Plant based lifestyle. Anyone?

What on Earth are you talking about?

Ted Pinson wrote:What on Earth are you talking about?

Yeah, I think JNE has lost his mind.

jgfox wrote: Yeah, I think JNE has lost his mind.

JNE wrote:

I no longer think you lost your mind. I know you have lost your mind...

^^^ Yes and in a mean spirited and unproductive drift into "I only have the answers" type of madness. "Climbing friend" called that many pages back...smart and insightful guy even with all that neck meat.

You guys sound like overgrown children. Only in your guys bizarre and twisted imaginationland reality do you get to hold or adopt all of my same views while denouncing me specifically for holding those views. Solipsism indeed.

Em Cos wrote: You know Aleks, fish heads are not generally considered a vegetarian food.

climbing friend,

it is true, i renounce them completely. sometimes we are saying the things for getting the attention. also I have company for selling the fake vegan fishheads with simulated blood for dripping down your chin and neck after the biting, made from hydrolyized soy protein and gluten, oh my, how I very much love bite them.

Alright, just out of curiosity, I googled "solipsism," but it still doesn't explain what the heck JNE is talking about.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sol…

Does altered ego have the most punchable profile pic in this thread?

Ted Pinson wrote:Alright, just out of curiosity, I googled "solipsism," but it still doesn't explain what the heck JNE is talking about. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sol…

It means "What you say doesn't matter" because nothing outside JNE's mind is real, or may not be real or both. In fact we are all probably just figments of his imagination. But we could be real. I do think it's important to point out you are the skunk in his imaginary world though. ;)

Hahaha you're right! Omg this guy is extra-crispy special crazy.

This whole thread seems to have turned into a shit show filled with a lot of ignorant statements, as I expected it would. Whenever you start to critically discuss dietary choices people become really uncomfortable because it makes them reflect on their own diets which much of the time are not the best in a variety of ways.

Nevertheless, here's my thoughts. I grew up in Idaho, meat and potato country, and ate meat at least twice a day for most of childhood. I've been vegan for about two years now and it has been the most rewarding decision of my life. I will never go back. Originally, I wen't vegan primarily for health reasons, the science is clear— eating a whole food, plant based diet has a long list of benefits: reduced risk of cancer, improved colon health, improved skin health, anti-aging effects, immune system support etc... Read "The China Study" if you want more info on the health aspect of plant based diet vs. the standard American diet. At the time it was conducted it was the largest nutrition study every conducted on humans (I think it still is). Interestingly enough, the author came up from dairy farm background... for what it's worth.

Personally, I have noticed several of these effects. It's hard to describe, but I just feel better. I rarely feel bloated, sick to my stomach, sluggish, or experience any other problems resulting from digestive issues. I struggled with acne all through high school to the point I tried acutane. Even after a year on acutane it didn't go away. As soon as I wen't vegan, it cleared right up. Growing up, I was practically sick from September to March and since I wen't vegan I've only had one light cold that lasted me a week. Aside from all that, I have actually put on some muscle mass, I'm a healthy 5' 11', 170 lbs. None of my lifts in the weight room have decreased, most have actually increased.

Aside from the health benefits, the environmental impact your dietary choices have is huge. The five reasons I always cite for my being vegan is personal health, the environmental impact the production of meat and dairy products has on the environment (if you wan't I can provide you with a variety of peer reviewed, published, research articles on this topic), the animal ethics component, when done right (without processed food) being vegan is actually much cheaper, and I've actually found the food to be much tastier and more fun to cook.

Anyway, good luck sifting through the variety of opinion and information out there and your dietary journey as a whole. Just beware, when reading "research" take care to note who the science is coming from. Many of our governmental agencies are heavily influenced by agricultural and meat corporations that like the pedal a certain narrative.

Cassidy Thomas wrote:This whole thread seems to have turned into a shit show filled with a lot of ignorant statements, as I expected it would. Whenever you start to critically discuss dietary choices people become really uncomfortable because it makes them reflect on their own diets which much of the time are not the best in a variety of ways. Nevertheless, here's my thoughts. I grew up in Idaho, meat and potato country, and ate meat at least twice a day for most of childhood. I've been vegan for about two years now and it has been the most rewarding decision of my life. I will never go back. Originally, I wen't vegan primarily for health reasons, the science is clear— eating a whole food, plant based diet has a long list of benefits: reduced risk of cancer, improved colon health, improved skin health, anti-aging effects, immune system support etc... Read "The China Study" if you want more info on the health aspect of plant based diet vs. the standard American diet. At the time it was conducted it was the largest nutrition study every conducted on humans (I think it still is). Interestingly enough, the author came up from dairy farm background... for what it's worth. Personally, I have noticed several of these effects. It's hard to describe, but I just feel better. I rarely feel bloated, sick to my stomach, sluggish, or experience any other problems resulting from digestive issues. I struggled with acne all through high school to the point I tried acutane. Even after a year on acutane it didn't go away. As soon as I wen't vegan, it cleared right up. Growing up, I was practically sick from September to March and since I wen't vegan I've only had one light cold that lasted me a week. Aside from all that, I have actually put on some muscle mass, I'm a healthy 5' 11', 170 lbs. None of my lifts in the weight room have decreased, most have actually increased. Aside from the health benefits, the environmental impact your dietary choices have is huge. The five reasons I always cite for my being vegan is personal health, the environmental impact the production of meat and dairy products has on the environment (if you wan't I can provide you with a variety of peer reviewed, published, research articles on this topic), the animal ethics component, when done right (without processed food) being vegan is actually much cheaper, and I've actually found the food to be much tastier and more fun to cook. Anyway, good luck sifting through the variety of opinion and information out there and your dietary journey as a whole. Just beware, when reading "research" take care to note who the science is coming from. Many of our governmental agencies are heavily influenced by agricultural and meat corporations that like the pedal a certain narrative.

Why vegan and not vegetarian - and for sake of argument, let's say lacto-ovo vegetarian (no fish, but does allow dairy, including unfertilized eggs)?

Regarding the other stuff - not doubting what you experienced, but unfortunately anecdotal/testimonial evidence is basically worthless. None of the positive effects you've described can be absolutely attributed to your embrace of veganism.

Marc801 wrote: Why vegan and not vegetarian - and for sake of argument, let's say lacto-ovo vegetarian (no fish, but does allow dairy, including unfertilized eggs)? Regarding the other stuff - not doubting what you experienced, but unfortunately anecdotal/testimonial evidence is basically worthless. None of the positive effects you've described can be absolutely attributed to your embrace of veganism.

Setting the personal health effects of eating dairy aside, I still trend towards veganism due to the environmental impact of the dairy industry. The amount of grain, land, and water used to raise the absurd amount of cattle needed to sustain the dairy industry could be used to more efficiently feed people (approximately 35% of grain produced worldwide is used as livestock feed). The amount of toxic waste produced by the dairy industry is also an important factor to consider. And then of course there is the animal ethics component. Personally, I cannot justify the treatment of animals within the dairy industry. The idea of raising an animal for its entire life in captivity, artificially inseminating them, and using them purely as a means to my end, is unjustifiable. Plus, the vast majority of them are still slaughtered in the end. If you're interested more in animal ethics component I would recommend the documentary "Earthlings" narrated by Joaquin Phoenix.

And yes I realize anecdotal and auto-ethnographic evidence in the rather summarized and shallow manner I presented it is generally not as reliable as other research methodologies, though I will point out the only major lifestyle change that coincided with these changes in bodily function and health was my change in diet. Nevertheless, I was mainly presenting my experience in an effort to suggest that the experiences I have with veganism, at the very least, do not conflict the variety of research that has been conducted on the health benefits of veganism vs. the standard American diet. Like I said, the book "The China Study" is one of the best introductory resources if that's anyone's primary motivations for switching to veganism, which was my primary motivation as first.

All those bloated feelings you described I lost when I cut out pasta, big plates of brown rice and icecream. I pretty much never have spaghetti anymore and when I do I feel like a bloated tick, though a small side dish of it is passable. Ben & Gerry's is now a pretty rare indulgence and I feel a lot better for it. Crappy pizza dough makes me feel like shit too. Funny thing is I love good bread and can eat tons of it smothered in butter or coconut or olive oil and honey with no ill effect, the same with cheese and lots of Stoneyfield whole yogurt.

I tend to eat a lot of nuts and eggs, a fair amount of fruits and berries and not nearly enough vegetables unless somebody else cooks them for me or I can graze them directly out of my garden. I frankly find them kind of a pita to prep and cook, with inconsistent results. Meat I probably average a little less than one portion a day and prefer a smaller bit of better quality rather than a giant slab.. and sardines and copious amounts of coffee!

People in the nutrition world have known about the flaws in the China Study for years now... In many cases the data does not actually support what the author concludes, and in other cases there is data that contradicts the authors conclusion which was left out (likely intentionally).

cholesterol-and-health.com/…

deniseminger.com/2010/07/07…

My diet has been a slow evolution, which started about 8 years ago when I met my wife. Eating 5-6 times a day with meat at most meals and a lot of fast food, alcohol, coffee, and not much fruit and vegetables. For the last few years I’ve eaten small portions of meat and limited dairy and eggs a couple times a week and a lot more fruits and veg. About a year ago I adopted a Yogi diet where I eat only 3 meals a day to allow proper digestion between meals. Now I’m at the point of considering going vegan or at least as close as works for me.

The daily diet for the last year: Breakfast is a bowl of steel cut oats with ground flax seed, sunflower seeds, walnuts, raisins, a little maple syrup and hemp milk(fortified with B12). I also eat a breakfast burrito with beans, 1 egg, veg, and avocado and 1 piece of fruit(usually apple).

Lunch is a portion of some leftover like pasta or lentil dish, a peanut butter jelly(or sometime banana), carrot/celery sticks and a piece of fruit(apple).

Dinner is one big meal of whatever we make like veggie pasta, enchiladas, Indian, stifry, veggie burgers or mushroom meatloaf, soup and bread or a variety of other things we make. Another piece of fruit. If I worked out earlier in the day I will have about 20 grams of hemp protein as well.

I don’t snack or eat between meals at all.

I quit smoking weed 8 months ago cold turkey. I stopped drinking alcohol about a year ago and I quit coffee this summer. Occasionally I will have some kind of dessert but generally don’t eat any sugar or sweets. I've gained 10 pounds over the summer for some unknown reason.

I have plenty of energy to get up at 4am for work, put 8-10 hours of physical work, hit the gym for a couple hours, go home a cook and clean. I recently started lifting weights again and was surprised at how strong I’m feeling and added weight on fast. I haven’t been getting sore the way I used to either. My climbing is as good as it’s ever been and I haven't been to a doctor for illness my entire adult life. I get blood tests once a year and everything is in the target range.

The Yogi diet is awesome because I have over come hunger. I used to always be worried about eating all the time and would get hangry easily. Now hunger doesn’t exist for me and I can eat a big breakfast, climb all day without lunch or snacks and eat a big dinner with no problem. Without constantly digesting food we free up life energy for other things so we have improved concentration and physical stamina.

I may continue to eat meat like once a month but I think I'm done with dairy and I'd like to cut down on the eggs.

^^ the weight gain came from quitting weed.

Only annedoctal, but the 3 skinniest guys I knew smoked daily, never exercised & had the same sinewy body (and moody temperament). Other males I know who do not smoke, exercise regularly, still do not have that sinewy body.

You can google "marijuana weight loss" and it appears others have noticed it as well.

Personally I don't smoke especially because I work for the govn't. Not the DEA.

Now wur talk'n productive diet diatribe for craggers! Ha! Seriously though, really?

Ana Tine wrote:Only annedoctal, but the 3 skinniest guys I knew smoked daily, never exercised & had the same sinewy body (and moody temperament). Other males I know who do not smoke, exercise regularly, still do not have that sinewy body.

Depends how good you are at staring down the munchie monster.