgetting that honestly, we're not the main ones at fault. We can do things to change, of course, but that doesn't mean we as individuals are the ones at fault a 100%. You not being vegan 24/7 365 won't make the planet burn faster, it doesn't make you evil, and happy, less stressed humans are more likely to help and make a change anyways so it's ok to prioritise yourself! I'm really glad you're choosing yourself even if it feels like it's going against some values, because there's still other ways of helping and you healthy and happy should be the most important thing. Take care!!
difficult topic... yes, of course your health comes first and you deserve to be happy and I am sad to hear that you and so many people in this comment section had to deal with disordered eating. However, those extrem vegans that you mention aren't extrem because they are vegan but because they themselves struggle with and promote disordered eating. Veganism does not have to be restrictive at all. Nowadays there are so many vegan options and food diaries that are refreshing and promote a truly healthy and balanced plant based diet (I am consciously using the term "plant based" because veganism itself isn't a diet, it is a lifestyle). I am also aware that it is difficult if almost no one else in your environment is vegan. It is dangerous however to promote eating animal products since they do have a huge negative impact on the environment, on animals etc. Saying that "eating that egg felt freeing", "maturing out of veganism" or promoting leather products (?) just feels wrong to me. Btw I am not saying that you can never eat animal products again. It is still your choice what you fuel your body with. But please be aware of the impact that you as RU-vidr have on other people. This is in no way meant as an attack, Amber... rather cunstructive criticism or food for thought. You are not a bad person and I appreciate the transparency.
'Veganism does not have to be restrictive at all. Nowadays there are so many vegan options.. '. Vegan 'play dough' fakery adds nothing but the unhealthy rubbish found in all, processed food but you seem to be okay with such. Why are you not promoting a WFPB diet? Is it that human health doesn't rank highly on your list of priorities?
I am inspired. Im in love with your explanation for what I have been experiencing for the last 5 years. This type of content is what society needs. It’s completely okay to not have a label for your diet, sexuality, race, or personal identity. It’s completely okay to try everything and judge based on vibes. Not everything is meant for everyone and if over analyzing is getting in the way of experiencing god, you are not better off staying in that state of anxiety and survival. Thank you for this. Keep on creating and following your human instinct’s. I love you ❤
The honesty in this video is so appreciated. As someone who has struggled with similar things, and I'm sure a lot of others has as well, seeing someone with a big platform talk about these topics so openly and honestly really helps with the stigma around these things and is helpful for people like us. You're so loved Amber! Thank you for this video and thankful for you!
