About Vegetarians and Vegans For Health

Calling all Vegetarians and Vegans! Come join our group. We all have one thing in common and that is our passion for "health". We do accept members who are well on their way to being a vegetarian or vegan, too. A vegetarian diet is known to promote health. Organic foods are even better! So if you are into health and want to change your eating habits, then this is the group for you. We will support each other through knowlege and motivation.

Energy may increase, your weight may go down. And you may even start noticing that you feel "healthy" overall. And what's more important than "health"? Health is priceless when it allows you to do so much more in life. The time is now so get healthy!

Rules:
Motivate and promote health through either "vegetarianism" or "veganism".

Please try to RSVP to our events.

Please try to become involved with the group with suggestions or ideas. You may want to post an event and "guest host".

*Please note: This is a private Meetup due to members profile information, and for your protection, only our members can see:

1) the list of all meetings

2) the RSVP list for individual meetings

3) the member list (members not visible in topic-wide member list)

4) photo albums (albums not visible in topic-wide photo pages)


Code of Ethics:
This group is a way to meet a variety of nice people who enjoy living a healthy lifestyle by eating right. This group strives to maintain as a "drama free" group. It is intended to promote friendship amongst its members who include both singles and married couples who are 21 yrs and older. *If there is any negative energy at all please bring it to my attention and it will be eliminated, since this is a positive energy group. This group will promote the good in people to come out. It will be filled with activities that promote health and fun social events. If you are interested in staying healthy and exercising at least 3 times per week with some kind of aerobic activity then this is the group for you. We will promote walking, bicycling, blading and any others similar to this type of activity.

Anyone have any suggestions? Anybody want to host an event? Email me with your ideas. I, Lisa, as the Organizer, pay $144.00 annually to keep this meetup website group alive and expect you, as a member, to participate and be an active member and value your membership within this group. It is a privilege to join this group, since I do not accept all members who may apply.

My goal is to have ONLY active members who will do their part and make the effort to participate in the activities, guest host, and plan events!

Legal Disclaimer:

**Please note: Before participating in any exercise program or other events, you should consult with your doctor to determine if this is safe for you. Some of the activities may be strenuous and may result in injury. Any person participating in these events assumes the risk of injury. All members or others related to the "Vegetarians Value Health Meetup group", who participate in exercise activities or diet program or other related events, hereby disclaim all liability arising from or related to the meetup group activities.

Release of Liability:
You, as a member of this group understand that I, personally, Lisa, (Organizer) and Assistant Organizers are released of all liability and are not held responsible for any medical claims, opinions or statements made by others within the group that are not necessarily the opinions of me or this group or law suits regarding participating in any exercise event and/or any other matters pertaining to events planned within this group by its members, me or others related to other cross-posted meetup groups. (*reading this and agreeing to this is required to be a member of this group)

*Please note: This meetup group may take photos of events within this group. It could possibly have a photo of you taken and it is understood, as a member of this group, that it becomes the property of this group and may be posted. If you do not wish to have your photo posted, you must simply notify me asap and I will remove the photo of you.


Some helpful weight loss and healthful suggestions:

1) Drink plenty of water (at least 8 - 10 cups/day)

2) Try to eliminate meat or eat only fish or eggs (it has been proven that vegetarian diets promote health and may prevent cancer through anti-oxidants), which aid in getting rid of free radicals (cancer causing substances). Meat products have been directly correlated to cause cancer and heart disease. There are other vegetable sources high in protein like legumes, soy, peas, nuts, etc. that can be a substitute for meat. Besides, why not spare an animal's life for your eating pleasure?

3) Portion Control (divide your meals in 1/2 at restaurants, etc) and take the rest home. Also, use small containers, bowls, dishes to hold your food portions. (You'll be surprised how much less you eat when you do this)

4) Increase your vegetable/fruit intake (at least 6 servings/day)ex. a small apple is one serving, or 4 ounces of 100% vegetable or fruit juice. Take a multi-vitamin to complement.

5) Learn to relax your mind and body with plenty of rest (recommend at least 7 hours of non-interrupted sleep/night) reaching the rem (rapid eye movement) stage. Studies have shown that less than 7hrs of sleep may be associated with heart disease.

6) Find ways to relax (meditate, aromatherapy, yoga, music, cooking, painting, etc)

7) Exercise daily per your own doctors instructions if medically cleared, and start out with 1/2 hr daily and increase it to an hour when you feel ready (find what interests you enough to make it a daily habit; ex. walking, working out, biking, swimming, etc.)

8) Consume less refined sugars, pastries, fast foods, processed foods; ex. frozen dinners, boxed foods, white breads, white pasta, white rice, etc. (eat more complex carbs - legumes, brown rice, sweet potatoes, whole wheat bread, whole wheat pasta, etc.)

9) Write down your short term and long term goals (you'll be surprised that they actually do manifest)

10) Be happy!, find your hobbies, volunteer and do something nice for the community, or for your family, plan something nice for YOU! (like achieving your weight loss goal and then rewarding yourself with something you want to obtain or do!)


- Lisa (Organizer)