VEGAN/VEGETARIAN NTers WHAT DO YOU EAT?

[roc4life24]

Originally Posted by AntonLaVey

Thank you guys, I'm very familiar with morning star but it gets boring like I said. Thanks guys I'll keep u posted on how this goes.


Anymore ideas on getting max protein and not losing muscle mass as a vegan will be appreciated. I've heard this is a struggle.

i'd say go vegetarian then vegan allow your body time to make the transition

ignore the rest of this website

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18 page discussion

http://www.davidicke.com/.../showthread.php?t=108711

 

[roc4life24]

Originally Posted by AntonLaVey

Thank you guys, I'm very familiar with morning star but it gets boring like I said. Thanks guys I'll keep u posted on how this goes.


Anymore ideas on getting max protein and not losing muscle mass as a vegan will be appreciated. I've heard this is a struggle.

i'd say go vegetarian then vegan allow your body time to make the transition

ignore the rest of this website

..

....

18 page discussion

http://www.davidicke.com/.../showthread.php?t=108711

 

[joe camel smooth]

once i get my body to look how i want it to
i might consider being a vegetarian

not that you can't put on muscle without meat but it's harder


i wouldn't be so strict about it or do it for the moral aspect but it's really healthy

as of now all the food i eat at home is free range cage free raw organic etc. where applicable.

 

[joe camel smooth]

once i get my body to look how i want it to
i might consider being a vegetarian

not that you can't put on muscle without meat but it's harder


i wouldn't be so strict about it or do it for the moral aspect but it's really healthy

as of now all the food i eat at home is free range cage free raw organic etc. where applicable.

 

[mangudai954]

Originally Posted by CIDMAN911

There's different levels of vegetarianism.

I don't eat red meat, fowl, lamb, or pork.

No weird stuff like bugs or reptiles like some people either...

I do eat seafood & cheese/milk..I couldn't give that up if I tried.

The hardest thing for me to give up was...wait for it........cheese! Then I found out that it contains something that acts as a weak morphine molecule or whatever you call it

Beef aand turkey is was easy. Chicken was challenging but that cotdamn cheese..@#%% is like crack. And sorry I dont care what anyone says soy cheese doesnt it cut it

holy @#%% im lit



This thread just reminded me that I need to try this out http://www.chooseveg.com/tofu-scramble.asp


Yo whats everyones view on soy?

 

[mangudai954]

Originally Posted by CIDMAN911

There's different levels of vegetarianism.

I don't eat red meat, fowl, lamb, or pork.

No weird stuff like bugs or reptiles like some people either...

I do eat seafood & cheese/milk..I couldn't give that up if I tried.

The hardest thing for me to give up was...wait for it........cheese! Then I found out that it contains something that acts as a weak morphine molecule or whatever you call it

Beef aand turkey is was easy. Chicken was challenging but that cotdamn cheese..@#%% is like crack. And sorry I dont care what anyone says soy cheese doesnt it cut it

holy @#%% im lit



This thread just reminded me that I need to try this out http://www.chooseveg.com/tofu-scramble.asp


Yo whats everyones view on soy?

 

[cidman911]

Originally Posted by Mangudai954

The hardest thing for me to give up was...wait for it........cheese! Then I found out that it contains something that acts as a weak morphine molecule or whatever you call it

I could never give up cheese...

Cheese is just so beautiful...

 

[cidman911]

Originally Posted by Mangudai954

The hardest thing for me to give up was...wait for it........cheese! Then I found out that it contains something that acts as a weak morphine molecule or whatever you call it

I could never give up cheese...

Cheese is just so beautiful...

 

[antonlavey]

Why I'm considering going vegan? In a nutshell, It's really healthy but what made me finally decide to make the transition are ethical reasons. I've heard from people who have made this transitionm that it improves mental and physical health. Vegetarians live longer.
 The biggest thing I would have a problem giving up meat is seafood

. I don't eat much red meat so that wouldn't be an issue. I could do without chicken if I tried. I figure I should transition to nothing but fish to begin with/

 

[antonlavey]

Why I'm considering going vegan? In a nutshell, It's really healthy but what made me finally decide to make the transition are ethical reasons. I've heard from people who have made this transitionm that it improves mental and physical health. Vegetarians live longer.
 The biggest thing I would have a problem giving up meat is seafood

. I don't eat much red meat so that wouldn't be an issue. I could do without chicken if I tried. I figure I should transition to nothing but fish to begin with/

 

[roc4life24]

Originally Posted by Mangudai954

Originally Posted by CIDMAN911

There's different levels of vegetarianism.

I don't eat red meat, fowl, lamb, or pork.

No weird stuff like bugs or reptiles like some people either...

I do eat seafood & cheese/milk..I couldn't give that up if I tried.

The hardest thing for me to give up was...wait for it........cheese! Then I found out that it contains something that acts as a weak morphine molecule or whatever you call it

Beef aand turkey is was easy. Chicken was challenging but that cotdamn cheese..@#%% is like crack. And sorry I dont care what anyone says soy cheese doesnt it cut it

holy @#%% im lit



This thread just reminded me that I need to try this out http://www.chooseveg.com/tofu-scramble.asp


Yo whats everyones view on soy?

cheeses is addicting  why i am probably on veggie thing not vegan

but soy is so processed that i've almost cut it out the diet almost  the ingredient list is crazy

plus its very high in sodium

 

[roc4life24]

Originally Posted by Mangudai954

Originally Posted by CIDMAN911

There's different levels of vegetarianism.

I don't eat red meat, fowl, lamb, or pork.

No weird stuff like bugs or reptiles like some people either...

I do eat seafood & cheese/milk..I couldn't give that up if I tried.

The hardest thing for me to give up was...wait for it........cheese! Then I found out that it contains something that acts as a weak morphine molecule or whatever you call it

Beef aand turkey is was easy. Chicken was challenging but that cotdamn cheese..@#%% is like crack. And sorry I dont care what anyone says soy cheese doesnt it cut it

holy @#%% im lit



This thread just reminded me that I need to try this out http://www.chooseveg.com/tofu-scramble.asp


Yo whats everyones view on soy?

cheeses is addicting  why i am probably on veggie thing not vegan

but soy is so processed that i've almost cut it out the diet almost  the ingredient list is crazy

plus its very high in sodium

 

[antonlavey]

I'm not much of a cheese guy. I usually prefer my pastas and pizzas with an little cheese as possible.

 

[antonlavey]

I'm not much of a cheese guy. I usually prefer my pastas and pizzas with an little cheese as possible.

 

[antonlavey]

Originally Posted by CIDMAN911

There's different levels of vegetarianism.

I don't eat red meat, fowl, lamb, or pork.

No weird stuff like bugs or reptiles like some people either...

I do eat seafood & cheese/milk..I couldn't give that up if I tried.

I'm going to try to go on this diet first...the solely seafood diet consistently and make the transition.
  

 

[antonlavey]

Originally Posted by CIDMAN911

There's different levels of vegetarianism.

I don't eat red meat, fowl, lamb, or pork.

No weird stuff like bugs or reptiles like some people either...

I do eat seafood & cheese/milk..I couldn't give that up if I tried.

I'm going to try to go on this diet first...the solely seafood diet consistently and make the transition.
  

 

[moneymike88]

Originally Posted by AntonLaVey

 The biggest thing I would have a problem giving up meat is seafood

. I don't eat much red meat so that wouldn't be an issue. I could do without chicken if I tried. I figure I should transition to nothing but fish to begin with/

You'd be livin like a Rasta

 

[moneymike88]

Originally Posted by AntonLaVey

 The biggest thing I would have a problem giving up meat is seafood

. I don't eat much red meat so that wouldn't be an issue. I could do without chicken if I tried. I figure I should transition to nothing but fish to begin with/

You'd be livin like a Rasta

 

[destination kicks]

Vegetables, fruits, soy-based immitation meat products, cheese, eggs, pastas, etc.

I became a Vegetarian at the end of my Sophomore year in High School and I'm now going into my Sophomore year in College and I haven't looked back. Becoming a vegetarian instantly cleansed my system physically, mentally, and emotionally. I've never felt better and I went from 240 pounds, to now sitting around 182-185 pounds; I've also turned my academics around and I'm doing great. My whole view is if I can live just as healthy a life, if not healthier, without the slaughtering of animals then why the hell wouldn't I? Also no idea if it has anything to do with my ceasing of meat consumption *pause*, but my allergies have almost disappeared since.

 

[destination kicks]

Vegetables, fruits, soy-based immitation meat products, cheese, eggs, pastas, etc.

I became a Vegetarian at the end of my Sophomore year in High School and I'm now going into my Sophomore year in College and I haven't looked back. Becoming a vegetarian instantly cleansed my system physically, mentally, and emotionally. I've never felt better and I went from 240 pounds, to now sitting around 182-185 pounds; I've also turned my academics around and I'm doing great. My whole view is if I can live just as healthy a life, if not healthier, without the slaughtering of animals then why the hell wouldn't I? Also no idea if it has anything to do with my ceasing of meat consumption *pause*, but my allergies have almost disappeared since.

 

[al audi]

i could never become a vegetarian........................

fish, bison, chicken, turkey

i eat every week

 

[al audi]

i could never become a vegetarian........................

fish, bison, chicken, turkey

i eat every week

 

[mangudai954]

Originally Posted by Al Audi

i could never become a vegetarian........................

fish, bison, chicken, turkey

i eat every week

You could if you really wanted to, its all about self control.

 

[mangudai954]

Originally Posted by Al Audi

i could never become a vegetarian........................

fish, bison, chicken, turkey

i eat every week

You could if you really wanted to, its all about self control.

 

[Methodical Management]

I love when people start out with this:

Being a Vegetarian isnt healthy....
and then, when pressed, they reveal that the source of that ironclad belief is something like this:

Well, a nurse once told me that meat has some nutritions or something that cant be found anywhere else. #kanyeshrug
Welp, that's airtight reasoning. 

  A little independent thought is a wonderful thing.


As far as the topic post is concerned, like many other health/lifestyle choices it really comes down to self-control.  Do you have the desire to make your OWN conscious choices about what you put into your body or would you prefer to have those choices dictated by circumstance/convenience?  If you want to be able to just grab lunch from whatever's available in the airport, off the highway, or down the block then you'll struggle.  If you're willing to be dedicated and put in the time to really plan your diet and learn to prepare healthy meals and source the best possible produce then your commitment will pay great dividends. 

A lot of people will watch P90X or what have you, stay within their comfort level, eat what they feel like eating, and their gains will be minimal at best.  You can implement a training regimen poorly just as you can implement a diet poorly and still claim to be on it.  So, don't look at your aunt's friend's cousin's former college roommate who's sickly because she only ate hummus and use that as your reference point.  That's like basing your concept of a healthy athletic diet on the contents of Derrick Coleman's refrigerator.

I primarily committed to veganism for ethical reasons, but I'm also serious about my health and my training.  You'll find a ton of resources out there, but you do have to filter it by audience.  Much of what's out there is produced by veg*ans who aren't terribly concerned with the efficiency of their diets, so they'll recommend foods that taste good - the daiya cheese substitute that actually melts, the Sticky Fingers vegan cookie dough, and so on.  I will say this:  although poorly planned vegan diets can be deleterious, like any poorly planned diet, just by staying within the parameters of a vegan diet you're already reducing your risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer.  In that sense, it's easier to be healthy without knowing anything about nutrition if only because you're eliminating many of the worst dietary excesses common to our culture.  Of course, you're better off doing it right.

To that end: you have to take the Morningstar / Gardein products for what they are: processed convenience foods.  They can be helpful for people beginning a transition since they're similar to the foods most of us grew up with.  They're quick and easy to prepare.  They also show well if you're the sort who, for training purposes, has become obsessed with specs.  The Gardein "chick'n" nuggets, for example, offer a ton of clean protein without the cholesterol.  (They're still high in sodium, though.)  If that's your thing, you're better off there than you would be eating turkey and cheese - let alone standard convenience food.

If you really want to do it right, from what I've found, you'll want to seriously consider a raw food vegan diet.  You can certainly add lean muscle while on that type of diet.  In fact, I'd challenge anyone who says you can't add muscle or perform at your peak while vegan to give it a try.  Someone's already posted some links to vegan bodybuilding examples and I can tell you from personal experience that it's highly conducive to building lean mass and maintaining very low body fat. 

Carl Lewis adhered to a strict vegan diet while recording the greatest athletic achievements of his legendary career.  That, in and of itself, is a pretty powerful example.  I'd also point to ultramarathon runner Scott Jurek, who was recently featured in the New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/13/sports/13runner.html?pagewanted=all) since the man routinely runs over 100 miles in a single day.  His caloric needs FAR exceed that of the average athlete.  He chooses a vegan diet primarily for performance reasons. 

It's a great diet for overall health and sports performance.  If you just want to add bulk for your ego, you can certainly achieve that - but, be honest, what's more important?  Most of us, if pressed, would rather feel good than look good.  We'd rather live longer, healthier lives than guzzle horrible hormone cocktails to artificially boost show muscles that offer no performance benefit in actual sports and/or ride some ridiculous diet roller-coaster (bulk/cut) that's really little more than a "masculine" euphemism for binge/purge.  You can achieve your short term fitness goals while on a vegan diet - but the greatest edge it offers you personally (to say nothing of the ethical and environmental advantages) is with respect to your long-term health. 

You just have to make sure you plan correctly and don't shoot yourself in the foot by accruing a B12 deficiency or what have you over an extended period of time. 

The book I like to recommend most to my athletically inclined friends is Thrive: The Vegan NutritionGuide to Optimal Performance in Sports and Life by Brendan Brazier, a champion Ironman triathelete.  It includes nutrition information, pre- and post-workout fuel, and a detailed meal plan complete with tons of recipes and plenty of variety designed specifically for athletes.  It's a raw food vegan diet, free of processed foods.  If you're not much of a cook, and goodness knows I never was, a raw food diet is actually great because it's not that complicated.  You're not baking, you're not handling raw meat, trimming fat, or removing bones.  The food keeps really well, you can prepare it in advance and live your life. 

If you're not a serious athlete or if you like to entertain or cook for others, there are some good recipes in Ani's Raw Food Essentials as well.  I picked up a copy at a book store on a whim and it contains recipes from a wide variety of cuisines.  Not into soy milk?  All the better. 

Make your own healthier milk substitute by combining a 1/2 cup of almonds, cashews, or pecans with 1/2 cup of pitted dates, a little sea salt to flavor, and 5 cups of water.  Blend until smooth.  To make it even healthier, throw in 3 tablespoons of spirulina powder or wheat grass powder.  No preservatives, no hormones, no hexane-processed soy. 

Do the research, take a couple of months and give it a real, concerted effort. 

Not everyone has the self-discipline to see it through, but everyone I know who's stayed with it has experienced considerable benefits and has no interest in regressing to an omnivorous diet. 


It doesn't have to be an all or nothing thing but, like training, it is what you make of it.  If the only exercise you do in a week is taking the stairs instead of the elevator, you're still better off than you would've been otherwise.  If you only go vegan for one day a week, that's still much better than going to Arby's that day.  If you want to maximize it, you have to be every bit as faithful and dedicated as you would be to a training regimen.  When you cheat, you're cheating yourself - but, unlike an exercise program - be advised that your choices also carry global ramifications as well when you factor in where the food you eat actually comes from and how it's produced.

as of now all the food i eat at home is free range cage free raw organic etc. where applicable.
"Free range" and "cage free" mean practically nothing.  It's a nice racket: get well-meaning people to pay a premium to assuage their consciences / stroke their egos in exchange for, well, the price of a sticker.  The only thing "free range" means is that you have "access to the outdoors."  You could still spend your entire brief life indoors as long as there's a door somewhere through which, in theory, at some point in time you could've used to access an outdoor area of unspecified size.  In practice, "free range" means absolutely nothing.  "Cage free" may mean what it says - but that doesn't prevent thousands of chickens from being packed tightly together in disease ridden conditions, smeared in their own feces.  A corpse by any other name...

Bonus tip:  even non-GMO or GMO-free labels are questionable, since - and this is a heck of a loophole - they only consider the FIRST generation to be genetically modified.  Every subsequent generation, if conventionally produced, would thus qualify as non-GMO.


If anyone wants to chat about this stuff in greater detail you can drop me a PM.  It takes me all of 10 minutes to post something like this, but a 1 page article can be daunting as an unabridged dictionary for the reading-averse, so I don't see the point in pushing it any further as is.  There are already a ton of good posts on the board about this issue.  The Food Inc. thread from last year and NT Vegetarians I Have Some Questions stand out in my mind.  We had one a few weeks back as well that I recall went pretty well - I saw no need to chime in there as we're fortunate that a number of our fellow members seem quite knowledgeable when it comes to sports nutrition and veg*an diets.