Week 3: This is pretty easy

I 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.

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.

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.

Favorite foods right now: salmon, white beans, kale, brown rice, humus, butternut squash
Advice for the week: Quit ordering fries with your veggie burger

Week 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.

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.

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.

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.

Wish me luck!!