Prior to enjoying a vegan diet I ate a vegetarian diet for a number of years. The choice to eat vegetarian arose from a concern for my health. I was overweight, sluggish, and far too inactive for my age. Though the diet did assist with the elimination of some animal products (specifically, all meat, poultry and seafood) from my daily food, it did not result in the health improvement for which I had hoped. Specifically, I gained a great deal of weight, was subjected to debilitating panic attacks and deep depression, felt fatigued, and had poor cognitive health. While eating vegetarian I did eat both eggs and diary products and because I thought that I was eating healthy, I ate a larger volume of food than I did while eating an omnivore diet.

After a trip to the hospital for what I thought was a heart attack (turned out to be a sever panic attack) and some research I decided that despite believing that a vegetarian diet was what I needed to be healthy, it was in fact a vegan diet that was necessary.

Now, as a long time plant-based eater, I can say that I have never felt better. At this writing I am 58 years old, lost over 60 lbs from the time I was vegetarian, workout 5 days a week, run 5k events with my 14 year old granddaughter, and have never felt better.

Is a vegetarian diet a good way to ease into a vegan diet? It may be, however, based on my experience if the consideration of a vegan diet is for health reasons it will likely not be helpful and may even result in worsening health conditions.

I suggest that if it is impossible to move directly to enjoying a vegan diet, the best path forward is to “clean up” and optimize your current omnivore diet. Begin eating a diet of nutritionally rich and fiber dense foods. Remove processed foods, added salt and sugar, and approach eating only as the way to fuel an active, health, and joyful life. At some point animal products will be such a small portion of your food that eliminating it will be easy and in the mean time you have built a base of eating habits that support a life long dedication to the health, joy, and kindness that are inherent in being vegan.

I have included an image that illustrates what I call the No/Low P.A.S.S. diet that I enjoy and for which I can directly attribute for my current wonderful state of being.

If you wish to learn more about beginning and maintaining a vegan lifestyle please feel welcome to visit my website Vegan Gently - Enjoying a Happier, Healthier, More Kind Way of Life

This article first appeared on Quora: https://www.quora.com/If-someone-is-thinking-about-becoming-a-vegan-but-a-bit-afraid-is-being-a-vegetarian-for-a-while-a-good-way-to-ease-in-to-the-lifestyle/answer/Jim-Moore-21