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| Forums: September 2010 Kickstart Forum Archive: the more I read, the more I am confused... | |||
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Oceandog
 Location: California, USA Posts: 644 |
RE: the more I read, the more I am confused... Posted Thursday, December 2, 2010 at 7:52 PM Wild4Stars, You have jumped in a hot topic on "can they call themselves vegans" So many people get caught up in titles, woulda, coulda, shoula's, and forget what the purpose is. You can define vegan in a dictionary and you can define it for yourself, there will be lots of comments no matter how you do it. The originator of the word "vegan" did not intend for this word to be used harshly or judgmentally nor for it to be viewed so negatively on both sides of the fence. His followed a plant-based diet with no animal products. I am uncertain if he included animal products in other areas or just dietary. It has grown to involve gelatin (even in film, vitamins, thickeners in juices, and marshmallows), leather, fur, honey, etc. The magazine VegNews did an interview with him some time back, sorry I can't recall when or his name, but if any one is interested, I can do some research and get back to you, just let me know. End of the day and I am tired. I will stick my neck out there and say this: This is YOUR journey of being a vegan. Do you want to get caught up in being right, or being healthy? A thought I remind myself of when I start trying too hard to find right and wrong, is when I realize I have lost sight of the goal and have made it about someone being right or wrong. Then I remind myself it is their journey and the closer I can pay attention to what my body and mind needs, the more peaceful I become. Make sense? Names are labels. They only have the meaning you give them. That said? Most people will argue the definition of vegan is one who abstains from the use of ANY animal derived product. There are those who follow that to the letter even avoiding glues in various 'products and the ones I previously mentioned. Some keep it to themselves and some cry "BATTLE" and dive in if they think they found someone else not 'pure enough'. That is too much bad energy for me. I think doing the best for your body (whatever its needs are) and keeping your mind and heart in a loving and peaceful state are the best that anyone can do. I am off the soap box now.... next? Always offer kindness and a soft word to the beings around you; You do not know their journey. Your words can be the hug they need or the shove that breaks them. |
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Wild4Stars
 Location: Florida Posts: 832 |
RE: the more I read, the more I am confused... Posted Thursday, December 2, 2010 at 7:53 PM Good point. I know I started as a vegetarian for health reasons. The more I read and learned, the more I understood the impact on the planet. I do not eat any animal products. But I'm not vigilant about animal testing on the products I buy, I still have some leather in my life. I guess I should not say I'm a vegan, but I do eat a vegan diet. ?? Vikki ~ Wild4Stars@gmail.com |
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mollyhorn
 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 582 |
RE: the more I read, the more I am confused... Posted Thursday, December 2, 2010 at 8:04 PM Wild4Stars wrote: Good point. I know I started as a vegetarian for health reasons. The more I read and learned, the more I understood the impact on the planet. I do not eat any animal products. But I'm not vigilant about animal testing on the products I buy, I still have some leather in my life. I guess I should not say I'm a vegan, but I do eat a vegan diet. ?? Would that be correct? I think most contemporary vegans would agree that saying "I eat a vegan diet" or "I eat a plant-based diet" would be correct, rather than saying "I'm a vegan." I think the phrase "I'm vegan" or "I am a vegan" connotes the idea of abstaining from all animal products, including leather, fur, gelatin, fish oil, etc. But I really like what Oceandog said – this is your personal journey, and only you can decide what label to put (or not put) on yourself. The founders of Vegan Outreach wrote a wonderful essay on this: Molly Horn |
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| Wild4Stars
Location: Florida Posts: 832 |
RE: the more I read, the more I am confused... Posted Thursday, December 2, 2010 at 8:14 PM Oceandog - So well put, thank you. I think I will go back to a quote I have used in the past - "My path is one of progress, not perfection!" I have a hard time being militant with others and I've met some vegans that are very militant. In some ways I think that has kept me from making a "total" vegan commitment. I don't want to seem like "one of them." Molly - I agree about the labels. We create them, define them, defend them and get caught up in a cause that may not even be our own. And sometimes, to make matters worse we even let others define our labels! Thank goodness we have such a diverse world with so many options and opportunities. I learn so much on this forum! Thanks to all who contribute. Vikki ~ Wild4Stars@gmail.com |
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| wen
Joined: 09/08/10 Posts: 54 |
RE: the more I read, the more I am confused... Posted Thursday, December 2, 2010 at 11:40 PM thank you for all the information....it helps... I really need to cut out nuts...I love to eat nuts, way too much sometimes that I have a hard time controlling myself... question on fruit...heard some raw food leaders are cutting out of fruit... |
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| theodore
Joined: 09/16/10 Posts: 643 |
RE: the more I read, the more I am confused... Posted Friday, December 3, 2010 at 5:34 AM Dear Wen and all I remember Colin Campbell talking about the 5% thing. I can't remember exactly what he said but he was basically making the point that, like giving up smoking, you might possibly be able to have a couple of cigarettes a week without jeopardising your health too much, but is it worth the risk ?? and you're keeping yourself on the slippery slope to 5 cigarrettes a week then 10 etc. Never heard of this fruit theory. Although some people say that modern fruits have been bred to have a lot more sugar than the wild fruits. Is that what you're referring to ?? Theodore Never make assumptions. You'll end up being an A**, and the UMP will TION you. -- Coach Smiley -- Fresh Prince of Bel Air |
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| tammay
Joined: 01/20/10 Posts: 18 |
RE: the more I read, the more I am confused... Posted Wednesday, December 8, 2010 at 10:21 AM I agree that it can be confusing I've done all three and I personally prefer to do the PCRM/Barnard version because it seems to make the most sense and is not rigid about limiting certain foods. For example, low fat soy is not limited, as is fruit, whereas something like McDougall limits both. I find that the Barnard approach is more flexible for me and I can integrate it into my life, especially now that I am with family and not living alone and there are a lot of last minute meal-related events that pop up which has me eating out or eating with family. Being able to eat everything that is vegan (except, of course, for added oils and limits on whole fats like nuts and olives) makes it much easier for me to enjoy. I'm looking forward to doing the 21 day kickstart next month. Trying to get my parents (especially my dad, who is a total meat-addict) to join me! Tam |
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| Wild4Stars
Location: Florida Posts: 832 |
RE: the more I read, the more I am confused... Posted Wednesday, December 8, 2010 at 7:35 PM Tammay - Great synopsis, thanks for sharing. I think I kind of float around among all of them! I really try to stay with Eat To Live, but sometimes I lean towards too many grains. I LOVE veggies so Dr. Fuhrman just seems a natural for me. Vikki ~ Wild4Stars@gmail.com |
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. The basic premise of all three doctors (I've read all 3 books) is pretty much the same - plant-based, low fat, emphasis on whole real foods. So all three are good. I think it depends on what you're after and what foods you can live with and live without. Some people find they have difficulty losing weight/feeling healthy with too many grains/carbs, even good ones and/or don't want to give up fats like nuts and seeds. So for them, doing something like Eat To Live is more appropriate than doing McDougall, which doesn't allow any added fat and emphasizes grains and carbs.| New Topic Reply Subscription Options |
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