That stereotype being of the weak vegan/vegetarian. Almost every thread about running and no threads about weight lifting and other "rugged" type activities. Is it that vegetarians/vegans just happen to be the sort of people who don't care about having strength? (Please don't tell me how strong you are because you can run far or whatever.) I think it's that all the people who do care about lifting, etc don't become vegans/vegetarians because they are certain they'll wither away to nothing. I strongly suspect this is the actual reason women vegans so outnumber men as opposed to this idea of men being socially conditioned to have no empathy. :confused:

Anyway coming to the physical fitness section of this board certainly wouldn't do anything to dispel the weak vegan notion.

So there are vegans who lift weights. (And by weights I don't mean cans of soup to get rid of arm waddle.) I mean heavy weights. Powerlifting. Squatting / deadlifting 400+ etc. There is a board where some have congregated: veganfitness.net

I've been torn a long time on the question of should I point out to wimpy vegans they are hurting their cause, or just leave them happy in their ignorance.... What do you think? Should I just keep my mouth shut as they help propagate the myth and keep tens of millions of people omnivore/vegetarian? Or should I potentially permanently hurt their self image? I hate to think of some rail thin vegans going through life ashamed to admit they're vegan because they propagate negative stereotypes. (Although such people definitely are not good advertisements for veganism.)

So then, you get people who don't even realize they do not look good. Guys who are 6 foot 140/150/160 with soy nipples. (Yes, from all the soy, vegan men are more likely to have these little slightly protruding nipples despite being very thin, personally I avoid soy.) Maybe you would just dismiss it all as superficialness on the part of the omnivores and you would be right, but they aren't going to change. But you can. It's easy to go lift heavy weights twice a week and that's pretty much all it takes.....

So we should start powerlifting to prove our manhood?

*shrug* More people in general seem to be into running and biking rather than weight lifting. I don't know any weight lifters, omni's or veggies, but I know a whole heap of bikers and a few hikers - all omnis. I know there is an actual vegan body building forum about somewhere, and www.veganfitness.com - the vegan fitness fourm you mentioned, has a whole bunch of vegan weightlifters. They are out there, don't know why their not on VB though.

When I described myself as a vegan (I now call myself a strict vegetarian, if I call myself anything at all), I was very into lifting weights, but only to the extent that it helped tone my muscles for ballet. At one point, I could benchpress my own weight (110 pounds), and I was really muscular and strong, for a female ballet dancer.

I'm rather scrawny and wimpy now, as I haven't done any vigorous physical activity since May 2004 when I quit dancing aside from some jogging and elliptical machine-ing. I'm interested in lifting weights again, but my health doesn't permit me to do much activity.

As for perpetuating a negative stereotype, I couldn't give a rat's ass, really. I do what I want because I want to do it, as I assume everyone else on this board does.

The fact that you stereo-type non-weightlifters as wimpy and weak really annoys me and perpetuates the idea that muscle-heads are dullards.

Are you one of the owners of veganfitness.com? I think we asked you guys to come speak at our school :p

Anyway, gym equipment like the stuff you are referring to is not always readily available. I can't afford to join a gym around here during the summer. During the other nine months I am down at school, where most gyms are off campus and don't have a lot of the equipment you are referring to.

Plus, I'd rather be thought of as a weak vegan than a lazy, fat omnivore anyday :D

The fact that you stereo-type non-weightlifters as wimpy and weak really annoys me and perpetuates the idea that muscle-heads are dullards.

Yes, quite a lot of us are plump and fiesty.

Personally, as I walk down the street, my manly soy nipples sticking out with pride, I can't help but think, "do not taunt Happy Fun Ball (http://www.happyfunball.com/hfb.html)!!!!"

:lovesign:

Jay, your post made me giggle. :)

This was one of the funniest threads I have ever read.

Is this for real?

"Or should I potentially permanently hurt their self image?"

Feel free to hurt my self-image.

"Rugged" activities? Like what?

There just happen to be a lot of runners, cyclists and yoga enthusiasts here. In fact, I know toadstool started a topic about weightlifting recently.

Have you looked in the hamsters thread? You'll get a general idea, from there, of what we do to exercise.

If you want to start a "rugged" fitness thread, no one's stopping you. :hamster:

I've been torn a long time on the question of should I point out to wimpy vegans they are hurting their cause, or just leave them happy in their ignorance.... What do you think?

Are you saying that "lesser" activities like running is wimpy? Are you saying that not exercising is wimpy? ...why? What's with this judging?

Jay, your post made me giggle. :)

Did someone touch your soy nipples? :beatnik: :vebo: :bobo:

I think Jay might have seen me today

:lol:

*pokes Kirk's soy nipples*
*runs*

*taunts all the meat-eaters who don't lift weights*

puny humans!! MUAHAHAHA!! I lift weights all the time - arm curls. My weights are approximately 12oz each and made of glass, tapered at one end. :D

:lol:

*pokes Kirk's soy nipples*
*runs*

:giggles:

One of my secret identities was an original prototype for the Tickle Me Elmo. But it was rejected because of the soy nipples, now that perminantly hurt my self image.

:giggles:

One of my secret identities was an original prototype for the Tickle Me Elmo. But it was rejected because of the soy nipples, now that perminantly hurt my self image.

... not to mention your irritation over that woman trying to give you two test-tickles :p

What are two test-tickles?

... not to mention your irritation over that woman trying to give you two test-tickles :p

I didn't get that completely until BVegan's post. :lol: :wayne:

:o i stole it from some joke i heard years ago... :p

What are two test-tickles?

Titania test tickled tom twice.
Tom test tickled titania thrice.
Together tetering towards totality?
Two testing tongue ticklers!

BVegan, test-tickles are what Elmo sits on. :p

Gotcha, thanks guys.

Don't let this thread die!

BVegan, test-tickles are what Elmo sits on. :p

I heard that about Spongebob too but I don't think they're his own.