Vegan diet?
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When I lost the bulk of my weight, I went vegan (or exclusively plant-based) just to learn new recipes and such and keep from being bored eating the same things. I would not recommend such a restrictive way of eating if the goal is "health" or "weight loss" for more than 12 weeks or so. Unless you do the research to get your nutrients. It didn't work for "health" for me, but we're all different. Doctor's orders: "Unless you're doing this for ethical reasons, you [meaning me] must have chicken or fish twice a week" because my blood work was *kitten* after a year.0
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When I lost the bulk of my weight, I went vegan (or exclusively plant-based) just to learn new recipes and such and keep from being bored eating the same things. I would not recommend such a restrictive way of eating if the goal is "health" or "weight loss" for more than 12 weeks or so. Unless you do the research to get your nutrients. It didn't work for "health" for me, but we're all different. Doctor's orders: "Unless you're doing this for ethical reasons, you [meaning me] must have chicken or fish twice a week" because my blood work was *kitten* after a year.
Out of curiosity, did you ask what he would have recommended you do if you were avoiding meat for ethical reasons?0 -
janejellyroll wrote: »When I lost the bulk of my weight, I went vegan (or exclusively plant-based) just to learn new recipes and such and keep from being bored eating the same things. I would not recommend such a restrictive way of eating if the goal is "health" or "weight loss" for more than 12 weeks or so. Unless you do the research to get your nutrients. It didn't work for "health" for me, but we're all different. Doctor's orders: "Unless you're doing this for ethical reasons, you [meaning me] must have chicken or fish twice a week" because my blood work was *kitten* after a year.
Out of curiosity, did you ask what he would have recommended you do if you were avoiding meat for ethical reasons?
She said she would have prescribed me "fancy supplements." I remember the conversation very clearly!0 -
janejellyroll wrote: »When I lost the bulk of my weight, I went vegan (or exclusively plant-based) just to learn new recipes and such and keep from being bored eating the same things. I would not recommend such a restrictive way of eating if the goal is "health" or "weight loss" for more than 12 weeks or so. Unless you do the research to get your nutrients. It didn't work for "health" for me, but we're all different. Doctor's orders: "Unless you're doing this for ethical reasons, you [meaning me] must have chicken or fish twice a week" because my blood work was *kitten* after a year.
Out of curiosity, did you ask what he would have recommended you do if you were avoiding meat for ethical reasons?
She said she would have prescribed me "fancy supplements." I remember the conversation very clearly!
For some reason, "fancy supplements" make me picture something you take with a pinky extended!
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A vegan diet is not always a healthier diet.
Also, a vegan diet can be time consuming. It is eating no animal products or by-products at all. No jello, no marshmallows, no to most chocolates, and no to the majority of processed foods. It can be hard to cut out all the hidden animal products. Most vegans also won't eating things made with bugs... a lot of waxes on food, and food colouring comes from .. yup.. ground up bugs.0 -
janejellyroll wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »When I lost the bulk of my weight, I went vegan (or exclusively plant-based) just to learn new recipes and such and keep from being bored eating the same things. I would not recommend such a restrictive way of eating if the goal is "health" or "weight loss" for more than 12 weeks or so. Unless you do the research to get your nutrients. It didn't work for "health" for me, but we're all different. Doctor's orders: "Unless you're doing this for ethical reasons, you [meaning me] must have chicken or fish twice a week" because my blood work was *kitten* after a year.
Out of curiosity, did you ask what he would have recommended you do if you were avoiding meat for ethical reasons?
She said she would have prescribed me "fancy supplements." I remember the conversation very clearly!
For some reason, "fancy supplements" make me picture something you take with a pinky extended!
I've been seeing her since she finished her residency (12 years now!), so we have a long history together. She was happy with all my weight loss, but just nervous about the blood work. "Some people are good at being vegetarian, you're not one of them." So I left that appointment and went out and had a big tray of sushi.0 -
janejellyroll wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »When I lost the bulk of my weight, I went vegan (or exclusively plant-based) just to learn new recipes and such and keep from being bored eating the same things. I would not recommend such a restrictive way of eating if the goal is "health" or "weight loss" for more than 12 weeks or so. Unless you do the research to get your nutrients. It didn't work for "health" for me, but we're all different. Doctor's orders: "Unless you're doing this for ethical reasons, you [meaning me] must have chicken or fish twice a week" because my blood work was *kitten* after a year.
Out of curiosity, did you ask what he would have recommended you do if you were avoiding meat for ethical reasons?
She said she would have prescribed me "fancy supplements." I remember the conversation very clearly!
For some reason, "fancy supplements" make me picture something you take with a pinky extended!
I've been seeing her since she finished her residency (12 years now!), so we have a long history together. She was happy with all my weight loss, but just nervous about the blood work. "Some people are good at being vegetarian, you're not one of them." So I left that appointment and went out and had a big tray of sushi.
It's so great having a doctor that is familiar with your long-term health trends. I move a lot for work and I find myself frequently having to explain veganism to my doctors. Fortunately, my blood work is always good so it hasn't been much of an issue.0 -
Traveler120 wrote: »Vegan diet is a moral/ethical stance...it takes a whole lot of knowledge and effort to make it a healthy nutritious diet for a human. Make sure you are getting all your requisite nutritional intake..check the vegan society for guidelines
Lots of vegans do have a moral/ethical stance but many, including myself are in it for the health benefits. I personally don't object to animals being killed for meat if animal farming is humane. So even though my diet is vegan, I just prefer to call it plant-based. I've only been doing it for 2 months now and have lost 10 lbs, currently at 127. When I was 152, it took me nearly 4 months to lose the first 15 lbs so yes, a plant-based diet has accelerated my weight loss. But the bottom line is still that weight loss is down to calories in/out.
And no, it doesn't take a 'whole lot of knowledge and effort to make it nutritious'. How absurd is that? How complicated is eating potatoes, beans, lentils, oatmeal, quinoa, rice, other whole grains, veggies, fruits, nuts, seeds etc. And who doesn't know how to find the nutritional value of different foods? Come on.
I've seen a fair number of vegans here on MFP who had been eating mostly pasta and not any or enough beans, lentils, oatmeal, quinoa, rice, veggies, fruits, nuts, or seeds, so ya, it does take some "knowledge and effort to make it nutritious."
All of the vegans I know IRL do eat as you described, however.
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When I lost the bulk of my weight, I went vegan (or exclusively plant-based) just to learn new recipes and such and keep from being bored eating the same things. I would not recommend such a restrictive way of eating if the goal is "health" or "weight loss" for more than 12 weeks or so. Unless you do the research to get your nutrients. It didn't work for "health" for me, but we're all different. Doctor's orders: "Unless you're doing this for ethical reasons, you [meaning me] must have chicken or fish twice a week" because my blood work was *kitten* after a year.
I have stomach issues- GERD, gastritis, lactose intolerance.... etc.
When I tried a completely plant based diet for 4 months, and despite eating all the same stuff I was as a vegetarian, my stomach issues took a turn for the worse.
My doctor put me on a restrictive diet for a while, which was like a lower carb version of the bland diet, with a round of antibiotics and a probiotic supplement added.
She (my doc) specifically told me to to eat baked/grilled chicken and fish. I have had a hard time stomaching the chicken, but i am eating fish and cottage cheese pretty regularly now.
I may find another way to veganize myself in the future, but I just wanted to share that I also experienced some health problems while trying to switch.0 -
kshama2001 wrote: »Traveler120 wrote: »Vegan diet is a moral/ethical stance...it takes a whole lot of knowledge and effort to make it a healthy nutritious diet for a human. Make sure you are getting all your requisite nutritional intake..check the vegan society for guidelines
Lots of vegans do have a moral/ethical stance but many, including myself are in it for the health benefits. I personally don't object to animals being killed for meat if animal farming is humane. So even though my diet is vegan, I just prefer to call it plant-based. I've only been doing it for 2 months now and have lost 10 lbs, currently at 127. When I was 152, it took me nearly 4 months to lose the first 15 lbs so yes, a plant-based diet has accelerated my weight loss. But the bottom line is still that weight loss is down to calories in/out.
And no, it doesn't take a 'whole lot of knowledge and effort to make it nutritious'. How absurd is that? How complicated is eating potatoes, beans, lentils, oatmeal, quinoa, rice, other whole grains, veggies, fruits, nuts, seeds etc. And who doesn't know how to find the nutritional value of different foods? Come on.
I've seen a fair number of vegans here on MFP who had been eating mostly pasta and not any or enough beans, lentils, oatmeal, quinoa, rice, veggies, fruits, nuts, or seeds, so ya, it does take some "knowledge and effort to make it nutritious."
All of the vegans I know IRL do eat as you described, however.
I think it's kinda absurd to make a blanket statement about the knowledge and effort it requires to go vegan. If one is already familiar with cooking lots of plant-based foods and likes to eat them, it's going to be an easier transition than someone who isn't. It isn't one-size-fits-all. For some people, it is going to require gaining knowledge and some effort.
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Ok I'll rephrase I'm not vegan I'm eating plant based foods. Is that better?0
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