Moving to a plant based diet ... transition phase!

[TheHaitian]

Ok I figure if I am going to do this, might as well go all in. Already spent a small fortune setting up my own gym now in the basement; time to take care of the most important part : the diet.

After debating (because I love meat) and doing some research, I decided to give plant based diet a go for the health benefits. I sadly inherited by sucky biological father genes and trying to avoid a few things: my paternal grandmother had a stroke in her 70’s and was in bed paralyzed for a decade before she passed. My biological father had his own stroke last year at 65 going on 66, he has made somewhat of a full recovery. But still have high blood pressure, cannot get his diabetes under control, having eyesight issues and may need surgery, takes more pills a day than I care to remember.

So there is some motivation behind it and at 35 I figure I still have some time on my side to help change the course. I am Haitian so we already have a lot of meals that are plant based that I plan to re-introduce into my diet more consistently, but figure I could get some ideas from the folks here about what they have tried or like, thing so can give a shot too.

Also I just spent over $150 on meat at Costco 3 days ago!

[Happy prose]

I'm not vegetarian, but I only eat meat maybe once a month. I eat a lot of bean dishes for protein, and also dairy, like greek yogurt, cottage cheese...

lentils are a great substitute for ground beef. They make great tacos! I also make burritos with black beans, corn, etc. you just have to season them right. A lot of dishes I season/cook with a little Rotel tomatoes. 

And homemade pizza is meatless! Good luck, you won't be sorry. I'm 60, on no medication, and my bloodwork is always excellent.

[andi9899]

There are so many plant based "meat" options out there that I'm pretty confident that you'll do well. Be sure to track your progress. Set small goals. It makes you feel good when you hit those milestones. Good luck!

[Deleted]

If you need motivation to wean yourself away from the temptation of being a meat eater, check out an eye-opener "Forks Over Knives." It's on Netflix and probably Amazon. 

It didn't cure me completely but certainly made me more mindful about what goes on my plate and in my stomach!

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

So, no eggs either? No fish? No cow milk?

I've significantly reduced my red meat intake, but I don't think I'd ever have the will power to go fully plant-based. 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Also, are your wife, daughter, and MIL joining this journey? Because if they're not, then they'd eat the meat that you just bought, right?

[TheOtherMe]

I don't eat fish or cow's milk.  I drink almond milk.  It's lactose free, which I need.

I eat mostly a plant based diet.  I didn't transition.  I just did it.

[CCL]

We try to eat less meat. Don't want to eliminate it completely. I'm not willing to give up dairy, either, but am getting used to lower-fat versions. I'm trying to gradually transition to a healthier diet. I feel like that's the best way for me to maintain it long-term.

We are also trying to increase our activity on a regular basis. We usually walk a couple miles and ride our bikes every day, weather permitting.

Good luck and keep us updated!

[Happy prose]

I'm not sure TheHaitian wanted to become vegan. I'm guessing just give up meat. Guessing.

[Deleted]

I didn’t eat meat a lot before but became a full on pescatarian earlier this year. I do feel a whole lot better but I don’t know how much is attributable to the entire diet change or nixing meat.

[TheHaitian]

Aug 16, 2020 10:29:55 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

So, no eggs either? No fish? No cow milk?

I've significantly reduced my red meat intake, but I don't think I'd ever have the will power to go fully plant-based. 

Yes, yes and yes... full on plant based diet.
My wife currently doesn’t eat meat, just shrimp and salmon.

In transition currently, I would say I am 70-75% in, given myself till the end of September to be 100% on it.

[TheHaitian]

Aug 16, 2020 10:30:50 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Also, are your wife, daughter, and MIL joining this journey? Because if they're not, then they'd eat the meat that you just bought, right?

Yes plus my brother will be back next week; he can definitely eat it.

Last time I did give up meat my mother in law somewhat gave it up too because it was not worth her cooking meat for just her and my daughter... but now my brother also lives within us.

[TheHaitian]

Aug 16, 2020 10:42:16 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I don't eat fish or cow's milk.  I drink almond milk.  It's lactose free, which I need.

I eat mostly a plant based diet.  I didn't transition.  I just did it.

You went cold turkey?

Bravo! How are you liking it so far?

[Happy prose]

TheHaitian Going vegan is hard! I'm all for vegetarian, but no way could I give up dairy. Cheese, ice cream, etc are some of my favorites. 

[andi9899]

You can buy vegan cheese and dairy free ice cream. You don't have to give up what you like to eliminate things from your diet.

[andi9899]

Dammit! Now I want ice cream!

[TheOtherMe]

Aug 16, 2020 12:52:30 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

Aug 16, 2020 10:42:16 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I don't eat fish or cow's milk.  I drink almond milk.  It's lactose free, which I need.

I eat mostly a plant based diet.  I didn't transition.  I just did it.

You went cold turkey?

Bravo! How are you liking it so far?

I have been eating this way since 2002.  It's no longer hard.  You can do it.

I am not vegan.  I am vegetarian.

[CCL]

Aug 16, 2020 13:29:06 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

You can buy vegan cheese and dairy free ice cream. You don't have to give up what you like to eliminate things from your diet.

I don't think I could do "fake" dairy.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Aug 16, 2020 14:08:35 GMT -5 CCL said:

Aug 16, 2020 13:29:06 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

You can buy vegan cheese and dairy free ice cream. You don't have to give up what you like to eliminate things from your diet.

I don't think I could do "fake" dairy.

There are some that are pretty good. We got a long time customers who brings in her own vegan cheese for her pizza. Dad said it melted beautifully and you wouldn't be able to tell.

I think it was Daiya brand.

[justme]

So since you work out, I've heard it's a lot harder to go vegan because of the amount of protein and other stuff you need. It can be done, just you have to be on top of it to make sure you're getting enough protein and enough of the other vitamins and amino acids because working out and building muscle requires more than just vegans that sit on the couch.

I forget why, but Liam Hemsworth recently had to give up the vegan lifestyle because with all his working out something was going on with his body and doctors were like dude your body is telling you you need to eat some meat. Might be worth searching for that interview so you can watch out in case the same thing happens.

[mary2029]

Whatever you do, keep your family up to date. My ex stated that he wanted to go vegetarian, so I learned to cook vegetarian (like your MIL, too time-consuming to make multiple meals). After a couple weeks, he had deadlines and he was going to work late, so I went to the grocery store and made something for me for dinner and a few days lunches. Unfortunately, he also liked it. No leftovers for me. He had come home, noticed it in the fridge, ate some, left earlier than I did and took the rest with him to work the next day without mentioning it to me. That was the end of being vegetarian in my household.

[Lizard Queen]

Kudos for taking charge of your health. Please don't let perfect be the enemy of the good.😉 Cutting back, even if not cutting out completely, still has benefits.

[Happy prose]

Aug 16, 2020 14:41:19 GMT -5 justme said:

So since you work out, I've heard it's a lot harder to go vegan because of the amount of protein and other stuff you need. It can be done, just you have to be on top of it to make sure you're getting enough protein and enough of the other vitamins and amino acids because working out and building muscle requires more than just vegans that sit on the couch.

I forget why, but Liam Hemsworth recently had to give up the vegan lifestyle because with all his working out something was going on with his body and doctors were like dude your body is telling you you need to eat some meat. Might be worth searching for that interview so you can watch out in case the same thing happens.

He can use pea protein.

[thyme4change]

Aug 16, 2020 8:41:53 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

There are so many plant based "meat" options out there that I'm pretty confident that you'll do well. Be sure to track your progress. Set small goals. It makes you feel good when you hit those milestones. Good luck!

Be careful with the meat substitutes if you are giving up meat for health reasons. Some of them are worse for you than meat.

[Ava]

I'm not a believer in drastic changes.
It's very difficult to do it as an adult. 
People can make sacrifices for a while, but end up reverting to what they know and like, that's why diets fail.

Don't be too strict with yourself. Eat healthier than you do now, exercise consistently and you should be fine.

[justme]

Aug 16, 2020 15:47:42 GMT -5 Happy prose said:

Aug 16, 2020 14:41:19 GMT -5 justme said:

So since you work out, I've heard it's a lot harder to go vegan because of the amount of protein and other stuff you need. It can be done, just you have to be on top of it to make sure you're getting enough protein and enough of the other vitamins and amino acids because working out and building muscle requires more than just vegans that sit on the couch.

I forget why, but Liam Hemsworth recently had to give up the vegan lifestyle because with all his working out something was going on with his body and doctors were like dude your body is telling you you need to eat some meat. Might be worth searching for that interview so you can watch out in case the same thing happens.

He can use pea protein.

I mean, if it's healthy enough to do that, sure. I just don't know any vegans that work out seriously to know one way or the other as they need only a regular amount of protein. Just stumbled across Hemsworth having to no longer be vegan (cuz I like me some Hemsworths) because his body couldn't handle the amount of plant based protein needed to keep up with his workout. He was vegan for several years so you'd think he'd look at other options before stopping 🤷🏻‍♀️ but it happened around the time his marriage to a vegan fell apart so maybe vegan wasn't as important to him.

Just figured it's something to keep on eye on since Carl likes working out.

www.menshealth.com.au/liam-hemsworth-quit-vegan-diet

[stillmovingforward]

Aug 16, 2020 16:43:12 GMT -5 Ava said:

I'm not a believer in drastic changes.
It's very difficult to do it as an adult. 
People can make sacrifices for a while, but end up reverting to what they know and like, that's why diets fail.

Don't be too strict with yourself. Eat healthier than you do now, exercise consistently and you should be fine.

I'm the opposite. I have to wholesale make the change and grind it out. Just switch. Then I'm good. The 'ease into it' school has never worked for me in anything.

[wvugurl26]

I think Will Smith's son was forced to give up the vegan diet for health reasons as well. It seems like it becomes more important to make sure you are eating well when you eliminate sources of nutrients. Good luck on the switch.

[Lizard Queen]

My DH is back in muscle building mode, and makes sure to get extra protein. I'm not sure exactly how much each day, but he could tell you. He supplements with the premier protein shakes. I think the Kashi crunch has protein too.

[andi9899]

Aug 16, 2020 16:37:30 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Aug 16, 2020 8:41:53 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

There are so many plant based "meat" options out there that I'm pretty confident that you'll do well. Be sure to track your progress. Set small goals. It makes you feel good when you hit those milestones. Good luck!

Be careful with the meat substitutes if you are giving up meat for health reasons. Some of them are worse for you than meat.

I mean, you should be reading labels on things. I feel like this should be common knowledge whether you're going to be on a specific diet or not.