The KInd Life Community Forum

Kevin, there are a few guys here and you are all definitely welcome! :o) You sound like you are ready for change. I know you said that you have tried other diets in the past, but this is different. Like you said, it is a lifestyle change, it is a shift in your perception of food. That really works for people sometimes. My brother-in-law made the change to vegan when he had trouble losing weight other ways (because he couldn't stick to a diet) and he lost 80 pounds. He has been vegan ever since. You can totally do it. Don't listen to the naysayers, listen to us. Read the success stories and keep yourself inspired. I love when people take control of their health like this, understanding that they have the power to avoid disease and reverse much of what damage has already been done. Good luck and keep coming to this site. It is extremely helpful for those first on the journey and it provides great support to those who don't have it at home.

Good for you! My husband is taking the leap now too. He is like you where he can't eat just one cookie, he has to eat 10, so I definitely know where you are coming from. Some personalities just have to go cold turkey. He is having blood pressure issues, so rather than go on meds I told him to put his life in my hands for two weeks and I will have him in shape. So he agreed and he feels great. He said he's not going to turn back because he feels so energized. My hubby is doing mostly vegan, but is doing skim milk on his cereal in the morning because it is lower sodium than my Almond milk. Well I hope you give it a try, I think you will be really happy with the results. I've been with my husband 17 years, so it took him a really long time to come around, but better late than never :) Good Luck!

Thanks Minnie...

Hazel, I will look that book up tomorrow when I'm running around town. I live just outside Austin, I'm surprised I didn't see news stories or something about that.. I guess getting healthy is not big news...

I picked my son up today after school, and he was waiting for me at the Wendy's next to his school. I walked in and he was there eating a salad... not a double baconator like he usually gets... I asked him about it and he said he thought he would try it since I told him that eating vegetables was more healthy than meat.. I mentioned it to him yesterday when I told him I was thinking about being a vegetarian.... I didn't think he was listening to me (it was in the car)...

Maybe it won't be so hard to get him on board... at least most the time...

I told him we would clean out the meat in the freezer over the weekend (only a couple things left), but when I go get groceries this weekend, I was going to concentrate on vegetarian products..

I"m a little worried... I'm a single guy (with a teen son) that doesn't like to cook... I can see all those fancy recipes in the books and online, but they kind of scare me because of all the strange ingredients... so I will probably start out with mostly meat replacements like vegiburgers and slowly pick up a few new recipes on the weekends until I have enough good ones to get away from those highly processed products..

Kevin - while like I said I don't care for processed soy like veggieburgers and stuff like that, and I don't think it's healthy to eat it all the time - it can be essential for some trying to switch to a healthier diet from a SAD one. I think a lot of The Engine Two recipes are simple. Most of them use common ingredients. There's a whole chapter on 'E2 Approved Foods' to keep in your kitchen, helping you with initial shopping. If I recall correctly, Rip and his father (Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn - well known for his research with heart disease and plant-based-diets), don't promote the use of oil at all, at all, and Rip's focused on low-sodium and stuff like that. So, it's a really guideline for losing weight and lowering cholesterol. Don't be overwhelemd with the lists if you decide to get this book, you can replace things in chunks.

And while some of the ingredient lists for the recipes might look long, they're really basic - like onions, garlic, tomato, spices. He uses a lot of canned stuff - like beans - partially for the purpose of trying to make the recipes easier. And when the recipe calls for canned beans or veggie broth, it's easy to find low or no sodium versions. Rip's Big Bowl is really good and filling, E2 Basic Panckaes couldn't be easier (I always add frozen berries when I make them). The Quick Bran Muffins are super easy to make to keep on hand for a snack (I would add raisins or fruit juice sweetened cranberries). The Supreme Pizza is easy and good, too (you can use a healthy crust that is not Kabuli if you can't find that one).

I heard Rip speak once, the company I worked for brought him in, and he's very passionate, like his father, about getting people healthy.

Hi Kevin...I am new at this veggi/vegan lifestyle as well. I started out as a vegetarian and that wasnt so difficult for me since I dont eat a lot of meat in the fish place. Now i just decided to transition over to vegan. Its been a little harder to figure out what to buy and eat since almost eveything contain some form of animal products so I been venturing out on my own...in my kitchen. I am super excited and happy for you that you have decided to make a change...a BIG one at that! Alicia's book is a great guide it helped me a great deal...support is a huge factor as well so your in the right place! :)