max5480

I am a vegan and don't think it makes me slower because I just rode 60 miles in 3 hours with about 6,000 ft elevation. Anybody else a vegan?

abdon 

Your point being?

I have seen some horrible vegan diets (twinkies and sodas), I have seen horrible omnivore ones.

DataJunkie

Carnivore? Who just eats meat?
My body has issues digesting meat. Thus. I am a vegetarian and it has not effected my performance one bit. Well... since I am not in constant pain it has helped improve it.
Vegan, vegetarian, omnivore, whatever else are not necessarily the healthiest or least healthiest diet. It is what you eat plain and simple.
Personally, I can't stand many of the preachier holier than thou vegans.

black_box 

I don't think it matters what you eat as long as you're healthy. There are obviously alternative ways to get what the body needs, just don't tell me what to eat.

carlspeed

I was full vegetarian at one point, now I eat pretty much everything. Typically only once a week red meat, twice a week fish, and maybe once a week chicken. Rest of the time (not much I know) it's tofu or something that's purely vegetables.

AzTallRider

I do most of the family cooking. We have one vegetarian (she tried vegan but it didn't work out), two who really want their meat, and me who is trying to be organic, and to reduce meat and to use fish as my primary animal protein. I recently hired a nutrition/health counselor to help me figure out how to please everyone while providing better nutrition, and it has helped. Tough group though. But I'm doing more veggies; grains like Quinoa; things like vegetarian chili that can be available in the fridge. What is working is to prepare something vegetarian (like the chili) and to then cook some meat on the side that can be added by those who have to have it. What's important is to get the right balance of what you need, and to have that be enjoyable. I have trouble doing that without keeping some meat in the picture.

And I guess I'm lucky - the vegans I know are not the least bit preachy.

deep_sky

So a 20mph average with 6k elevation gain? I call BS.

Jasper Storm

+1

frymaster

bs is an animal product, so clearly no applicable here.

umd

This is why god created Garmin

FunkyStickman

I eat all natural foods, but I'm not vegetarian... though the only meat I eat is fish and some poultry, very occasionally pork. No red meat.

Northwestrider

Vegetarian for many years, with plenty of energy. I find vegan a bit too difficult at this time as bread in it's many forms are a daily food for me that I'd find difficult to replace at the moment.

frymaster

there's lots of vegan breads available and bagels are very often vegan (although be wary of sesame ones... sometimes they use an egg wash to stick them seeds on)

my solution was to buy a bread machine, though. all the bread i want, fresh first thing in the morning for about 70c-$1/loaf. cannot beat that.

ShimmerFade

I can't vote for any of those considering you have not listed the most common classification...omnivore.

crbrown

I've been vegan for about 3 years now. Vegetarian before that. My diet as a vegan is far better than when I was a vegetarian. Namely, it cuts out most junk foods and 'impulse' food. Having some structure can take you a long way. I do not feel it has inhibited my training whatsoever.

frymaster

well that will go out the window as soon as you find out that choclate creme oreos are accidentally vegan.

abracapocus

Vegan here. I cook a lot and generally avoid overly processed foods. Make my own veggie burgers, breads, etc.

I'm not a preachy vegan, but if you want to challenge me, I will defend myself. I'll never understand why omnivores feel they need to attack a vegan simply for being vegan. Let it go! I didn't say jack to you about your choices, how 'bout shuttin' up about mine unless you have some thoughtful questions or comments. Hint: "huh huh huh vegetables are what food eats" doesn't qualify.

Also, I'm thankful these aren't in vending machines. I can't get in enough bike riding hours in a day to justify how many I'd shove in my face.

DataJunkie

I never understand why vegetarians are attacked by vegans.
Anyhow, I get those same statements from omnivores as well. If someone ever comes up with an original joke I would have a heart attack.

"Veggies are what real food eats."
Good one. Ha ha. Excuse me while I drop your slow arse.

miwoodar

I'm not voting - the poll does not have an answer for me. I eat vegetarian a few days per week. Vegan meals are not uncommon but recipes are never chosen on the basis of being vegan.

abracapocus

I agree. Being a jerk isn't the way to get people to consider vegan foods. Plying them with delicious vegan versions of foods they like though will at least help them realize being vegan isn't twigs and grass and suffering.

caloso

Notwithstanding the Pork Council's tagline, I'd consider pork a red meat.

caloso

Anyway, I clicked "carnivore" on your poll even though I would consider myself an omnivore. I eat animals, plants, and fungi. Often in the same meal. Or on the same pizza.

Lamp-Shade

I tried vegan, man, and I mean tried. Around eight months I tried, actually. Trying anything for eight months, it seems, can get old at around week 4.
That being said, I think the main reason why many people fail going vegan is the adoption of a low fat (>10% fat) program designed to reverse heart disease. While it may be very effective at reversing heart disease, for me, it failed to improve or maintain other aspects of well being that are required for me to enjoy my life and live it to its fullest. I do think a vegan diet higher in fat and protein from unprocessed legumes is much more doable and healthy than one centered on limiting protein and fat in favor of starch as a higher percentage of calories.
I do believe that humans cannot escape their evolutionary history as primarily herbivorous primates. The more we deviate from this path, the more we suffer.

wheelgrabber

It s not a matter of respect that omnivores don't like vegans. It's a matter of taste. Vegan is rather bland. Hannibal Lecter preferred marbled girls from the Midwest.

Dirtbagfitness

I'm a sixth level Vegan. I don't eat anything that casts a shadow.