Trying Vegetarianism for a week or so

[bassbully]

I am semi on this path. I started a month ago on a high protein low carb diet with all the proteins being lean with no red meat. I use some fish, eggs, chicken and tuna.

I am using allot of greens mostly raw and juice also . Sometimes my main meals are all vegies and I eat allot of fruit also. Along with powerwalking trails in area parks 4-5 x a week I am losing weight and feeling great. I plan on adding more of a vegetarian lifestlyle here on out and will use it more and more as I reach my goals.

 

[MJ5150]

Way to go bassbully.....keep it up.

-Mike

 

[Frank Tuesday]

Anybody else regularly eating vegetarian? If so, got any good recipes that are pretty simple and don't take too much time?

Peace,
Greg

One of my favorites is Uova in Purgatorio (Eggs in Hell).

Peeled whole San Marzano tomatoes
Eggs
Olive Oil
garlic (chopped)
onion (chopped)
basil
chili flakes

heat oil,
sweat garlic and onion
crush tomatoes and add to skillet
add chili flakes to taste
reduce
make small pockets in the sauce and add eggs
cook until eggs are as you like them (creamy whites and runny yolks for me)
Top with fresh cut basil.

There are other ways to do it, such as baking the eggs in ramekins with sauce.

 

[Relic]

Man, I would love to try this but I just can't do it. I don't know why... I've tried it for a week or two at times, but I just felt absolutely awful; weak, shaky, sick.. maybe it's a blood sugar thing? I dunno. But my wife's a vegetarian and I've tried to eat the same - tofu, veggies, lots of ethnic Asian and Indian cuisine, but after a few days, I started to feel terrible. Is that normal??

 

[hdracer]

This topic came up at the right time for me. Maybe some of you can help.

I am about 2 weeks in. I have been eating a lot of veggies and some fruit along with soy milk and eggs with some cheese.

It seems I am always hungry but I feel bloated.
My energy level is way down too. I just can not get going and I am tired all day. I got 7 1/2 hours sleep last night and I feel I could climb back in bed now and sleep until noon.
I have lived on 6-7 hours sleep all my adult life.

Is this normal for someone my age (55) when making a change like this?

 

[bassfran]

This topic came up at the right time for me. Maybe some of you can help.

I am about 2 weeks in. I have been eating a lot of veggies and some fruit along with soy milk and eggs with some cheese.

It seems I am always hungry but I feel bloated.
My energy level is way down too. I just can not get going and I am tired all day. I got 7 1/2 hours sleep last night and I feel I could climb back in bed now and sleep until noon.
I have lived on 6-7 hours sleep all my adult life.

Is this normal for someone my age (55) when making a change like this?

I'm no doctor, so the 'grain of salt' theory applies here.

What kind of (if at all) exercise are you getting? You'll absorb vitamins and minerals better if you regularly pump oxygen into the blood. Especially this time of year I like to cut down on sugar and heavy meals and run the 'machine' at better efficiency.

I transitioned into replacing meat with fish (read up a bit, it's not all great for you) 1st for a number of years and still eat dairy. I truly don't know how vegans survive, especially if you're on the road. Ever have a salad in a truck stop? Iceberg lettuce and a cherry tomato or two is hardly going to cut it.

A lot of folks take supplements too but you can build tolerances to them and they can become less effective.
I hope this helps.

 

[MatticusMania]

I disagree vegan is not easy. You realize how much stuff has egg/milk/flesh

I agree with you chuck. Going vegan isnt easy, one would be surprised how many products have some sort of animal byproduct in them. Most vegans I know are very strict about it and have to read and understand every ingredient in something before they eat it.

I eat NO meats at all, but do have eggs and dairy.

Same here. Its beeen 3-1/2 years.

my wife's a vegetarian and I've tried to eat the same - tofu, veggies, lots of ethnic Asian and Indian cuisine, but after a few days, I started to feel terrible. Is that normal??

I dont think so. When I made the switch it was relatively easy, and I didnt feel any negative effects. Within a few weeks I was already feeling healthier.

 

[Kaa]

If he's going vegan then he definitely needs to keep an eye on the protein. Your diet is technically lacto-ovo vegetarian which makes watching the protein much less of an issue as compared to a strict vegan diet since the dairy products you consume contain complete proteins.

I'm wanting to move to a pescatarian diet. I don't know when I'll finally decide to do it, but that's the plan.

He didn't mention vegan, so I assumed he was going at least lacto-ovo.

 

[bassbully]

This topic came up at the right time for me. Maybe some of you can help.

I am about 2 weeks in. I have been eating a lot of veggies and some fruit along with soy milk and eggs with some cheese.

It seems I am always hungry but I feel bloated.
My energy level is way down too. I just can not get going and I am tired all day. I got 7 1/2 hours sleep last night and I feel I could climb back in bed now and sleep until noon.
I have lived on 6-7 hours sleep all my adult life.

Is this normal for someone my age (55) when making a change like this?

Well I'm feeling great but like I say it take me to have protein in some form. If I do only vegies I feel weak and bloated sometimes myself. I need some form of Protein to make it even if its dairy, Cottage cheese, yogurt or Protein drinks. Allot of times I eat a huge salad with allot of vegies and some tuna with it or cottage cheese and other dinner meal will be raw vegies with a chicken breast or a couple of pieces of fish.
I am doing no breads, rice, pasta of any kind at this time along with no fried or processed foods.

Powerwalking 4-5 days a week on a parcours trails is really working me and helping keep me burning calories so I'm not weak. I know this is not the vegetarian way but adding some of the lifestyle has improved my health, cut weight and will only make me feel better overall. BTW I'm 50.

 

[Kaa]

This topic came up at the right time for me. Maybe some of you can help.

I am about 2 weeks in. I have been eating a lot of veggies and some fruit along with soy milk and eggs with some cheese.

It seems I am always hungry but I feel bloated.
My energy level is way down too. I just can not get going and I am tired all day. I got 7 1/2 hours sleep last night and I feel I could climb back in bed now and sleep until noon.
I have lived on 6-7 hours sleep all my adult life.

Is this normal for someone my age (55) when making a change like this?

I can only give personal experience. I did not have any of those symptoms when I made the switch.

For the feelings of hunger and bloat, are you eating the 3 meals a day or more graazing throughout the day? Try to eat 5-6 smaller meals throughout the day, it might help.

As to the bloating, well, to be indiscreet, it may be gas. Veggies, especially cruciferous ones, will bring on the thunder, if you know what I mean.

How's the fluid intake been?

 

[Kaa]

Well I'm feeling great but like I say it take me to have protein in some form. If I do only vegies I feel weak and bloated sometimes myself. I need some form of Protein to make it even if its dairy, Cottage cheese, yogurt or Protein drinks. allot of times i eat a huge sald with allot of vegies and some tuna with it or cottage cheese and other dinner meal will be raw vegies with a chicken breast or a couiple of pieces of fish. i am doing no breads ,rice,pasta of any kind at this time along with no fried or processed foods.
Powerwalking 4-5 days a week on parcours trails is really working me and helping keep me burning calories so I'm not weak. I know this is not the vegetarian way but adding some of the lifestyle has improved my health,cut weight and will only make me feel better overall.

Technically, since you are eating meat, you are correct in your estimation it's not a vegetarian diet, LOL

That said, you sound like you've hit on a plan that works for you, to get where you want to be. Great job!

Now, just start substituting a little more non-meat protiens for the meat, and you'll be even better!

 

[MJ5150]

I don't remember any adverse affects when we stopped eating meat in our house. I do remember feeling better after just a few days. I don't know if "cleaner" is the right word to use, but I didn't feel as bloated or tired as I used to. It felt like quite the miraculous turnaround. It's not that I think meat is bad, but maybe more how it gets to the table. I think the organic and healthier methods for raising farm animals is contributing to healthier meat choices for people, but I won't go back.

-Mike

 

[bassbully]

Technically, since you are eating meat, you are correct in your estimation it's not a vegetarian diet, LOL

That said, you sound like you've hit on a plan that works for you, to get where you want to be. Great job!

Now, just start substituting a little more non-meat protiens for the meat, and you'll be even better!

I highly doubt I will ever stop eating meat altogether. First, I love it second I need it. I know my body and on vegies alone I feel bad. I used to powerlift, weightlift heavy in my late 30's early 40's till I had injuries some from lifting another from a job accident. In that time I had to use protien to build and maintain muscle I could not get enough from vegies alone. I was in the best shape of my life until injuries came. My addiction is fats and fast food. I have to focus on my addiction to it and it is an addiction just like smoking, drugs etc.
IMO fast food is like a 24hour crack store with slow side effects and a trip to bad health and early death. That dollar menu at the fast food places is the devil and temps people for a quick bad meal, cheaper to buy there than to make at home and loaded with garbage and fat.
If i focus on replacing half of my meals or more to vegies its a win without going all the way...thats my view.

Today my goal is to add as much of the vegetarian concept as possible since my goal is good health not just building muscle. If the largest part of my diet is green? It's good! But meat will never go away I'm not that interested or dedicated to living only like that I'm afraid.

 

[kanonfodr]

Appreciate all the support and suggestions, definitely looking into a few of those since I will be going grocery shopping today.

Had my first test of willpower today: Some coworkers were getting together at a local hamburger joint as an informal luncheon for one of our own who is moving on to bigger and better things. While showing the support is important, not starving is more important and I wanted to keep it on so I had to decline, but now I owe him a treat to the same place after next Wednesday.

I highly doubt I will be able to go full vegetarian forever, especially not when I visit my family. But if I can manage a week straight I will see about incorporating vegetarianism as a primary diet plan.

Alright, I'm off to search down some recipes and create a shopping list. And then gotta see how much of everything I can find.

Peace,
Greg

 

[MAJOR METAL]

Cool, all the best with it! Apples, Grapes, Cantaloupe and Plums were on sale last week, so thats pretty much all I am eating now. Love it!

 

[A-Step-Towards]

Last year during summer break from college, I decide to not eat red met anymore, no pork , no beef, I also dont eat lamb , I dont eat fish or anything from the sea......I just really dont eat any form of animal except I still eat chicken. Mainly for the protein and in college right now its hard to have the time , money or resources to develop a fully meat free diet.....but I am not sure if I will ever stop eatting chicken as its a very lean meat, I have debated raising my own to eat as the meat industry is disgusting.

 

[Lonesomedave]

I highly doubt I will be able to go full vegetarian forever, especially not when I visit my family. But if I can manage a week straight I will see about incorporating vegetarianism as a primary diet plan.

Peace,
Greg

that, i think, is the winner. moderation in all things. primarily vegetarian, but some meat.

seems like a good plan.

 

[Calaverasgrande]

If he's going vegan then he definitely needs to keep an eye on the protein. Your diet is technically lacto-ovo vegetarian which makes watching the protein much less of an issue as compared to a strict vegan diet since the dairy products you consume contain complete proteins.

I'm wanting to move to a pescatarian diet. I don't know when I'll finally decide to do it, but that's the plan.

the protein thing is way overblown. If you eat a variety of foods, and not just junk food, you will get enough protein.
I think a lot of folks think they are "missing" protein when they first experiment with vegetarian diets, because vegetable base meals don't sit in your stomach like a rock the way a hamburger or fried chicken does.
But if you add a buncha tofu or TVP to the veggie meal it gets close to that "overfull" kind of feeling.
I've been veggie for 23 years and the last thing you would think by looking at me is "that guy isnt getting enough protein in his diet".
Oh yeah, and nobody thinks I look 43. Most folks think I am in my early 30's.

 

[UncleFluffy]

This topic came up at the right time for me. Maybe some of you can help.

I am about 2 weeks in. I have been eating a lot of veggies and some fruit along with soy milk and eggs with some cheese.

It seems I am always hungry but I feel bloated.
My energy level is way down too. I just can not get going and I am tired all day. I got 7 1/2 hours sleep last night and I feel I could climb back in bed now and sleep until noon.
I have lived on 6-7 hours sleep all my adult life.

Is this normal for someone my age (55) when making a change like this?

Based on my experience it takes a little while for your system to adjust, but I can't imagine it being a big problem after 2 weeks unless you're missing something or there's something else wrong that your previous diet was compensating for somehow. Can't hurt to get some bloodwork done just in case. Maybe introduce a little chicken / fish 3-4 times a week as a stepping-stone on the way to full veggie?

 

[Kaa]

the protein thing is way overblown. If you eat a variety of foods, and not just junk food, you will get enough protein.
I think a lot of folks think they are "missing" protein when they first experiment with vegetarian diets, because vegetable base meals don't sit in your stomach like a rock the way a hamburger or fried chicken does.
But if you add a buncha tofu or TVP to the veggie meal it gets close to that "overfull" kind of feeling.
I've been veggie for 23 years and the last thing you would think by looking at me is "that guy isnt getting enough protein in his diet".
Oh yeah, and nobody thinks I look 43. Most folks think I am in my early 30's.

Right on. Preach the truth.