Any other vegans here??

[JessicaRabbit]

I recently decided to go vegan and was just curious to see if there are any others on this site who follow this lifestyle.

[JarHeaD316]

I follow some characteristics of a vegan diet ; I dont eat meat, except fish but I also don't consume any dairy products. I just decided to keep fish because of the protein factor. PM me for any recipes. Good luck its very hard to eat out I must tell ya.

EDIT: your sig says its best haha

[JessicaRabbit]

I think that I might eat fish every once in awhile...I can't bear the thought of never eating sushi again! Lol. But yeah, this is relatively new to me & I'm struggling to keep my protein up (I don't want to overdo the soy products) Any suggestions?

[bodydropcris]

you cant be a vegan if you consume any animal product, wear an animal product, or support anything to do with potential harm to animals (testing, clothing, etc) you would just be a type of vegetarian, there are several different names to the vegetarians who dont use dairy, or only eat fish, or who only eat dairy.... being vegan is a true test of willpower, there are soooo many products out there (especially in bodybuilding) that contain some form of nonvegan friendly substance.....

[bodydropcris]

im not a huge fan of meat and dont really like the horrible impact of factory farming, but i struggle to cut weight and keep protien up without animal based foods, your vegan diets generally have alot of carbs in them (mine did anyways).... i just couldnt keep up with it.... i eat turkey, chicken, and fish now.... i liked the vega MRP shakes (expensive!!) and vegan complete shakes.... they had good protiens that werent soy derivatives.......

[MUFC]

i dont eat meat, fish or eggs

[jenl]

Originally Posted by JessicaRabbit

I think that I might eat fish every once in awhile...I can't bear the thought of never eating sushi again! Lol. But yeah, this is relatively new to me & I'm struggling to keep my protein up (I don't want to overdo the soy products) Any suggestions?

If you eat sushi then you're not really vegan now, are you?

See links below for meal plans/suggestions

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/justin3.htm
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/mahler53.htm

[-E-]

You do realise as a vegan you cant eat fish, egg, butter, milk or cheese?

knowing this, you sure you wanna be a vegan? These foods contain some of the most basic minerals, vitamins and nutrition we need, I'd say vegetarian is a better way to go. If it's for ethical reasons far enough, if its for health reasons then you're probably gonna find being a vegetarian is a healthier option, but obviously its your choice.

If you're going to be a vegan, i wouldn't overdo it on soy products, they are apparently more harmful than we know about. Maybe a protein isolate or protein powder could help you get the nutrition you need, but i would definately not recommend cutting out fish. Foods such as beans and nuts will help add a little more protein and healthy fats to your diet and a good amount of complex carbs should make sure you're never too low on energy, its ambitious, good luck.

[Marius_Ursus]

Whole soybeans are OK large amounts. It's the processing of some soy products that causes estrogenic issues. I avoid most processed soy products and stick with miso, organic tofu, and edamame.

Totally awesome vegan protein sources:
Quinoa
Teff
Beans and rice (must be combined for the aminos to be complete)
Seeds of practically any stripe (pumkin, sunflower, etc...I even eat orange, apple, and pear seeds when I eat the fruit)
All tree nuts (Peanuts are not tree nuts. They're legumes, and you can't get a complete protein without eating peanuts with some kind of grain.)

That should get you a start.

For the record, I'm not a vegan.

[mcdbb]

Originally Posted by bodydropcris

im not a huge fan of meat and dont really like the horrible impact of factory farming, but i struggle to cut weight and keep protien up without animal based foods, your vegan diets generally have alot of carbs in them (mine did anyways).... i just couldnt keep up with it.... i eat turkey, chicken, and fish now.... i liked the vega MRP shakes (expensive!!) and vegan complete shakes.... they had good protiens that werent soy derivatives.......

Don't want to support factory farming? Worried about animal welfare?

Buy organic meats, eggs, and dairy, or better yet, find a farmers' market or CSA near you and do it that way. If you KNOW where your food came from, how it lived and was treated, it alters your relationship with the product completely.

...And yes, you will probably pay 2-3x what you pay in the supermarket.

[veganmuscle_]

Buy organic meats, eggs, and dairy, or better yet, find a farmers' market or CSA near you and do it that way.

Find some information about egg-production and the killing of male spring chicken (including organic food) and the close dependency of meat and milk/dairy production.

@ JessicaRabbit

It is very easy to go vegan. the only thing you need is a safe vitamin b12 source an a little background about nutrition. there are a lot of free manuals available.
any questions? ask:-)

[tortugita718]

I'm a vegan (meaning no meat, chicken, fish, eggs, dairy, honey, or [to the extent possible, recognizing that harvesting veggies causes the death of insects and that I drive on cars whose tires have been processed with animal fat] anything that came from something that ever had a heartbeat), have been vegan for over 2.5 years, and prior to a shoulder injury, built the most muscular and leanest physique I'd ever been able to achieve. It can be done, and it can be done with little to no soy! I easily consume my body weight in protein grams every day, and as long as I limit my cals to 1800-2000 a day, dropping fat is no problem at all. In fact, prior to my shoulder injury, when I was training really heavy and not even doing any cardio, I was eating 2200-2300 cals a day and still dropping fat. At 32, even with having lost some of my "guns" due to rehabbing the shoulder injury, I have a better bikini body than I did when I was 16. Long live possibilities!

[JessicaRabbit]

Thanks for the insight Tortugita! So far I've only been vegan for about a month but I really don't find it difficult or feel that I'm being "deprived" of anything, as many unfamiliar with this lifestyle tend to believe.

Question: You said you consume your bodyweight in protein everyday w/ little to no soy...what are your main protein sources? I feel that right now soy is my main source & I want to explore other options. Thanks!!

[Hungry4Gains]

dumb

[Fallen_Horse]

Jessica, I don't know if you want my input, but I usually get about 100g a day from different sources, some of which are:


beans
bread
nuts
quinoa
oatmeal
veggies (gotta eat a lot)
powder/bars


Non-soy stuff is out there, you just have to work a bit more with it.

[soon2b3olympic]

Originally Posted by JessicaRabbit

I think that I might eat fish every once in awhile...I can't bear the thought of never eating sushi again! Lol. But yeah, this is relatively new to me & I'm struggling to keep my protein up (I don't want to overdo the soy products) Any suggestions?

hahah this is why i hate vegans, you cant say your something yet go out and eat cheese or wear a cashmere sweater because it taste or looks good lol. So pretentious to fit in.

[PrinceNZ]

remember plants are living too so you can't have anything derived from a plant. You should just kill yourself so you don't impact on nature any more, every breath is robbing the ozone of oxygen and contributing to global warming

[Fallen_Horse]

Originally Posted by soon2b3olympic

hahah this is why i hate vegans, you cant say your something yet go out and eat cheese or wear a cashmere sweater because it taste or looks good lol. So pretentious to fit in.

Originally Posted by PrinceNZ

remember plants are living too so you can't have anything derived from a plant. You should just kill yourself so you don't impact on nature any more, every breath is robbing the ozone of oxygen and contributing to global warming

STRONG ignorance....

[eddiebo]

Seitan or 'wheat meat' and products made with it.
Nuts and nut based products like cashew cheese and obviously peanut butter almond butter etc.
Whole Foods has a lot of vegan and vegatarian products (if you didn't already know)
Not sure where you're at, but there are a lot of vegan restaurants in LA and the Bay Area, assume most bigger cities will have something.

Hope that helps.

[Spottydog]

Originally Posted by soon2b3olympic

hahah this is why i hate vegans, you cant say your something yet go out and eat cheese or wear a cashmere sweater because it taste or looks good lol. So pretentious to fit in.

Right, just like bodybuilders can't go out and eat Carls Junior everyday and have to go to the gym and put themselves through pain and some weird-ass lifestyle just to "look swole".


OP, be extra careful of bovine geletin, milk proteins, and honey, I swear these are in freaking EVERYTHING. Also, combine proteins to get essential amino acids and complete proteins (e.g. beans and rice, ww bread and peanut butter, quinoa--already complete). As for omega-3s (which are also important, seeing as vegan = no fish), I believe walnuts and avocado are rich in omega-3.

I have also seen a fair share of "vegan" products, as I'm from Eugene, there are a lotta vegans here

[eddiebo]

Originally Posted by Spottydog

Right, just like bodybuilders can't go out and eat Carls Junior everyday and have to go to the gym and put themselves through pain and some weird-ass lifestyle just to "look swole".


OP, be extra careful of bovine geletin, milk proteins, and honey, I swear these are in freaking EVERYTHING. Also, combine proteins to get essential amino acids and complete proteins (e.g. beans and rice, ww bread and peanut butter, quinoa--already complete). As for omega-3s (which are also important, seeing as vegan = no fish), I believe walnuts and avocado are rich in omega-3.

I have also seen a fair share of "vegan" products, as I'm from Eugene, there are a lotta vegans here

Thanks for that spotty, I thought you were strictly in the death to all spotted owls and gonna club me a baby seal, oh and I'm eating a steak right now camp.

[Dave P]

Check out Gemma-Pea Protein, Rice Protein, and Hemp Protein. They all come in powders.

[Spottydog]

Originally Posted by eddiebo

Thanks for that spotty, I thought you were strictly in the death to all spotted owls and gonna club me a baby seal, oh and I'm eating a steak right now camp.

...I do eat steak

[Gr3g_Lycan]

Here are some suggestions:
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/justin3.htm

Meal One - 8am:

* 2/3 cup granola
* 2 cups soy milk
* 1 orange

Meal Two - 11am:

* 4 oz. Deli-style soy meat
* 2 slices soy cheese
* 2 slices organic whole-wheat bread

Or

* 2 tbls. Natural peanut butter
* Organic whole-wheat bagel
* Box of organic raisins or 1 small banana

Meal Three- 2pm Pre-workout:

* 2 slices organic whole-wheat bread
* 1 small banana (if I have the banana in the previous meal I choose an orange here)
* 20 grams soy protein in powder form

Or

* Odwalla Organic Soy Protein Bar
* 1 small banana

Meal Four - 4pm Post-workout:

* 20 grams soy, hemp or rice protein
* 8 oz. Organic soda
* 1 small apple

Or

* 20 grams soy, hemp or rice protein
* 1 organic bagel

Meal Five - 6pm:

I have many different options at this meal and I will list the main choices that I usually have for this meal.

6 oz. Tofu mixed with 2 cups of mixed organic vegetables. My favorite vegetables are broccoli, spinach, cooked carrots, onions and garbanzo beans.

Or

Large salad made with:

o 2 to 3 cups of romaine lettuce
o 6 oz. Morningstar Veggie Strips (made to look like sliced Chicken Breast or sirloin steak)
o 1 onion
o 1 tomato
o 1 cup garbanzo beans
o ? cup black olives
o 2 tbls. Organic salad dressing

Or

Veggie Soy Cheese Burger Patties:
o 1 Morningstar meatless veggie burger patty
o 2 slices soy cheese
o 2 slices organic whole-wheat bread
o Chopped lettuce
o chopped onion
o 1-2 Tomato slices

*Morningstar also makes meatless soy veggie hotdogs and a host of other different types of meatless protein that resembles meat, chicken and sausage*

Meal Six - 10pm:

* 2 tbls. Natural peanut butter
* 20 grams soy or hemp protein mixed in 8oz. Soy milk

Or
* Odwalla Organic Soy Protein Bar
* 2 tbls. Natural peanut butter

[soon2b3olympic]

Originally Posted by Spottydog

Right, just like bodybuilders can't go out and eat Carls Junior everyday and have to go to the gym and put themselves through pain and some weird-ass lifestyle just to "look swole".


OP, be extra careful of bovine geletin, milk proteins, and honey, I swear these are in freaking EVERYTHING. Also, combine proteins to get essential amino acids and complete proteins (e.g. beans and rice, ww bread and peanut butter, quinoa--already complete). As for omega-3s (which are also important, seeing as vegan = no fish), I believe walnuts and avocado are rich in omega-3.

I have also seen a fair share of "vegan" products, as I'm from Eugene, there are a lotta vegans here

first off not a bodybuilder lol second yeah it is different, thats a lifestyle based upon your beliefs bodybuilding is a competition etc. two different things. Its dumb as hell for vegans to get mad at people for eatting meat when many (ones i have encountered) eat cheese or consume milk.

[Devils]

You think we had vegans 200 years ago?

They would have all died, If anything veganisum is a result of over processing and too much choice of foods.

I mean don't most vegans have to take mass produced supplements to fulfill their daily dietary needs?

I respect another persons right to choose what they eat, but calling yourself a vegan, just because you sort of don't like eating meat is silly.

[jenl]

Originally Posted by soon2b3olympic

first off not a bodybuilder lol second yeah it is different, thats a lifestyle based upon your beliefs bodybuilding is a competition etc. two different things. Its dumb as hell for vegans to get mad at people for eatting meat when many (ones i have encountered) eat cheese or consume milk.

What ARE you taking about? Body building is not a competition - it is for people who are interested in forms of exercise and weightlifting that make their body aesthetically pleasing (to themselves or others). Some of those people choose to compete against others of the same body aesthetic ideals.

Secondly, the "vegans" you have encountered that eat cheese are milk are lacto-vegetarians. Not vegans.

Jeepers creepers, what is the problem with people wanting to be vegetarian or vegan. Yes, as a vegetarian, I know that there are a lot of veggies out there who have their heads firmly planted up their asses and are incapable of having a discussion about vegetarianism/veganism without climbing up their ivory tower. But, the same goes for a lot of people who don't subscribe to a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle.

GENERAL COMMENT: If you're an assh*le and incapable of having a mature and open debate, there is no diet or lifestyle that will save you.

[jenl]

Originally Posted by Devils

I respect another persons right to choose what they eat, but calling yourself a vegan, just because you sort of don't like eating meat is silly.

Isn't that a bit of a bizarre statement coming from someone with "sxe" in their signature. That same could be said that it's a bit silly calling yourself straight edge when you don't like drinking alcohol, taking drugs or having casual sex?

[caleb56]

Originally Posted by JessicaRabbit

I recently decided to go vegan and was just curious to see if there are any others on this site who follow this lifestyle.

I hope the diet change doesnt affect that great body of yours.

[Devils]

Originally Posted by jenl

Isn't that a bit of a bizarre statement coming from someone with "sxe" in their signature. That same could be said that it's a bit silly calling yourself straight edge when you don't like drinking alcohol, taking drugs or having casual sex?

Exactly my point.