Somewhat vegan diet

[turbo6bar]

Over the past few years, I've been more interested in eating right. I'm slowly making changes, and I think it's helping. Last year, I gave up sodas and most candies. I've shunned fast food for more healthy choices and have been learning how to cook. There's been press in the MMA world about top level fighters being vegetarian.

At this point, I don't see myself going pure vegetarian. I need to make other changes in lifestyle before I shun all animal products. I was thinking of making a few steps forward: limit meat intake, eat more fruits and veggies, and cut out the few processed foods left in my diet. My current weakness is bread and chocolate.

Has anyone here converted even partially and did you see immediate or long-term payback? Is it tougher to get enough protein and fat? My winter weight now is 172 lbs. I'm 6' tall. When I get on the bicycle more regularly, I'll drop to 162-165. I'm concerned eliminating most meats will create a calorie deficit. I like the fact I could be more of a grazer, instead of a 3 squares eater. I like vegetables and fruits, but I would sorely miss dairy and eggs.

jurgen

[Zeke]

I first eliminated hot dogs, bacon and all processed meats. That should be easy. Eat fish and some lean red meat if you jones.

[id10t]

A coworker and her husband have tried just about every died to help lower his cholesterol and get him off meds...

Only thing that has worked so far is a vegan diet, and after 6 months that has only dropped him about 30 points - about half his goal.

As said above, if you jones, go for something good for ya... I'd say venison, elk, or any other game meat. Very very very low in fat and cholesterol compared to anything store bought.

[Embraer]

i was vegetarian for the last two years of college. my next door neighbors were indian, and we used to hang out all the time, and they turned me onto it. after college, i went back to eating meat, and put on weight.

last march i went back to being vegetarian (not vegan) and have lost about 40 pounds, just by switching my diet. i still work out, and i do feel "weak" sometimes...you can only take so much whey protein. i think the feeling of eating a chicken breast or lean beef has a psychological effect on me, that protein supplements just can't replicate.

i still eat meat once in a while...but it's limited to maybe once a month. i generally feel crappy after i do it.

if i'm in a hurry and can't cook (which seems to be what bogs a lot of potential vegetarians down....having food that's just not salad or veggies requires preparation) i've found that some of the frozen meals are unbelievably tasty.

some of my favs....

Kashi pesto pasta primavera
Kashi mayan harvest bake
Any of the Amy's brand meals taste awesome...particularly the salsa verde tamale.

they're expensive unless you can pick them up at a walmart, but as for "tv dinners" go..they're the best. PLUS they actually fill me up, which other frozen meals don't do.

[azasadny]

Because of a liver ailment and gout, I've been eating a semi-vegetarian diet for over three years with excellent results. I only eat fish or chicken once a week, no alcohol or high fructose corn syrup, lots of vegges, fruits, grains. Very low fat diet helps and my liver enzymes are normal now and I'm controlling my gout with Allopurinol, no other meds. I do take vitamins (C, D, and E).

[azasadny]

Oh, I forgot to mention that I eat eggs/egg beaters with cheese once or twice a week and I have milk with cereal and eat frozen yogurt for treats.

[masraum]

Vegetarian eating is very different from vegan eating.

Vegetarianism involves the practice of following a diet that includes fruits, vegetables, cereal grains, nuts, and seeds, with or without dairy products or eggs. A vegetarian does not eat meat, including game, poultry, fish, crustacea and shellfish

Semi-vegetarian diets consist largely of vegetarian foods, but may include fish or poultry, or other meats on an infrequent basis. Those with diets containing fish or poultry may define "meat" only as mammalian flesh and may identify with vegetarianism

Veganism excludes all animal flesh and animal products, including milk, honey, and eggs, and may also exclude any products tested on animals, or any clothing from animals.

An animal product is any material derived from animals, including meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, dairy products, honey, fur, leather, wool, and silk. Other commonly used animal products are bone char, bone china, casein, beeswax, carmine, gelatin, isinglass, lanolin, lard, rennet, shellac, tallow, whey, and yellow grease. Many of these may not be identified in the list of ingredients in the finished product. There is disagreement among groups regarding the extent to which all animal products must be avoided. According to the Vegan Society, vegan products must, as far as possible and practical, be entirely free of animal involvement, and their development and manufacture must not have involved animal testing. The society will not certify a product as vegan unless its production has not involved the use of any animal derivative. Neither the Vegan Society nor the American Vegan Society consider the use of honey, silk, or other insect products to be suitable for use, while Vegan Action and Vegan Outreach regard that as a matter of personal choice.

Vegans won't eat white sugar because it's been filtered through bone ash.

[Sarc]

Google Mark Sisson or Arthur Devany.

[aigel]

I could not go vegetarian, I'd crave meat too much. That said, we are on a 100% wild game diet at home which greatly reduces animal fat and when going out I often go with the fish or vegetarian dishes. Combined with high fiber breakfast and 6+ servings of fruit and vegetables a day it has made a big difference.

I have quite a few vegetarian friends and some of them (especially the women) struggle to get all their nutrients and rely on supplements. The Indians have it down pretty well, but you better like your lentils and beans.

In summary, unless you are vegetarian for ethical reasons, I would recommend moderate lean meat consumption once or twice a week. I would make sure to get a piece of read meat once a week.

Good Luck!

George

[HardDrive]

Originally Posted by azasadny

I only eat fish or chicken once a week, no alcohol or high fructose corn syrup, lots of vegges, fruits, grains.

+1

Except the booze part.

[RWebb]

with vegan diets it can be hard to get all the right micronutrients - IIRC Cr is a biggie, but it's been a while since I looked at this

the very odd thing is that I was just thinking about this (and a certain vegan civil rights lawyer with a high-pollution pickup truck she drove) while walking my dog; she was attractive but had a common sort of slouch or torso slackness that seems common in vegans -- just an observation, no clinical studies I know of on that

I'd suggest finding a reliable, non-crazy source of nutrient information on this and studying it.

Or jest eat fish - eat the skin & avoid high mercury (= ocean predators) fish -- many species are contaminated from coal fired power plant emissions

[jpachard]

I've gone vegetarian since my better half is Indian and it's worked really well for me. We eat eggs and milk and fish on occasion. I went off meat gradually and once I got the protein ratio good I feel great. I eat a lot of chick peas etc and that really has helped me. We do drink but in moderation but mostly just beer and wine. I lost 25lbs in the first 3 months and am at my target weight now. The best part now is I can eat as much as I want and not gain weight! We drink no soda though and cook all our food.

Best of luck with it and don't get discouraged. It will take a bit of time for your body to adjust and remember you have to adjust what you eat for YOUR body.

Cheers, James

[azasadny]

The hardest thing to cut out is the "high fructose corn syrup" since it's in almost everything...

[id10t]

Originally Posted by RWebb

with vegan diets it can be hard to get all the right micronutrients - IIRC Cr is a biggie, but it's been a while since I looked at this

the very odd thing is that I was just thinking about this (and a certain vegan civil rights lawyer with a high-pollution pickup truck she drove) while walking my dog; she was attractive but had a common sort of slouch or torso slackness that seems common in vegans -- just an observation, no clinical studies I know of on that

I'd suggest finding a reliable, non-crazy source of nutrient information on this and studying it.

Or jest eat fish - eat the skin & avoid high mercury (= ocean predators) fish -- many species are contaminated from coal fired power plant emissions

Drink a guinness every so often for 'em - but then it depends on how vegan you are. Are yeast animal enough?

[RWebb]

we had a bit of a falling out at a Thai place when I said I had no problem eating oysters...

crazy thing was that this chick smoked too -- but ONLY natural tobacco with no additives

[look 171]

Now, I eat about 1/4 to 1/2 lbs of red meet a week. I am in the same boat. I had a tiny, minor stroke about 2 years ago and I stop eating meat like I use to. Now I eat lots of Veggies and tons of fruits, but lots of noodles and rice. I know, not good. My fighting weight, road bike racing, was 145 for years. Not I an up near 165-170. I never eeat too much junk like sodas or chips, but had a weakness for burgers and such. I actually feel better that I stop all that crap now. If I can just loose 10-15 lbs, I might get off them pills. I can do it only if I had the time like I use to. It was 3-350 miles a week. I can't do that crap now.

I read somewhere that buffalo, was more lean then turkey. Anyone know?

[turbo6bar]

Thanks for the info, guys. I mistook vegan for vegetarian. I'm gonna do more research before taking some baby steps. I can do without steak, but giving up pot roasts, half a dozen great recipes featuring chicken breast, and such will be very tough. I would really like to cut out breads, but again, that's tough.

Right now, my biggest hurdle is fighting work-related stress and overall anxiety (typical control-freak engineer mindset). I have to get back into a regular exercise routine, and I'm betting a better diet can't hurt.

[The Gaijin]

Originally Posted by Sarc

Google Mark Sisson or Arthur Devany.

Indeed.

I have posted before in the weigh loss threads and wont repeat myself too much here..

I have been following the "paleo diet" pretty strictly for over a year,a nd have lost all the weight I wanted and have never felt better, or been so fit. (Late 40s..)

Basically, it is grounded in the way people were made (or evolved), and the kinds of things we ate and thrived on for eons. Really worth looking into, particularly if you are an active person.

I would suggest "Mark`s Daily Apple" - a blog that explains it better than most.

[turbo6bar]

Originally Posted by The Gaijin

I would suggest "Mark`s Daily Apple" - a blog that explains it better than most.

Googled Sisson yesterday and have been reading it. I like it.

[RWebb]

very lean steak, pot roasts, chicken breast will not be a problem - just reduce the amount - you prefer pot roast over steak tho????

for bread, switch to whole grains, cut the butter - you can use some olive oil instead