Celebrating One Year of Sticking To A Predominately Meat Free Diet

Wow!  I can't believe it.  I have actually survived 1 year of a meat free diet.  Monday was actually the 1 year mark, I'm just finding a moment to write about it.  People ask me "Are you vegan?"  "Are you a vegetarian?" and I just go "I've pretty much stopped eating meat".  I continue to eat meat in some form though because eggs are really a meat product, and although I gave them up initially I started eating eggs again.  Oh! and there was this one time my hubby ordered pizza from a different restaurant and I didn't realize that there was crumbled meat on top.  It was hidden in the pizza.  When I realized it, I did pick the remainder off (LOL).  There are many different classifications to describe different predominant meat free- diets.  I stumbled upon the term "Lacto Ovo Vegetarian" which includes dairy products and eggs along with plant based foods but bans meat, fish, and fowl.  Yep, that sounds like my diet.  I have eggs on occasion.  I'm lactose intolerant so I drink soy or almond milk, and try to keep a lactose pill on hand when I indulge in "cheese".  I snack on fruits as much as possible.  I eat veggies.  I also take a multi-vitamin daily.  This was my meal on Saturday.  I sauteed some onions in a little olive oil and added some freshly picked polk salad ( out of my dad's garden), seasoned with garlic salt and black pepper and OMG! was this the best dish!  I had a taste for a tortilla, so I grabbed a corn tortilla, added some fat-free refried beans, some tomato slices, and a small piece of jalepeno pepper, and I was in flavor heaven!

The 5 main reasons that I stopped eating meat:

1.  I wanted to see if I could decrease or eliminate that "stuffed gut" feeling after eating meat.  My body just didn't seem to digest it well.

2.  I noticed a 2 pound weight gain and wanted to lower my caloric intake by eating differently.

3.  I had a spike in my blood pressure and cholesterol and wanted to eat healthier.

4.  Part of it was subliminal after hearing a classmate talk about her meat-free diet, and wanted to see if I could actually stick to it.

5.  Since deciding to stop relaxing my hair in October 2007, I became more conscious about what I was putting in my body.

As I reflect on those 5 reasons, the reality was that:

1.  I found that I don't get that stuffed gut feeling as much when I stick to correct portions when eating a veggie meal.  I found that you can get the same stuffed gut feeling from eating vegetables if you go for seconds and thirds (LOL)!

2.  I think I've gained 2 additional pounds since becoming a meat-free eater.   I'm to blame.  I found that I don't exercise as much, as I thought I could get away with just lowering my caloric intake.  What I've found is that metabolism slows once you go over the 35 year mark (LOL).  Also since I do eat dairy, I add more cheese for flavor at times, and I learned that some fat-free or meat free dishes can also be loaded with fat, so moderation is key.  Last but not least, I have to continue to fight with my sweet tooth for a piece of chocolate 3 times during the week.  I'm a work in progress!  But hey a girl's got to enjoy some good desserts weekly, I can't budge on that one.  Chocolate is one of life's simple pleasures.

3.  At my most recent doctor's visit my blood pressure was normal and my cholesterol was good.  My good cholesterol tends to be slightly higher than it should be, which pushes my overall number up a little.  So this goal was achieved.

4.  Subliminal messages are powerful, and I'm grateful that I allowed this one to become a reality (my classmate constantly talking about her meat free meals).  I continue to filter the messages that may not need to become a reality, however this one was a message that I was ready to try.  

5.  I continue to monitor and read the ingredient list on items that I buy to maximize the good, vitamin rich, and reduced fat products.

I continue to monitor my cholesterol and blood pressure by going to free screenings at pharmacies in between my annual checkup.  My hubby asked if I will be eating meat since I've met my goal of making it to the one year mark.  I don't  think I will, but if I change my mind I'll definitely write about it.

Have you changed your eating habits in any way?  What goal are you trying to achieve (i.e. healthy diet to maintain health, weight maintenance, etc.)?   Did any changes externally ( natural hair) change your view of what goes internally?