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I'm curious, because of how you phrased that if you are somewhat like me. I don't get hungry at "normal" intervals. Like it's not uncommon that I realize I've missed breakfast and lunch when I find myself hungry late evening. A lot of the time I have to remind myself to eat and I only eat regularly out of routine. When something throws me off my routine, that's when I just simply forget to eat.I'm the hungry kind of eater - if it's there, and I'm hungry, I eat it.
That reminds me of an expression my Father always used to try on me as a child to get me to eat something I didn't want to. "A man would hanker after skunk if he were raised on it".Having the luxury to pick what we want to eat or say no to certain food is very special. Everyone is an omnivore when they run out of food. I'll eat anything but I had to learn to do that and it was difficult and it took time. I used to be a very, very picky eater but I started training and when you train hard you have to eat. A lot. Things like taste doesn't matter much then, you just cram it down.
I was the opposite and always ate everything. I used to hang out in the kitchen when Mum was cooking and eat all the scraps, potato and carrot peels, everything. I was fussy with a couple of textures and smells but not that bad. The only cooked vegetable I wouldn't eat was peas and I can't stand the smell of anything with vinegar in it - except for pickled onions for some reason, love them.I'll eat anything but I had to learn to do that and it was difficult and it took time.
I salute you, friend.I checked both vegan and strict dietary restrictions.
I became vegan + other restrictions due to three autoimmune diseases. Nearly died before figuring out all of the trigger foods. None of the doctors had a clue. One doctor suggested an elimination diet to find the triggers.
Now, on my trigger free diet, all is well. However, even the tiniest cheat results in a rapid reversal and slow recovery.
One benefit of becoming vegan is that it resolved a lifelong self-hatred. I grew up in farm/ranch country. All my best friends (I mean literally all) were called animals. To me, they were people. But, they were the only people that understood and accepted me. My father hated me and my mother just barely tolerated me. But, my friends loved me and always wanted to hang out with me, and I them. They all got me and I got them. Basically they were my real family. They were the only people I felt comfortable with. I thought people just came in different shapes, colors and sizes.
I was profoundly devastated to discover and witness what the term "livestock" meant. I was also told, very strongly, that eating meat was a requirement. Thus, the self hatred. That devastation is a PTSD that I still suffer from. Have no imagination that it can ever go away. I loved my "family" so I can't ever forget them, so the PTSD will remain as long as I feel that love.
My three autoimmune diseases started in 1989. With all my trial and error learning how to find the dietary triggers, I found meat was a major offender. Against all my family and doctors telling me I have to eat meat, but discovering that cutting out meat made my symptoms go away. So, I went with that. I figured that if I die from not eating meat, then that would be better than dying from my diseases.
Now, my self-hate is less and my health is far greater than prior to becoming vegan. Since I consider other animals to be people, I no longer hate myself for being a cannibal.
So, yes, I am a category 5 vegan. Just seeing meat in the grocery store or seeing anyone eating meat makes me grossly nauseated.