FirstDownPirates said:
It's not sloth, it's what I consider an equitable division of labor. Plus, it's not that I don't get any enjoyment out of cooking, it's that I am actively repulsed by the activity.
Ragu, I wasn't implying that there would be an issue between us. I'm not resentful at all. It's not like I ever said, "I'll give up meat when you pry this T-bone from my cold, dead hands." I just wanted to know if anyone had ever made the transition and noticed any tangible difference in their physical well-being or energy level, etc., as the veggos claim.
Sorry. Well, I am really biased. But yeah, I am certain I am healthier for the way I eat. But I am not sure how I can quantify that for you.
I have been a vegetarian for more than 15 years, so its hard for me to even remember anything different. But I have especially been on top of it the last year, during which I cut out all dairy and egg, too (I rarely ate eggs, actually, but did eat things occasionally with egg in it), and have taken what I put into myself ridiculously seriously. My diet pretty much consists of whole grains, beans, brown rice, every vegetable you can imagine, etc. I also have upped my intensity of exercise. I was always pretty active, but I have been more serious about the way I go about it the last 8 or 9 months and been running my ass off. And I feel great physically (even if I am still all mental!).
I'm pushing 40 and I am in better shape than I have ever been--even when I was in my teens and 20s and I played sports and it came relatively easy for me to stay thin. I can't quantify it, by saying, "I get sick less," etc. You can eat as healthy as possible and still get brain cancer. But I know that by eating a low-fat, healthy diet--which I do by default--and by making sure I am not overweight and doing things that have been proven to be unhealthy, I am reducing my risk of certain things, such as diabetes, stroke, heart disease, etc. I do know that when I go for my annual check-up, my doctor tells me I am doing fine. My blood pressure, my weight, my cholesterol, etc. are always at great levels.
I guess the main thing I'd really stress is that healthy eating isn't as simple as just being a vegetarian. You can be a vegetarian and still eat like crap. If your diet is all bleached flour and processed foods with lots of saturated and trans fats, and heaps of cheese piled onto everything, and you consume more calories than you burn off, you are going to be overweight, clog your arteries and feel like crap. And you can do that without eating meat -- really easily. But being a vegetarian is not bad for you, if you do it right. If you choose smart foods and watch what you eat and take care of yourself in other ways, it is very healthy for you.
