How many vegans out there? (Page 2)

I'm a little late to the party, but wanted to say hi.

I've been vegan for about a year and a half.  Before that, I was vegetarian.

I'm a marathoner-turned-triathlete and am currently training for the DC Rock n Roll Marathon in March and my first Ironman in September (HITS Cooperstown full).

I've loved exploring new foods and cooking for non-vegan/vegetarian friends and family.  It's great to see them enjoying something they might not have tried otherwise.  And MAN is the food good!

Looking forward to chatting with other veggie triathletes!

Also, I'd love to know more about the fruitarian diet too.  I don't know if it's something I could sustain, but I heard about it a long time ago and am still very curious.

Hooray!  So glad to know I won't be alone in my vegetarian-going-vegan-while-training world!

I've tried BB's Chocolate Vega protein and couldn't stand the stuff - but my hubby loves it.  So, I'm letting him finish off that tub and am in search of a different type for me.

I'm a huge fan of the Spiru-tein Chocolate.  Just make sure you don't get the one with the whey in it - they make two kinds.

Ever tried a green monster?  They're the best.

Hello there.  Raw vegan here.     Just sayin' hi.  Got a Vitamix and a dehydrator ~~ makes life infinitely simpler.  I do a lot of seeds & nuts for protein.  At first it was a little strange not doing beans & rice, but now it's okay.  The toughest thing of all for me was beer.  But now it's gone, too, and I'm all the better for it.

Training for Great Floridian on October 20, 2012.

Nice to meet everyone. 

~~ kate

Haven't heard of those - I will definitely have to look into it!

Best.thing.EVER.  The idea is that raw spinach has no flavor, so you make a smoothie (whatever you like) and include a cup or two of raw spinach.  It comes out bright green and looks bizarre, but you don't taste the spinach at all and it's great for you.

Check out www.ohsheglows.com.  Everything she makes is amazing.

Thanks for the link, Regina.  Looks really good ... the rawer the better!

~~ kate

Enjoy!  I also made some homemade larabars that came out great.  It's in my blog: http://geonerdette.wordpress.com/2010/08/06/homemade-larabars/

Dates RULE.

I need to make more of these soon.

His website is pretty cool, too.  www.engine2diet.com.  Lots and lots of helpful stuff in the "tools and support" section.  I've moved on to raw vegan, but that's pretty much where we started our most excellent adventure.  Best of luck.

I like Vega's berry flavored powder for my green smoothies.

I felt my best a couple years ago when I went on a raw diet for a few weeks -- asthma and arrhythmia completely gone and I lost weight.  Didn't feel I could sustain it tho and eventually ended up on a slightly healthier version of the standard american diet.  Now that I'm 20# overweight and asthma and arrhythmia are back I'm going to try mostly-raw mostly-vegan (not giving up the occassional fish).  And no wine   I think that will be the hardest!

I've not been to this site for over a year and when i come back there's a vegan thread near the top! Yay!

I too have been been vegan for just over half of my life. I went vegan as a teen (straight from eating meat) back in 1994, and I've not looked back since. I now have two kids and a wife, and we're all vegan. 

I'm mostly a swimmer/water polo player who has success in triathlons. I've managed to stay in the top 5% of US amateurs in Triathlons and make it to the Top Ten in US master swimming a few times over the years. I'm not Rip Essylten from the Engine2 Diet, but I am quick happy with what I've done. 

I do prefer the term "vegan" to other terms. I am vegan not for my health, but for animal rights reasons. I feel that I could eat almost any diet and stay healthy and thrive, and i find it easy to thrive as a vegan, and so do my kids and wife. However, a vegan diet doesn't necessarily equal health. For me, veganism is more than just what I eat, since I also avoid leather/wool/silk and products that have animal derived ingredients (including avoiding certain bike tire companies). It isn't just about what I eat. I also do not think that my veganism is the sole way to change the world, or that my boycotting certain companies will get them to change... but I do sure like saying that I'm VEGAN and then winning the race. 

Another veggie  to add to the list.

My transition to a plant-based diet was gradual. Fifteen years ago I began eating organics and reducing the amount of animal products consumed. Seven years ago, I became strictly vegetarian. AFter finding the Thrive diet, I have been 90 percent vegan. 

Training and racing with this diet has taken some planning- especially in the area of protein intake. Vega whole food optimizer ( what a long name) makes it easier.

BTW: Vega is having a 50% off sale this week.

I don't get that magazine, but I'll go and read it now that I know! Thanks.

There is a lot of great information in this thread, especially for a meat eater looking to turn herbivore (me!).  I also am surprised at the overall attitude of you folks.  Most of the vegans I have met have a holier than thou attitude about their eating habits, so it is good to read about people who aren't preachy about what should and shouldn't be consumed or what we should and shouldn't use.  Thank you all for the insight.  I have a better understanding of what I need to do now, and a renewed energy to make it past (no laughing please) my first week with no meat and no dairy. 

Also, thanks for helping me find this thread Lisa.

No food police here   Good luck on your first vegan week!!  It's an adjustment, but one that has helped me feel better. 

My sister gave me this cookbook for Christmas and I have LOVED everything I've made from it:
Appetite for Reduction - she is also the author of Veganomicon

And on my list is to buy
Skinny B: the ultimate everyday cookbook 
I read the regular "Skinny B" book and loved it, except for the "Coffee is for puzzies" chapter.