Vegetarian diet?

[Charles Long]

Any vegetarians out there? If so, what do you typically eat?

Also, what's the thought out there on vegetarian diets and fitness? Can it be done?

Charles Long

[Coach Jones]

Are you talking Vegan?

[Charles Long]

Are you talking Vegan?

No I wasn't but I would be interested in opinions and experiences with a vegan diet also.

Charles Long

[Coach Jones]

I am not a vegan, nor have I ever been a vegan but in my experience I haven't seen a lot of positive results from a strict vegan diet in terms of performance. I can't say how healthy the vegans that i've worked with were, but I have not seen many athletes that could function well on a strictly vegan diet.

Just my experience and opinion.

[Coach Flanagan]

The vast majority of people I know on vegetarian and vegan diets for ethical reasons are in absolute horrible physical condition.

It works for some people, though.

[Scott Sonnon]

Charles,

What are you looking for specifically? I was veg for 5-6 years. Sure, it can be done, but the question is why.

[priyam]

Any vegetarians out there? If so, what do you typically eat?

Also, what's the thought out there on vegetarian diets and fitness? Can it be done?

Charles Long

i have been a vegetarian for over 30 years. i am perfectly healthy but would luv to get into better physical shape as i'm get older now and that's why i'm here at rmax. i have consistently practiced yoga all those years and it has helped me a lot though.
i have found that a lot of vegetarians and vegans that i know often were content with just not eating animal products. i mean, and i am grossly generalizing here, they were not always good about continuing to educate themselves about thier health in general. by this i specifically mean the quality of their diets and exercise. i also know some raw vegans (no cooked food) who are in fabulous shape and health.
right now i am raw vegan which i have been doing in various degrees for about 5 years with good results. this is comprised of fruits, veggies, nuts and seeds.

[Connie Brown]

I never tried it but I think it can be done, based on writings from people who seem knowledgable. It definitely takes more care and skill to do for glowing health, than other regimes. And you need to supplement with B vitamins and (something else I can't remember) and if you like sports and activities that call for a lot of muscle and muscle turnover, enough protein. Sez my veggie friends.

[Quentin Vaughan]

i was a vegetarian for over 3 years and raw foodist for a year. humm...first let me say that as Coach asked WHY is truly where to start. the "why" of ones decision in my opinion is the key. i have found that most if not ALL of the propaganda about veganism compared to other methods are way out of line. sure when they compare it to the SAD(standard american diet) it comes out ahead. eating a raw iguanas butt is healthier than a McMuffin and fries in MY opinion: ) so THAT particular point is moot. they often use fear tactics and cult like propaganda to sell their methods. i bought into it hook line and sinker. i mean it did sound amazing....LIVE FOOD! with all it's enzymes and nutrients all there just waiting to be eaten till we smucks COOKED it; ( i bought hundreds of dollars worth of raw supps, grew wheat grass in my living room, learned that all the fruit i was eating was "hybrid" which i was told wasn't good. the first month i felt ok....even though my moods would swing like Jekkyl anf Hyde from all the sugar( i know that now). at the time my WHY was that i wanted to be so called "clean and pure". i was told....no..i was brainwashed into thinking that eating dead things was less than eating alive things. i was brainwashed...(i aplogize for the harsh words...but it is the truth in my instance) into thinking that GOD, the Universe, or whatever you would like to call it would be more pleased with me and bestow me with blessings if i was to do this. NOT!!.....LOL!! i went down to 160 lbs. my mind was mush, i couldn't hold a thought for long. i was sick almost constantly. i was told it was detox. i was told i would detox one month for every year of my life....that;s like awhile you know: )

so bro.....all this to say in my opinion the only WHY that makes sense with that kind of path is simple.....do you like it? do you THRIVE on it? as i would tell my clients the only people that should be raw foodists are people who DON'T like cooked food. if you look at a piece of medium rare buffalo meat and you wanna puke...eat a raw burger or something. i personally jump up and down with glee when my girl cooks up some big tutanka: ) and now that i've come here and learned about PnP. i feel so good i want to slap myself!! sure i slip up and then i learn....that is apart of the Path. just make sure you are making choices based on YOUR truth and accept the consequences. raw, vegetarianism wasn't my highest way. but if i didn't shed the mental phobias that they instill i wouldn't have had the courage to LISTEN to my truth for fear of offending the Gods or eating NEGATIVE foods. how silly.....eh?

in peace,

Q

[Charles Long]

Charles,

What are you looking for specifically? I was veg for 5-6 years. Sure, it can be done, but the question is why.

The why is that I'm thinking of moving in that direction. I've just lost my taste for meat. I used to love sitting down to a steak but it just doesn't appeal to me anymore. I'm not against eating meat. I still do but less and less as I just don't much care for it anymore. It's not an ethical or animal rights thing. It's just my tatstes have changed.

Charles Long

[Kathryn Woodall]

The why is that I'm thinking of moving in that direction. I've just lost my taste for meat. I used to love sitting down to a steak but it just doesn't appeal to me anymore. I'm not against eating meat. I still do but less and less as I just don't much care for it anymore. It's not an ethical or animal rights thing. It's just my tatstes have changed.
Charles Long

Charles,
I was a vege for 6 years and it came at least partially because I lost my taste for meat. What I later learned is that losing one's taste for meat can actually be related to a few medical conditions. One being hypothyroidism and another being decreased digestive enzymes. There are a couple other things that can cause it as well, but those tend to be the top two. If you have not done so, you might want to consult with your healthcare team about your loss of taste for meat. In my case, when the hypothyroidism was treated, my taste for meat steadily returned and I left my vegetarian years behind me.

[oldschoollion]

acs,i hadent heard of that before, thank you for sharing that.
charles, if you do want to go vegan, email mike mahler. he was vegan before he started lifting and from what i read in other forums, he would be more than happy to give you a list of reading material that he used to form his diet.
here is an article from his site. it is short, buta good first read.
http://www.mikemahler.com/veg.html
i take breaks in meat when it strikes me. no ethic reason. i also keep my non-animal protein close to this articles list, no soy. soy tends to make me feel run down for some reason. any one else get that?

[Quentin Vaughan]

many years ago when i went vegan i too lost my taste for meat. then i realized that it was the chemicals and additives in the meats and foods i was eating that was making me feel so bad. when i began eating organic meats and staying away from processed foods.....my taste for meat returned AND i felt amazing!!

journey well warrior! i support your truth.

Q

[rawmark]

Hey Friend,

I'm a 20+ year vegan and 2 year raw vegan. Feel free to answer any questions you like. I'm more than happy to help ya.

Peace,

[clubboy]

Check out Thrive by Ironman Triathlete Brendan Brazier.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0973596732/qid=1144089490/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-6551634-8876927?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

[priyam]

i was a vegetarian for over 3 years and raw foodist for a year. humm...first let me say that as Coach asked WHY is truly where to start. the "why" of ones decision in my opinion is the key. i have found that most if not ALL of the propaganda about veganism compared to other methods are way out of line. sure when they compare it to the SAD(standard american diet) it comes out ahead. eating a raw iguanas butt is healthier than a McMuffin and fries in MY opinion: ) so THAT particular point is moot. they often use fear tactics and cult like propaganda to sell their methods. i bought into it hook line and sinker. i mean it did sound amazing....LIVE FOOD! with all it's enzymes and nutrients all there just waiting to be eaten till we smucks COOKED it; ( i bought hundreds of dollars worth of raw supps, grew wheat grass in my living room, learned that all the fruit i was eating was "hybrid" which i was told wasn't good. the first month i felt ok....even though my moods would swing like Jekkyl anf Hyde from all the sugar( i know that now). at the time my WHY was that i wanted to be so called "clean and pure". i was told....no..i was brainwashed into thinking that eating dead things was less than eating alive things. i was brainwashed...(i aplogize for the harsh words...but it is the truth in my instance) into thinking that GOD, the Universe, or whatever you would like to call it would be more pleased with me and bestow me with blessings if i was to do this. NOT!!.....LOL!! i went down to 160 lbs. my mind was mush, i couldn't hold a thought for long. i was sick almost constantly. i was told it was detox. i was told i would detox one month for every year of my life....that;s like awhile you know: )

so bro.....all this to say in my opinion the only WHY that makes sense with that kind of path is simple.....do you like it? do you THRIVE on it? as i would tell my clients the only people that should be raw foodists are people who DON'T like cooked food. if you look at a piece of medium rare buffalo meat and you wanna puke...eat a raw burger or something. i personally jump up and down with glee when my girl cooks up some big tutanka: ) and now that i've come here and learned about PnP. i feel so good i want to slap myself!! sure i slip up and then i learn....that is apart of the Path. just make sure you are making choices based on YOUR truth and accept the consequences. raw, vegetarianism wasn't my highest way. but if i didn't shed the mental phobias that they instill i wouldn't have had the courage to LISTEN to my truth for fear of offending the Gods or eating NEGATIVE foods. how silly.....eh?

in peace,

Q

Q,

i am truly saddened to hear about some of your raw food/vegetarian experiences. but i'm glad to know you are able to follow your Truth for what foods works best for you. in my experience the 'detox' rap is one of the most abused and misunderstood concepts i've ever seen. and 99.9% of the folks i've heard talking about hybrid fruits have no idea of what they are speaking about.
propaganda is always propaganda.

i am a raw food vegan and thrive on it. and i want people to know that one can live on fruits and vegetables. but, like anything there can be a lot of so-called 'experts' expounding a lot of information.
i don't think people need to give up exercise if they injured or impaired themselves doing something unhealthy based on the wrong information (for example, the royal court exercises). i also think people need not write off vegetarian diets after attempting them with less than optimal information to support it.

i am not writing this to suggest you give veggie diets another try. i just wanted to respond to what you strongly & sincerely expressed by way of letting people know veggie/raw/vegan/whatever can be done healthfully.

[priyam]

Charles,

What are you looking for specifically? I was veg for 5-6 years. Sure, it can be done, but the question is why.

Coach,

may i ask why you were veg? and why you stopped?

thanks!

[Scott Sonnon]

Paul,

It was part of the process of my education. At that time and in the region I was living, organic and free-range weren't readily available, and were out of my budget. My education led me to the awareness of the chemical and genetic manipulation of certain farmed animals. I went predominantly raw vegan for many years. However, I dropped down to dangerously low bodyfat levels (around the Fisticuffs/Arthrokinetics era).

As my education grew, and my resources expanded here in the Pacific NW, I began integrating first venison, then other free-range organic animals into my diet. I feel much safer and healthier with this extra 30 pounds of meat on my bones.

I don't practice routine, but cycling of seasonal foodstuffs. We've survived and prospered because of our incredible flexibility in nutritional options. (For instance, during the summers, I'm mostly only a fish eater when the season hits.)

[Charles Long]

Charles,
I was a vege for 6 years and it came at least partially because I lost my taste for meat. What I later learned is that losing one's taste for meat can actually be related to a few medical conditions. One being hypothyroidism and another being decreased digestive enzymes. There are a couple other things that can cause it as well, but those tend to be the top two. If you have not done so, you might want to consult with your healthcare team about your loss of taste for meat. In my case, when the hypothyroidism was treated, my taste for meat steadily returned and I left my vegetarian years behind me.

Thanks for the advice.. It's not a thyroid problem but decreased digestive enzymes are a possibilty. I listen to guy on the radio who thinks everyone over 40 (I'm 45) should take digestive aids as stomach acid and enzymes start decreasing around then.

Charles Long

[Charles Long]

acs,i hadent heard of that before, thank you for sharing that.
charles, if you do want to go vegan, email mike mahler. he was vegan before he started lifting and from what i read in other forums, he would be more than happy to give you a list of reading material that he used to form his diet.
here is an article from his site. it is short, buta good first read.
http://www.mikemahler.com/veg.html
i take breaks in meat when it strikes me. no ethic reason. i also keep my non-animal protein close to this articles list, no soy. soy tends to make me feel run down for some reason. any one else get that?

Thanks. I read the article and will explore his site more fully when I have time.

As for soy, it's a known thyroid inhibitor and is associated with other health problems as well. It doesn't seem to affect everyone just as MSG doesn't visibly cause problems with all who consume it. But there's enough evidence to convince me that it's not something I want to eat very often. I can eat it but when I do it's in very small amounts.

Charles Long

[Charles Long]

many years ago when i went vegan i too lost my taste for meat. then i realized that it was the chemicals and additives in the meats and foods i was eating that was making me feel so bad. when i began eating organic meats and staying away from processed foods.....my taste for meat returned AND i felt amazing!!

journey well warrior! i support your truth.

Q

Thanks. I suppose it could be the chemicals. I have access to fresh raw organic milk and eggs but not meat unless I want to buy a whole cow or buffalo at a time. Not practical.

Charles Long

[Charles Long]

Hey Friend,

I'm a 20+ year vegan and 2 year raw vegan. Feel free to answer any questions you like. I'm more than happy to help ya.

Peace,

Can I contact you privately with questions?

Charles Long

[Charles Long]

Check out Thrive by Ironman Triathlete Brendan Brazier.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0973596732/qid=1144089490/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-6551634-8876927?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

Thanks.:) I am going to get this one next time I order from Amazon.

Charles Long

[Quentin Vaughan]

i am not writing this to suggest you give veggie diets another try. i just wanted to respond to what you strongly & sincerely expressed by way of letting people know veggie/raw/vegan/whatever can be done healthfully.

i hear ya bro. like Coach said it's part of the learning adventure. as i have said, go by how you FEEL. not by what you have been brainwashed to BELIEVE. i know a few beings that thrive on the raw diet, but they also use the propaganda as inner fuel for their decision. i've only met ONE person who was raw and NEVER mentioned it to anyone. you had to like be around the guy alot to even know. he's painfully skinny: ) what i call a "dainty" man....lol!
i just didn't feel like me at 160 lbs. i'm 192...now ya talkin; ) and i feel wonderful.

so with love i say it's all good i suppose. in the celestial sense there is no right and wrong only...consequences.

[Coach Jones]

what i call a "dainty" man....lol!

I'm adding that to my dictionary.