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Thread: Going Vegetarian-Your Experience

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    Veteran Member DancingDaisy's Avatar
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    Thumbs up Going Vegetarian-Your Experience

    After reading a book about vegetarian diets, Eat To Live by Joel Fuhrman, I decided that I would like to see how going vegetarian would change the way my body feels. Im going to stick out the 6 week program and see how different I feel.

    What Im hoping to gain is:
    Weight Loss
    Better skin/nails/hair
    More energy

    Heres What Im going to give up:

    All meat
    cheese
    any dairy
    coffee
    cokes
    Anything ingredient "man made", I cant eat
    And basically trying to help myself ward against diseases and medicines since that is what most of the book preaches about. He talks alot about the body detoxifying itself. There will be no counting calories as long as I stick to the above.

    I was hoping someone could share experiences with going vegetarian. How it helped you? Difficulties? Ever go back and forth?

    All responses appretiated

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    Default Re: Going Vegetarian-Your Experience

    I don't even want to say how long I've been vegetarian.... especially since it's longer than some of you are old.

    Anyhow, compared to many of my regular friends I'm a lot more slender (even if I do have big hips), & I have a great complexion most of the time. I think both of those probably have to do with my diet.
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    Veteran Member AngelKing's Avatar
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    Default Re: Going Vegetarian-Your Experience

    Our individual biochemical profiles are so subtle and varied that there is no single 'diet' or way of eating that will benefit the entire population. Some people can and should be vegetarian, and some really shouldn't. Difficulties arise when a person is vegetarian when they shouldn't be, or when a person is not and they should be.

    I personally tried going vegetarian for 10 weeks and found it was terrible for me. My skin looked like shit, my energy levels were zero, my immune system crapped out on me, I lost a ton of lean mass and gained fat, and I went into a depressive state. And this was on an extremely balanced, macronutrient balanced vegetarian diet with supplements.

    Give it a try for a month or two, and you'll find out pretty quickly if your personal biochemistry will tolerate vegetarianism and thrive under it or not.

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    Default Re: Going Vegetarian-Your Experience

    Don't be alarmed if you are more irritable and have mood swings the first couple of days, esp going off caffiene can be a bitch.

    Good luck and I hope your body likes it. I tried many different diets until I found one that my body really likes, which happens to be the Medditeranian diet.
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    Default Re: Going Vegetarian-Your Experience

    I read in Food Revolution that eating one pound of beef is the equivalent of using anywhere from 500 gallons of water to a years' worth of showers. I stopped eating meat (aside from fish, which I eat raw occasionally) for animal cruelty and environmental reasons. The amount of water they expend on the crops needed to feed and raise these animals is insane. We're approaching a global crisis in terms of fresh water availability and world hunger...not to mention global warming.

    Anyway...

    I stopped eating meat (except fish!) and never looked back. I've lost weight as a result (even though I didn't have much weight to lose), and I feel great. (Probably since I also cut out gluten, added sugar, and put more raw foods into my diet). People don't need much protein at ALL to survive. You can build muscle on a vegetarian diet. How do you think cows grow big and strong? They ain't eatin steak for dinner..

    If I ever do feel the need to eat meat, I'll buy organic grass-fed meat. Not perfect, but much better for the animals and environment.

    Check this book out for more info: http://www.amazon.com/Food-Revolutio...0284868&sr=8-2

    It's extraordinarily well-researched and comprehensive. A really incredible resource. And look, you can get it for $4!

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    Veteran Member AngelKing's Avatar
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    Default Re: Going Vegetarian-Your Experience

    Quote Originally Posted by charlie61 View Post
    I read in Food Revolution that eating one pound of beef is the equivalent of using anywhere from 500 gallons of water to a years' worth of showers. I stopped eating meat (aside from fish, which I eat raw occasionally) for animal cruelty and environmental reasons. The amount of water they expend on the crops needed to feed and raise these animals is insane. We're approaching a global crisis in terms of fresh water availability and world hunger...not to mention global warming.

    Your position is understandable and admirable. I feel the same way toward the automotive industry and choose not to support it. As for meat, I only eat artisanal beef and free range game meat. I believe that just by existing in modern first world society each and every one of us is negatively impacting the earth in a multitude of ways, and we can at least try and mitigate the damage we each inflict at least incrementally. Even ethical vegetarians would do well to purchase macrobiotically, and avoid products such as soy which is farmed from corporate patent seed stock. Industrial agriculture is also extremely damaging to our planet, and we shouldn't support its products either. And I don't even eat fish anymore, both because of mercury contamination, and also because of global stock depletion.

    But to stay on topic, I do eat meat, and my body does demand it (which I've observed through trial) to stay 'big and strong', because I do not have the biochemistry of a cow, and have found that I do need animal protein (beyond eggs) to remain healthy and retain lean mass under the training regimen that I follow. If it were not so that would be great, but a vegetarian diet was and would be disastrous for my health.

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    Default Re: Going Vegetarian-Your Experience

    I'm personally not vegetarian, but grew up in a vegetarian household. Sorry if this post is on the fly, since I've got to run, but one thing I can recommend is to start thinking of some different creative recipes so it won't feel like you're eating the same thing every day. I think sometimes people will feel tempted to relapse if they feel like they're "giving up" something, but if you can trick your brain, it will make it more fun for you to explore. Like homemade gazpacho is delicious. Blend up some fresh tomato (and other stuff depending on the recipe you choose), then you can thicken it with some bean flour. (I prefer to use this as thickener instead of corn starch). Also, homemade hummus is amazing and yummy.

    Do you have any favorite foods that you want to keep? Maybe some people have ideas for things to make with those.
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    Default Re: Going Vegetarian-Your Experience

    ^^^Going off of this... here's a recipe for ya:

    Guacamole.

    Two avocados, mashed.
    One lime, juiced
    Pinch of kosher salt
    1tbsp chopped cilantro
    1 clove garlic, minced
    2 roma tomatoes, diced
    1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
    1/2 tsp cumin

    Mix.

    Nom.

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    Default Re: Going Vegetarian-Your Experience

    I'm going vegetarian. Just because lately I've been feeling heavier than usual and bloated. I used to LOVE salads but now I can't really eat them or else I feel sick :/. I eat veggie chili and lots of green veggies and squash. It more has to do with animal rights and health. Not so much weight loss, but I just want to feel better and hopefully have more energy. I have a lot of books on it tho.

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    Default Re: Going Vegetarian-Your Experience

    I became a vegetarian three years ago after reading a chapter in the book Skinny Bitch about how animals are treated on factory farms and in slaughterhouses. I literally gave up all meat and fish the second after I read it. Haven't looked back since. I personally love being Veg. I feel good, my energy levels are good, and I have discovered lots of awesome and yummy food. I'm also helping my body, the environment and saving lives. You can't beat that.

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    Default Re: Going Vegetarian-Your Experience

    So you would be vegan. Vegans dont eat any animal product,and vegetarians don't eat meat.
    I was vegetarian before I got pregnant,and it kept me thin. You will crave meat for a few weeks or maybe a few months-almost an insatiable craving for meat! But well worth it in the end! Just make sure you keep your protien levels up. Protein banana shakes were my favorite!
    and oh-I lost some of my hair the first few weeks-might have been a lack of some vitamin.
    I never really thought meat was disgusting-I just had a problem with the way the animals were treated before they were killed. I eat meat now,but it upsets me. I want to go back to veg soon.
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    Default Re: Going Vegetarian-Your Experience

    Bean burritos are awesome by the way. Find some vegan cheese and sour cream
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    Default Re: Going Vegetarian-Your Experience

    I did it for a while when I was dating a Vegetarian...
    My biggest problem was just that I got really bored with what I was eating really fast.
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    Default Re: Going Vegetarian-Your Experience

    If I could give some advise about a Veg or Vegan diet it would be to make sure your morning meal includes some protein... If you are doing eggs then egg whites are good, but you will still need more. If you are total vegan then I would suggest buying some powdered soy protein and pea protein. They are grainy and taste like a mix of sand and chalk, but you will need the protein for the energy. Mix them with soy milk and fresh or frozen fruit in a blender.

    Also get into beans. Look for high quality beans that are dried out. You rehydrate them and then cook. Easy to make great tasting hummas this way.

    It is a tough road, but pretty much worth it. Watch out for fried foods from the appetizer menu too. They can be your downfall.

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    Default Re: Going Vegetarian-Your Experience

    Quote Originally Posted by KaylaBella View Post
    I became a vegetarian three years ago after reading a chapter in the book Skinny Bitch
    that is a fun book to read.

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    Default Re: Going Vegetarian-Your Experience

    wow. i must be weird then. i just simply do NOT like to eat meat at all (the way it looks, tastes, texture). i've always been this way and my diet pretty much consists of pasta, veggies, bread etc. basically anything but meat. i love salad.

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