Dear bodybuilders, I would like to be vegan. However, there are obstacles: 1. I'm hypothyroid and have to take natural desiccated thyroid (made of cows or pigs). The synthetic stuff doesn't work for me. There are no other options; I've tried ashwagandha root, it helped, but I didn't have the energy to work out, let alone take a walk. Also, since I was undiagnosed for so long I have lingering adrenal issues. 2. Can't eat gluten or soy 3. Tried being vegan; felt like crap and was starving all the time. Noticed that my energy levels shot way up after I started eating animal products - and believe me, I was eating the "bean, green and grain with a sprinkling of many expensive and varied things" diet everyone so heartily recommends. I don't know what to do. I'm most worried about arachidonic acid, protein, and cholesterol. Yes, under ideal conditions my body can make those things, but I'm not in ideal condition. Are there supplements? Should I eat lard and fish poached from my friends' plates? I seriously would like to be vegan, but not at the cost of my health and my sanity. I went down that path before and it wasn't pretty. Sincerely, Clueless Wannabe