"Skinny B*tch"

[Atlas]

I have three concerns in becoming vegan:
1) area I live is not vegan friendly in shopping etc. a lot effort to even find appropriate foods;
2) cycling training- how you get enough proper nutrition to distance ride; and
3) vegans do need to supplement some things not found in plant products, how you do that, or any other cons.

Any opinions, and/or vegan/vegitarian cycle peeps here on TE?

I'm vegan and have been for four years, my boyfriend/partner has been for nearly a decade. This book irritated me a lot. The tone, the idea that being vegan will make you skinny, the recipes full of faux foods and substitutes, the list goes on. There are many better books out there. I won't get into my reasons for veganism because they are lengthy and involve all aspects - animal rights, health, agricultural efficiency, environmentalism, human rights, and the ability to eat the cookie dough without worrying about salmonella

As far as your questions.
1) I live in Iowa. I can't think of anywhere you'd live that might be unsuitable to a vegan diet. There might not be a lot of convenience foods and easy microwaveable meals, but the foundations of a vegan diet are accessible almost everywhere. It just means cooking at home a lot which is something I love. Whole grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits, nuts, all these things can be found at a regular grocery store. Just an idea of a typical week of dinners at our house - vegetable curry, lentil dal, and brown rice; stir fry with tofu; big ol' pot of chili and cornbread; falafel pitas and salad; homemade pizza (with tofu ricotta some nights).

2) I'm relatively new to cycling but my partner in an endurance cyclist, mostly gravel and winter riding. He's done the Arrowhead 135 multiple times, Dirty Kanza 200, Tuscobia 150, and lots of other races. Being vegan just means bringing food with when it's out of state. We don't really eat anything special, he just eats a lot of it. We usually have a nice bunch of clif and luna bars for rides, a few homemade protein bars, he likes cookies and salty snacks when on rides so it's not exactly healthy, but certainly vegan. I like dried fruit and nuts, peanut butter sandwiches, and luna bars.

3) The most important vegan supplement is B12. It's the only one that is only available in meat, simply because the animals end up eating a lot of dirt before they're slaughtered and that's where the B12 is. I'm sure I could work some dirt into my diet but I'd rather take a multi-vitamin with it. All the other vitamins that vegans need, everyone needs, and are accessible in many foods. We do take a vegan multi-vitamin every day and an additional B12 and iron supplement a couple of times a week.

If you have any questions I'd love to try and answer.

[emily_in_nc]

If you have any questions I'd love to try and answer.

Atlas, I'm not a vegan or even a vegetarian, but I do try to eat healthy and "meat-lite" (mostly just fish and chicken, lots of veggies, beans, whole grains, quinoa, and the like), but I just wanted to say that I like your style. Thanks for a great post. Your dinner menus sound yummy. I cooked a vegan chickpea curry tonight my very own self.

[jordanpattern]

I've been vegan for over 8 years and am not a fan of the Skinny ***** franchise. I think the tone it takes is mean-spirited and unhealthy (a major criticism of the book is that the writing style sounds eerily like the "voice" many women who suffer from eating disorders hear in their heads). The book also recommends a lot of processed, expensive, not-that-great-for-you foods, and (probably most annoyingly) sells veganism as a diet that will make you skinny and pretty, which it won't magically do.

That said, I do (obviously) support and recommend veganism! There are some fantastic books on the subject. A great starting point is Isa Chandra Moskowitz's "Veganomicon," which has great big sections on nutrition and how to prepare different kinds of grains, veggies, beans, and things that omnivores might not be used to cooking. The recipes kick *** as well. If you're going for more of a weight loss/healthy eating thing, check out Isa's latest book, "Appetite for Reduction," which is filled with great whole foods recipes that you can adjust for your caloric or other diet needs. I struggle to gain weight, but I cook out of it all the time!

You can also check out Colleen Patrick Goudreau's books, all of which are highly recommended, but lately I've been loving "Color Me Vegan." There's also Brendan Brazier's "Thrive," which is a vegan nutrition book written from the perspective of a serious athlete. The recipes aren't really my thing, but the nutrition info is great, and it's provided a lot of food for thought.

There are a lot of great blogs out there too!

My bottom line is there are a lot of great reasons to be vegan, but Skinny ***** doesn't touch on any of them!

[jordanpattern]

Oh, and I'm sorry, I didn't address any of your questions!

1. When I first went vegan, I lived in Edmonton, Alberta. It wasn't the most vegan-friendly place, and it was frustrating to try to cook out of books that required a lot of specialty ingredients. However, you can eat GREAT using beans, grains, veggies, fruits, and pantry staples. You may have to spend a bit more time in the kitchen than you used to (especially if you're used to eating prepared foods), but once you get used to spending time cooking, I bet you will enjoy it. Look for vegan books with a focus on "whole" ingredients like beans and veggies rather than prepared ingredients like Tofutti cream cheese or mock meats. Also, your freezer is your friend! Make big batches of things like soups and chilis, and freeze them in individual serving sizes. That way, when you're busy or tired, you can just heat and eat, and you'll still be getting healthy, delicious food.

2. Just like with any other kind of diet, you have to make sure you're getting enough calories in when you're training on a vegan diet. For me, when I'm training (which I will admit to being new at), I make a point to always have lots of food available and to bring lots of food to work with me so that I can more or less eat at regular intervals throughout the day. I also add a lot of protein to my diet, which generally means I'll make up a batch or two of baked tofu, tempeh, or some kind of seitan to add to foods to up the protein content. I also will eat a LOT of chickpeas. The thing with veganism is that the foods tend to be less calorie dense than many animal-sourced foods, but really all that means is that you have to eat a bit more, volume wise. The quality of the calories and the energy you get from it is the same. It might take you a bit of an adjustment period to get into a routine that works for you, but it's totally do-able.

3. As far as supplements, the biggest thing vegans have trouble with is B12, so if you only supplement one thing, supplement that. Me, I take a multi, a DHA supplement, and a Vitamin D supplement. That may sound like a lot, but it's more of an "insurance policy" than a strict necessity. It's possible to get everything you need from a vegan diet, but that doesn't mean it's a terrible idea to take a supplement or two. I didn't supplement at all for about 5 or 6 years, and I never had any ill effects. The reason I do it now is mostly because I've gotten more nutrition conscious, and it just seems like a good idea. I don't really see it as a "con," either, and definitely not specific to veganism. Many omnivores don't get enough vitamins and minerals in their diets as well.

I hope that is helpful!

[westtexas]

Very interesting reading. I'm certainly an omnivorous person, but I love to learn about other people's reasons for what they do.

My question is - I thought veganism was more about the ethical implications of using animal products (not just meat) than it was about the health implications of being a meat eater (which would be more aligned with vegetarianism). My little cousin was a vegan for a while and she eschewed everything that came from animals - meat products, leather, etc. I am wondering though, does the vegan lifestyle also extend to products we use on a daily basis that use animals for research or testing? I'm only curious because as a veterinarian I get asked all the time how I can possibly "eat my patients" (not the dogs and cats, of course!) and I am exposed to all facets of animal husbandry and welfare, even the lives of animals used in research. Most of the pharmaceutical things we use to treat our various ailments were at least initially tested on animals (and many come back to the veterinary field to treat animals) and I am wondering if veganism also recommends avoiding these types of products in your life? What do you do then if you need to go to the doctor and they prescribe medication? Does veganism extend beyond diet & health or is it really a lifestyle that avoids products of animals and products obtained through the use of animals?

Anyway, may seem random, but I am curious to know.

[Pax]

In defense of the "Skinny B****" franchise, it can work for it's target audience. My 27 year old niece lives in Chicago, works a high powered job, eats like crap, drinks a bit too often (nights out with friends), and generally allows her youth to help maintain her health. She found the "Skinny" book and started making positive changes in her diet and even started exercising. That book spoke a language she understood, and while it is a very flawed work, it gave her the impetus to make some positive changes.

[divingbiker]

I am wondering though, does the vegan lifestyle also extend to products we use on a daily basis that use animals for research or testing? I'm only curious because as a veterinarian I get asked all the time how I can possibly "eat my patients" (not the dogs and cats, of course!) and I am exposed to all facets of animal husbandry and welfare, even the lives of animals used in research. Most of the pharmaceutical things we use to treat our various ailments were at least initially tested on animals (and many come back to the veterinary field to treat animals) and I am wondering if veganism also recommends avoiding these types of products in your life? What do you do then if you need to go to the doctor and they prescribe medication? Does veganism extend beyond diet & health or is it really a lifestyle that avoids products of animals and products obtained through the use of animals?

Anyway, may seem random, but I am curious to know.

Yes.

I've been vegan for 20 years, and I don't claim to speak for anyone but myself. While I went vegan for ethical reasons, it didn't take long to learn about all the other reasons.

We all do the best we can do, whether that's being hardcore, or making concessions to make life a little easier. For example, I always choose cleaning products and toiletries that have no animal products and aren't tested on animals. I'll choose a tablet form of medicine rather than a gelcap.

But I know the prescription medicines I take were likely tested on animals, and I don't worry about it. One of my medicines is made with gelatin, but I take it because it keeps me alive.

I would never buy a leather purse or coat, I wear some leather shoes because I can't fine vegan shoes that fit.

So it's a continuum. We all just do the best that we can do.

[Atlas]

Very interesting reading. I'm certainly an omnivorous person, but I love to learn about other people's reasons for what they do.

My question is - I thought veganism was more about the ethical implications of using animal products (not just meat) than it was about the health implications of being a meat eater (which would be more aligned with vegetarianism). My little cousin was a vegan for a while and she eschewed everything that came from animals - meat products, leather, etc. I am wondering though, does the vegan lifestyle also extend to products we use on a daily basis that use animals for research or testing? I'm only curious because as a veterinarian I get asked all the time how I can possibly "eat my patients" (not the dogs and cats, of course!) and I am exposed to all facets of animal husbandry and welfare, even the lives of animals used in research. Most of the pharmaceutical things we use to treat our various ailments were at least initially tested on animals (and many come back to the veterinary field to treat animals) and I am wondering if veganism also recommends avoiding these types of products in your life? What do you do then if you need to go to the doctor and they prescribe medication? Does veganism extend beyond diet & health or is it really a lifestyle that avoids products of animals and products obtained through the use of animals?

Anyway, may seem random, but I am curious to know.

Veganism is definitely a lifestyle. I agree with Divingbiker that we all just do the best we can. It's impossible to be completely 100% vegan, that's just the way of the world. But every little bit helps. I don't buy non-food items made from animals (clothes, shoes, cycling accessories, etc) and all my supplements are vegan, but if I'm very ill and have to take a prescription I'm going to take what the doctor prescribes, even if it's been tested on animals (which you're right, they almost all are). It's up to the individual how far they want to take it.