Any vegans? Anybody try it?

Otto Maddox wrote: I have levels of vegetarianism in my mind. I try not to eat pork, because pigs are pretty much like really fat dogs that taste good. Would you eat your dog if it tasted good?

My dog? Hmmm... no... wait... how hungry am I?

Your dog? Well, I'd still have to be pretty hungry but not as hungry as I would to eat my own dog.

Pigs? They are delicious animals that I use as a routine substitute for beef when lamb isn't available - or - someone is cooking one and the scent wafts in my general direction. I agree on chicken. That is a nasty business that I have unfortunately also seen up close. I still eat it but only the free range stuff that allows me to imagine they were sung softly to sleep rather than run thru a thresher 10k at a time like some insane version of a poultry Auswicz.

(joke, but funny)

mtn wrote: Have you talked to an RD (registered Dietitian) lately? Because this is largely incorrect. Besides that, the meat that you get nowadays--even lean meat--isn't nearly as nutritious as it should be. Just saw this: That would explain it. Yeah, if you're bodybuilding you don't wanna go without the meats.

It's not just bodybuilding though. We've spoken to several nutritionists, and hired them too. Have to say we've never asked about this specific topic since we're not vegetarian. Like I said, I don't think a nutritionist would say you shouldn't be vegetarian, as there are so many of them out there. See Prince Fielder for an example. I think it's more that you'd have to plan for it, as Jay said. You'd need to make sure you're making up for the essential nutrients you won't get by not eating meat.

It's getting close to lunch time. I'm thinking a double burger...

You know, the cow that gets killed so I can eat a burger wouldn't have lived at all if it wasn't to produce meat. That cow should be happy for the life it had.

We try to eat mostly vegetarian the last few months, hasn't really been too hard.

We still go out 1-2 on the weekends, but that's usually the only meat we eat, except the occasional piece of grilled fish. I can say I feel much better not eating meat 2x a day.

Klayfish wrote:

mtn wrote: Have you talked to an RD (registered Dietitian) lately? Because this is largely incorrect. Besides that, the meat that you get nowadays--even lean meat--isn't nearly as nutritious as it should be. Just saw this: That would explain it. Yeah, if you're bodybuilding you don't wanna go without the meats.

It's not just bodybuilding though. We've spoken to several nutritionists, and hired them too. Have to say we've never asked about this specific topic since we're not vegetarian. Like I said, I don't think a nutritionist would say you shouldn't be vegetarian, as there are so many of them out there. See Prince Fielder for an example. I think it's more that you'd have to plan for it, as Jay said. You'd need to make sure you're making up for the essential nutrients you won't get by not eating meat.

Nutritionist? Or Dietitian?

I think the militant veggies are like the rabid anti-gun liberals. They ate out there, but I don't run into them much. My veggie family members don't give me a hard time at all about eating meat, and neither do any of my friends. They just do there thing. And most of my friends range from pretty independent, a few righties, and alot of lefties... And they are all gun lovers, to verying degrees. I'm sorta left, but I'm a rabid gun nut. My theory is that I shouldn't eat anything I wouldn't be willing to kill myself, and since I wouldn't kill anything I feel like a bit of a hypocrit. I'm probably harder on myself about that then I need to be.

Joey

I am naturally leaning towards pescatarianism. I still eat all kinds of meats but I tend to do so in moderation.

I think Japan is a good example of pescatarianism at work. Those guys know how to live long, and I doubt it's only genetic.

In reply to joey48442:

Where did they eat out?

Pescetarianism is the practice of a diet that includes seafood but not the flesh of other animals.

mtn wrote:

Klayfish wrote: A lot of people do it for political reasons, "kindness to animals" reasons, or a host of other things. And that's fine. But the scientific reality of it is the human body was designed to run most efficiently on a good balance of carbs, protein and fats. The best source of protein? Lean meat. You can find workarounds, but the body functions best using lean meat.

Have you talked to an RD (registered Dietitian) lately? Because this is largely incorrect. Besides that, the meat that you get nowadays--even lean meat--isn't nearly as nutritious as it should be.

You find me a dietitian that says lean meats aren't the best source of protein, and I'll show you an agenda-pushing quack. Especially with the rise in popularity of grass-feed meats.

What are your better sources of protein? Legumes? Beans? Nuts?

Mrs. motomoron has been an ovo-lacto vegetarian for about 20 years, and I'm an omnivore. How it impacts me is that I likely eat less crap meat than I'd eat otherwise, as the vast majority of meals prepared at home are meatless. I keep some turkey around for sandwiches, my mom keeps me stocked with Gaspar's linguica, I keep some nuke-Mex from the Trader Joe's around, and I grill regularly in the nice weather. We eat out a lot and are pretty dedicated foodies - her diet precludes some of the really authentic Latin and Asian places where nothing doesn't have meat, but aside from a few times travelling abroad where it was a challenge finding something, it's not a big deal.

She's amenable to going to Ray's the Steaks/Ray's Hellburger w/ me (awesome and not terribly expensive steak and burger places in the DC area) as both have precisely one great veg option.

Occasionally I'll realize that a long weekend has passed and I've eaten no meat - not as a deliberate plan, but just by accident.

We eat a ton of veggies thanks to our CSA, but we also eat meat most nights.

We do however try to always buy free-range meat, which costs more but always seems to taste better. We also try to buy food that's processed as little as possible.

The result is, 14 years later, I weigh the same as I did my freshman year of college. I don't "exercise" but I do have a yard, which means I'm out working in it all the time - that helps too.

It should be noted that I drink a lot of beer too...

Knurled wrote:

Appleseed wrote: As long as you both are not, or don't become, militant dicks to meat eaters, I say go for it.

This. I was in a long term relationship with a vegetarian girl. She didn't mind that I ate meat sometimes, though she did mock me a little for it. She went vegan, for about a month, then said (paraphrased) "berkeley this E36 M3, I can't live eating this garbage". I think the killer was the muffins. She couldn't figure out how to make a vegan muffin that wasn't a dry, dusty, flavorless mess to save her life.

Your girl obviously never found my wife's blog. She's been vegan for 12 years and makes the best cookies/muffins/desserts most people have ever had. Not just the best VEGAN treats, but the BEST EVER. She makes a chocolate cookie with peanut butter filling that is out of this world. VeganDiva

I've never been militant about the issue. I don't even talk about it unless someone asks. But I've had quite a few people get in my face about my choice to not eat meat and I've never really understood why.

For the record: I believe that you don't need animal products to live and be healthy. I also believe everyone has to do what is right for themselves. So eat meat, or don't. I don't care.

Otto Maddox wrote: I have levels of vegetarianism in my mind. I try not to eat pork, because pigs are pretty much like really fat dogs that taste good. Would you eat your dog if it tasted good?

Have you ever dealt with pigs?!?! They are horrible nasty stupid animals.

Otto Maddox wrote: Cutting out as much processed stuff, especially with flour and sugar is step one. Step two is getting a little exercise every day. Those two things should make you a one percenter in the health world, meat or no meat.

I stopped drinking non-diet soda ~7 years ago. I cut back on the diet stuff from 1L/day to .5L every other day or so. I've almost entirely eliminated HFCS (that E36 M3 is in everything nowadays, even bread!). We bake with whole wheat flour. The pasta is whole wheat, etc. We do pretty good on the processed stuff.

As for exercise, I have a 15-20 minute routine 5 nights of the week, I walk every day that's not total E36 M3 outside, and I work on the 4th floor and always take the stairs. Plus, I go home for lunch with the fam (eating at the office is horrifically unhealthy). It gets tough in the winter, but I'm very active in the summer months.

Oh, and PS to all: I'm not doing it for the animals, I'm trying it for my health. I figure I'll give it a week. It should help me not eat so much dairy when I come back, which probably my biggest eating issue.

Otto Maddox wrote: Pescetarianism is the practice of a diet that includes seafood but not the flesh of other animals.

Thus leaning towards.

Oh, and more info. I gave up poultry totally ~2.5 years ago when i realized that it's totally tasteless. Seriously, eat plain old chicken without any spices or salt. Might as well just eat tofu. Plus the industry is freaking hell.

I haven't eaten any shellfish in ~7-8 years when I found out I was allergic, and I cut all seafood out over 6 years ago after doing fisheries inspections in the Coast Guard (holy mother, if you had any idea what it takes to get you your fishwhich, you'd puke your intestines out for a week).

So the meat that I do eat is beef and pig, and since I only get it 1-2 times a month, it's going to be a really good cut of it. I'm trying to cut the pig, too, but bacon. Damn the bacon!

Oh, I do eat eggs. Love eggs. In fact, I want to raise chickens so I can eat their eggs. The chickens will keep the yard under control, too. They make good pets.

On the dairy front, it's real cheese (I'm a a bit of a wine and cheese snob) and 1% milk. Non-fat sour cream, cottage cheese, yogurt, etc. I just ate too damn much of it (4-5 servings a day).

93EXCivic wrote:

Otto Maddox wrote: I have levels of vegetarianism in my mind. I try not to eat pork, because pigs are pretty much like really fat dogs that taste good. Would you eat your dog if it tasted good?

Have you ever dealt with pigs?!?! They are horrible nasty stupid animals.

All the more reason to eat them.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:

93EXCivic wrote:

Otto Maddox wrote: I have levels of vegetarianism in my mind. I try not to eat pork, because pigs are pretty much like really fat dogs that taste good. Would you eat your dog if it tasted good?

Have you ever dealt with pigs?!?! They are horrible nasty stupid animals.

All the more reason to eat them.

Exactly. Having worked with them, it is a sense of revenge when I eat a pig...

Javelin wrote:

Otto Maddox wrote: Cutting out as much processed stuff, especially with flour and sugar is step one. Step two is getting a little exercise every day. Those two things should make you a one percenter in the health world, meat or no meat.

I stopped drinking non-diet soda ~7 years ago. I cut back on the diet stuff from 1L/day to .5L every other day or so. I've almost entirely eliminated HFCS (that E36 M3 is in *everything* nowadays, even bread!). We bake with whole wheat flour. The pasta is whole wheat, etc. We do pretty good on the processed stuff. As for exercise, I have a 15-20 minute routine 5 nights of the week, I walk every day that's not total E36 M3 outside, and I work on the 4th floor and *always* take the stairs. Plus, I go home for lunch with the fam (eating at the office is horrifically unhealthy). It gets tough in the winter, but I'm very active in the summer months. Oh, and PS to all: I'm not doing it for the animals, I'm trying it for my health. I figure I'll give it a week. It should help me not eat so much dairy when I come back, which probably my biggest eating issue.

Do you have time for more exercise? Some is better than none for sure, and at least you've got a routine. Your body may just need more.

I'm a bit of a whackjob OCD person who overdoes everything... but i'm eating healthier (and less) over the last year. (Started slow, all soda is gone now and all that.) About 5-6 weeks ago i started a workout regimen that i've stuck to. 1-1.5 hours a day, 5 days a week, wrenching on weekends. No weight loss at all. DAMMIT.

93EXCivic wrote:

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:

93EXCivic wrote:

Otto Maddox wrote: I have levels of vegetarianism in my mind. I try not to eat pork, because pigs are pretty much like really fat dogs that taste good. Would you eat your dog if it tasted good?

Have you ever dealt with pigs?!?! They are horrible nasty stupid animals.

All the more reason to eat them.

Exactly. Having worked with them, it is a sense of revenge when I eat a pig...

I'd like to subscribe to your newsletter.

I have lost about 9 pounds in the last month and half. I have cut out all soda including diet soda (which I swear was giving me stomach problems because since I have cut it out I have felt so much better). Added a lot of water. And been trying to cook more (lots and lots of curry for me). I need to cut down on processed foods but it is difficult because I don't always feel like cooking.

Javelin wrote: Oh, I do eat eggs. Love eggs. In fact, I want to raise chickens so I can eat their eggs. The chickens will keep the yard under control, too. They make good pets.

This is why I'm building a chicken coop in my back yard. Couldn't care less about eating the parents, I want their beautiful, delicious un-hatched babies.