Shifting to a (mostly) Plant Based Diet, and Stuff TM

[Jumpy]

I recently watched the codumentary Forks Over Knives and it really got me thinking about what I'm putting into my body. Now, don't get me wrong, I love eating meat: bacon, brisket, lamb, burgers, sausage, et al. It's delicious and I don't think eating animal based protein is as bad for you as some of these studies and documentaries will lead you to believe... I feel like it's the amount of meat that we (I) eat that produces negative side effects.

On my father's side of the family there is a history of poor health, and honestly I think it stems from the mostly animal based diet my family has consumed for generations. My father was diagnosed with cancer when I was 14; my uncle had diverticulitis and had a few feet of his intestines taken out; my grandfather had two open heart surgeries and suffered from dementia and was also diabetic; my aunt is a crazy lying cunt, but I digress. It terrifies me to think that I could possibly be next in line for some sort of disease to strike, and the fact that I mostly eat the same as I and my forefathers always have leads me to believe that soon enough something will come up and it wont be pretty.

So what can I do? I'm looking for good resources and discussion on making the switch to a (mostly) plant based diet. I'm almost 30 and I find I don't really have much energy, I always feel like shit after eating a greasy (but delicious) helping of sweet dead animal goodness, and I notice that my brain isn't as sharp as it used to be. I firmly believe that changing my diet can help counter these negative aspects of my life, I just need some guidance. Help me, Sherdog, you're my only hope.

 

[Jkaylor]

 

[Scerpi]

Make sure you repeatedly post on Facebook and Social media about your new diet

Spoiler

 

[Fatchops]

Complex carbohydrates are your friend. Filling and clean energy. No saturated fats or dietary cholesterol is an added bonus.

 

[bref]

Learn how to cook, it will help you out immensely. If you enjoy a lot of western food, the mostly plant based diet can be pretty difficult. But cuisines like Indian, Thai, Vietnamese and Levantine (Lebanese/Egyptian/Israeli/Turkish) have plenty of satisfying dishes that are plant based. Even Mediterranean food has good options.

And if you go out to eat a lot, that shit can be really difficult unless you specifically target vegetarian restaurants.

 

[michal001]

Thanks for tip on Fork over Knives. Interesting

Great starting a healthier diet. Don't go overboard. Just make small changes. Eat a little less. Trim out the crap and eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. The number of obese and overweight people in this country is appalling and disgusting.

 

[Jumpy]

Make sure you repeatedly post on Facebook and Social media about your new diet

Spoiler

I wish they'd bring back the OT so you guys could shit post there instead of in a thread promoting legitimate discussion.

I want to eat healthier for me, not anyone else. IDGAF about facebook or social media in general, you turds. Grow up.



I don't plan on completely giving up animal protein, at least for now. I know I need to eat much smaller portions of meat while also upping my portions of veggies, fruits, and whole grains. I'm wondering if you guys have any suggestions as to literature, videos, websites, etc that can help point me in the right path as far as to what I should be doing. Of course I have googled, but I'd like to know which media is reliable and based in fact.

 

[Jumpy]

Learn how to cook, it will help you out immensely. If you enjoy a lot of western food, the mostly plant based diet can be pretty difficult. But cuisines like Indian, Thai, Vietnamese and Levantine (Lebanese/Egyptian/Israeli/Turkish) have plenty of satisfying dishes that are plant based. Even Mediterranean food has good options.

And if you go out to eat a lot, that shit can be really difficult unless you specifically target vegetarian restaurants.

I am definitely trying to cook more and go out less. So expensive. And you make a good point about the style of cuisine... growing up our veggies would be green beans heated up on the stove, corn, stuff like that. Very basic and bland.

Thanks for tip on Fork over Knives. Interesting

Great starting a healthier diet. Don't go overboard. Just make small changes. Eat a little less. Trim out the crap and eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. The number of obese and overweight people in this country is appalling and disgusting.

My little brother pointed me at Forks Over Knives. The tips you give are great, and I feel like I'm already kind of walking that path. Instead of fried chicken, mash potatoes and gravy, corn bread and steamed broccoli for lunch today I had a salad with spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cucumber, topped with a little bit of bacon bits to satisfy my inner carnivore.

 

[Fuzzybabyducks]

I wish they'd bring back the OT so you guys could shit post there instead of in a thread promoting legitimate discussion.

I want to eat healthier for me, not anyone else. IDGAF about facebook or social media in general, you turds. Grow up.



I don't plan on completely giving up animal protein, at least for now. I know I need to eat much smaller portions of meat while also upping my portions of veggies, fruits, and whole grains. I'm wondering if you guys have any suggestions as to literature, videos, websites, etc that can help point me in the right path as far as to what I should be doing. Of course I have googled, but I'd like to know which media is reliable and based in fact.

the OT is there. They talk about internet speeds and what they officially had for lunch all while calling each other slang words for gay people and the threads eventually turn into pro wrestling talk...

On Topic I say I want to eat healthier just about every month and its hard.. I love a lot of snacks.

 

[Jumpy]

the OT is there. They talk about internet speeds and what they officially had for lunch all while calling each other slang words for gay people before the thread turns into pro wrestling talk...

On Topic I say I want to eat healthier just about every month and its hard.. I love a lot of snacks.

Oh, sounds just like the old OT.

I smoke pot and drink beer, both of which give me the munchies really powerful. And I'm not eating healthy snacks either, I'm demolishing potato chips and Little Debbie. I'm 5'8" 150lbs and used to stay active and fit but now I'm skinny when I stand but chunk when I sit.

 

[Fuzzybabyducks]

Oh, sounds just like the old OT.

I smoke pot and drink beer, both of which give me the munchies really powerful. And I'm not eating healthy snacks either, I'm demolishing potato chips and Little Debbie. I'm 5'8" 150lbs and used to stay active and fit but now I'm skinny when I stand but chunk when I sit.

yeah beer is what gets me also.. its fine until you hit 30, then those things start to get too your waistline

 

[Dogstarman]

Forks over knives is a bullsht documentary. Don't come at me with this ethical bullshit. Pay the extra money for ethically grown meat.

 

[Jumpy]

Forks over knives is a bullsht documentary. Don't come at me with this ethical bullshit. Pay the extra money for ethically grown meat.

Not sure what you mean, as I didn't bring up ethics: I am a meat eater. I'm trying to make a healthy switch in my diet for personal reasons, as outlined in the OP... I don't want cancer, diverticulitis, heart disease, or any negative health issues that can be avoided by simply eating healthier. Forks Over Knives was a pretty powerful documentary which talked about quite a few interesting things, such as the USDA and their conflict of interests considering the meat and dairy industry lobbyists relationship with the USDA, but mostly I mentioned the documentary because of the anecdotal stories of people beating cancer by going plant based, like the little old marathon running lady, or the african american woman that was diabetic.

 

[Dogstarman]

Not sure what you mean, as I didn't bring up ethics: I am a meat eater. I'm trying to make a healthy switch in my diet for personal reasons, as outlined in the OP... I don't want cancer, diverticulitis, heart disease, or any negative health issues that can be avoided by simply eating healthier. Forks Over Knives was a pretty powerful documentary which talked about quite a few interesting things, such as the USDA and their conflict of interests considering the meat and dairy industry lobbyists relationship with the USDA, but mostly I mentioned the documentary because of the anecdotal stories of people beating cancer by going plant based, like the little old marathon running lady, or the african american woman that was diabetic.

Ok. Bro. Stop eating meat. Just don't push your pseudo science on others.

 

[Jumpy]

Ok. Bro. Stop eating meat. Just don't push your pseudo science on others.

Wh-what? You lost me. I haven't pushed anything on anyone. I'm asking for advice, not giving it. As I said, I eat meat, I don't plan on giving it up entirely.

But it just occurred to me: you're probably just trolling, because it is very clear by my posts in this thread that I am not pushing an agenda or doing anything other than asking for advice and resources.

 

[Dogstarman]

Wh-what? You lost me. I haven't pushed anything on anyone. I'm asking for advice, not giving it. As I said, I eat meat, I don't plan on giving it up entirely.

But it just occurred to me: you're probably just trolling, because it is very clear by my posts in this thread that I am not pushing an agenda or doing anything other than asking for advice and resources.

Forks over knives is based on pseudo science.

 

[Scerpi]

I wish they'd bring back the OT so you guys could shit post there instead of in a thread promoting legitimate discussion.

I want to eat healthier for me, not anyone else. IDGAF about facebook or social media in general, you turds. Grow up.



I don't plan on completely giving up animal protein, at least for now. I know I need to eat much smaller portions of meat while also upping my portions of veggies, fruits, and whole grains. I'm wondering if you guys have any suggestions as to literature, videos, websites, etc that can help point me in the right path as far as to what I should be doing. Of course I have googled, but I'd like to know which media is reliable and based in fact.

Easy Brosef... Lighten up a little.

You sound more gluten intolerant than meat intolerant. Maybe your new diet will resurrect your sense of humor

Seriously though, I feel a 100% better when I eliminate crap carbs from my diet. Get rid of anything that comes in a box or bag.

A simple dinner of grilled chicken or fish with steamed veggies will do wonders. Try it for a couple of weeks.

There... sorry I shit on your parade earlier.

 

[Jumpy]

Forks over knives is based on pseudo science.

Okay, then point me in the right direction for healthier eating habits, please!
I'm not saying Forks Over Knives is the end all be all as far as eating correctly goes. What I'm saying is that the video made me think about what I'm putting into my body and how I can help PREVENT DISEASE from effecting me in the way that it has my family. I'm not promoting an agenda or anything of the sort.

But anyway, are you trying to say that eating mostly a plant based diet is in fact not as healthy for you as eating mostly animal based diet?

 

[Jumpy]

Easy Brosef... Lighten up a little.

You sound more gluten intolerant than meat intolerant. Maybe your new diet will resurrect your sense of humor

Seriously though, I feel a 100% better when I eliminate crap carbs from my diet. Get rid of anything that comes in a box or bag.

A simple dinner of grilled chicken or fish with steamed veggies will do wonders. Try it for a couple of weeks.

There... sorry I shit on your parade earlier.

I was mostly gotten to because I had clearly explained that there is a history of heart disease, cancer, diabetes and other shit in my family that I would love to avoid, and you guys came in with memes and silly posts. Everyone has to have the funniest quip or one liner these days, instead of engaging in meaningful and open discussion. I am guilty of this as well.

Thank you for this post with substance. I've been trying hard to cut out any boxed, pre packed, preservative laced foods.. but it is so easy and convenient, especially when I'm stoned.

 

[MASShole]

Eat a Mediterranean diet. Fruit, lots of vegetables, quite a bit of healthy fats, and some meat.

Think about a circular plate and divide into 50% colorful leafy vegetables, 25% starches or starchy vegetables and 25% lean meat. Use olive oil. Eat nuts sparingly but regularly. Fish is your friend.

Done.


When I really cared about taking snacks to work and being much healthier, my snacks were a small bowl of grapes, cut up red peppers and a side of Chobani (eaten separately). I'd also have casein protein shakes to keep myself full if needed.