My First Month as a Vegetarian

[BarryRX]

When I first moved to TV 2.5 years ago, I lost about 25 pounds due to the increased physical activity and a desire to eat better. But soon, going out to breakfast with the guys, lunch and a beer after golf, and lots of restaurants with friends in the evening began to take its toll. A buddy mentioned to me that he had watched a video called "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead" about a guy that started juicing. I watched the video and was inspired, so I went out and bought a juicer and went on a 3 day juice fast, juicing fruits for breakfast and veggies for lunch and dinner. I liked it so much that I kept it up for 5 days. At the end of 5 days, I switched to juicing for breakfast and lunch, but decided it would be ok to eat anything I wanted for dinner, so I had a cheeseburger for dinner that night. Well, I didn't like how the burger made me feel so I continued juicing for 2 meals and eating vegetarian for dinner. I've been doing this for a month now, and I've lost 12 pounds and feel great. I feel like I'm getting all the protein I require from nuts, beans, and soy. I still take my Centrum Senior multivitamin to ensure I'm getting my B12. I am not sure if this is just another one of my "projects" that I'll embrace enthusiastically for a few months and then move on to something else, but so far I really like it. I've been surprised at how many of my friends have expressed interest in this when I tell them about it. To be honest, just as many friends scoff at the idea. But for those that are interested, I will occasionally post updates of my experiences (both good and bad) with this new lifestyle. And if anyone has any questions, please feel free to pm me. And, if I ever get "preachy" about it, please call me on it and I will tone it down!

[irishamr]

We need a like button.

[bkcunningham1]

When I first moved to TV 2.5 years ago, I lost about 25 pounds due to the increased physical activity and a desire to eat better. But soon, going out to breakfast with the guys, lunch and a beer after golf, and lots of restaurants with friends in the evening began to take its toll. A buddy mentioned to me that he had watched a video called "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead" about a guy that started juicing. I watched the video and was inspired, so I went out and bought a juicer and went on a 3 day juice fast, juicing fruits for breakfast and veggies for lunch and dinner. I liked it so much that I kept it up for 5 days. At the end of 5 days, I switched to juicing for breakfast and lunch, but decided it would be ok to eat anything I wanted for dinner, so I had a cheeseburger for dinner that night. Well, I didn't like how the burger made me feel so I continued juicing for 2 meals and eating vegetarian for dinner. I've been doing this for a month now, and I've lost 12 pounds and feel great. I feel like I'm getting all the protein I require from nuts, beans, and soy. I still take my Centrum Senior multivitamin to ensure I'm getting my B12. I am not sure if this is just another one of my "projects" that I'll embrace enthusiastically for a few months and then move on to something else, but so far I really like it. I've been surprised at how many of my friends have expressed interest in this when I tell them about it. To be honest, just as many friends scoff at the idea. But for those that are interested, I will occasionally post updates of my experiences (both good and bad) with this new lifestyle. And if anyone has any questions, please feel free to pm me. And, if I ever get "preachy" about it, please call me on it and I will tone it down!

Good for you, Barry. I've been curious about the juicers. My stepdaughter and her husband used one and made smoothies. They had very positive results and then stopped for whatever reasons. I am glad you are feeling good and making positive steps. Keep us posted on how you are doing. I'd appreciate some recipes and to know the type of juicer you are using.

[Blessed2BNTV]

Yes keep your updates coming!

[kittygilchrist]

I know Vegans. Their bodies are lean, very lean. They seems to have boundless energy and to be physically capable, but they look a bit skeletal to me. Publix sells a soy product called Liquid Aminos (protein, as anybody named rx would know) that's a bit like soy sauce in taste and is salty.
I'm not sure if it's healthier to be that thin, but personally I prefer a more muscular look, aesthetically speaking.
Some veg combos also give complete aminos, like beans plus corn. Sufferin' succotash, blog us on your progress..

[quirky3]

Thanks so much for sharing! Sounds like a reasonable approach. Please keep us posted!

[jimbo2012]

I feel like I'm getting all the protein I require from nuts, beans, and soy. And, if I ever get "preachy" about it, please call me on it and I will tone it down!

You are getting all the protein your body can use.

I might thing about a b12 blood check on next regular visit.

If you want to talk just PM me

I know Vegans. Their bodies are lean, very lean. They seems to have boundless energy and to be physically capable, but they look a bit skeletal to me.

Kitty do I look skeletal?

[Abby10]

Congrats, Barry, on your progress! Although I did not go the vegetarian route, I also drastically changed my eating habits about 5 months ago. I now eat protein dishes as my "side dish" and eat much greater quantities of vegetables and fruits. I cut out all sugar and flour. The cravings for those things have since stopped and I really don't even think about it now. I know what you mean about no longer enjoying something that you once loved once you have eliminated it and gone healthier. I had a taste of one of my favorite desserts of all time last week and it just didn't do a thing for me. I never thought that I would be able to do what I did, but IMHO, the best thing to tell others that want to experience what we have, is to suggest that they commit to it for just 2 weeks........i think that may be all it takes for most people to feel the difference in their well-being and want to continue.

Continued success to you and keep sharing as it can be an inspiration to others. :BigApplause:

[casita37]

Thanks for sharing. I'll look forward to your updates.

[jimbo2012]

While I don't disagree that you'll feel a difference in 2 weeks it is really in the 3rd to 4th week that a lot a changes will be felt.

Also if you're on BP meds, check yours after the 3rd week, it usually drops.

Mine went very low, cut meds, after 2 months again after 7 months completely off both BP & cholesterol, that was 4 years ago.

You may need to adjust meds of course in consult with your MD

[B767drvr]

I know Vegans. Their bodies are lean, very lean. They seems to have boundless energy and to be physically capable, but they look a bit skeletal to me.

Hey kitty… for vegan eye-candy, Google "vegan athletes/olympians". I think you'll be pleasantly shocked at how many top athletes are plant-powered. :22yikes:

[Villages PL]

When I first moved to TV 2.5 years ago, I lost about 25 pounds due to the increased physical activity and a desire to eat better. But soon, going out to breakfast with the guys, lunch and a beer after golf, and lots of restaurants with friends in the evening began to take its toll. A buddy mentioned to me that he had watched a video called "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead" about a guy that started juicing. I watched the video and was inspired, so I went out and bought a juicer and went on a 3 day juice fast, juicing fruits for breakfast and veggies for lunch and dinner. I liked it so much that I kept it up for 5 days. At the end of 5 days, I switched to juicing for breakfast and lunch, but decided it would be ok to eat anything I wanted for dinner, so I had a cheeseburger for dinner that night. Well, I didn't like how the burger made me feel so I continued juicing for 2 meals and eating vegetarian for dinner. I've been doing this for a month now, and I've lost 12 pounds and feel great. I feel like I'm getting all the protein I require from nuts, beans, and soy. I still take my Centrum Senior multivitamin to ensure I'm getting my B12. I am not sure if this is just another one of my "projects" that I'll embrace enthusiastically for a few months and then move on to something else, but so far I really like it. I've been surprised at how many of my friends have expressed interest in this when I tell them about it. To be honest, just as many friends scoff at the idea. But for those that are interested, I will occasionally post updates of my experiences (both good and bad) with this new lifestyle. And if anyone has any questions, please feel free to pm me. And, if I ever get "preachy" about it, please call me on it and I will tone it down!

If you compare your previous way of eating to you current way of eating, you might say that you went from bad to good. But I don't think you'll be able to keep up your current regimen of juicing two meals per day. Juicing, as I understand it, removes all the fiber from fresh fruits and vegetables. It's as bad as it gets and reminds me of the processing that gets done commercially.

To be healthy you need 25 to 35 grams of fiber per day. How much are you getting now? 10? And when you remove all the fiber from fruits and vegetables, the sugar content becomes concentrated and you spike your blood sugar - there's no fiber to slow down the absorption. Lack of fiber can cause constipation, hemorrhoids and diverticulitis.

Also, you might wonder what's happening to the good "gut flora" that lives off of fiber.

This is why I don't think your current juicing diet will last much longer. It's extreme and potentially damaging to your health.

Why do so many people like juicing? Most people don't like fresh fruits and vegetables and don't like fiber. Juicing removes the fiber and thereby concentrates the sugar. Basically, it converts healthy food into homemade junk-food.

[shcisamax]

Wow. That was an eye opener.

[BarryRX]

If you compare your previous way of eating to you current way of eating, you might say that you went from bad to good. But I don't think you'll be able to keep up your current regimen of juicing two meals per day. Juicing, as I understand it, removes all the fiber from fresh fruits and vegetables. It's as bad as it gets and reminds me of the processing that gets done commercially.

To be healthy you need 25 to 35 grams of fiber per day. How much are you getting now? 10? And when you remove all the fiber from fruits and vegetables, the sugar content becomes concentrated and you spike your blood sugar - there's no fiber to slow down the absorption. Lack of fiber can cause constipation, hemorrhoids and diverticulitis.

Also, you might wonder what's happening to the good "gut flora" that lives off of fiber.

This is why I don't think your current juicing diet will last much longer. It's extreme and potentially damaging to your health.

Why do so many people like juicing? Most people don't like fresh fruits and vegetables and don't like fiber. Juicing removes the fiber and thereby concentrates the sugar. Basically, it converts healthy food into homemade junk-food.

Thanks for the feedback. I mean for the juicing to be a "cleanse". I have already gone from juicing 3 times a day to twice a day. Since I am so new to this, I really don't have a long range plan yet, but I think one is slowly forming, and that is to stay on a completely plant based diet. I am aware that when I juice I throw away the very important fiber. I was thinking of adding back some of the pulp to the juice, but that seems unappetizing. What I do is have a plant based meal for dinner, which I think is supplying a good amount of fiber, plus my snacks are no longer cookies but are celery stalks and carrots which supplies fiber. I had a brief TOTV discussion with someone who has a vitamix and was going to try smoothies. I said then that in some respects that was superior to juicing because of the fiber. I think what juicing is doing for me is changing my taste perception. I never liked celery, but now I look forward to it. I disliked kale, but now look forward to it also. Again, thanks for the input. I will carefully consider what you said.