OT: Diets

[Rocktheworld]

I went vegetarian six months ago and it's been fantastic so far. I can't believe 1) how easy it is to lose weight 2) that I don't miss meat one bit 3) that eating a lower amount of protein has had no negative impact (I used to be all about protein powder and high-protein diets).

Protein powder farts... the flashbacks...

My diet primarily consists of veggies, fruits, nuts/nut butters, oats, rice and beans. I throw in some seitan a few times a week. Very little dairy, my wife cooks with cheese every now and then. No eggs. Hardly any booze but I haven't been much of a drinker in years. Virtually no added sugar. It's not rocket science - different diets will work but if you cut down on salt, sugar and alcohol - you're going to lose a bunch weight and lose it quickly.

As I said I am freakishly Germanic and, especially in San Diego, stand no chance with the beer scene I'm currently living in. It's the one thing I still have to cut out eventually.

I think one of the biggest benefits is that my salt intake plummeted. As a vegetarian it's damn near impossible to go overboard on salt. My BP dropped.

Oh I find a way every now and then hahahaha

My energy level is higher than it's been in 15 years.

Funny, the changes we feel when our primary energy source is all natural glycogen; just the way our bodies evolved.

The best and biggest surprise was that so many small aches and pains that I had (back, knees, neck) all disappeared within 10 days of going vegetarian.

One massive effect of intake of animal products is the systemic inflammatory reaction your body produces in response. Also, as below, better circulation. Many people's arthritis is completely cured by being plant-based.

My wind when I'm running or playing basketball improved dramatically almost immediately as well.

Your diet is reversing the atherosclerosis we all have to varying degrees from a life of consuming animal products. You're getting better circulation, leading to better oxygenation of your body's tissues. Your body feels deprived of oxygen that much later, and your heart is working less hard; thus you get short of breath that much later.

I've tried all the diets over the years - paleo (the absolute worst IMO), keto, etc. I couldn't stick to any of those and never felt great on them. Vegetarianism is a breeze. I'm probably eating more carbs then ever but I'm losing weight. I've never felt like it was hard work or a "diet" and the benefits are so good that I've never once thought of changing things up.

Awesome man.

 

[Walker11]

You got it


Beyond Meat is good; honestly the best options are always in Whole Foods. Their curry seitan strips are pretty awesome. Gardein products are very solid as well; love their "pork."


I am a highly Germanic young man who grew up in New Jersey eating the best pepperoni and sausage pizza on earth every week my entire childhood. I can't judge you for slipping, as I did myself several times.


Meh, would it make you feel manly or something? Not judging if it does, but shooting a harmless deer from hundreds of yards away without it even knowing what happened, especially if you're going through all that for the justification of eating it, doesn't really appeal to me. But that's just me.

This concept is one big reason I believe we are really herbivores by nature. A true carnivorous predator actively seeks out the injured, and/or diseased, and/or already dead and rotting. An omnivore? LOL it'll eat whatever it can get, however it comes. Humans? We are VERY particular with how we choose the produce we buy at the store. We value freshness and aesthetic. And you see that carry over with how we "prefer" meat. Not to mention the fact that we have to cook it to tolerate it, let alone use dried vegetables to season and enjoy it, our preferences are completely at odds with natural meat-eaters.


Preach on to me, brother. Or if you want to PM that's cool too. We are dissenters here


Personally, I don't find it very complex.

P1 Animals are sentient
P2 Animals feel suffering
P3 It is immoral to inflict superfluous suffering on sentient beings
C1 It is immoral to consume animals, or treat them the way in which the modern egg and dairy industry exploits them for their byproducts

The wanting to kill an animal to eat is premise isn't really based on me wanting to go hunting for sport. It has more to do with confronting the reality of the situation if I felt so compelled to actually eat meat. I do think eating meat you hunt for is morally superior to eating farm raised animals but that's not to say its a good thing. More of an indictment of the farm system.

It may not be complex in a vacuum but it is complex because of the way society views the issue. I have read a lot of thoughtful people argue that eating animals and especially raising livestock and especially factory farming may end up being looked at as one of the greatest moral blights of our time. But I'd imagine a majority of the population hasn't even considered the issue.

 

[Deepster]

In before August West gets in here to brag about eating some sandwich made from cattle fat from Arby's.

 

[storrsroars]

Great job. I've done pretty much the same since August and get 60 minutes of exercise six days a week and have lost 50.

I've been preaching to people about the nutritionist and it being covered by insurance. More people need to know. It's a lot cheaper and better than taking meds and seeing a cardiologist. I think @Dogbreath2U was the first one to tell me about it.

Bottom line: there's no getting around the fact that a balanced diet and regular exercise work. If you want them to work long term you have to find a way to make it something you can live with for the rest of your life. Nutritionists can help you come up with the roadmap that works for you and just as importantly help weed out the bunk.

Excellent for you and everyone else who's dropping a bunch of weight.

Nutritionist wasn't covered under my old plan. New one just started yesterday, so I'll have to check. But, using an app like MyFitnessPal gave me a ton of info on where I needed to change, which was mostly TV-watching snacks after dinner.

I'm taking a slow route, making lifestyle changes I hope will take for life, so I'm not looking to lose a whole lot in short period. Aiming for 4-5 lbs/month, and so far so good after 55 days. Any diet that wants me to eat boneless chicken breast meat and cauliflower is not something I can live with. Wife was getting pretty heavy, was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, dropped most of her carbs, lost 60 lbs in under a year and has kept it off, which helps me as we don't cook nearly the amount of pasta and potatoes we used to.

I did have success with Atkins a few years ago, but it was only sustainable in summer when I was grilling everything, including produce. And some 40 years ago, I actually went from 238 to 178 with the cornerstone of my diet being half a Colony pizza 3-4x weekly.

 

[WhiteDressWes]

I went vegetarian six months ago and it's been fantastic so far. I can't believe 1) how easy it is to lose weight 2) that I don't miss meat one bit 3) that eating a lower amount of protein has had no negative impact (I used to be all about protein powder and high-protein diets).

My diet primarily consists of veggies, fruits, nuts/nut butters, oats, rice and beans. I throw in some seitan a few times a week. Very little dairy, my wife cooks with cheese every now and then. No eggs. Hardly any booze but I haven't been much of a drinker in years. Virtually no added sugar. It's not rocket science - different diets will work but if you cut down on salt, sugar and alcohol - you're going to lose a bunch weight and lose it quickly.

I think one of the biggest benefits is that my salt intake plummeted. As a vegetarian it's damn near impossible to go overboard on salt. My BP dropped. My energy level is higher than it's been in 15 years. The best and biggest surprise was that so many small aches and pains that I had (back, knees, neck) all disappeared within 10 days of going vegetarian. My wind when I'm running or playing basketball improved dramatically almost immediately as well.

I've tried all the diets over the years - paleo (the absolute worst IMO), keto, etc. I couldn't stick to any of those and never felt great on them. Vegetarianism is a breeze. I'm probably eating more carbs then ever but I'm losing weight. I've never felt like it was hard work or a "diet" and the benefits are so good that I've never once thought of changing things up.

Is it a coincidence that your Avatar shows a guy who's gone Vegan?

 

[HuskyHawk]

Excellent for you and everyone else who's dropping a bunch of weight.

Nutritionist wasn't covered under my old plan. New one just started yesterday, so I'll have to check. But, using an app like MyFitnessPal gave me a ton of info on where I needed to change, which was mostly TV-watching snacks after dinner.

I'm taking a slow route, making lifestyle changes I hope will take for life, so I'm not looking to lose a whole lot in short period. Aiming for 4-5 lbs/month, and so far so good after 55 days. Any diet that wants me to eat boneless chicken breast meat and cauliflower is not something I can live with. Wife was getting pretty heavy, was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, dropped most of her carbs, lost 60 lbs in under a year and has kept it off, which helps me as we don't cook nearly the amount of pasta and potatoes we used to.

I did have success with Atkins a few years ago, but it was only sustainable in summer when I was grilling everything, including produce. And some 40 years ago, I actually went from 238 to 178 with the cornerstone of my diet being half a Colony pizza 3-4x weekly.

I'm using a similar approach. MyFitnessPal to track calories, targeting 2 pounds a week, but with some wiggle room on weekends. Working fairly well so far. Snacks watching TV and portion control at dinner are the keys, along with very little beer. Big weeeknd meals like pizza with a few beers blows through the calorie ceiling by a lot. Got to avoid those days. I need to add more excercise. I have 40-50 to lose.

 

[Richmondhsky]

Best result I've experienced is an Atkins derivative. Lost 34 pounds in 7 weeks...limited carbs to 20 grams, ate as much protein as I wanted. After the induction phase (first two weeks) your body, digestive system and energy level are phenomenal. I always found diets to be restrictive...the textures and tastes you like need to be eliminated the most. Atkins or Atkins light allow you to eat the really good stuff that you like.
Have kept the weight off for almost ten years...honestly I eat what I want some good some bad from a carb standpoint however, when I notice more than a five pound increase I revert back to low card and it's gone. My health numbers all improved and have stayed that way. Better energy etc.
Good luck whichever plan you choose.

 

[shizzle787]

If I had to go without meat for more than 8 hours, I would probably stab myself. However, I have only drunk water for about six months with very few exceptions (teas once a month maybe). Not sure what effect it has but at least it cuts down sugar intake and calorie intake from beverages.

 

[UCDaveD]

I lost almost 80 pounds in the last 10 months. 268 to 189. (About) i tried similar diets and you just yo yo or go to jail( subway jared joke). Find a good nutritionist (certified) which your insurance will cover. Fad diets do not work for 99% of people like you are on. Most of my issues was based on portion control. Try myfitnesspal app to figure out your cal intake is a day.

That's amazing. I'm looking to drop around 50lbs myself. Any tips? What does your diet look like?

 

[joober jones]

Yes the worst topic in the world
For two months I've been eating 3/4 of a veggie sub from Subway-- all veggies and I cut into 1/4 eating 3 a day. I add two egg whites to each one and have one bowl of oatmeal in the am with one small glass of ok then water all day I've lost 17 pounds in 9 weeks and it really doesn't feel like I'm deprived in anyway.

Spreading out your eating along with getting in good exercise is the key. I know I've posted about it before, but the Tony Horton workout videos, combined with proper dieting, completely transformed me. The last time I posted about it, I'd lost 86 lbs from where I was when I started, and now I'm down 111 and just about at my goal weight.

Combining a little protein in for extra energy (jerky is great for this - low calorie, lean, and delicious) will help you get more energy for working out and will also be less likely to leave you feeling hungry throughout the day.

I congratulate you on your success thus far and admire your self-discipline in sticking to your diet. I don't think I'd be able to keep on with the diet regimen you've described for very long.

 

[Fishy]

Yes the worst topic in the world
For two months I've been eating 3/4 of a veggie sub from Subway-- all veggies and I cut into 1/4 eating 3 a day. I add two egg whites to each one and have one bowl of oatmeal in the am with one small glass of ok then water all day I've lost 17 pounds in 9 weeks and it really doesn't feel like I'm deprived in anyway.

Someone parse this for me.

He's eating 3/4ths of a veggie sub every day? What's he doing with the other quarter of a sub? That routine seems a little rough long term - you will eventually need protein and fat, my boy.

 

[intlzncster]

Good for you Scrappy. I need to do the same. 2 month sago my Doc labeled me Diabetic. My AC1 or 1AC (whatever) was 7.0 But the ceiling was 6.5. So exerciser and try to diet. Other than that see you in six months. NOW, the gurus in the sky decide to drop the tops to 5.8. Now all kinds of bells and whistles went off. Carbs, Carbs.Watch your carbs. Everything is good, liver, heart,kidneys, Cholesterol. All is great. One gal told me to deduct Dietary Fiber grams from Carb grams, and that will give you the correct carb intake. I don't know.I am getting tired of it. I asked.."okay I am diabetic, how am I supposed to feel. Faint? Throw up? Grow an additional toe? Nobody can explain it to me. So, I quit soft drinks. Used to drink V8 Veggie juice and 50 50 Orange juice. Nope all juice is sugar. Frankly I am very tied of this BS.

While I feel for you and your situation, your post cracked me up.

Man just wants to have a goshdarn soft drink.

 

[intlzncster]

This concept is one big reason I believe we are really herbivores by nature. A true carnivorous predator actively seeks out the injured, and/or diseased, and/or already dead and rotting. An omnivore? LOL it'll eat whatever it can get, however it comes. Humans? We are VERY particular with how we choose the produce we buy at the store. We value freshness and aesthetic. And you see that carry over with how we "prefer" meat. Not to mention the fact that we have to cook it to tolerate it, let alone use dried vegetables to season and enjoy it, our preferences are completely at odds with natural meat-eaters.

By nature? Dunno about that. Unless you are saying we have evolved into herbivores. I would say by nature we are indeed omnivores, but it's unlimited choice which allows us to have 'preferences'. The more options, the more picky. In the natural world, we'd take whatever the hell we could get.

Personally, I don't find it very complex.
P1 Animals are sentient
P2 Animals feel suffering
P3 It is immoral to inflict superfluous suffering on sentient beings
C1 It is immoral to consume animals, or treat them the way in which the modern egg and dairy industry exploits them for their byproducts

Outside of the 'immoral to consume animals', you are ok with small farm animal products (true free range/grass fed/hormone free)? Or people raising their own animals for consumption or product (egg/milk)?

 

[intlzncster]

In before August West gets in here to brag about eating some sandwich made from cattle fat from Arby's.

Zero chance August clicks on a thread that says 'diet'.

unless I ping him @August_West

 

[Rocktheworld]

Zero chance August clicks on a thread that says 'diet'.

unless I ping him @August_West

I've already shamed him several times on this don't make me do it again

 

[intlzncster]

I'd like to alter my diet to feel better. I still do a lot of sports (snowboard/surfing/soccer/hiking/etc), and want to recover quicker. Just have my joints feel better. More energy. That sort of thing.

There seems to be number of ways to make this happen. Go vege. No dairy. Paleo. Low Carb. I'm leary about the vegetarian thing, for a couple reasons.

1. I've the opposite problem as most on here seem to have, trouble keeping on weight. If I didn't eat meat, I'd fade away. And the sheer amount of veges I'd need to sustain muscle mass is intimidating.
2. I love meat. More of a moderation guy tho. I actually try to avoid eating meat all the time.

I'd love to be able to give up dairy, as I've heard a lot about that in regards to joint/muscle healing and swelling. But man, I love dairy. I love lattes. I love cheese. I love ice cream. I love desserts too. Strong dairy component there.

 

[bballgrda]

Someone parse this for me.

He's eating 3/4ths of a veggie sub every day? What's he doing with the other quarter of a sub? That routine seems a little rough long term - you will eventually need protein and fat, my boy.

Was wondering the same

 

[Rocktheworld]

By nature? Dunno about that. Unless you are saying we have evolved into herbivores.

Regardless of through evolution or not, the point is that we are herbivores. That's not the only piece of evidence. You look at human dentition, you look at our salivary and digestive enzymes... if anything we defied our nature by consuming animals out of desperation for calories. Imagine what they caught tasted like, cooked (if at all) with hunter-gatherer technology?

I would say by nature we are indeed omnivores, but it's unlimited choice which allows us to have 'preferences'. The more options, the more picky. In the natural world, we'd take whatever the hell we could get.

Is this supposed to be some justification for continued consumption in modern society?

Outside of the 'immoral to consume animals', you are ok with small farm animal products (true free range/grass fed/hormone free)?

Well that's what this all boils down to so I don't even know how to answer that question. Do you mean I think it makes it somehow feel less wrong if I know that that patty of ground up flesh came from a cow that lived a comfortable life? Not particularly, see below

Or people raising their own animals for consumption or product (egg/milk)?

Well on top of that, one could argue it's quite the betrayal to bring up a cow from an infant calf, showing it love and good treatment, all for you to slaughter and butcher and consume it. Wouldn't it feel like eating a pet to you?

Edit I guess harvesting milk/eggs from well-treated cows/chickens isn't the worst

 

[temery]

You need protein. Here's my favorite weight loss recipe. With the exception of the 4# chuck roast and my secret ingredient, it's basically just vegetable soup.

Ingredients

• One 4-pound beef chuck roast
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for coating
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 medium carrots, cut into 2-inch pieces
• 3 stalks celery, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
• 1 medium onion, cut into 1/2-inch wedges
• 3 cloves garlic, mashed
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 cup red wine
• 3 cups low-sodium beef broth
• 3 bay leaves
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/2 cup loosely packed parsley leaves, chopped
• Secret ingredient: 1/4 cup ipecac syrup

 

[Phorcys]

• Secret ingredient: 1/4 cup ipecac syrup

Bravo, Tom.

That was very funny.

Personally, though, I only consume ipecac as a mixer for my first drink on bachelor-party, heavy-drinking nights that are destined to end with me praying at the porcelain alter anyway—might as well start early and get it over with.

 

[temery]

Bravo, Tom.

That was very funny.

Personally, though, I only consume ipecac as a mixer for my first drink on bachelor-party, heavy-drinking nights that are destined to end with me praying at the porcelain alter anyway—might as well start early and get it over with.

Amateur. 8 oz of water between drinks and you're good the next morning.

 

[Kitaman]

Good for you Scrappy. I need to do the same. 2 month sago my Doc labeled me Diabetic. My AC1 or 1AC (whatever) was 7.0 But the ceiling was 6.5. So exerciser and try to diet. Other than that see you in six months. NOW, the gurus in the sky decide to drop the tops to 5.8. Now all kinds of bells and whistles went off. Carbs, Carbs.Watch your carbs. Everything is good, liver, heart,kidneys, Cholesterol. All is great. One gal told me to deduct Dietary Fiber grams from Carb grams, and that will give you the correct carb intake. I don't know.I am getting tired of it. I asked.."okay I am diabetic, how am I supposed to feel. Faint? Throw up? Grow an additional toe? Nobody can explain it to me. So, I quit soft drinks. Used to drink V8 Veggie juice and 50 50 Orange juice. Nope all juice is sugar. Frankly I am very tied of this BS.

My diabetic wife thinks of such food as poison. That helps her with discipline along with acceptance.

 

[temery]

Good for you Scrappy. I need to do the same. 2 month sago my Doc labeled me Diabetic. My AC1 or 1AC (whatever) was 7.0 But the ceiling was 6.5. So exerciser and try to diet. Other than that see you in six months. NOW, the gurus in the sky decide to drop the tops to 5.8. Now all kinds of bells and whistles went off. Carbs, Carbs.Watch your carbs. Everything is good, liver, heart,kidneys, Cholesterol. All is great. One gal told me to deduct Dietary Fiber grams from Carb grams, and that will give you the correct carb intake. I don't know.I am getting tired of it. I asked.."okay I am diabetic, how am I supposed to feel. Faint? Throw up? Grow an additional toe? Nobody can explain it to me. So, I quit soft drinks. Used to drink V8 Veggie juice and 50 50 Orange juice. Nope all juice is sugar. Frankly I am very tied of this BS.

My doctor explained to me the benefits of being a diabetic unwilling to manage his disease, "the good news is you won't have to save for a long retirement."

Message received.

 

[temery]

Look at a portion of pasta on the box snd then what you eat. Holy . Big difference.

The good news is a serving size is also very small for food that's good for you, but you don't want to eat.

I get my servings of fruits and vegetables in a smoothie: Avocado, banana, berries, mango, carrots, kale, powered green tea, and sweet potato. I hate kale and green tea, but I don't taste either one bit.

 

[tzznandrew]

Look at a portion of pasta on the box snd then what you eat. Holy . Big difference.

Seriously. I've dropped almost 30 pounds since January by switching to whole grains and eating portion sizes. It doesn't feel like I'm on a diet or anything since I'm full from the whole grain.

 

[temery]

Seriously. I've dropped almost 30 pounds since January by switching to whole grains and eating portion sizes. It doesn't feel like I'm on a diet or anything since I'm full from the whole grain.

Stay away from school lunches. That stuff will kill you.

 

[DaddyChoc]

tl;dr I personally appreciate the short-term benefits of that kind of diet, but in the end the long-term health and moral implications of a diet that requires the macro-nutrient profile it does, I'm now plant-based and it's really changed how I see food and nutrition.

I did exactly what you're talking about for a few years when I was about 22-25 and lifting a lot, kicking grad school's ass, and banging college girls all over Boston in the three years I lived there. Arguably the best years of my life so far. High-carb, low-fat on working days; low-carb, high-fat on rest days; high protein throughout. I was eating up to 6 servings of peanut butter each rest day by the spoon. I certainly felt great, got in to the shape I still essentially am in 18 months later, and was the strongest I've ever been thus far. I should say that I was also doing this quite "cleanly" in the sense that my carbs mostly came from navy beans out the can.

I lost my strength and have been slowly crawling back ever since after a bad case of mono I caught in Chicago but that's a whole other story. Just making that point so that it's made clear I didn't lose strength because of my diet change.

The way I transitioned is to vegetarian first then eventually to a plant-based diet. Meeting a lot of vegetarian girls helped for sure but I started, over my last year or so in Boston, by not buying meat at the store. I substituted soy and seitan and used them as substitutes. I would still order meat dishes at/from from restaurants whenever I wanted. Then after a while of that, and falling in love with Thai, Vietnamese, and Indian cuisines while in Boston, I realized how easy being vegetarian actually is. I also watched "Earthlings" thanks to one of those veggie chicks, and then that kicked off me watching like 4 more documentaries about the farm and food industries. That's when I had to give up meat. Then I did essentially the same process with eggs and dairy when I moved out to Vegas and figured I cut out meat easily enough, and knew how cruel the egg and dairy industries are, so I no longer had an excuse to consume those. I have kept it going, quite easily now, in San Diego.

The only real difference at baseline now I've noticed is no GI symptoms from one sphincter to the other at all, unless I overdo the spiciness. I will say that I remember initially caving in the past after like 6 weeks and getting a meat-lovers pizza or something ridiculous, I could immediately feel my blood pressure rise. And my core would be markedly weaker in the gym the next morning. And my farts all reeked again. And, as I mentioned, the bloating and feeling of grossness

surprised you didn't catch anything else with all the "college girls" and "veggie chicks" you slayed

 

[8893]

Nutritionist wasn't covered under my old plan. New one just started yesterday, so I'll have to check. But, using an app like MyFitnessPal gave me a ton of info on where I needed to change, which was mostly TV-watching snacks after dinner.

Check preventative care coverage. It was my understanding that it was required to be covered under most plans per the Affordable Care Act.

In any event, I couldn't agree more about slow and steady. My mantra this time was "lose weight slow."

 

[huskyrob1]

That's great for you, eliminating bad carbs. Now I'm not a doctor, but I do believe the accepted wisdom in cardiology is that high (or really any) intake of saturated fat and cholesterol is really not good.

And are you telling me you are avoiding fruit...?

The high fat is not good, but the high protein is worse and in a very sneaky way. If all you Boneyarders want to lose weight SAFELY, eat a balanced diet of fats, protein, and yes the dreaded carbs. Skip breakfast each morning except for maybe a cup of java, and instead just drink lots of water while you sweat bullets on the treadmill or stepper while at the gym before work. Eat a fairly large lunch and pig out at dinner if you want, eat a high fiber snack before bed. Carbs, in the long run are good for you, been like that for thousands of years, what's not good you is a sedentary lifestyle. Trying to cheat your lifestyle with high fat and high protein diets just puts so much at risk with respect to your heart and your kidneys.

 

[Doginaus]

Strange post for a college basketball thread, but since we're all humans and pretty much go through the same things and have the same type of problems, it is probably more necessary than we would like to admit. So, I'll jump in.

Great to hear about all the dieting going on, I'm doing on one as well for health reasons. The diet I'm using is called the blood type diet and it is designed to work with those type of foods that are most beneficial with each individual blood type.

Unfortunately, my blood type doesn't allow me to eat any wheat, potatoes or corn, which makes it very hard to eat out. But that's okay because I've learned to adjust my diet to eat those foods that are beneficial to my blood type.

I've done this diet several years ago and lost 32 lbs in 2 months, but, the added benefit to this diet is that along with losing the 32 lbs, all my levels; blood sugar, cholesterol, etc..., which were way out of whack, all came back to normal levels. I am currently on this diet again and in just over 3 weeks, I've lost 18 lbs.

Another benefit is that I'm feeling better, health wise.