Funky Friday

18 Jul 2014 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , , ,

Zoukinis InteriorIsn’t it the best feeling, when you wake up on a Friday morning and realise that it’s the first day of your long weekend.

To say we have a lazy start to the day would be vastly understating things, but by mid-afternoon we were parked up and on our way through the Westbourne arcade to the very lovely  Zoukini’s restaurant.

Now being vegan, you might expect that finding yummy things to eat would prove to be a bit of a problem, but you would be completely wrong. With all the dietary scare stories we have heard recently, the horse meat scandal, growth hormone usage in cattle and poultry, not to mention all the inhumane conditions in which animals are habitually kept, it’s no wonder that people are turning to vegetarian or vegan options for their food.

As the vegan movement grows, the food companies, both established and emerging, are offering more and more suitable alternatives. They aren’t doing this out of the goodness of their hearts, or to openly promote the veggie/vegan way of life, but they know that there is good money to be made as numbers of customers increase.

Toff 'n Chips @ ZoukinisZoukini’s offers a wide range of vegetarian and vegan dishes, and one of our favourites is Toff ‘n Chips, a very clever and convincing fish and chips alternative. The menu describes it thus … ‘Battered fillet of organic tofu packed with a samphire & watercress pesto served with chips, homemade minted mushy peas & vegan tartare sauce’ … and I can highly recommend it.

With our attention being brought almost daily to the way we eat, healthy alternatives are appearing everywhere. So if you find yourself looking for a classy tasty and healthy meal in the Westbourne area, pop into Zoukinis and check out Toff ‘n Chips, you won’t be disappointed.

All Things In Balance

01 May 2014 1 Comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Everything In BalanceThe China Study is a book that can really get under your skin. Having already rid my diet of meat and fish many years ago, I have turned from Vegetarian to Vegan in the past eight months, hence adding dairy and any animal derived products to my list of ‘banned’ substances. However, having put effort into researching the pros of such a diet, I needed to investigate the alternate view.

I found a few interesting counter-arguments on the internet, belittling the research of Dr Graham or citing other research that appears to reverse the findings used in the book. There is however, one difference between Dr Graham and his detractors, they all seem to have some agenda or are trying to sell something.

In trying to keep an open mind, I continue the diet, despite reading evidence that overturns almost everything I have ever been taught about diet and nutrition. I would like to be able to present you the truth, but it seems that it comes in a number of various hues.

You may have read my posts about the book. If you would like to read the other viewpoints I suggest you Google (other search providers are available) ‘china study myth’ and take your pick of the articles available.

From my own point of view? Well I didn’t start my HCRV diet because of the book, I fell into the book because of the diet. I feel that the example of Freelee and DurianRiders health and fitness lends at least as much evidence to back the diet as does the book.

I guess it’s a bit like not walking under a ladder, just in case you end up with some unfortunate outcome. Maybe it’s far more complicated than I’m describing, but with all the horror stories surrounding the food industry, I’m sticking to fruit and vegetables for the rest of this lifetime, at least.

The China Study – Proven (Again)

06 Mar 2014 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Everything In BalanceI make no apology for reposting this, in the wake of recent revelations… Having already rid my diet of meat and fish many years ago, I have turned from Vegetarian to Vegan in the past few weeks, hence adding dairy and any animal derived products to my list of ‘banned’ substances. However, having put effort into researching the pros of such a diet, I need to investigate the alternate view.

I have found a few interesting counter-arguments on the internet, belittling the research of Dr Graham or citing other research that appears to reverse the findings used in the book. There is one difference between Dr Graham and his detractors however, they all seem to have some agenda or are trying to sell something.

I am trying to keep an open mind, despite reading evidence that overturns almost everything I have ever been taught about diet and nutrition. I would like to be able to present the truth, but it seems that it comes in a number of various hues.

You may have read my posts about the book. If you would like to read the other viewpoints I suggest you Google (other search providers are available) ‘china study myth’ and take your pick of the articles available.

From my own point of view? Well I didn’t start my HCRV diet because of the book, I fell into the book because of the diet. I feel that the example of Freelee and DurianRiders health and fitness lends at least as much evidence to back the diet as does the book.

I guess it’s a bit like not walking under a ladder, just in case you end up with some unfortunate outcome. Maybe it’s far more complicated than I’m describing, but with all the horror stories surrounding the food industry, I’m sticking to fruit and veg for now.

Rockin’ And Rollin’

21 Dec 2013 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , , , ,

Rockin’ And Rollin’Since my birthday last month I have been on my bike every single day, either out and about, or more recently, with the colder shorter days, indoors on my training rollers. Now training rollers are a great way of staying fit, but compared to being out in the countryside, they are B-O-R-I-N-G, pedalling away for hours each week.

To make the sessions more fun, I searched on YouTube for a training video which would encourage me as well as keeping my focus. I found one, a really well made forty five minute session, using video taken during a group ride, with predetermined intervals of effort and rest, I love it and use it every second day, interspersed with thirty minute low intensity ‘days off’.

In a strange way, riding with the other guys on the video, makes me work harder, give that extra bit of effort when my lungs, heart or legs are screaming ENOUGH!!! It’s the perfect way to continue my fitness regime, and with my newly adopted vegan diet, my weight, and more importantly, my body fat levels are continuing to fall.

People have said, about my exercising, and more particularly about my diet, that because I live alone, I have no interruptions, nobody to take my focus away from my goals, nobody to tempt me with other foods or get in the way of my schedule. That of course is true, but neither do I have anyone to ‘watch over me’ to keep me on track, nobody except myself that is.

Temptation comes in many forms. The temptation to add salt to the vegetables, because I was used to the taste, the temptation to crumble under the pressure from others who think being vegan is strange and will lead to deficiencies in my diet, even the temptation, to ease off, slow down, give up, when it’s painful to carry on riding. After all, nobody would know, nobody except me.

Determination is a very satisfying trait, one which I have only fairly recently acquired, but one which pays you back, time and time again, and which stabs you, like a knife through the heart if you decide to give in. Determination is a form of fitness, the more you practice it, the stronger it becomes.

Today is day 235 of my regime. In that time I have cycled, outdoors and in, over 4000 km, burned 130,891 kcal and spent 180 hours on 152 various different sessions. When I started I weighed 100 kg, today I weigh 77 kg, and I haven’t finished yet. But believe me, in all that time, there have been numerous times when I really wanted to stop, give up and call it a day.

Now it may be that I am lucky to have the time to devote to my quest. It may be that I can please myself about what I eat. It may well be that I get an addiction to things, and certainly in the past that was the case. But I think you will agree that I’ve given it long enough to disprove the last of those three.

I’m not special. I’ve done nothing here that anyone else couldn’t do, given the determination. I’m proud of my efforts, though I am disappointed that I let myself get into the situation in the first place, but my determination gets stronger over time. If you are trying to reach a goal, keep going. If you stop, there will only be one person who is to blame, only one who will feel the pain of failure, and that is you.

The Cinderella Disease

13 Dec 2013 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , , , , ,

Sir Terry PratchettIn a high profile G8 summit this week, the leaders are pledging to increase funding for research into dementia in order to ‘develop a cure or treatment by 2025’. With the ever growing current figure of 44 million dementia sufferers set to reach 135 million world wide by 2050, it is a situation which will only become a greater problem for governments.

Sir Terry Pratchett, in a recent interview described Alzheimer’s as The Cinderella Disease. ‘It’s is because it isn’t sexy’ said Pratchett, ‘they’re old people, they’re going to die anyway’. He also said that there was no clear pathway to help and advice.

Whilst I applaud the G8 leaders for finally giving dementia the recognition it deserves, far more help needs to be given to those affected and further education as to the causes of the various diseases that comprise the illness. I know I keep harping on about animal fats and proteins, and how or diets are responsible for many of the ‘western’ diseases, but links to Alzheimer’s are quite clear from research.

My concern is that the pharmaceutical companies and the research institutions rely of these illnesses for their funding and profits. If society were to suddenly to be made aware of the precautions that can be taken, not only would our meat and dairy industries collapse, but huge losses and closures would also ensure in the pharmaceutical sector.

Prevention is better than cure, always, so if you value the health of those you love, get a copy of the China Study, read about all the misinformation we have, and continue to be fed and make you own mind up about what you wish to consume in the future.

A Balanced View?

02 Dec 2013 2 Comments

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Everything In BalanceThis China Study book is really getting under my skin. Having already rid my diet of meat and fish many years ago, I have turned from Vegetarian to Vegan in the past few weeks, hence adding dairy and any animal derived products to my list of ‘banned’ substances. However, having put effort into researching the pros of such a diet, I need to investigate the alternate view.

I have found a few interesting counter-arguments on the internet, belittling the research of Dr Graham or citing other research that appears to reverse the findings used in the book. There is one difference between Dr Graham and his detractors however, they all seem to have some agenda or are trying to sell something.

I am trying to keep an open mind, despite reading evidence that overturns almost everything I have ever been taught about diet and nutrition. I would like to be able to present the truth, but it seems that it comes in a number of various hues.

You may have read my posts about the book. If you would like to read the other viewpoints I suggest you Google (other search providers are available) ‘china study myth’ and take your pick of the articles available.

From my own point of view? Well I didn’t start my HCRV diet because of the book, I fell into the book because of the diet. I feel that the example of Freelee and DurianRiders health and fitness lends at least as much evidence to back the diet as does the book.

I guess it’s a bit like not walking under a ladder, just in case you end up with some unfortunate outcome. Maybe it’s far more complicated than I’m describing, but with all the horror stories surrounding the food industry, I’m sticking to fruit and veg for now.