Ornish and the fat-free discussion

[Guest guest]

Pat wrote:

 

> You are a cardiologist? Or, no, I guess not - another kind of

'internship'?

 

It was for my bachelor's degree in exercise science. I'm technically an

exercise physiologist. (I say technically because I went straight from

grad school to SAHM).

 

 

> Oh you seem to have forgotten that this is a low-fat vegetarian group! LOL

 

Heh. Yeah, I knew that would sound a little odd here. Actually, I should

have said a vegan diet, because that's nearly what Ornish advocates. Is

this group especially low-fat per his suggestion? I thought that it was

'just' vegetarians + weight loss. Weight loss is also composed of

portion control and exercise; I didn't realize that everyone here was

aiming for <10% dietary fat at all times. (?)

 

> vegetarian - even vegan - as a regular thing and low- or no-fat and we don't

find it

> difficult at all. If you do, as a vegetarian (are you now?), then you need

nicer recipes!!! ;-)

 

I'm a very lazy cook. No, I am not a vegetarian now. (I'm weak at

times. LOL) I just bought a book called " The Vegetarian Mother's

Cookbook " , and I'm hoping that will offer some more options. The other

veg cookbook I have is a HUGE thing, like a novel, with (to me) lengthy,

complicated recipes, and I just don't have the patience [or time, or

kitchen space] for that. It's a shame, because I'd really like to peruse

the book more thoroughly. Someday, someday...

 

 

> Can't speak to that - I haven't studied it. You seem to speak from experience

here.

 

Just anecdotal evidence from others. The system didn't work for them.

There are others (obviously some here!) for whom it works great. The

group enrolled in the full Ornish program (that I met) had been

following his program for some time, and they all seemed to enjoy it.

Some people who have had cardiovascular events really get motivated to

change; the energy and comraderie there were great.

 

> Okay, Suzanne. Thanks very much for telling us all this - that helps to know

where you're

> coming from. I'm neither defending nor advocating the Ornish plan, but I am

not happy

> about something like that being swept aside without proper consideration.

 

I hope that wasn't the feeling you got. Like I said, I think that his

plan is helpful for some people. I've seen it. But it can be challenging

to follow, and the support of others on a regular basis is probably very

important.

 

BTW, Pat, I don't remember if I asked before...what are you a doctor of?

[Guest guest]

Hi Suzanne,

I personally don't follow Ornish nor McDougall, though believe that both

plans have a good basis. Yes, this is a low-fat vegetarian/vegan group

which is not affiliated with any particular " diet, " so you don't have to

worry about that. I think what Pat was clarifying was the " don't throw

out the baby with the bathwater " idea, in that some ways of eating, like

Ornish, have good information that one can pick and choose from, rather

than dismissing the whole plan.

 

Have you seen the athletic veg group, which grew out of this one? It

focuses on those of us who are vegetarian or vegan, and are serious

about exercise. The group has only been in existence for a week or two,

but there have been some very informative posts that you might find

interesting, as an exercise physiologist. BTW, what is SAHM?

 

Thanks for your input - very interesting.

 

Regards,

Karen

[Guest guest]

kleelibby wrote:

 

> I think what Pat was clarifying was the " don't throw

> out the baby with the bathwater " idea, in that some ways of eating, like

> Ornish, have good information that one can pick and choose from, rather

> than dismissing the whole plan.

 

Dr. Ornish probably wouldn't agree with you on that. If you're not

following the whole plan, you're not getting the benefit. His program

seems very strict to me. (I agree that there are things to be learned

from all these diets though - I tend to pick and choose bits of info

from different books I read).

 

 

> Have you seen the athletic veg group, which grew out of this one?

 

I remember the post about it. I haven't looked at it. I can only handle

so many lists/boards right now.

 

> BTW, what is SAHM?

 

Stay At Home Mom. I have a 13-mo-old.