I was just wondering -
how do you keep yourself healthy? Do you consider yourself healthy?
What about your nutrition (relevant to those who make their own meals daily), how do you try to keep yourself well nurtured, all the vitamins etc etc. I was just wondering, cause I will live entirely on my own after the summer and I think I need to think about those things beforehand.
Do you consider eating out less healthy (because most of the places - well - needless to say - FAST FOOD GENERATION, with all the fats etc etc), do you make your own food from raw materials, or pre-rendered (awesome expressions of a non-mother-tongue-english rox) food?
What about smoking, alcohol, (prescription) drugs? How do you 'balance out' yourself?
And finally, what about working out? Do you work out, do you occasionally run, walk, have endless nights of sex, etc?
Just throw your thoughts out there, I'm interested in how you all folks are doing.
Eating out is almost always unhealthy regardless of what you eat or how nice of a restaurant you think you're eating at. If for nothing else than sodium levels.
But I don't really work out. I just drink shit tons of caffeine. It keeps my heart rate up like I'm running all day long. That's how I keep my body sexy.
The only exercise I get is in the bedroom.
try to eat more organic foods. any time you eat something without all them nasty ass preservatives it tends to be a little bit healthier.
Quote from: Variable on Jun 10, 2010, 11:01 PM
Eating out is almost always unhealthy
i beg to differ, sir.
I avoid coca cola and such. only water will keep you clean (plus, it's way cheaper if you have to consider the money factor).
THat and a tiny ratio of excercise makes it for me.
-no soft drinks at all
-reduced my consumption of meat to maximum of 3 times per weak, mostly fish and chicken for healthy fats
-2liter of water/tea
-cup of coffee almost every day (dunno if thats healthy at all)
-lots of eggs to increase protein
-lots of rice and wholemeal-noodles
-fruits and legumes throughout the day
-some nuts for healthy fats, also omega3-heavy oils and avocados
-3-4 times sport per weak (capoeira, taekwondo,lot of tretching)
-some really unhealthy shit like pizza or mcdonald only once or twice a weak
-alcohol id say once or twice a weak. rarely getting really drunk
Quote from: devilinside on Apr 20, 2010, 07:32 PM
I am very active and consider myself healthy. I kickbox 3 hours a week, have taken up karate 2 times a week for an hour each day, walk 3 miles a day,do yoga every morning and coach my kids soccer teams. I eat 3-5 small portions a day like I am supposed to to keep my energy up,drink a gallon of water a day to flush out fat... I do avoid fried foods,mainly because the smell makes me feel sick.
To add to this. I avoid red meat as much as possible...limit to MAYBE once a week or a month. I'm with bright lights...you can make right decisions when eating out. Salads with grilled chicken or any kinds of fish. Restaurants are starting to edit their menus and making things healthier too.
I do not drink alcohol on a regular basis,but red wine,in moderation is good,and a beer a day I've heard is fine for you too. Everything in moderation. And I take a flintstone vitamin every day! hahaha
I'm a vegetarian so my diet is limited and not very cheap. In fact, I probably eat horribly as a vegetarian because I'm on a budget. I'll eat bean and cheese burritos, pasta, vegetarian chili, macaroni and cheese or vegetable pot stickers. I do from time to time just eat a bowl of rice, which is the healthiest thing I'll eat. I try to sneak a salad in when I can, but salads get boring after a while. Vegetarian meat is pretty pricey -- $4 for a box of four patties or a bag of "chicken" strips.
I was at my all time highest weight six months ago-- 175 lbs. I've lost about 15 lbs since then because I started cooking my meals. It's a hell of a lot cheaper than eating out on a constant basis and more gratifying because you made it. I also drink a lot of water and limit my soda intake to about once a week now. I also walk whenever I can. I used to drive all the time, but now I just walk if I need to pick up something from the store. The last time I drove was a week and a half ago. For snacks I'll usually eat fruit like grapes, apples or oranges and try to stay away from candy or ice cream.
its funny how so many vegetarians are horribly unhealthy...
i dont drink or smoke or drink caffeine.
no pills of any kind.
i drink only water.
no dairy.
lots of fruit and vegetables. mostly fruit. (raw is the way)
lots of rice.
no pasta.
i run (about 16-20 miles/week). (running is alot of impact so in many ways this is my bad habit)
i take long walks as well.
i ride my bike all around the city.
i do yoga a few times a week.
meditation.
music.
painting.
loving kindness.
Quote from: wither-I on Jun 11, 2010, 04:28 AM
its funny how so many vegetarians are horribly unhealthy...
It's a diet for people with money. I was 16 when I became a vegetarian and I'm 21 now so I know personally how a good vegetarian diet can put a hole in your pocket.
Quote from: wither-I on Jun 11, 2010, 04:28 AM
its funny how so many vegetarians are horribly unhealthy...
i dont drink or smoke or drink caffeine.
no pills of any kind.
i drink only water.
no dairy.
lots of fruit and vegetables. mostly fruit. (raw is the way)
lots of rice.
no pasta.
i run (about 16-20 miles/week). (running is alot of impact so in many ways this is my bad habit)
i take long walks as well.
i ride my bike all around the city.
i do yoga a few times a week.
meditation.
music.
painting.
loving kindness.
Seems fine to me, although I don't see whats wrong with pasta? Inform me please :)
Quote from: bright lights, big city on Jun 11, 2010, 12:20 AM
Quote from: Variable on Jun 10, 2010, 11:01 PM
Eating out is almost always unhealthy
i beg to differ, sir.
Well Sir, there are always exceptions. You might be able to find a sushi place or maybe order some Alaskan Salmon somewhere that isn't loaded with sodium. But I doubt it. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1987591,00.html (http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1987591,00.html)
Truly eating healthy in America is actually a lot harder than most people really put thought into ( Yes I realize that Darius is not from America). I didn't read all the other post in here yet. But I'm sure someone brought up preservatives, hormones, artificial this or that, etc etc. You really have to have the time and money to truly eat healthy. Because trust me, Subway aint doing it.
Well, actually, my understanding of healthy nutrition is not far from what you all are saying.
I have been drinking only water daily for about 4-5 years now.
I also have been smoking for the same period of time, and I will be trying to quit when I move to Turkey. Hopefully, I will succeed. I'd also like to minimize my drinking - even though I drink rarely nowadays.
I need to engage myself in some physical activities - I'm a lazy-ass. My body is lean, but that's mostly genes and a lot of walking that I do (I do not really consider walking as "exercise"), so I am physically weak, yet lean.
Lately I have been thinking quite a lot about meat when it comes to nutrition. My stomach is not exactly the strongest whirlpool ever made, so I believe red meat (which I eat quite a lot) could be one of the causes why I usually have 'heavy' and overall disfunctioning stomach. Though I could never go vegetarian.
By the way, about eating out - the issue here is mostly money. My friend which is currently in Turkey said, that eating out is about twice cheaper, but the food generally is good. Of course, you have got to find "good" places.. but well. I believe I will not afford the best care of myself with my scholarship there :)
i eat vegetarians so i know i'm good :D
Quote from: chick de la lynch on Jun 11, 2010, 04:33 AM
Quote from: wither-I on Jun 11, 2010, 04:28 AM
its funny how so many vegetarians are horribly unhealthy...
It's a diet for people with money. I was 16 when I became a vegetarian and I'm 21 now so I know personally how a good vegetarian diet can put a hole in your pocket.
not true unless you are talking about processed vegetarian food (which is an unbelievable racket). If you buy fresh produce (or better yet, grow)and make your own meals it is actually incredibly cheap to be a vegetarian. fresh produce (and i am not talking organic) and beans are some of the cheapest items in the store, even at a place like Whole Foods or Trader Joes.
As for red meat, substitute lamb or pork instead. or try replacing meat altogether with beans or a soy based product (although they tend to be expensive).
Quote from: Variable on Jun 11, 2010, 05:32 AM
Quote from: bright lights, big city on Jun 11, 2010, 12:20 AM
Quote from: Variable on Jun 10, 2010, 11:01 PM
Eating out is almost always unhealthy
i beg to differ, sir.
Well Sir, there are always exceptions. You might be able to find a sushi place or maybe order some Alaskan Salmon somewhere that isn't loaded with sodium. But I doubt it. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1987591,00.html (http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1987591,00.html)
Truly eating healthy in America is actually a lot harder than most people really put thought into ( Yes I realize that Darius is not from America). I didn't read all the other post in here yet. But I'm sure someone brought up preservatives, hormones, artificial this or that, etc etc. You really have to have the time and money to truly eat healthy. Because trust me, Subway aint doing it.
I'm pretty sure you were taking what he said a bit
too literal.
Blixa will be all over this shit.
Personally, i fluctuate between healthy and being a fat lazy bastard, i can't keep either up for an extended time.
Quote from: goldpony on Jun 11, 2010, 05:56 PMor try replacing meat altogether with beans or a soy based product (although they tend to be expensive).
Soy products aren't really healthy though...
I eat a lot of really bad food, and I smoke cigarettes and weed constantly and drink beer fairly frequently, although not as much as in my heyday. I've gotten more and more into exercise in recent years, I lift weights pretty frequently, and during the summer I do a lot of work outside, and try to do as much aerobic as I can, although I don't like it nearly as much as lifting. I've put on like 30 pounds in the last few months and have dropped a couple inches on my waist and I've never felt like moving my body around and exercising in general was so easy, but I've been pretty out of shape my entire life. But I approach being healthy from an output as opposed to an input philosophy. Yeah, I know I gotta stop smoking a lot, but I don't really have an issue with the amount I eat since the activity I get does so much for my basal metabolic rate. And being 6'3" and 235 lbs doesn't hurt either; I can eat a fucking grip of food, just sit around, and my muscles do the rest for me.
The key to weight (fat) loss is gaining weight in muscle, specifically your larger muscles such as your legs, glutes, abs and back so both while they're healing and while they're just sitting there, they burn calories as opposed to store them like fat cells.
Quote from: alvarezbassist17 on Jun 11, 2010, 07:34 PM
And being 6'3" and 235 lbs doesn't hurt either
dude you make me feel like a goddamn anorexic wimp. i'm 6'5" and 185 lbs.
dude the fucking awesome thing about being tall is you can pretty much eat whatever the fuck you want and can just be huge and muscular with really not a whole lot of effort. You don't really do a whole lot in terms of lifting, I'm guessing?
Another great thing I've found about lifting is that it really helps take a lot of stress off of your joints and bones, I rarely get clicky or sore joints at all since i started. I feel like it's helped my immune system a lot too, or at least combated some of the damage I do from smoking.
Quote from: goldpony on Jun 11, 2010, 05:49 PM
i eat vegetarians so i know i'm good :D
bwahahahaha
To echo what others have said, it can be very pricey to completely transition to a hormone/pesticide-free, low sodium diet. Our society has become so accustomed to convenience - when we go to grocery stores, we expect everything to be available, whether or not it may be in season, and with tons of alternative options. Fast food is everywhere because it's quick, filling, and cheap.
I've found the most effective, manageable, and affordable ways to change to a healthier lifestyle is:
01 - Cutting sodium, or minimizing your intake as much as possible. Reading labels will be a huge eyeopener: you'd be surprised how much sodium is packed in what you'd think of as the unlikeliest places.
02 - Drinking water instead of sodas. This is the cheapest and one of the most important.
03 - Figure out what you can make that can substitute for what you'd buy. I stopped buying salad dressings/marinades forever ago because I realized how easy it was to make my own; it's just acid and oil. My favorite dressing is freshly squeezed lemon juice, olive oil, and salt and pepper. Pasta sauce is another example; there are good premade ones out there, but I've found it's so easy to buy a can of crushed tomatoes and add it to garlic that's been sauteed in olive oil and chili flakes.
04 - Drinking hormone-free milk. This is huge for me, especially since I'm a girl.
I'm a full-time college student, so I barely have the funds or time, but I loooove to cook. Suggestions for meals and snacks:
-- Breakfast: Cut any frozen/pre-made pastries, like frozen waffles, Pop-Tarts, etc. Even most "granola" bars are just sugar; you're better off having fruit. I like eggs (though in moderation) with/without sauteed vegetables (on a budget, think canned mushrooms or slices of tomato). For longer days, when I need something to last me a while, I like using whole wheat, multi-grain bread for peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Just use real peanut butter, and not peanut butter spread.
-- Lunch/Dinner: Minimize meat, and focus on eating hearty vegetables, legumes (lentils, especially... so, so cheap and packed with nutrition), whole grains, and fruit. Canned tuna that's packed in water is a good option, pastas (you can find plenty of good canned sauces in health OR specialty stores, and it's criminally simple to make your own), deli sandwiches that have more vegetables than meat/sauce, etc.
-- Snacks: I like Kashi granola bars, whole unroasted almonds (roasting actually draws a lot of the essential oils out), hummus (omg so good with pita), or fruit.
I think the most important aspect to any lifestyle change - diet, included - is that it has to be realistic. If you like meat, don't deprive yourself completely of that. Start gradually, or eat in moderation. So many people have this misperception that, to be healthy, you have to be some outlandish vegan yuppie who walks barefoot everywhere. You want to keep yourself motivated to eat well, and not hate a minute of it.
If you want any recipes, I'd be more than happy to share. :)
For myself, I do all that, plus I don't drink alcohol (vanilla of me, whatever) and I do pilates regularly. I'm also trying to ride my bike more often, but I, unfortunately, don't live in the most bike-friendly of all places.
Lol imma just go to McDonald's.
Quote from: goldpony on Jun 11, 2010, 05:56 PM
Quote from: chick de la lynch on Jun 11, 2010, 04:33 AM
Quote from: wither-I on Jun 11, 2010, 04:28 AM
its funny how so many vegetarians are horribly unhealthy...
It's a diet for people with money. I was 16 when I became a vegetarian and I'm 21 now so I know personally how a good vegetarian diet can put a hole in your pocket.
not true unless you are talking about processed vegetarian food (which is an unbelievable racket). If you buy fresh produce (or better yet, grow)and make your own meals it is actually incredibly cheap to be a vegetarian. fresh produce (and i am not talking organic) and beans are some of the cheapest items in the store, even at a place like Whole Foods or Trader Joes.
As for red meat, substitute lamb or pork instead. or try replacing meat altogether with beans or a soy based product (although they tend to be expensive).
Trader Joe's has a tendency to get pricey even with non-organic vegetables. Every time I get veggies I'm spending $3-$4 on just one vegetable. If I didn't get bored easily when I eat, then yeah it would be incredibly cheap. But vegetables all the time doesn't cut it, especially for a former meat eater.
I think the one thing that people automatically assume when you're a vegetarian is that you're a light eater and constantly eat vegetables and salads and that's not the case. Vegetarians want meaty meals too even if we don't eat meat.
Quote from: alvarezbassist17 on Jun 11, 2010, 10:54 PM
dude the fucking awesome thing about being tall is you can pretty much eat whatever the fuck you want and can just be huge and muscular with really not a whole lot of effort. You don't really do a whole lot in terms of lifting, I'm guessing?
you got me buddy. basically i just go for a run once in a while, and the occasional push-up or sit-up. haven't really done any strength training in like 4 years.
Quote from: chick de la lynch on Jun 12, 2010, 05:06 AM
Quote from: goldpony on Jun 11, 2010, 05:56 PM
Quote from: chick de la lynch on Jun 11, 2010, 04:33 AM
Quote from: wither-I on Jun 11, 2010, 04:28 AM
its funny how so many vegetarians are horribly unhealthy...
Trader Joe's has a tendency to get pricey even with non-organic vegetables.
My ex girlfriend was a biochemist and she worked for Syngenta who develop and sell biochemical products to enhance crop/vegetables. She started out thinkin they were evil but a lot of the work they do is very ethical and looks at the impact of any treatments and processes on the environments. From doing the research work in the lab she had concluded pretty fast that organic is a complete rip off and yields inferior produce.
fuckkkkkk i meant organic = inferior
i'm a smoker, i drink beer and coffee - sometimes at the same time and in excessive amounts although i've learnt to drink more responsibly the last few years, i'm secretly addicted to creaming soda, and i would be exceptionally happy if i could eat potatos for the rest of my life. i hate chocolate (except for hot chocolate) and sweets so i don't find myself gaining weight via those things. i eat lots of vegetables. i set up these really impossible things to do monthly like i give up bread for a month, i eat only steamed vegetables and drink water for a month, i go raw for three months etc.
heaven, i don't agree that being a vegetarian is expensive. if you eat out all the time, whether you're a vego or not, it's going to cost you shitloads of money. plus faux meat is expensive, i agree (this has been the biggest reason as to why some vego's forego their beliefs and end up eating meat - cheap and convenient) but if you go to asian groceries you can find that stuff really decently priced. or you can buy lentils, breadcrumbs, and vegetables and make your own patties. they would last you for ages. asian groceries are usually a godsend for me. whenever i eat something when i'm out, it's usually thai or indian.
it also depends on how you were brought up. if it was kfc most of the nights then you do get into that habit. my mum is really against take out so i never really eat it unless i'm out with my mates and they always end up eating vegan food with me so we never feel bad about eating what we eat. my family does eat some take out but it's so rare that it's nothing to get worried about.
also pasta is very good. it has low gi so it keeps you feeling fuller for longer.
Quote from: Necrocetaceanbeastiality on Jun 11, 2010, 07:03 PM
Quote from: goldpony on Jun 11, 2010, 05:56 PMor try replacing meat altogether with beans or a soy based product (although they tend to be expensive).
Soy products aren't really healthy though...
too much soy isn't good, but too much of anything isn't good either.
Quote from: blixa on Jun 12, 2010, 09:50 AM
heaven, i don't agree that being a vegetarian is expensive.
I don't think I am making myself clear when I say I get bored very easily when I eat, so yes, if I could eat vegetables and rice all the time I would. It would be cheap as hell. There are many vegetarians who can do that with no qualms, but I'm not one of those vegetarians. I grew up in a family where I ate heavy food constantly and I had a lot of variety when I ate and as much as I love bok choy, tomatoes, potatoes, etc. it's not going to keep me interested or keep me very full. I'm a former meat eater, so that's where the veggie meat comes into play (As well as the $) to make my meals more interesting than they are. I don't eat them all the time, but if I am making pasta or I'm just in the mood for a veggie burger I have that option.
Essentially it comes down to how you eat. For some vegetarians it's going to be a cheap diet. For others, like myself, it's going to be rather expensive.
but it's not just rice and vegetables. all you're doing is taking away the meat, which isn't as big of a deal as everyone makes it out to be. you do learn to eat lighter meals, which you should be eating anyway. my entire family and extended family are completely gross with their intake of meat and i was once apart of that so i know heavy meals and i don't think i would ever want to stuff myself with so much food ever again. my mum has been amazing though. she has taught me to cook some awesome meals that once contained meat, which she substituted with other stuff. i'm not a fussy eater. i love eating my steamed vegetables and whatever carbs i'm having. you should invest in a book or look online, there's loads of easy recipes for vegetarian meals. when i was vegetarian for the first year it was actually the easiest thing. the ball definitely stepped up when i became vegan because everything became impossible because the world doesn't cater to my lifestyle until i worked at it and catered for my own.
like i said, it doesn't have to be expensive. maybe it's your eating habits that should change. i think you should just cook your own food.
So wait, I'm confused. Are most vegetarians/vegans that way because it's healthier or for ethical reasons? Because I'm very not convinced that completely eliminating meat from an omnivore's diet is entirely healthy.
Quote from: bright lights, big city on Jun 12, 2010, 06:01 AM
Quote from: alvarezbassist17 on Jun 11, 2010, 10:54 PM
dude the fucking awesome thing about being tall is you can pretty much eat whatever the fuck you want and can just be huge and muscular with really not a whole lot of effort. You don't really do a whole lot in terms of lifting, I'm guessing?
you got me buddy. basically i just go for a run once in a while, and the occasional push-up or sit-up. haven't really done any strength training in like 4 years.
Well get on that shit, duder. Height is like the best natural advantage for being strong and toned. And it really doesn't need to be a whole lot; I go for like an hour, 90 minutes maybe like twice a week, 3 if I'm feelin frisky. But yeah, it doesn't need to be like 2 hours daily to see and feel its effect. Plus just step it up with the protein and you'll be puttin on weight and moving easier in no time. Plus, bitches love strong tall dudes, and you'll be able to tear up the little pussies in the pit just that much more efficiently haha
Quote from: alvarezbassist17 on Jun 13, 2010, 04:22 PM
Quote from: bright lights, big city on Jun 12, 2010, 06:01 AM
Quote from: alvarezbassist17 on Jun 11, 2010, 10:54 PM
dude the fucking awesome thing about being tall is you can pretty much eat whatever the fuck you want and can just be huge and muscular with really not a whole lot of effort. You don't really do a whole lot in terms of lifting, I'm guessing?
you got me buddy. basically i just go for a run once in a while, and the occasional push-up or sit-up. haven't really done any strength training in like 4 years.
Well get on that shit, duder. Height is like the best natural advantage for being strong and toned. And it really doesn't need to be a whole lot; I go for like an hour, 90 minutes maybe like twice a week, 3 if I'm feelin frisky. But yeah, it doesn't need to be like 2 hours daily to see and feel its effect. Plus just step it up with the protein and you'll be puttin on weight and moving easier in no time. Plus, bitches love strong tall dudes, and you'll be able to tear up the little pussies in the pit just that much more efficiently haha
haha what a great post. and will do. i'll get into some of that protein shake bullshit.
haha yeah I do have a bit of a different perspective than the other conversation going on in this thread. Oh and I've never tried those protein drink shits, I bet they probably help, but I just eat LOTS OF ANIMALS.
Quote from: weakcure on Jun 12, 2010, 03:45 AM
If you want any recipes, I'd be more than happy to share. :)
I'm interested in some recipes. I've been wanting to eat healthier forever but I just don't know what to make.
Being a diabetic, it is essential that I eat healthy and luckily I don't have a sweet tooth so not eating chocolate or sweets isn't a problem (the insulin I'm currently taking theoretically allows me to eat pretty much anything I want though). I have no routine like some people on here. I just eat what I eat regardless if it's healthy or not... I think I'm one of those people that could just eat and eat and still not put on any weight. My mother let's me know how skinny I am all the time but i don't think so.
"I give bread up for a month" comments kinda make me laugh. One month of no bread and then carry on again after. That's real healthy...
If it were possible and if I wasn't a diabetic I would eat Indian food every day for the rest of my life. Unfortunately here in London they like to put a shit load of sugar in the Indian food so it's not so healthy for me. It's more about the amount of exercise you do. There's no point eating healthy but doing fuck all exercise...
Quote from: blixa on Jun 13, 2010, 11:34 AM
but it's not just rice and vegetables. all you're doing is taking away the meat, which isn't as big of a deal as everyone makes it out to be. you do learn to eat lighter meals, which you should be eating anyway. my entire family and extended family are completely gross with their intake of meat and i was once apart of that so i know heavy meals and i don't think i would ever want to stuff myself with so much food ever again. my mum has been amazing though. she has taught me to cook some awesome meals that once contained meat, which she substituted with other stuff. i'm not a fussy eater. i love eating my steamed vegetables and whatever carbs i'm having. you should invest in a book or look online, there's loads of easy recipes for vegetarian meals. when i was vegetarian for the first year it was actually the easiest thing. the ball definitely stepped up when i became vegan because everything became impossible because the world doesn't cater to my lifestyle until i worked at it and catered for my own.
like i said, it doesn't have to be expensive. maybe it's your eating habits that should change. i think you should just cook your own food.
It's very easy to tell someone to eat lighter, but if you grew up that way it's 10x harder to do. I don't eat heavy heavy, but I enjoy a filling meal and as a Mexican you're taught to eat everything on your plate, not to mention Mexican food is already heavy (Which is food I grew up eating). I'm eating a lot better than I was six months ago and the proof is in my jean size. I eat well proportioned meals, splurging every once in a while and I do cook my own meals. I eat out maybe once a week, but these days I can't even afford to do that (Which I consider to be a blessing). I do have a vegetarian cook book, unfortunately I have no idea what the hell I did with it.
Quote from: alvarezbassist17 on Jun 13, 2010, 04:22 PM
So wait, I'm confused. Are most vegetarians/vegans that way because it's healthier or for ethical reasons? Because I'm very not convinced that completely eliminating meat from an omnivore's diet is entirely healthy.
there are vego's that eat that way for ethical reasons and some that eat that way for health. i'm vegan for ethical reasons but the only reason i would go raw vegan is for health.
Quote from: chick de la lynch on Jun 14, 2010, 04:13 AM
It's very easy to tell someone to eat lighter, but if you grew up that way it's 10x harder to do. I don't eat heavy heavy, but I enjoy a filling meal and as a Mexican you're taught to eat everything on your plate, not to mention Mexican food is already heavy (Which is food I grew up eating). I'm eating a lot better than I was six months ago and the proof is in my jean size. I eat well proportioned meals, splurging every once in a while and I do cook my own meals. I eat out maybe once a week, but these days I can't even afford to do that (Which I consider to be a blessing). I do have a vegetarian cook book, unfortunately I have no idea what the hell I did with it.
i grew up with heavy meals. i come from a middle eastern family. all they do is eat. that's why i became vegan. i wanted to know what it was i was eating and when i found out i didn't like it one bit. i promised to make a change and i was going to stick with it no matter how challenging. my first year of being vegetarian was just trial and error. i learned a lot and i ate healthy. i lost lots of weight and at the same time my belief in animal rights was getting stronger. a lot of people think you do it to lose weight but that was the last thing on my mind and a lot of 'vegetarians' who do it for weight reasons usually give up after a short period of time. i know how hard it is, that's all i'm saying. i'm not being condescending but i grew up in a family that eats way too much so i know how rewarding it is when i learnt to eat
enough. that has been the best thing - knowing my limit.
steer clear of fake meats, they're processed. that's all the advice i can give you.
Quote from: Starz on Jun 13, 2010, 11:16 PM
"I give bread up for a month" comments kinda make me laugh. One month of no bread and then carry on again after. That's real healthy...
i wasn't doing it to be healthy. i just wanted to know if i could go without bread, and i did. i felt better and focused on getting more muesli and oats into my food regiment as opposed to just eating bread all the time. i eat a lot less bread now.
I'm glad you brought up how some people become vegetarians to lose weight. It's a healthier diet, but you can still eat very badly while following an animal friendly diet. I gained 30 lbs by eating out on a daily basis. I think becoming a vegetarian should be more than just losing weight--there definitely needs to be more of a purpose. The only way you're going to stick to a vegetarian diet is if you truly want to be a vegetarian. Whether it's the taste of meat or your beliefs on animal rights, the purpose needs to be substantial otherwise you'll never stick to it.
Quote from: chick de la lynch on Jun 16, 2010, 03:52 AM
I'm glad you brought up how some people become vegetarians to lose weight. It's a healthier diet, but you can still eat very badly while following an animal friendly diet. I gained 30 lbs by eating out on a daily basis. I think becoming a vegetarian should be more than just losing weight--there definitely needs to be more of a purpose. The only way you're going to stick to a vegetarian diet is if you truly want to be a vegetarian. Whether it's the taste of meat or your beliefs on animal rights, the purpose needs to be substantial otherwise you'll never stick to it.
I know a buttload of vegans that are extremely overweight because all they eat is bread and all the drink is beer. It's unbelievable. If you're going to make a statement about what you believe in, at least try not to kill yourself in the process.
I'm good with having carbs every once in a while, but that is a fucking carb overload!
Quote from: Necrocetaceanbeastiality on Jun 16, 2010, 04:21 AM
Quote from: chick de la lynch on Jun 16, 2010, 03:52 AM
I'm glad you brought up how some people become vegetarians to lose weight. It's a healthier diet, but you can still eat very badly while following an animal friendly diet. I gained 30 lbs by eating out on a daily basis. I think becoming a vegetarian should be more than just losing weight--there definitely needs to be more of a purpose. The only way you're going to stick to a vegetarian diet is if you truly want to be a vegetarian. Whether it's the taste of meat or your beliefs on animal rights, the purpose needs to be substantial otherwise you'll never stick to it.
I know a buttload of vegans that are extremely overweight because all they eat is bread and all the drink is beer. It's unbelievable. If you're going to make a statement about what you believe in, at least try not to kill yourself in the process.
people make two mistakes about vegans that the vegan is supposed to be really healthy or that the vegan is lacking in vitamins and is deficient. there are fat and skinny vegans. carbs are carbs no matter what diet you follow.
i get a blood test every once in a while and my doctor always says the same thing, that i'm the healthiest patient he has. i've gotten to the point where i haven't eaten meat in eight and a half years and i have so much variety in my diet that i don't really get worried about anything anymore.
I get really annoyed when meat eaters tell me they're going to out live me because I don't eat meat. Then again these meat eaters don't make a valid argument, which is just even more annoying.
I enjoy eating whatever I feel like eating, within reason, but without worrying about how it's going to shorten my lifespan. People that are worried about staying healthy to the point of restricting their diets are scared of death (and life for that matter), and the only true vegetarians that I'll tip my hat to, ever, are those that eat that way because they enjoy it. Simple as that. If you don't like meats because you really don't like meats then enjoy your diet. Vegetarians are the emos of the culinary world.
Quote from: oldgentlovecraft on Jun 17, 2010, 01:14 AM
I enjoy eating whatever I feel like eating, within reason, but without worrying about how it's going to shorten my lifespan. People that are worried about staying healthy to the point of restricting their diets are scared of death (and life for that matter), and the only true vegetarians that I'll tip my hat to, ever, are those that eat that way because they enjoy it. Simple as that. If you don't like meats because you really don't like meats then enjoy your diet. Vegetarians are the emos of the culinary world.
+100000000000000
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raw_foodism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raw_foodism)
...lol
I cannot eat meat anymore. I find it repulsive. It sickens me now..
When I was younger, I didn't eat meat and I was made fun of as "the vegetarian" in my family. Over the years, I began to appreciate the taste of a good fillet steak or Carpaccio. I'm also sure eating meat helped me gain the weight that I now have, and I wouldn't wanna go back to being that skinny.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128849908 (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128849908)
Food For Thought: Meat-Based Diet Made Us Smarter
by Christopher Joyce
August 2, 2010
Our earliest ancestors ate their food raw — fruit, leaves, maybe some nuts. When they ventured down onto land, they added things like underground tubers, roots and berries.
It wasn't a very high-calorie diet, so to get the energy you needed, you had to eat a lot and have a big gut to digest it all. But having a big gut has its drawbacks.
"You can't have a large brain and big guts at the same time," explains Leslie Aiello, an anthropologist and director of the Wenner-Gren Foundation in New York City, which funds research on evolution. Digestion, she says, was the energy-hog of our primate ancestor's body. The brain was the poor stepsister who got the leftovers.
Until, that is, we discovered meat.
"What we think is that this dietary change around 2.3 million years ago was one of the major significant factors in the evolution of our own species," Aiello says.
That period is when cut marks on animal bones appeared — not a predator's tooth marks, but incisions that could have been made only by a sharp tool. That's one sign of our carnivorous conversion. But Aiello's favorite clue is somewhat ickier — it's a tapeworm. "The closest relative of human tapeworms are tapeworms that affect African hyenas and wild dogs," she says.
So sometime in our evolutionary history, she explains, "we actually shared saliva with wild dogs and hyenas." That would have happened if, say, we were scavenging on the same carcass that hyenas were.
But dining with dogs was worth it. Meat is packed with lots of calories and fat. Our brain — which uses about 20 times as much energy as the equivalent amount of muscle — piped up and said, "Please, sir, I want some more."
Carving Up The Diet
As we got more, our guts shrank because we didn't need a giant vegetable processor any more. Our bodies could spend more energy on other things like building a bigger brain. Sorry, vegetarians, but eating meat apparently made our ancestors smarter — smart enough to make better tools, which in turn led to other changes, says Aiello.
"If you look in your dog's mouth and cat's mouth, and open up your own mouth, our teeth are quite different," she says. "What allows us to do what a cat or dog can do are tools."
Tools meant we didn't need big sharp teeth like other predators. Tools even made vegetable matter easier to deal with. As anthropologist Shara Bailey at New York University says, they were like "external" teeth.
"Your teeth are really for processing food, of course, but if you do all the food processing out here," she says, gesturing with her hands, "if you are grinding things, then there is less pressure for your teeth to pick up the slack."
Our teeth, jaws and mouth changed as well as our gut.
A Tough Bite To Swallow
But adding raw meat to our diet doesn't tell the whole food story, according to anthropologist Richard Wrangham. Wrangham invited me to his apartment at Harvard University to explain what he believes is the real secret to being human. All I had to do was bring the groceries, which meant a steak — which I thought could fill in for wildebeest or antelope — and a turnip, a mango, some peanuts and potatoes.
As we slice up the turnip and put the potatoes in a pot, Wrangham explains that even after we started eating meat, raw food just didn't pack the energy to build the big-brained, small-toothed modern human. He cites research that showed that people on a raw food diet, including meat and oil, lost a lot of weight. Many said they felt better, but also experienced chronic energy deficiency. And half the women in the experiment stopped menstruating.
It's not as if raw food isn't nutritious; it's just harder for the body to get at the nutrition.
Wrangham urges me to try some raw turnip. Not too bad, but hardly enough to get the juices flowing. "They've got a tremendous amount of caloric energy in them," he says. "The problem is that it's in the form of starch, which unless you cook it, does not give you very much."
Then there's all the chewing that raw food requires. Chimps, for example, sometimes chew for six hours a day. That actually consumes a lot of energy.
"Plato said if we were regular animals, you know, we wouldn't have time to write poetry," Wrangham jokes. "You know, he was right."
Tartare No More
One solution might have been to pound food, especially meat — like the steak I brought. "If our ancestors had used stones to mash the meat like this," Wrangham says as he demonstrates with a wooden mallet, "then it would have reduced the difficulty they would have had in digesting it."
But pounding isn't as good as cooking that steak, says Wrangham. And cooking is what he thinks really changed our modern body. Someone discovered fire — no one knows exactly when — and then someone got around to putting steak and veggies on the barbeque. And people said, "Hey, let's do that again."
Besides better taste, cooked food had other benefits — cooking killed some pathogens on food.
But cooking also altered the meat itself. It breaks up the long protein chains, and that makes them easier for stomach enzymes to digest. "The second thing is very clear," Wrangham adds, "and that is the muscle, which is made of protein, is wrapped up like a sausage in a skin, and the skin is collagen, connective tissue. And that collagen is very hard to digest. But if you heat it, it turns to jelly."
As for starchy foods like turnips, cooking gelatinizes the tough starch granules and makes them easier to digest too. Even just softening food — which cooking does — makes it more digestible. In the end, you get more energy out of the food.
Yes, cooking can damage some good things in raw food, like vitamins. But Wrangham argues that what's gained by cooking far outweighs the losses.
As I cut into my steak (Wrangham is a vegetarian; he settles for the mango and potatoes), Wrangham explains that cooking also led to some of the finer elements of human behavior: it encourages people to share labor; it brings families and communities together at the end of the day and encourages conversation and story-telling — all very human activities.
"Ultimately, of course, what makes us intellectually human is our brain," he says. "And I think that comes from having the highest quality of food in the animal kingdom, and that's because we cook."
So, as the Neanderthals liked to say around the campfire: bon appetit.
Just going to the gym 4 days a week, avoiding Coke, eating salads but not starving of good food.
well basically my health and wellbeing routine involves the following..
Green tea...2 cups before breakfast...eat a breakfast of eggs, toast, or pehaps oats porridge.
after my breakfast i take a multi vitamin, followed by a vit C,A, and E supplement...
i dont eat a LOT of meat...and only white, i;e chicken ,fish..so lunch would be either chicken or tuna fish sandwhich, and maybe a bag a chips...
i folow lunch with another 2-3 cups of green tea, and lots of water or juice...
i have the odd few beers too..but my prefered alcohol of choice is red wine..
i dont smoke cigarrettes, BUT, i do smoke weed pretty much daily..so thats pretty unhealthy.
but im generally quite set on maintaining an "anti-aging" approach to life..
Quote from: alvarezbassist17 on Jun 11, 2010, 07:34 PM
The key to weight (fat) loss is gaining weight in muscle, specifically your larger muscles such as your legs, glutes, abs and back so both while they're healing and while they're just sitting there, they burn calories as opposed to store them like fat cells.
yeah this is true...for the past 6 months ive been working out my legs and i find as my legs grow stronger and fitter..my waistline has less of a tendancy to expand...even with the beer binge-ing :)
Here's what I try to embrace:
-don't drink your calories; drink water
-lean proteins (good to eat a substantial amount of protein within an hour or two of working out to build muscles)
-whole grains
-organic foods
-lots of fruits and veggies (if you can't buy all organic, at least buy organic for the "dirty dozen"
-avoid processed, pre-packaged foods, corn-syrup, preservatives, sugar, white carbs
-extremely rarely eat out
-milk: raw cows milk from grass fed cows is best, but lately I just get the best quality organic milk my store carries. I haven't been able to give it up altogether though. It does strike me as odd that humans drink bovine milk that's meant for calves and the poor things are taken away from their mothers and bottle fed so they can make more milk for humans.
I try to buy all organic: if my grocery store offers it in organic, I'll get that. If they don't have organic, I'll get the best quality option.
here's where I stray:
-been drinkin' a 6-pack of woodchuck each week now that I've weaned my 2-year old
-I have 1-2 small iced-coffees each week
-occasionally bake choc chip cookies
-sometimes I have a donut w/ my coffee= BAD!!!
Exercise:
-I like to go hiking with my dog and my daughter--there's LOTS of beautiful trails around here
-just picking up my 36-lb 2 year old all day long, my arms and legs are toned like they never were before, and I was never mushy to begin w/
-if the weather's not good for getting out, I'll play Just Dance on the Wii. I do have Wii fit, but it SUCKS and is not challenging at all
-if I could afford it I'd go back to the local personal trainer my mom got me gift certificates for a year ago--that was awesome!
Health:
-I try to stay away from man-made chemicals
-I make sure the vitamins I do take are organic
-Vitamin D3 + probiotics will keep you healthy, hubby used to have a bad stomach and I encouraged him to take probiotics and now his stomach is much stronger. Take about 15,000 iu of D3 (or go outside in the mid-day sun for 20 minutes) and take up to 3 probiotics (acidophilus, etc) daily
-Oregano Oil--helps keep you healthy--known for curing sinus infections
-Neti-pot works wonders, but I'm pretty lazy at using it frequently
-Buddhist mediation works wonders.
-sometimes have donuts and other bad food
That's just me. I'm a member of the Holistic Mom's Network, so I get a lot of great tips there!!
Oh and I also use organic house cleaners and toiletries. Cheapest most effective cleaner is 50% distilled white vinegar 50% water in a spray bottle. I use it to clean everything in the house.
Quote from: charissa on Sep 03, 2010, 04:20 AM
-don't drink your calories; drink water
-whole grains
switching to whole grains was crucial for me. I used to eat so much cheap pasta, now it's all whole grain (as well as not eating half a pound during dinner).
I still have the occasional beer and hard drink, but absolutely no more energy drinks or soda anymore.
drinking water ONLY rocks.
I think I'm going to quit smoking while I am in Turkey. it seems like a good chance, because I won't have any spare money to buy cigarettes, lol!
Cigarettes are pretty cheap in Turkey, though. I definitely wouldn't stop smoking while being there. With weed it's a different story, because it'll be hard to get anyways.
Quote from: black coffee on Sep 03, 2010, 11:15 AM
Cigarettes are pretty cheap in Turkey, though. I definitely wouldn't stop smoking while being there. With weed it's a different story, because it'll be hard to get anyways.
yeah, so I've heard that getting weed is difficult there, BUT, getting weed is very difficult to get where I am at now too, so I think I'll survive.
cheap cigarettes you say.. still, my finances will be limited.
Obviously it depends on how much you usually smoke, how much money you're used to etc., but in comparison to prices where I live, it's freakin cheap there. Food, drinks, cigarettes. it's great.
btw anyone else working on a sixpack? It's still a way till I am 100% rhere, but it looks pretty good already. If I wouldn't drink so much alcohol like in the past few months, visible improvements would be MUCH better though. But it's ok like this.
I remember the days I had the sixpack.. an eight pack actually :P
now it's just a flat stomach. still looks good though.. I'm happy with my metabolism completely.
shut up
basil tea. put a few basil leaves in a cup and pour hot water in. it's nice. good for fatigue, insomnia, and period pain. it doesn't taste bad either.
I have been doing weights and running now for over 4 months, about 3 runs a week 3 miles each time and half hour weights 3 times a week.
I started off being able to run/walk 2 miles and lift half of what im on now. I have lost the belly almost completely and have some pretty sweet definition.
I still dread working out but i guess its payback for treating my body like a 24/7 shithouse for 3 years.
wow, that's great! you've inspired me to try to start running! :)
quit smoking two months ago.
started smoking again today.. well, bought a pack. gonna continue I guess..
Quote from: charissa on Nov 23, 2010, 03:45 PM
wow, that's great! you've inspired me to try to start running! :)
Cool
If you have an i-phone i recommend downloading an app called nike + it really helps you to keep tabs on what youve done and it sets you challenges and shows you routes other people run in your area. It's probably available on other phones, i havent looked into it though
Quote from: wheresmysnare on Nov 23, 2010, 05:15 PM
Quote from: charissa on Nov 23, 2010, 03:45 PM
wow, that's great! you've inspired me to try to start running! :)
Cool
If you have an i-phone i recommend downloading an app called nike + it really helps you to keep tabs on what youve done and it sets you challenges and shows you routes other people run in your area. It's probably available on other phones, i havent looked into it though
Thanks! My friend uses that app and posts the results to a tumblr blog. I'm due for a phone upgrade in April & plan to get a droid or quite possibly the iPhone if it's available to Verizon by then...I bet they have a similar app for droid if it doesn't. sounds fun! :)