burning 4 revenge Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Hey all, I've recently leaned more and more towards being a vegetarian, but I have a couple of questions. 1- How difficult is it? 2-Do you ever lose the temptation to eat meat? 3-Is it unhealthy for your body to stop eating meat? I mean, meat does contain a large number of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin B2 which is difficult to obtain from a vegetarian diet. 4-Are there vegetarian meals which really replace the taste of meat? If anyone could shed any more light on this, I'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance.I was a real vegetarian for more than ten years and in the last several months have returned to "pesco-vegetarianism". That doesnt count amongst the hardcore, but I do it for health reasons (high blood pressure) and I think its better than other kinds of diets as its not a hard lifestyle to maintain 1. No, I dont think so. Not as hard as quiting smoking has been thats for sure 2.Yes and then I eat fish. Dont know if thats an option for you 3. Get a check up from a physician to do basic bloodwork and ask his advice. No generalities can be applied without knowing your specific chemistry and any health issues in your history. Generally speaking its healthier if you balance it properly 4. Yes, Morningstar grillers taste like big macs to me if you use thousand island, american cheese, onions, dill pickles and decent quality hamburger buns Link to post Share on other sites
FleshNBones Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Please elaborate. I recently went on a little hike and after an hour or so my leg muscles were giving out. I'm not sure if me being vegan had anything to do with it.If you are physically active, you need more nutrients, protein, calories, etc. I think a good number would be 5 or more hours of moderate exercise a week. If you are building yourself up, you should need nearly twice as much protein. If you are doing a lot of aerobic exercise, you need plenty of carbs. Your muscles will fatigue sooner if you are on a low carb diet. They will also fatigue sooner if you run short on nutrients such as magnesium, potassium, and salt (lost through sweat). If you aren't properly hydrated your blood will thicken, and your blood pressure will drop so you will tire out sooner. You could try eating a bannana while you are in the middle of the hike to help postpone fatigue. When I'm working out (moderate aerobic), I usually drink two big gulps of water every 10 min. I will drink gatorade on long 2 hour rides. If you do not get enough good protein, you will actually lose muscle. Link to post Share on other sites
Author sibernox Posted January 21, 2009 Author Share Posted January 21, 2009 Yes, mainly nuts, tofu, and green leafy vegetables like broccoli, sprouts, curly kale, spinach and cabbage. have you had a look at that website link I sent you? Yeah I did, but it doesn't really say which foods I need to buy to make up for not eating meat. I did see the beans though. Yesterday I went out and bought $60 worth of veggie foods. Veggie dogs, vegetables, fruits, nuts, all kinds of beans, pasta, sauces! Link to post Share on other sites
heartbroken55 Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Anyone heard anything bad about eating too much tofu/ soy products? Link to post Share on other sites
Geishawhelk Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Yes, but I then discovered that the research had been commisioned by the meat marketing board. And they modified the data to suit their needs. As with everything, you have to make a value judgement and do nothing to excess. Follow a balanced diet, and you can't go far wrong. Link to post Share on other sites
ruggy Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Veggie people, never understood. Humans are carnivores. Our bodies need the protein. I did try to do it back in my late teens. Screwed up my whole mood and digestive system. To each their own, but I need meat and poultry. Link to post Share on other sites
Geishawhelk Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 No. You don't. You need the nutriments, but nobody "needs" meat and poultry. And this thing about humans being carnivores is rubbish. We're Omnivores, but our jaws and muscles have become re-shaped over the millennia due to the change in diet, and the preparation and presentation of food. If you look at how our jaws were formed originally, we had a wide, square stronger lower jaw, built to chew fibrous foods and vegetable items. The canines were actually less developped than they are now. some primates eat meat, but not all. Gorillas, for example, are entirely vegetarian. It doesn't seem to have diminished their strength and ability. If you suffered in the past, it's either because of a medical condition (as I had) or because you simply didn't do it properly. Link to post Share on other sites
Author sibernox Posted January 22, 2009 Author Share Posted January 22, 2009 I'm eating a delicious salad right now: Lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, green peppers, cheese, maple syrup beans, eggs and to top it all, cherry sauce. Gotta say, my imagination came out for this one. I had a bad headache yesterday but I'm not sure if it's cause of my being a recent vegetarian. I do eat lots of beans and vegetables and fruits, and I drink orange juice and a lot of water. I also take Jamieson B100 vitamin pills - each caplet contains 100 mcg of B12. Is that enough daily? Thank you. Link to post Share on other sites
ruggy Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 To each their own. Eggs, you know are EGGS from CHICKENS.... Right? Link to post Share on other sites
heartbroken55 Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 Yeah I wouldn't call myself a vegetarian if I eat eggs... Link to post Share on other sites
Geishawhelk Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 To each their own. Eggs, you know are EGGS from CHICKENS.... Right? Eggs are a "no-man's land" issue.... because they're unfertilised, they can't strictly speaking. be called "meat". I know many so called "hard-line" vegetarians who keep eggs in their diet. However, more of an issue, regarding eggs, is the chickens they came from, how they are reared, fed and kept..... the conditions the chickens are housed and reared in is just as important - if not more so - to the quality of the eggs you consume. I buy nothing but organic eggs from free-range semi-self-fed fowl..... Link to post Share on other sites
Mahatma Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 Why are people so negative and condescending towards people who have made the choice to be vegetarian? I have not completely given up meats, but do know it is completely possible. Over two years ago, I gave up all sweets (soda drinks included) and fast food. I always enjoyed the taste of both and I was not anywhere near overweight, but it was a decision I wanted to make early in my life. Things like ice cream or brownies used to look extremely delicious to me, but after a few months the desire began so subside. Now, when I see something like a doughnut or something, I am almost turned off by it. It is something that takes time, but if you have a reason to do it or have the will, it can be done. I will typically eat a "sweet" once every two months or so. To some, that may seem extreme and crazy, but I have become used to it. Link to post Share on other sites
Author sibernox Posted February 11, 2009 Author Share Posted February 11, 2009 Hey all, I just wanted to ask. Last night just before I went to bed all my bones started hurting. My whole body was aching and this morning I woke up with a slight headache and pains in my throat. Do you think it might have anything to do with me not eating meat? My mom keeps trying to convince me that since I'm only 20, I NEED meat to keep growing. "You're just out of your teen years, become a vegetarian when you're 30 and I don't care, but right now, YOU NEED your meat". What is a healthy daily dose of B12, iron and protein? Link to post Share on other sites
burning 4 revenge Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 I ate two beef hot dogs today with mustard, green relish, onions, cucumbers, tomato wedges, sport peppers and celery salt on a poppyseed bun..hold the ketchup.. and now Im drinking beer Ill try vegetarianism again next week Link to post Share on other sites
Touche Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 I ate two beef hot dogs today with mustard, green relish, onions, cucumbers, tomato wedges, sport peppers and celery salt on a poppyseed bun..hold the ketchup.. and now Im drinking beer Ill try vegetarianism again next week No you won't. I don't know how people do it. I'm not sure I could live without a good steak and my feather bed/feather pillows. I guess I could give up leather. But that's about it. Link to post Share on other sites
Geishawhelk Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 I haven't eaten meat since January. My skin has improved, I retain less water, I've lost weight and my hair is better. Sibernox, you probably have a touch of something. As has been said alreasy, providing you eat a balanced diet, you shouldn't be concerned about your wellbeing. YOU DO NOT NEED MEAT. A friend of mine has brought up his sons as vegetarians, and both sons are black belt judo level. See?? Link to post Share on other sites
Touche Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 That doesn't make me want to give up meat. My skin is fine, I don't retain water, don't need to lose weight that's for sure (trying to gain currently), and my hair is fine. You can be black belts while eating meat you know. But I think whatever works for people is good. I just could never do it. Link to post Share on other sites
Mahatma Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 friend of mine has brought up his sons as vegetarians, and both sons are black belt judo level. See?? Is your friend from America? I can not speak about martial arts schools in England, but I know the majority of them here are a joke. I have been through many schools and fought students from various schools ( I have my black belt and used to compete) and the majority of them were a joke. Many places here hand out belts based on time and money spent in the system. I am inclined to think that is an American thing though, we are all about business and no substance. With that said, you can get all of the necessary proteins you need from peanut butter and bread. Link to post Share on other sites
Geishawhelk Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 No, we're both British. Don't wish to go OT, but... The standards of schools in this country are very high. Whilst I will immediately agree you get rogue elements, anywhere, this particular school has high-level sponsorship and has sent sportsmen to the Olympic Games, so it's quite a reputable place. Less off topic is the fact that if the school feels a student has potential for olympic training, they will be very hands-on when it comes to nutrition, other exercise and general care of the student, quite apart from the onvious training they give them. The boys and girls are closely monitored on all levels. As a lot of them are vegetarian there, it's not considered a bad thing for them to be so. Touche, I was really pointing my response to the OP who had complained of ill-health and wondered whether it could be attributed to his vegetarianism. But your remark is equally important. health issues hit us all at one time or another, whatever our diet. The secret it to eat well, eat healthily and to take care of ourselves. Link to post Share on other sites
Passionate69 Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 some primates eat meat, but not all. Gorillas, for example, are entirely vegetarian. It doesn't seem to have diminished their strength and ability. I guess just because they are gorillas they don't work for a living,they don't use their physical and brain too much etc... Myself likes vegetables,sea food and meats.. but there are the exceptional, I only eat chicken,turkey and pork. Link to post Share on other sites
Geishawhelk Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 I guess just because they are gorillas they don't work for a living,they don't use their physical and brain too much etc... And we don't swing through trees, and run on all fours - but that doesn't make a valid argument. We're different species. We don't do what they do, they don't do what we do. But they're all muscle and extremely powerful animals. Just because their intellect prevents them from riding a bus and earning some money, doesn't make us superior. We do all those things but too many people are fat, unfit and lethargic, because of wrong diet and iinsufficient exercise. You think a gorilla doesn't "use their physical"....? You need to do some research!! Man, they move and how! Link to post Share on other sites
Passionate69 Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 And we don't swing through trees, and run on all fours - but that doesn't make a valid argument. We're different species. We don't do what they do, they don't do what we do. But they're all muscle and extremely powerful animals. Just because their intellect prevents them from riding a bus and earning some money, doesn't make us superior. We do all those things but too many people are fat, unfit and lethargic, because of wrong diet and iinsufficient exercise. You think a gorilla doesn't "use their physical"....? You need to do some research!! Man, they move and how! I can't disagree with you on that Geishawhelk. except the part we humans are NOT superior to animals. Oh,well.. I am animals lovers too. Link to post Share on other sites
Geishawhelk Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Why do you think we are NOT superior to animals? Link to post Share on other sites
Passionate69 Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Why do you think we are NOT superior to animals? Sorry..I mean of course we are superior to animals or gorillas. is not correct though if we humans compared to animals. animals are animals and humans are humans. thats all Link to post Share on other sites
Geishawhelk Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Humans are animals. The fact that we can do certain things they can't doesn't make us more intelligent. Why is intelligence based on what we can do and other creatures can't? What if the model for intelligence was actually a dolphin? or an Octopus? or the star-nosed mole? Why do we believe that we are more intelligent than animals simply because we think we are? Link to post Share on other sites
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