[Library_Cat]

I am curious to discover if there are any trends in which kinds of arguments are more effective for different personality types. If any of you (INTJs and others please) are vegetarian or vegan, I'd like to know what logic finally convinced you to convert. If you used to be and are no longer, what convinced you to go back to eating meat? If you have thought about vegetarianism and decided not to try it, why?

Perhaps this will help us when trying to talk to people who don't understand our views.

[sanari]

I could say I am a vegetarian because I hate vegetables - but I don't think that's the kind of answer you are looking for.

Personally, I only eat meat when I crave it [I love beef jerky!]. Other than that, I eat everything else under the sun, with a huge dose of vegetables.

The reason I eat in this fashion is because I feel very clear of mind, and my body feels very ...effortless in movement. I just feel good - like everything is working properly. When I have eaten a fatty meal [which I treat myself to occasionally], or a steak or some other meat centered dish - I feel extremely sluggish, weighed down [yet satisfied from the yummy!]. I do not feel good, though. Not ill - just a striking difference from normal.

I am what is called a liberal vegetarian.

[TaylorP]

As a LWT athlete, you can eat WAY less to get the same amount of nutrients with meat then trying to eat a barn of vegetables.

But red meat takes to long to digest, so chicken it is, fish has to much mercury in it for the amount I need.
But vegetables have 90% of the dietary foods.

Breads awesome to fill one up.

[Taikand]

Animals are forms of life.
Plants are forms of life.
If you can't do photosynthesis than eating any of them is the same.
If you wanna take it further and say that humans are also forms of life than do a cost analysis and see if social order is worth losing for the ability to hunt a notoriously difficult to catch animal. I don't.

[jd_]

TaylorP...that is some of my analysis also.

Plus you have things that are more easily absorbed, animal protein is by far superior to protein from vegetables in terms of protein % per kcal, as well as protein bioavailability. They have a FAR better amino acid profile especially for leucine, lysine, isoleucine and valine. They contain more taurine as well, creatine, l-cartinine and heme iron.

I eat a LOT of calories, there is almost no way I could get that many calories and enough protein to recover through a vegetarian or vegan diet. Subjectively I am also lactose intolerant, and beans make me excessively gassy, it's just a no go.

I would wager there are no competitive vegetarian/vegan athletes competing with meat eating athletes which didn't either a) do most of their training to get to current form on an animal/plant based diet, or b) they are supplementing significantly.

To me, the very fact of needing to supplement should tell you something as to which diet is most suited to our evolutionary history and optimal performance.

I need to eat about 4000 calories a day to maintain my body weight, otherwise my body would start to cannabalize muscle. More when I am building up to a race day, or after/around a race.

I eat a lot of fruits and veggies but I try to stay away from dairy and legumes.

Bread might fill you up but it is pretty nutritionally poor per kcal, most grains are, especially refined ones. Personally I try to stay away from too filling of foods and go for some calorie punches, like nuts.

I have actually tried a vegetarian AND vegan diet in the past and it hurt my training and energy levels.

Most people who go vegetarian or vegan that I have met and claim to feel better fall into a) they are pretty sedentary people to begin with, b) they were previously eating an unhealthy processed food diet, and their switch to vegetarianism also coincided with eating healthier.

[sanari]

Ah, beans are my life. But in my culture - beans are a staple, just like rice. So I never get gas from beans.

[jd_]

For serious inquiries into this, there are several modern philosophers who have dealt with this question. I know some arguments both FOR and AGAINST vegetarianism are featured in this book.
http://www.amazon.com/Environmental-...ref=pd_sim_b_1

An older, more financially palatable edition would suffice as well. I don't think there is any text degradation in used copies either :)

[Suzanne Carlson]

Why I am not a vegetarian, nor will ever consider becoming one? Because meat just tastes to damn good and contains the fat and protein my body needs for proper metabolism. I also know too many vegans who are anemic, when all they need to do is have a more robust diet.

Of further consequence, I used to milk dairy cows. They are brutish, dumb animals that kick, head butt, pee on people and lay in their own poo. They deserve to be eaten. I would strongly urge any vegetarian to work around cows (or cattle) for several weeks and see if your opinion of eating "cute little animals" isn't changed.

I am against genetically modified foods though. Some of the stuff they inject and breed into food sources is just plain wrong.

[jd_]

Why I am not a vegetarian, nor will ever consider becoming one? Because meat just tastes to damn good and contains the fat and protein my body needs for proper metabolism. I also know too many vegans who are anemic, when all they need to do is have a more robust diet.

Of further consequence, I used to milk dairy cows. They are brutish, dumb animals that kick, head butt, pee on people and lay in their own poo. They deserve to be eaten. I would strongly urge any vegetarian to work around cows (or cattle) for several weeks and see if your opinion of eating "cute little animals" isn't changed.

I am against genetically modified foods though. Some of the stuff they inject and breed into food sources is just plain wrong.

Hi Suzanne,

I share your sentiments... and yes just b/c us meat eaters eat meat, doesn't mean we aren't making ethical choices by choosing where that meat comes from, knowing our farmers and local vendors, etc. While at the other end, many self professed vegans might be drinking yoohoo's and eating "snack foods" all day.

[nonnaci]

-INTP friend: Gave an argument about consciousness v.s. instinct and on which part of the evolutionary branch did it develop (certain mammals). He gives a moral reason for not supporting a corporation that inflicts injury to entities that can be consciously realized.

-Myself: I was a vegan for 2 years just to see if my physiology/psyche demanded meat. Apparently, it just craves protean which I found non-meat substitutes for (beans, cheese).

-Most other people: Religious reasons