Could you give up Meat?

no way, NO WAY

well yeah, if i had to, but i'd be super sad

Nope. Nopenopenope

Not sure about "for the rest of my life," but I'm trying a vegan diet at the moment.

I feel healthy so far! If I ever need more protein, I add in some protein powder.

I was vegetarian for 8 years, and my partner was vegan for 3 of them - so pretty much have done. I'd never go back. Not that I hated life as a vegetarian, but I feel like my diet is far better at fueling my active life now (I eat eggs/fish/poultry/moderate dairy, but not beef or pork) than it was without meat. I'd rather eat locally, minimally processed food than give up any single food group - for me and the environment.

Bacon=everything.

No, definitely not and I really wouldn't even want to!

:laugh:

Sorry, that was my first reaction.

If I had to, then yes but only for that reason.

I eat eggs/fish/poultry/moderate dairy, but not beef or pork.

Same here. I gave up red meat/pork 17+ years ago (don't miss them a bit), but couldn't live without poultry and seafood....

I don't understand the question.


Oh, and bacon.

I technically *could*, but I'd sooner put a bullet in my face.

I don't think I could go vegan. However, since moving in with my boyfriend, who is vegetarian, I eat vegetarian at home (my choice--he's fine with whatever I want). I eat more shrimp than meat when we eat out, but will eat whatever sounds good (and reasonably healthy). I have found I enjoy eating vegetarian at home--no dealing with greasy meats, wondering "is this chicken still good??", etc. I can't imagine never eating seafood again, though. You don't have to eat meat to be an athlete, however. My friend, Tim Van Orden, the Running Raw Guy, eats nothing but a raw vegan diet and is an award-winning extreme athlete--at the age of 44! For inspiration, check him out on runningraw.com. He's amazing.

7 months ago I started getting bad chest pains even when just sitting stationary. Managing more than a moderate walk for a few minutes was impossible. I knew that sooner, rather than later, my lifestyle would kill me.

I went vegan. Today I've lost just under 120 pounds, the chest pains are distant history and I am pursuing athletic goals today that I wouldn't have dreamed of only a few months ago. I couldn't ever imagine living the old lifestyle again.

I'm not saying that my path is the only one to healthful living, but those of you that are saying such a strong no, that strikes me as odd. I loved meat and dairy as much as anyone. Nearly all of my food choices were made only to satisfy a craving. You could do it if you wanted to. How can you say no if you haven't even tried it? Have you ever even considered what foods you would be eating?

Meat by itself generally isn't what makes the meal anyway, at least it wasn't for me, as someone who was never big on steak. I still regularly eat burgers and fries, and they're still just as delicious, just with less saturated fat, calories and no cholesterol. For me it's all about the seasonings and sauces, meat provided texture more than anything.

Nope. And I like vegetables and tofu. I also happily eat out at vegetarian and vegan restaurants on occasion when veggie friends requests such meals. But what I love to eat is meat. Preferably red, and rare.