I've been reading a lot about a Vegan diet. This isn't for any particular "moral" reason or animal rights consideration, just health.
A week or so ago the news had Bill Clinton back in the news. Remember Bill? Former President, former fat food abuser? So much intelligence and drive yet, he didn't exercise or eat properly and we all know about his abuse of cigars....ahem.....
His recent years heart problems and his doctors lead him to try a Vegan diet. He's lost twenty pounds and improved his vitals about his overall health.
I love veggies and fruits anyway, so, why not consider this for an overall health benefit? I'm still reading various sources about how to do it and what to look out for etc.
I'd appreciate any readers first hand experiences of living a Vegan lifestyle. Again, save your animal rights preaching for another forum. I'm just interested in the health aspects at this point in my life. After all, Bill is only five years older than me.
I'm actually a fairly fit guy for a soon to be 60 year old. But I'm fat and who knows what silent hidden dangers lurk inside my blood vessels. One thing for sure, I need to find an eating pattern to get away from various addictions to fat and occassional sugar abuses to my body.
Posts
8 comments:
I was a Vegan and it is really very difficult to do unless you are either a heck of a cook, have an affinity for healthy foods or can afford prepared foods. I ended up eating a lot of empty carbs and being unsatisfied with meals.
The biggest issue for me was sugar- since you pretty much are limited on fats with that diet (vegan cheese is not good, vegan "meats" are not that satisfying) I ended up eating a lot of carbs. If you can afford and enjoy eating a ton of fruits and veggies, plus are skilled at cooking, you could do it, but why not allow yourself some healthy proteins and dairy on occasion as well?
I would start with trying to have a vegan day or two a week and see if you end up feeling satisfied.
The other downside is that vegan (or even vegetarian) options at most restaurants are either unsatisfying- we can make you a salad (of iceburg lettuce and a tomato) or you can get like, pasta or maybe a veggie burger (so you might as well have eaten chicken or something in terms of calories). Ethnic places are better for that- particularly where you can get tofu.
For the record, i went vegan and gained about 30 lbs, that I lost with a vegetarian/fish eating diet.
Veganism is extreme and I seriously doubt you are at all serious about it. Why go straight to Vegan and skip some more moderate and easier diet changes - flexitarian, pescatarian, vegetarian?
Also, I always laugh out loud whenever anyone says they are fat and fit. That is total bologna. If you were fit you wouldn't be fat. If you are fat you aren't fit. Just because so many people are morbidly obese these days doesn't mean it is a fit lifestyle. It simply isn't.
I will laugh out loud
as I reply to anonymous on Tuesday's blog. Fit and perfect weight are not the same thing. Think about James fix and NFL linemen. One was very fit and skinny and died young. The NFL guys can kick all our butts and out run us in the 40 yard dash yet are "fat".
Dan -- Check out Mark Bittman's "Food Matters" and "Food Matters Cookbook." He's a fine food writer and offers a lot of sensible advice that makes cooking and eating well much easier. He embraces what he calls Vegan Before Six, and eats a vegan diet up until, basically, dinner. Then he allows himself more variety. He not only lost a good deal of weight, but got his "numbers" back in line as well. Good luck!
It never fails, never. A fat person says fit and fat and then uses NFL players as their example. There are roughly 1350 NFL players in the world and about 300 +/- are linemen. That means on a planet of six billion they represent essentially 0%. You aren't a 25 year old lineman, you are a 60 year old morbidly obese person.
Additionally, the stats on NFL players and lifespan are staggering. Do some homework. They suffer horrid chronic conditions due to both sports injuries and their obesity.
The next time you want to compare yourself to a peer group, go to CMC and the cardiac/ortho/endocrine wings, not BofA stadium.
I also don't know what you think qualifies as fit. There are basic fitness tests out there.
Too bad it has to be all about you. The animals thank you anyway.
I agree with the first poster...try going vegan for one or two days a week and see how that works for you. Maybe try the pescatarian for all other days so you can still get a nice lean protein in. Going Vegan is extreme and difficult since you don't realize how many foods contain dairy that we eat on a normal basis. I applaud you for researching eating lifestyles to help you in your goal. Keep it up!
Try the Engine 2 Diet book by Rip Esselstyn. It is a great way to delve into a plant based diet!
Post a Comment