Hello From Montana
- September 2007
- Uncategorized
Steph,
Thanks for a great book and lots of inspiration. I don’t read that much for fun due to my job and lack of time. I’m a high school science teacher, so I read a lot for work. This summer my wife and I left our small rental house in Cali and went back to Montana (where we used to live) for 2 months. We climbed 4-6 days a week, read your book and slept on the ground. It was exactly what I needed.
I just recently started climbing again after a 10+year break. For those past 10 years I have been an elite cyclist, husband and teacher. I always said when I left cycling I would start climbing again and that’s what I’ve done. Reading your book couldn’t have come at a better time. Thanks.
I do have one question. I have just recently converted to a vegan diet. So far everything is great and I feel good about the choice I’ve made. Do you have any advice for food etc?
I was wondering if Dean is a vegan, and if not how you balance things when your together? My wife is only willing to give up meat and still enjoys eggs, milk and other things. It doesn’t bother me at all, but she worries about it. I’m used to balancing my diet and avoiding certain foods because of cycling, it’s always been a part of my lifestyle.
Anyway, thanks for any help you can give and good luck with the jumping. It looks really fun. Take care Jeff
Dear Jeff,
I’m so glad you found my book at a meaningful time, and had some connection. Thanks! And congratulations on all the exciting life changes you’re making. I think turning vegan is a pretty smart move, on many levels. I have been vegan for five years, and I quit eating refined sugar a year before that. I have heard some people say they felt unhealthy or not fortified when they went vegan. I tend to avoid processed foods, particularly bleached flour (and mostly wheat in general), white rice, white sugar and corn syrup. So the end result is that I eat a lot of whole foods. In fact, I have found it a much harder challenge to avoid wheat and sugar, than to be vegan. Oddly enough, people need far less protein than most people believe. Power lifters have found that only a very small amount of protein can actually be processed by the body at each meal–I would have to check on the exact amount, but it’s something surprising small, like 3 ounces. Also, protein is found in almost every food item, from grains to vegetables. I have no problem whatsoever with getting enough protein, and I don’t even worry about it much. I do have to make one thing clear, though, which is that I am not one hundred percent vegan, because I put organic half and half in my coffee each morning. But I have researched the brand I buy, and I do believe that they treat their cows well.
Since making this dietary change, I have seen a massive improvement in my levels of climbing, running, hiking, skiing and yoga. I am leaner, healthier, and I need less food. I honestly can’t figure out why everyone doesn’t eat this way, as it’s simpler, cheaper, more environmentally responsible, and compassionate to our fellow living creatures. Trying to reduce harm to other creatures is perhaps the greatest goal a human can strive for, in my opinion. But I do think it’s very important not to be preachy or aggressive to people who want to eat animal products, because that usually has the opposite effect than you might hope for. Instead I try to lead by example–I am vegan, and am very healthy and do pretty well athletically, so I hope that makes other people interested in trying it too.
With regards to your question about living with someone who is not eating vegan, I have found that any meal I make can have some meat added to it (for example, stir fry, salad, soup, whatever). And possibly over time, your wife will start wanting to be vegan too–often when people eat the things I cook, they are totally satisfied and happy with their meals, and start thinking a little differently about food.
Thanks Jeff, for writing me, and I wish you the best in everything you do!
xx Steph
