Food & Animals

[Monkey]

Light, as for your burger example: I'm not sure you understand meat as well as you think you do. Did you know that protein only gets consumed if the body needs it, for growth/repair and energy? If you eat more protein than the body needs it gets broken down and removed, not stored as fat (unlike excess carbs or fat). Even Weight Watchers have dramatically reduced the number of points in protein-rich foods recently (meaning that you can eat a lot of protein if you want to). Also, don't forget that what you eat fat with will affect how much of it is absorbed into your body (the soluble fibre found in many fruit/vegetables actually reduces fat absorption). Therefore, calorie counting is pretty meaningless in that example.

Fun fact: I took up weightlifting/bodybuilding (non-competitive) a little while back which has got me even more interested in the subject at hand. Note that I don't take any supplements or drink protein shakes (or take drugs); I just eat more regular food. For protein I eat meat, poultry, fish, nuts/seeds, pulses, cheese, eggs, etc. Of course I also eat lots of fruit, veg and carbs and try to avoid processed/junk food as much as possible. Interestingly, there are some vegan weightlifters/bodybuilders about.

I still believe that including animal products in the diet is healthier than not doing so but it is becoming easier (both moneywise and healthwise) to live a vegan lifestyle.

[ConVicT]

Note that I don't take any supplements or drink protein shakes

Why not?

I use this: http://us.myprotein.com/home.dept
I have no desire to look disgustingly big or anything.
This stuff, to me, seems to give me a second wind...
When I'm feeling the burn so much that I can't go on, I take one of these and ten minutes later I can do over my whole sets of reps of every type.

it's good stuff if you don't have a big appetite and only eat 3 meals a day (like I think you should, but my books say different. ***** that part of my books*)

Edit/Additionally: My books tell me to eat for breakfast more than I'd even consider healthy for one day.

[Monkey]

Convict:

I don't take supplements or protein shakes because I'm a strong believer in getting all of the nutrients required from proper food rather than processed/man-made/etc substances that I consider those to be. Nutrition is a complex thing and I don't trust that taking these substances, especially in those forms, is healthy.

I usually eat four meals per day, which I too feel is plenty.

I also don't want to look massive; my goals are to be strong and have a good body.

[sinewav]

Today I had a Vegan Christmas. One of my friends is Vegan and she invited a bunch of us over for brunch. In addition to her delicious vegan cookies and biscuits, she also made a tasty dish with potatoes and avocados. I decided to make three-bean salad, keeping her vegan sensitivities in mind (plus I love beans). A second vegan was also attending the party and would be making some tofu dish. What a douche-bag this guy was. He's the kind of guy who gives vegans a bad name. Every 20 minutes or so I had to hear him say something about his vegan lifestyle. He just wouldn't shut up about how great it was and how everyone should be a vegan.

One of the other guests brought candied bacon, which was a huge hit at the party. This vegan putz had the nerve to complain that the candied bacon was on the same table as the rest of the food because "it was disgusting and making him sick to look at." The other guests stood in disbelief thinking "Really? Are you really acting like this on Christmas? In front of all these people?" But because everyone is super nice we treated this guy like a spoiled child and moved the bacon into the kitchen. I also had to reassure him my three-bean salad didn't have any animal products in it. I was like, "dude, it's just beans, chopped veggies, and balsamic vinaigrette..." What a turd. Of course, every time someone complimented my vegan friend's cooking we had to hear this guy go on about how terrible meat is. He almost ruined Christmas.

Anyway, my friend gave me some vegan cookies to take home and I'm going to eat them right now. Merry Christmas!

[Light]

Glad to hear it was mostly enjoyable for ya sine. I never had the chance to get spoiled as my family is a big mixture of everything to both extremes. While I won't touch it, I can't complain that it's around. I usually don't eat around anyone but my girlfriend so usually everything is able to be eaten but once I leave our home I know it'll be mixed. While there's a time to discuss them issues the middle of Christmas ain't it for me.

Merry Christmas I hope everything went well

[Ratchet]

[ConVicT]

I think it can all be explained through the best song ever!

[Lucifer]

I try to have a 1:2 meat:veggies ratio, with a light starch as a filler. Don't always succeed, but nobody makes better tacos.

No body. No one.

[Clutch]

As an apprentice meatcutter, I believe Light is one of the people that calls me at work to tell me I'm a terrible person.

[sinewav]

As an apprentice meatcutter, I believe Light is one of the people that calls me at work to tell me I'm a terrible person.

Light wouldn't do that. All me vegan friends wouldn't. The vegans who aren't my friend probably would, which is why I'm not friends with them. Besides, you just cut the meat, you don't kill animals!

[ConVicT]

Don't worry, Clutch, I'm constantly on the blower to the Venus' flytrap and telling it it's bang out of order.
It tells me it will try and be vegan .

you don't kill animals!

You saying it's okay to eat/cut/cook/do anything with it, but if you kill it you're wrong?
Did you read anything my friend posted?

[sinewav]

You saying it's okay to eat/cut/cook/do anything with it, but if you kill it you're wrong? Did you read anything my friend posted?

What are you talking about?

[nara]

As an apprentice meatcutter, I believe Light is one of the people that calls me at work to tell me I'm a terrible person.

hahaha (@ people calling you at work)

[ConVicT]

What are you talking about?

I think I was under the impression you were reassuring him that the people calling him up are twits; if anything, they should be calling up the abattoir, not the butchers.
Or were you just being sarcastic? It's hard to tell...

[Light]

As an apprentice meatcutter, I believe Light is one of the people that calls me at work to tell me I'm a terrible person.

Not quite. I don't think a butcher is really any different from a regular meat eater. I also grew up around and still have most of my family being hunters. Something that may be surprising though. Most ethical vegans are quite against putting others down like that. Every group I've been in has been more for acceptance. Of course we don't agree with it, but you won't be getting threats and complaints from us. Butchers aren't exactly a big part of the problem anyways .. You take in the already dead animal and prepare it. The biggest problems (at least from my side) would be that there is so much demand for it and the treatment the animals get during their short lives. I also don't believe in any sort of "humane slaughter" either, but we'll never make an instant jump to the finish line.