A thank you to all the vegetarians out there!

N

NekkoCat

Cathlete
I don't post very often, but I do check the forums daily. I was intrigued by some of the threads concerning vegetarian topics, especially ones about the "Eat to Live" book.

Well, I read the book and it made a lot of sense to me. I have been trying to adopt the eating plan for about 3 weeks now, and I have to admit that I am loving it:D ! I did Atkins for almost 2 years (lost 70 pounds), but I had hit a major plateau for several months. I knew that it wasn't the execise (thank you, Cathe!), so it had to be the diet. I have dropped 10 pounds since starting eating almost all vegetable products. I haven't committed to being a vegan--yet, although I am working on it.

I just wanted to thank all of the vegetarians out there for sharing your thoughts on your diet :) . It really has helped me out!
 
Hi Linda! Congrats on the healthy lifestyle choice...:)...Eat to Live convinced me too after 5 years on the Zone. 10 pounds so far is awesome!!!! It'll be a year for me next month and I feel great. I agree ...many vegetarians here have been a great help to me also...:)...Carole
 
Thanks, Carole!

I found your journey to be very helpful in my decision to follow the Eat to Live program. Since you came from a carb restricted diet as I did, it gave me more incentive to try it. What has amazed me so far is that I really don't miss meat at all:eek: ! I still have a few dairy cravings, but they seem to be decreasing, also.

Do you eat 3 times a day as the plan suggests or more often? I was eating 5-6 times a day, but I seem to do better with bigger meals less frequently.
 
I wanted to ask you the same too, Carole. I know you personally have 3 meals & 2 snacks but the book sorta stressed 3 meals & no snacking. What's your take on that?

Other than that, I do enjoy this lifestyle change, which includes a splurge meal on weekends.

Marla:9
 
I'm not totally giving up meat, but I've read Eat To Live and have been in general adding in more raw veggies and substituting meat with beans a few times a week.
 
Thanks back Linda...:)...I will say in all honesty I have not missed meat at all and I had been a huge turkey and chicken eater! For dairy, check out the veggie cheeses, some are very good. Being Vegan though does restrict me from the veggie cheeses. I have found 2 Vegan cheeses I like though (my DH is a huge cheese eater) one is Veganrella and the other is Follow Your Heart Vegan Cheese. I also had no problems converting to soy milk. I always eat my 3 meals. I do snack with fruit, nuts and sometimes Genisoy protein bars. If the 3 bigger meals work for you, then by all means stick to it. You will find out what works for you.

Marla...I really think the no snacking is very important for the first 6 weeks. Just for me it got rid of the cravings...:)

Stacy...I think that adding veggies and beans to your diet while cutting out a bit of meat is very heatlhy!...:)...Carole
 
Stacy, I just ate a large salad with red beans & a little ranch salad dressing. Well, I dropped a bean to the floor by mistake. I was stunned to see my very large, carnivorous, black cat come up & eat it. He will steal chicken remnants out of the garbage, he eats fresh tuna, & hunts squirrels & field mice throughout his day. My point is, there is hope for you yet.:) :p :+

Marla
 
I am not sure why he recommends eating only 3 times a day. It may be that he believes that eating more often speeds up the metabolism and aging process. Funny, as a dieter, I have always been encouraged to speed up my metabolism, not slow it down! Maybe it is for craving reduction--I could not figure out why he stressed that point.

Carole--Did you ever get the "Uncheese Cookbook"? I thought you said you were going to buy it. If so, do you like it? I'm not sure if vegan cheeses and recipes like that are less "clean". Some of the recipes I saw have yeast, and I am not sure if I want to reincorporate that into my diet. I have been trying to stick more to beans, tofu, etc.

Marla--I know what you mean about your kitty. I have one that steals cantaloupe:eek: ! Go figure!
 
Linda...no, I don't have the Uncheeese Cookbook, I think Gina was going to get that from the cheese thread awhile back. I used to love cheese but don't have it much anymore except for on Pizza. My DH loves it though. One of my absolute favorite cookbooks has been "The Vegan Planet" The black bean chili with cilantro pesto I made the other night!!! To die for...:)...I stick to tofu, tempeh and beans also. I have tried seitan once (wheat protein) but haven't found alot of recipes for it.

Marla...my DH and I have decided if and when we get some more puppies, they will probably be more vegetarian. My lab cross right now had always like veggies...:)...Carole
 
I stick to tofu, tempeh and beans also. I have
>tried seitan once (wheat protein) but haven't found alot of
>recipes for it.

Carole, I find that anything that uses sliced beef works well for seitan. For a quick meal, I slice up some seitan and stir fry it (I use mirin or cooking sherry with a bit of oil in for my stir "fries") with some veggies (like those frozen veggie mixes that you just have to add beef to). I sometimes add some tofu as well. Seitan also works well in bourgignon recipes. I like to sauté onions and red peppers and add seitan (I suppose you could put this in a wrap and it would be something!)

I like seitan, but prefer tofu and tempeh because they are more "whole".
 
Thanks Kathryn!...I will have to get some more seitan and try your recipes. Lately I have preferred Tempeh myself and I do have alot of recipes for it. I have been trying out the new chipotle chiles in some recipes....WOW....very hot but very good...:)...Carole
 
Here's a little progres....I had a "burger" for dinner tonight.....Boca burger on a whole wheat low carb bagel with pickles and tomato!
 
Black bean chili with cilantro pesto...chipotle chilies in adobe sauce...you are making me hungry! Thanks for the buying tip for "The Vegan Planet". I had just ordered 3 other vegan books the other day, so I may have to wait a little to order that one.
 
I think any vegan cookbook will be very helpful to you as the Eat to Live recipes wear off...:)...I still make the Veggie chili though. I have a collection of vegan/vegetarian cookbooks myself and when I got the Vegan Planet my Dh did say I had too many cookbooks!!! What do they know?...x( :7 :+ ...Carole

ps...I have been told you can see the Vegan Planet at any library...:)
 
I've been vetegarian for about 6 months now, ever since I read Eat to Live. I would also suggest the Moosewood series of cookbooks. I have three of them and love them. The Moosewood Restaurant is actually in a nearby town, and it is awesome.

I'll have to look into The Vegan Planet.

Margaret
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top