Ultramarathoner Jurek takes diet to the extreme

Didn't get to the diet part, but 24 hours on a 1.4K loop? How don't you die of boredom?

I've often wondered why being vegan is considered "extreme." I've been vegan for 20 years and honestly, I don't even give it much thought anymore. I eat normal foods. I don't take supplements (other than flax oil). I don't throw paint at anyone. It's just.... eating. If anything, meat-free diets are becoming more and more mainstream....... considering the environmental and health impacts of a factory-farmed, meat-centered diet, I think it won't be long before THAT kind of eating is considered "extreme."

Its only extreme to those that can't or wont maintain such dedication.

bootsie wrote:

I've often wondered why being vegan is considered "extreme." I've been vegan for 20 years and honestly, I don't even give it much thought anymore. I eat normal foods. I don't take supplements (other than flax oil). I don't throw paint at anyone. It's just.... eating. If anything, meat-free diets are becoming more and more mainstream....... considering the environmental and health impacts of a factory-farmed, meat-centered diet, I think it won't be long before THAT kind of eating is considered "extreme."

Vegan or Vegetarian or Ovo-Lacto Vegan?

If you are strict vegan, you 1) feel great and 2) have a lot of difficulty eating out. Going to a business lunch, ordering a spinach salad as your entree and asking to have all the cheese meat removed and whats in the dressing? leave that out etc etc and NOT look like a lunatic is also pretty hard.

You feel great, no doubt. But it requires 30-45 minutes of planning every day, in a world where people spend less and less time preparing food.

Its as complicated as you want to make it. Personally, I put together a great tasting vegan dinner in about 5 mins. I microwave some Uncle Bens rice in 90 seconds and then microwave some vegan dishes from Boca Foods or Morningstar such as some fake chicken or ribs, etc. Or I might microwave a potato and throw some salsa on it. I also use the blender to make smoothies from frozen fruit, green vegtables and chocolate Rice Milk. That also takes about 5 mins. There are lots of recipie books for vegans but they are way too complicated for me. I keep it simple.

All of this occurs at home. Its very hard to go out to a meal and eat this way. If you are w/ a client/boss, its even harder to not look like an uptight loon.

But I agree it can be done easily if you eat all your meals at home.

By definition, there is no such thing as an "Ovo-Lacto Vegan." Vegans also don't eat fish and neither do vegetarians.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot wrote:

By definition, there is no such thing as an "Ovo-Lacto Vegan." Vegans also don't eat fish and neither do vegetarians.

I know. Its redundant. The term is "O-L Vegetarian".

some vegans do eat dairy, and eggs. They are technically not following a "vegan" diet, but like the term, so they call themselves "ovo-lacto vegans"

I've never understood the "feel great" thing. I eat meat and cheese, I also feel great. Don't most people usually feel pretty good?

Guy with the microwaved vegan dinners: that is not healthy.

Off the Grid wrote:

All of this occurs at home. Its very hard to go out to a meal and eat this way. If you are w/ a client/boss, its even harder to not look like an uptight loon.

That's more about you feeling insecure than it is about what exactly you choose to eat. You're just afraid to be different, or rather to be perceived to be different, but that'll impact just about any social setting for you. You'd probably make a good member of a lynch mob. You could always fake allergies, most people are pretty understanding and accepting of that nowadays. If you were confident and had the courage of your convictions then you could pull it off with style and ease.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot wrote:

By definition, there is no such thing as an "Ovo-Lacto Vegan." Vegans also don't eat fish and neither do vegetarians.

Off the Grid wrote:

I know. Its redundant. The term is "O-L Vegetarian".

some vegans do eat dairy, and eggs. They are technically not following a "vegan" diet, but like the term, so they call themselves "ovo-lacto vegans"

Those people are STUPID or they're LYING. They are vegetarians, despite what they may claim, not vegans. And you mean contradictory, not redundant.

What do you call a vegetarian with diarrhea?

A salad shooter!

Jim Lampley wrote:

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot wrote:

By definition, there is no such thing as an "Ovo-Lacto Vegan." Vegans also don't eat fish and neither do vegetarians.

Off the Grid wrote:

I know. Its redundant. The term is "O-L Vegetarian".

some vegans do eat dairy, and eggs. They are technically not following a "vegan" diet, but like the term, so they call themselves "ovo-lacto vegans"

Those people are STUPID or they're LYING. They are vegetarians, despite what they may claim, not vegans. And you mean contradictory, not redundant.

Good for youuuuuu Jim Lampley!

Uh, extreme wouldn't be what Jurek eats, that would be that fruitatarian ultra guy. Nothing but fruit. He was probably the one who posted here about eating 20 lbs. of bananas a day.

Well if you want to get really technical, wouldn't an OL vegan not eat honey, while a vegetarian would?

Off the Grid wrote:

All of this occurs at home. Its very hard to go out to a meal and eat this way. If you are w/ a client/boss, its even harder to not look like an uptight loon.

But I agree it can be done easily if you eat all your meals at home.

It depends where you live. If you're in Kansas or something, it's a bit more of a challenge. I live in Seattle. Nobody bats an eye. One of the best vegan meals I've ever eaten was at a steakhouse on Lake Union, believe it or not.

Tooth Decay wrote:

I've never understood the "feel great" thing. I eat meat and cheese, I also feel great. Don't most people usually feel pretty good?

Guy with the microwaved vegan dinners: that is not healthy.

One of the things that I've noticed is the difference in my immune system. Pretty much... I never get sick. I've only had to go to the doctor once in my adult life, and have missed only 1 day of work due to illness in 16 years. That's not to brag, as I've found it's a common theme among vegans. Honestly, I think it's less to due with not eating meat than it is to do with not eating dairy products. That stuff is incredibly bad for you, and it overstimulates your salivary functions, which create a superhighway for germs. Additionally, all the subclinical doses of antibiotics found in animal products can't help your immune system one bit. So yeah..... the "feel great" thing should be amended to say "feel great every day."

f**kin vegans piss me off!!

Its as complicated as you want to make it. Personally, I put together a great tasting vegan dinner in about 5 mins. I microwave some Uncle Bens rice in 90 seconds and then microwave some vegan dishes from Boca Foods or Morningstar such as some fake chicken or ribs, etc. [/quote]

I guess if you want to make eating vegan really simple, don't read any product labels. Boca has egg and/or cheese in the majority of their products. (=not vegan)