Comments on: Three Simple Changes To Get Fit and Green at the Same Time

By: Just.....B

Just.....B — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:01:14 +0000

I love walking! It literally gives you the time to stop and smell the flowers, touch the trees and enjoy a sense of being. Working out of my home feels great as well as there can be days before I have to drive – which means my carbon footprint has gotten smaller. I have even added a weekly “Green-Tip” to the homepage of my web site. Sharing the love.

I often wonder if restaurants were to show where their beef or poultry came from such as photos of the horrendous feedlots or chickens piled on top of each other – if it would not make people stop and think what they were consuming??

By: brazilian-american

brazilian-american — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:16:08 +0000

Sain Klaus, wow, your assessment hurts. I grew up in a 3rd world nation. The poor are not taking from anyone, the rich (US) is the culprit in the exploitation of all people by stealing their resources. Charity brother, charity!

By: Sain Klaus

Sain Klaus — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:06:06 +0000

Hello Leo ,
I really enjoy your posts,
Since the first time I visit it, (about 1 year ago as far as I remember),
I kept following the updates.
I´ve heard A LOT about vegetarianism , and I still disagree as a whole about the PRO arguments for it.
Why ?
The root of the problem it´s more deep , the numbers of ‘humans’ keep raising as fungus in the apple, that´s the real ‘rot’ of the problem.
They should have thought about controlling/making rules for human reproduction as a whole ( it oscillates a lot, from one country to another ).
IT´S INEVITABLE THAT THIS HAPPENS, WHEN SOONER IT HAPPENS BETTER WILL BE.
It´s far more KIND controlling just how many kids you can sustain/have, then controlling everything else (what you should eat, dress, like … ).
Maybe in your country it´s different but in places like Africa, South America, Asia and some other places from the called ‘3rd world’, it´s a reality, if pp just hold the urge to reproduce people would live a better life.
When most poor the pp are more kids they have, it´s irrational logic, but this happens all the time, and more in ‘poor’ countries.

By: Alex

Alex — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:24:37 +0000

Love it! The best advice I ever read on consuming less (and saving more too) was simply to simply avoid Shopping Centers. It’s so easy to “consume” for what basically comes down to another form of entertainment. Thanks for a truly amazing and inspiring blog.

By: Paul Keetch

Paul Keetch — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 18:04:22 +0000

@Leo – Thanks for a great post. I was a “bad” vegan for several years and am now a “better” fish-eating vegetarian. Meaning that I consume more raw food and less mass produced “non-meat” food. As I improve, I hope to go back to veganism at some point.

@marisa – I’m actually not a proponent of hunting, but there is a practice called “persistence hunting” that does not require any form of weapon. See more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persistence_hunting.

To everyone who has commented that “I could never stop eating meat” as long as you hold this thought, you will be right. But if you consider the possibility of living without meat, you will find it much easier. Start with one day per week and search out great veggie recipes. Beans & mushrooms can be very “meaty” alternatives.

I was born and raised a carnivore and my family and friends are all meat-eaters. At first it was difficult and, to be honest, I am often tempted by the smells, but overall I am happier and healthier and use that knowledge as a reminder whenever I feel like giving in to what amounts to a largely habit- and history-based temptation.

Congrats to everyone for your individual efforts to be healthier, happier and to reduce your impact to the environment.

Paul

By: youthworker

youthworker — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 11:29:21 +0000

Great post Leo.
Like other commenters, I’d like to stress that what works best environmentally can vary greatly from one area to another. The oft cited statistics about meat production are largely about grain fed factory meat production. The land being used for meat production around here (Western New South Wales) could not be used for vegetable production. When supplementary feed is used, it is mostly grain that is not suitable for human consumption, or food byproducts (eg barley hay).

I’ve spent a lot of time this winter chopping wood to heat my house. Great exercise, frugal living and reducing my carbon footprint at the same time. I know this can be a controversial proposal, since the smoke is released into the neighborhood where people breath, but it can be the most carbon neutral heating available. In my case, the wood came from local tree loppers, who would otherwise take it to landfill (!). It’s also somehow satisfying to swing the axe or pull the saw on a cold morning.

By: Soaringpilot51

Soaringpilot51 — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 13:07:29 +0000

To get a perspective on the meat and dairy issues (from a scientific point of reference), I suggest reading “The China Study” by T. Colin Cambell. As you will see, we have all been brainwashed from birth on the “health” vitrues of meat and dairy. Also, go to http://www.vsh.org to see 1 hour lectures that do a good job on teaching many of the foundational issues on meat and dairy. Like Leo said, one can have a perfect diet with satisfaction on a vegan/vegitarian or what I call “nutritarian” diet. Good health to all!
pilot

By: nate

nate — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:47:30 +0000

I totally agree with the above post. I am not vegetarian, but I seek out vegetables and fruits whenever possible, and it makes a big difference in the way I feel but also costs less. I have also just follow the rule of if I need something I write it down on a 30 day waiting list. It is amazing how much less you will consume and how much lower your expenses will be. But it also has a domino effect. The less we buy, the less time we spend looking for things to buy or roaming around stores, the less clutter we have to sort through, fuss with, etc. I think I heard Jerry Seinfeld joke once how everything you buy is “pre-garbage”…pretty true I’d say.
Excellent post Leo! Thank you!
Nate

By: unmotivated yet

unmotivated yet — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:42:53 +0000

I am a vegetarian by birth and frugal by upbringing.
But the place we live in is a small community, so out of necessity we use the car for shopping, to go to our place of work, for places to just visit etc.
I did live where public transport was so easy – you did not really have to own a car. Not now.
I do miss it a lot…………I enjoyed travelling by buses and trains.

By: Chase

Chase — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:53:32 +0000

THANK YOU so much for this post! It’s great advice for those who can.

I’m seeing a lot of defensive comments. While it’s good to inform people if they missed a point, I think a lot of us need to realize that Leo is just trying to better our lives. If you can’t bike to work because it’s too far, that’s fine, but don’t insult the blogger for suggesting it.