tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57007373114255673572024-03-13T22:53:34.586-05:00A Year Without MeatUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5700737311425567357.post-24085182034871582452009-01-23T17:02:00.006-06:002009-01-23T17:44:32.519-06:00Week 3: This is pretty easyI apologize for skipping a post for Week 2...but this blogging thing is new to me and not exactly a habit. So far the "no meat" thing has been a breeze. I have been confronted with barbecue, tacos, even bacon...and I don't even feel tempted to eat it. This is easy, but I reserve the right to eat my words later. Words are still on my diet at least.<br /><br />Okay, as far as weight loss goes... I have lost 4 pounds in 3 weeks. This would be much better if I worked out on a consistent basis, which I am not. So far I have been religiously visiting the gym or walking with a friend once a week. If you only do something once a week, can you still claim to do it religiously? Probably not. I'm an atheist, can I really do anything religously? I don't think so.<br /><br />I'm trying not to focus on the weight loss benefits of this diet because I would just get depressed. When Oprah confessed to the world about her weight gain a couple of weeks ago (like we needed her to tell us about it), I got kind of irritated and frustrated. If someone with personal trainers, personal chefs, nutritionists, doctors, etc. can't control her weight what chance could I possibly have. I should not look to her or any other rich/famous person as a role model. We just aren't in the same boat. Ricki Lake may have lost all of her weight naturally and can stick to a 1,200-calorie diet, but she can afford for someone else to prepare her food. It's just not something I can relate to and doesn't provide any inspiration or hope. I need stories about real people with similar opportunities and limitations.<br /><br />Favorite foods right now: salmon, white beans, kale, brown rice, humus, butternut squash<br />Advice for the week: Quit ordering fries with your veggie burgerUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5700737311425567357.post-69320090236644926242009-01-04T18:57:00.001-06:002009-01-04T19:57:36.325-06:00Week 1: Why no meat??So...my New Year's resolution is to go the entire year without eating meat. Basically, if I can't kill it, I can't eat it. I can kill a fish, so fish is still on the menu. I've decided to do this for a couple of reasons. First, your typical resolution goal, weight loss. I've struggled with weight issues my entire life. I don't feel like talking about it in detail today, but I have to change my eating habits in a way that I can sustain. I'm not sure if I can sustain this or not, but it's worth a shot. I am also going to try to cut down on wheat and dairy products. I went gluten/dairy free for two weeks once, and I felt great.<br /><br />The second reason I want to do this is that I want to be more in touch with my food in terms of preservatives, natural ingredients, local sourcing, etc. I've been going to the farmer's market a lot more recently and I want to feel more connected to my food. I could still eat local meat...but I wouldn't be connecting with my food. If I actually connected to the pig before I ate the bacon...I would cry. Does anyone remember the Thanksgiving dinner scene in "Giant?" Pedro!! I could never kill "Babe" or "Elsie" or...are there any cute cartoon chickens? Cow and chicken? Foghorn Leghorn?? Anyway...you know what I mean. Even Tony Bourdain sheds a tear or two before his hosts slit an animal's throat and cook up something yummy. It would never stop him from eating it, but he seems genuinely upset sometimes.<br /><br />So, starting on January 2nd (sorry, I ate ham on New Year's Day) I have had lots of fresh vegetables and fish. So far, I don't miss anything. I even watched an "Iron Chef" yesterday with suckling pig as the secret ingredient. It all looked good, but I honestly didn't want any of it. I'm sure as time passes, that will change. In the meantime, I am excited about this challenge and hopeful that it result in a healthier and me.<br /><br />I will try to check in once a week with my progress...successes, failures, recipes, frustrations, etc. Every once in a while, I will report on any weight loss as well.<br /><br />Wish me luck!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3