Vegetarian diet question

[jamesh75]

So I'm 34, 5' 10", and 180 lbs.  I do karate 2-3 times a week and run 2 times a week.  I have been on blood pressure medication for the last 8-9 years.  I just started seeing a new doctor about 6 months ago.  My previous doctor hounded me about losing weight to get my blood pressure in check.  The new doctor is telling me the same thing, but he is also concerned with my cholesterol numbers.  I don't think it has so much to do with my weight, but what I eat.  I really don't watch what I eat, and I do eat meat pretty much every day for lunch and dinner.  I'm getting to my question... 

At my doctors appointment on Friday, my doctor recommended a book called Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease.  Heart disease and high blood pressure do run in my family.  I just started reading the book, but it tells you no meat of any kind, no dairy products, no oils, and no nuts in your diet.  This seems to be a bit extreme to me.  But I do feel that maybe just cutting out the meat would help.

So here is my question.  Have any of your changed to a vegetarian diet?  If so, how hard was it for you to make the change.  Did you make the change gradually or did you just take the plunge?

Thanks,
James

[D.A.L.U.I.]

You don't say if you are on any medications for cholesterol, what do you take, if anything?  Does your bp medication work to control you nos? 

The diet sounds like something a friend has to be on, but his bp was not under adequate control, his cholesterol, bad, was really high, and the good was low <45.  5 10 and 180 sounds reasonable, provided you don't have dunlop's disease--does your gut done lop over your belt? 

Your exercise sounds a little soft to me at least.  5 times a week for 20-30 minutes of vigorous cardio--running, etc. is what I believe you should be shooting for, provided your overall health supports it.  Bike just doesn't do it, the ellipitical is good if you have impact problems.

But he is your doctor, listen to him--bp has bad complications and it's really silent.  You might be headed to a lot less meat and a lot more beans. 

[jamesh75]

I'm not on an medicine for the cholesterol, but I'm on dyazide for my BP.  And the karate 2-3 times a week is an hour each night and I'm sweating my a@@ off.  The running two times a week is normally a 5 miler one day and an 8-10 miler the other.  So I'm not too concerned with my exercise program, really just my diet.  And no, I don't have dunlop's disease, however I could lose 10 lbs or so.

[D.A.L.U.I.]

Then, considering you distances, I'd spread it out more to make it more a "daily" thing.  Nothing wrong w/ the karate, but it's the running, and doing it on a more or less daily basis, that really pulls the weight off. 

Does your medication adequately control you bp, if so that's okay, if not the dr may change it--no big deal.  If your total cholesterol is >225, that makes them nervous.  If diet doesn't bring it down usually they'll put you on statins. 
I couldn't take them, they made me feel like a zombie, so I went to zetia, and it took it from >225 to 163, last reading w/ the good stuff>45 as it should be. 
I also found an article someplace that said the bp meds and cholesterol meds work best if taken at night.  It improved the performance of mine--all readings normal.  Oh, I'm about your height, but I weigh 205, I lift weights 6 days a week, breaking the body parts into three work outs, and 20-30 minutes of elliptical at about 120-128 strides/minute.  If I take a break, my weight shoots up about a pound every couple of days.  Dr. is happy w/ my numbers.  I eat meat, fish, but not many carbs except low glycemic types--i.e. oatmeal etc. Red wine--yes.  My doctor is one of the authors of Sugar Busters--http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_0_13?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=sugar+busters+diet+book&sprefix=Sugar+Busters, it works great as a method of cooking and eating. 

[jamesh75]

I've been running about 8 years, and I used to run 4-5 days a week (30-35 miles per week).  Now that my kids are 6 and 8, I just don't get the time to run.  Constantly taking them to their activities and helping with homework, etc.  That's why my running is only two days.  I know that spreading it out would help, but I just can't seem to find the time.  I know I need to "make" the time.

Yes, my BP is in check with the medicine I'm on.  Normally about 120\75 or so.  Bottom number is still a little high, but he doesn't want to change my prescription until I change my diet.  My total cholesterol is right at 200, but I don't remember what the good was.  I don't have the results in front of me.  I have tried taking my BP medicine at night, but it keeps me up because it makes me pee ever half hour.  So I take it in the morning after I get to work.  My goal, as well as my doctors, is to get my cholesterol in check without medicine.  And I do realize that changing my diet is going to have to be a life change, not just a change until my numbers are good.  And my wife had agreed to change her diet with me, which will help.

[agassi]

i dont eat much meat the thing is eat healthy meat like chicken baked or boiled white only turkey is good i got a book that states if it does not fly swim or grows in the ground dont eat it no dairy products i fill so much better and loosing weight only took a couple of weeks to start feeling better

[D.A.L.U.I.]

Yes, my BP is in check with the medicine I'm on.  Normally about 120\75 or so.  Bottom number is still a little high, but he doesn't want to change my prescription until I change my diet.  My total cholesterol is right at 200, but I don't remember what the good was.  I don't have the results in front of me.   My goal, as well as my doctors, is to get my cholesterol in check without medicine.  And I do realize that changing my diet is going to have to be a life change, not just a change until my numbers are good.  And my wife had agreed to change her diet with me, which will help.

Maybe it's the age, I'm 64, and I only have to take the meds bc I have an additional factor, elevated blood sugar--used to be called borderline diabetes.  My dr. said because of that, what would be acceptable bp as high as 130/80, and 200 cholesterol should be treated, along w/ lots of exercise to keep the sugar under 105, fasting, and an A1c under 6.0  Otherwise, w/o the sugar issue, I wouldn't be on any meds, just exercise and common sense eating--no margerine, minimal processed foods, low salt, use oils like olive oil, etc.  Your doctor is strict--keep him away from me.

[sq]

I've been a vegetarian for years (18 or so).  I just did it - but I was pursuing a lovely vegetarian girl so I did have some motivation.

It's never been a huge issue for me, but I live on the West Coast.  I have visited other parts of North America and finding vegetarian options in restaurants and grocery stores is harder in some areas than others -

Be warned that a lot of pre-preprared vegetarian options really are no healthier than the meat based product they hare meant to replace (Fake meats can be full of fats and salt).  The really healthy stuff, ie tofu, is the kind of stuff that alot of people have to develop a taste for.  If you don't like tofu and the other protien alternatives on the first go don't be put off, its probably got as much to do with how you prepared it as it does with the taste/texture (I tried eating tofu raw to start with, not good)

[marty22]

Cholesterol here at 180 (with pills) and blood pressure (120/80) with pills. I just plain old watch what I eat nowadays however well-done french fries with scrambled eggs are a treat once in a blue moon.

Unfortunately, I had a slight heart attack 9 years ago. But I work out twice a week with a trainer and walk quite a bit.

[jamesh75]

Thanks for the tips guys.  I'm going to go at this gradually.  I'm first going to force myself to add two additional runs in per week.  And I'm going to cut out beef and pork from my diet right away.  I'm also going to cut down on eating out.  I was on the web searching nutritional ratings on some restaurants.  WOW, I couldn't believe the sodium and cholesterol on some things I thought were healthy.  Eventually, I may cut out the poultry and fish as well, but I don't know that I could go totally vegan and cut out dairy. 

[Alexander215]

Thanks for the tips guys.  I'm going to go at this gradually.  I'm first going to force myself to add two additional runs in per week.  And I'm going to cut out beef and pork from my diet right away.  I'm also going to cut down on eating out.  I was on the web searching nutritional ratings on some restaurants.  WOW, I couldn't believe the sodium and cholesterol on some things I thought were healthy.  Eventually, I may cut out the poultry and fish as well, but I don't know that I could go totally vegan and cut out dairy.  

There are different kinds of vegetarians, pescetarian eat fish and shellfish, and there are lacto-ovo vegetarians that drink milk and eat eggs. I was a lacto ovo vegetarian for 10 years until I couldn't afford the lifestyle [college] but plan to go back soon.

Fish is actually really healthy to eat in moderation, if you aren't going to eat fish I would recommend taking a high quality hemp oil supplement to get all your omega fatty acids

[Antimidas]

Most vegetarians I know eat fish.  Although the fish would argue with the decision that they are not meat.

[marty22]

sounds like an advertisement not a member of the sly team.

[Antimidas]

Ditto Marty22

[Larry]

 High blood pressure is a real pain in the arse!  If you're on medication and your blood pressure is still high, your medicine isn't working so you may have to try something else..My bp meds have the opposite effect on me, the higher the dosage, the higher my bp goes up.  That's why they make so many different blood pressure medicines so obviously one size doesn't fit all.
I'm a raw vegan and don't eat animal products or processed foods.  I also drink two quarts of clean(chlorine free)water a day.  The biggest problem I had was getting enough calories so had to eat more fruit because juices are out unless you juice it yourself(no additives).  The one thing that had a profound effect on my blood pressure was the water but I'm still taking the bp medicine.  The transition isn't hard.  The hard part is getting used to the change though.  It sure gets boring so I have a treat once in awhile.  Hasn't done a thing for my high blood pressure though.  I've been eating this way for a few years now and lost 40 pounds within the first three months.  You need to see a nutritionist if you plan on taking that route to make sure you're getting your vitimens and protiens you need.