Vegan diet without exercise?

x311sublimex
x311sublimex Posts: 40 Member
edited December 2 in Food and Nutrition
Hello my friend has been a vegan for a while for reason being that she wants to live longer. The thing is she doesn't exercise is it possible to be "healthy" while being a vegan not do any exercising at all? From what I usually read a balanced diet and exercise is what keeps people healthy. But would like to hear what your guys thoughts were.

Replies

  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    I'd say she's selling herself short by not exercising.
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    It's tricky because different people mean different things by "healthy." Let's say your friend can be healthy as a vegan but she'd be even more so with some exercise.

    Also all of this stuff doesn't guarantee health or longevity, it increases the odds. Your friend could get hit by terrorists with ebola tomorrow ... we all do the best we can do.
  • x311sublimex
    x311sublimex Posts: 40 Member
    Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »
    I'd say she's selling herself short by not exercising.

    I agree because my fiance and I are trying to convince her that if she even did light exercises (walking, jogging) that she would be even healthier. The funny thing is that shes even picky with vegetables and fruits so shes even more limited than a typical vegan. But her excuses not to exercise are usually because, 1. shes lazy or 2. she hates meat heads (ie weight lifters) which is kind of a insult to us because we go to the gym at least 3-4 times a week.
  • tlflag1620
    tlflag1620 Posts: 1,358 Member
    x311sublimex wrote: »
    Hello my friend has been a vegan for a while for reason being that she wants to live longer. The thing is she doesn't exercise is it possible to be "healthy" while being a vegan not do any exercising at all? From what I usually read a balanced diet and exercise is what keeps people healthy. But would like to hear what your guys thoughts were.

    Exercising would probably help her "live longer" than being a vegan would.

    Note - this is not a knock on veganism, it's just that vegan, like any other dietary framework, is as healthy or as unhealthy as the person decides to make it.

  • pobalita
    pobalita Posts: 741 Member
    She's probably no more or no less "healthy" than anyone else who decides not to work out. The benefits of exercise are well-documented. Eating a vegan diet doesn't give a person free pass to the front of the "good health" line.

    I was a vegan for three years. I did not notice a single health benefit, change in bloodwork results, or increase in athletic performance. I gave it up after much research when I couldn't meet my protein requirements for endurance running and experienced muscle loss.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    When you say she doesn't exercise do you mean she is very sedentary or simply that she does no exercise for the sake of exercising? Statistics aren't on her side for health if she is sedentary, but it is possible to get enough exercise through an active life.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    A vegan who doesn't exercise has the potential to be as healthy (or unhealthy) as a non-vegan who doesn't exercise.

    I would say anyone, vegan or non-vegan, who avoids fruits and vegetables is potentially compromising their health. A vegan who practices additional restictions beyond veganism can run into nutritional trouble. Is your friend using a specific set of nutritional resources/books/websites to help her understand her new lifestyle and the nutrition involved?
  • Wicked_Seraph
    Wicked_Seraph Posts: 388 Member
    I was a vegan and I still managed to pile on weight. Vegan =/= healthy.

    I still eat a mostly vegan diet, but health is about more than just one's diet. What she eats is her choice, but I would argue that to be in the best health one could be, being physically active is quite important.
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