Jabersquawk

Thanks Guys, I got back from a run this morning and was greeted with all your suggestions and thoughts - it feels like it's Christmas. I am going to check out those links, and will contact Troy (I think I read his post last night, was it the one with the Excel sheet?) Veganpotter - I am a once a year marathon runner who is basically looking to run around a 3:30 race while still being able to squat at least 2x's my weight in the gym (not at the same time.) Based on your pic, you look like you're a cyclist - what do you do? How did you know you were getting too much protein? Thank you all again for replying so quickly. Keep it coming. All the best.

Hi. I'm a 26 yr old male. Avid distance runner and weight lifter. I have done both regularly since senior year of high school (I fear that much like everything else in my life, it is an example of how I want to have the best of both worlds - but end up being the jack of all trades.) I wonder if it's a bad thing to stretch myself between distance and weight training, but that's not my main question, so I will save that for another time. My question is, what the heck can I do about weight training without meat or animal schmoo? I learned about muscle building/maintainence nutrition from other meatheads (literally) and from Men's Health (which is unabashedly sponsored by Beef, Dairy and Pork.) I am not yet even a complete Veggie, let alone a Vegan (but I hope that that's ok.) I am torn because I know from my studies as a public health student and environmentalist that my meat eating is killing the world, let alone myself, and that the supplements I'm using (whey) is also not good (aspartame, sucralose, etc.) However, I don't know where to start to find inexpensive and adequate protein, and I don't know how to shut off all the "programming" I've been fed about how animal protein is "soo much better for you" (blah blah blah.) So, my question is two fold: 1) Is veg-based protein just as good as meat (I realize that I may be asking a biased party, but I also realize that my present stance has also been based on biased information)? and 2) What can I do to ensure I get enough protein without meat/animal sources? What would be a good supplement to use in the place of whey? Are there any available without tons of preservatives/artificial sweeteners? What is a good source of protein outside of soy? I've always thought about the fact that my meat eating is bad, and that the nutritional supplements I've been using, are just awful, but I've completely bought into the schill I've been fed. Help me to break free! Thanks guys. Looking forward to hearing from you.