[The Lipo Fund]

Rearden, before I address your post, I just want to ask you if your name is in reference to Atlas Shrugged?


Now to answer your question, the vegan/vegetarian thing is to show myself I have control. By doing this I improve my internal self-image which was damaged maybe beyond repair, after 15 years of obesity. Self-pride is more important to me than how others view me. So I want to be able to maintain self-respect, while reflecting that externally at the same time, by gaining some muscle mass.

As far as my diet goes, I eat no more than 2000 calories a day. My breakfast consists of a fruit, usually a banana or citrus product, since I live in Florida, generally an orange or a grape. During school, my lunch was typically a peanut butter sandwich, and for a week or so, I had some of those Simply Asia microwaveable lunches. Dinner is generally a pasta or rice, coupled with vegetables. I am sure to eat some kind of bean, atleast 3 times a week. I take a few vitamins, mostly protein/calcium supplements. But one of them is a multivitamin. I have also incorporated seaweed into my doet, due to its high concentration of protein. I do not really eat soy, or any kind of meat substitute. I think the whole idea is silly for someone like me. I am making a voluntary choice not to eat meat, and to chomp down on a boca burger, or eat a piece of soysage, would be pointless. I have had 3 standard 6 month checkups with my doctor since I have become a vegetarian. My health is fine according to him. I realize the importance of maintaining a healthy diet, and the dangers of doing so while abstaining from eating meat. I did my research prior to making the decision, so I'm not just one of those 13 year old girls who sees a PETA video, and thinks it's noble to not eat beef. As far as going vegan goes, it would not be a huge change for me, my diet doesn't contain many dairy products. I never drank milk growing up, I have a strong distaste for chocolate and many other sweets, I seldom use cheese, and I never really used butter/oils on anything before in my life.

As for your statement that I am on track to be skinny fat, this is exactly the kind of thing I am looking to avoid. I would not even being average as far as muscle mass is concerned. When you say that it will take time to build any kind of muscle, what kind of time frame are you referring to?

Thank you very much for your input


And to the person who asked me why the closest gym was so far away. I went to an IB school (it's a special program designed for smarter kids with college in mind) and it was 45 minutes away. To make this drive would both be long and costly. There is a highschool in my town, about 5 minutes away, but I am unfamiliar with anyone there. But I could call and ask, the worst they could say is "no".