Not going to lie.

March 4, 2010 | Filed in: Uncategorized

I really miss eating meat. Seriously. I never realized how much meat I ate, and as I stated in my lent post I didn’t eat a ton of meat, but I really miss chicken, which was my main staple. I love chicken nuggets and chicken sandwiches and I also love lunch meat on sandwiches.

Man, this no eating meat thing is a lot harder than I thought.

I eat fish, but there is only so much fish you can eat. I like vegetables and have had some delicious lasagna dishes and I have also eaten soups and new things that are quite tasty, but every time I drive by a Chic-fil-a, my heart breaks. I have thirty days left, which seems like a very long time, but I think I can hold out.

Sometimes it’s even hard because how meat is involved in so many dishes. With eggs you can have meat, with pasta you can have chicken, with potatoes there is a lot of delicious meat I’m missing out on. I do like fish and have been eating more fish lately but word from the wise, A Filet-o-Fish is not good. :(

Also, I thought that maybe I would drop a few pounds in the process. Nope. Not saying that I wanted too but I assumed I would eating healthier. I really think that my body is at a weight where I will have to work incredibly, incredibly hard by limiting my food a lot to lose weight at this point. I can eat huge meals and horribly and I weigh the same as if I barely eat anything. I know if I consistently ate bad I would gain weight but I try not to do that anymore.

I have limited my fast food intake by a lot, and going out to eat fast food while not eating meat is pretty hard. Thankfully Taco Bell does have a pretty good “lent” menu and I can still eat tacos without the meat. Most other places doesn’t have options for me though, which is good because it’s saving me money and making me eat healthier.

On the upside I have had some delicious pizza and grilled cheeses often. :)

Tonight I’m back at the pool swimming 1200 to 1500 meters pending how tired I am. I am getting ready for my 20 miler this weekend and plotting out my map of where I am going to run. I know I will have to do a ten miler out and then ten back or else I will give up early if I run by my house before the 20 miles is up. I know I can do it, I just have TO do it now.

xoxo

Edited to add: I’m not ‘not eating meat’ because I want to become a vegitarian. I’m doing it because I don’t think I could not eat meat for that long. I think the biggest issue I have when choosing foods is that I don’t eat salad or spinach or anything along those lines because I don’t like it. I’ve watched Food Inc., I’ve read Skinny Bitch, I’ve read fast food nation and I still choose to eat fast food. I guess I thought this post would show that I’m just struggling with it.

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Ok, I can’t be the only vegan reader! Have you tried any of the Gardein ‘meats’ ? They have THE best chicken! There’s also tons of great deli (veg) meat from Yvves, smart dogs, boca burgers etc, have you tried any of those? I’ll bet even if they don’t completely wean you off the real stuff, they will take an edge off of the craving. Please give them a shot and let us know!

Dude! “1200 to 1500 laps”!!! You’re crazy!!!

In the past when I’ve gone meatless for Lent, I’ve become a giant consumer of great staples such as beans and tofu.

The latter’s easy enough to handle — get some bricks, cube them up, cook it all on Sunday, then spend the rest of the week sprinking it into stirfrys, salads, etc.

The former’s even easier: soups, casseroles, etc.

Keep it up!

me too with the Lent meatless thing here.
Love Vegetable Dumplings and Garlic Noodles (PFChangs), Falafel(PitaPit), and Lentil Soup~eggs are great unless you gave them up Quiche and omelets egg salad Roasted vegetables with couscous the ideas are endless

Keep it up. You’re doing awesome! Think how delicious your Chick Fil A will taste in 30 days if you make it the whole time!!

You’re a trooper giving up meat… I couldn’t do it, I can’t live without chicken! :p

Have a great swim tonight!

On your grilled cheese, try sprinkling parmesan cheese on the butter on the bread when you’re cooking it and it’ll taste like the cheese bread from Sizzler. Trust me on this one … even with all my miles, I hold steady at 200 pounds … I know how to eat!

read a couple articles on how disgusting broiler chickens (which are the ones bred for consumption) are raised and what they do to your body and you should be fine. I won’t even start on red meat or pork.

You may not have lost weight yet but if you could see your arteries, blood flow and heart efficiency rates, you would see a difference, babe.

Love you, happy swimming!!!!

You’re doing great and while you may not see changes on the outside I bet there are tons on the inside. And try tofu it’s so goooood.

You’re doing a good job girl! It does take a bit more planning and I know it’s not the same as what you’re used to eating, but there are a lot of yummy options out there. You’ll do great on your 20 this weekend. ♥

Have you watched Food Inc.? If not, go and rent it so you can see where your food is coming from. It is not a shock video, just a documentary on where our food is coming from.

In regards to your weight, I already think you are at a great weight. If you want to burn more fat, you can hit up the weight room more. There are little things you can do regarding how you eat, such as eating smaller more frequent meals which will boost your metabolism.

I don’t think all meat is bad for you. Try to eat grass fed animals, don’t make meat the center of your meal and eat meat that look like meat and not in the form of a chicken nugget or deli meat. That stuff doesn’t even look like meat.

Finally, go and seek out a farmers market near you and go and check it out. Veggies taste so much better when they are fresh. I go every Saturday to pick up produce for the week. It is the greatest discovery I ever made regarding food.

I don’t know if you ever mentioned on your blog or not about Indian food, but that stuff rocks. Makes me forget all about meat! :D

Take this opportunity and go out and discover new things to eat. Don’t fret about the meat thing. Those 30 days will be over before you know it. Have a great 20 mile run this weekend. I am already in taper mode. I have me a nice 12 miler this weekend. So happy!

I gave up meat for lent too and I don’t think it’s too hard until I try to eat out. Then I can barely eat anything! Haha, but at home I don’t find it too hard to eliminate meat. I eat lots of roasted veggies, veggie pizzas, pasta, beans, and some tofu here and there! Keep it up girl, you can do it!

You are a trooper for sure! I couldn’t give up my chicken! :) You CAN do it!

I can’t imagine not eating meat I mean so many meals include meat! Good for you!

I’m sitting here trying to think of yummy meatless things for you, but my mind is drawing a blank!!!

You could always go to subway and eat a veggie wrap or sandwich! Or maybe some yummy broccoli cheese soup? That’s all I’ve got!

I’ve got three words for you: Vegan Chicken Nuggets! They are in the freezer section and did the job when I gave meat up for Lent once. I still will eat them when on sale.

I’ve been vegetarian for awhile (can’t process red meat) and I still crave it sometimes…especially sliced turkey! Here are some good substitutes:
Bean and tofu burritos. SO GOOD and filling.
Tuna burgers– drain tuna, add bread crumbs, a whisked egg, and some parsley/other spices and grill. (Salmon cakes are also particularly good.)
Soups — I make a TON of veggie soups. Filling, and you can eat them with grilled cheese. ;-)
Protein bites (I make these with PB, protein powder, oatmeal, a little sugar. Freeze in balls. Eat.)
Veggie burgers. Excellent with lots of toppings.

GOOD LUCK!

it’s always great to hear someone else’s opinion on not having meat as a staple in their diet, so thanks for sharing :) since going veggie a few months back, I’ve found that dishes like casseroles and veggie stir-fry’s are good hearty meals where I don’t notice I’m missing meat.

ekkkkk meat :-O~~~

haha good job girlie :)

I manage my weight by portion control and the amount that I exercise. Currently my body likes to hover at 145. About 5 years ago, it liked to stay at 155. By the way, I cannot give up eating meat for 1 day and I love filet o’ fish. :)

Good luck on your 20-miler. Once you get it done you will feel great and confident about the La Marathon. I know the exact way you are feeling and sometimes you just have to DO IT and it will be off your shoulders. As much as we would like it, I think I have learned that not every long run is going to feel good (or mentall preparing for it) and each marathon we do will be a little different in preperation. Just remember, you have done it before you can do it again!! :) I don’t know if you like Thai food but they have some pretty good vegitarian dishes.

I don’t know HOW you are doing it! I would seirously die without meat. Esp. chick fil a. really. I don’t eat a lot of veggies so I need my meat. You can do it though! you may as well since you started!

Hang in there, you can do it! I’m a meat eater so I know this is hard for you. My fav fish item is fish tacos and the easiest way to make them is to buy breaded fish sticks in the frozen food section! I know that’s random, but they make great filling for tacos! Add some cheese and salsa and it’s perf! Good luck :)

xoxo

I was a veggie for about 5 years and it was a very gradual transition, so, I totally understand how difficult it can be to just cut it all out at once. You’re doing great. I appreciate your honesty that it is a struggle. But just think how great you’ll feel for sticking with it–and helllooo, that Chick-Fil-A will be so so so good!

PS. I would totally be living off Taco Bell bean burritos (who am I kidding, I do that now), so total props to you for making veggies pizzas and such!

You’re doing GREAT! Of course it is going to be hard, that is what fasting is, a sacrifice. It it was easy – it wouldn’t be challenging yourself. I’m proud of you – keep up the good work!

you are doing great!!!I am such a carnivore and couldn’t imagine giving up my meat for too long!!!Nice to find you!!!

I eat mostly chicken as well. I do not eat a lot though. maybe once or twice a month. I totally could be a vegetarian!

I give you a lot of credit. I’m just not sure if I could give up meat for that long. I gave up sweetener in my coffee this year. That might not sound like a lot, but even just this morning I was thinking about how much I miss it. About a month to go! hang in there

Kudos for giving up something tough — that means you’re not cheating! ;)

Saw a references to Food, Inc. above — that movie literally changed the way I shop in a snap. I try to integrate a few vegan meals a week but not the steam veggie kind. Tried Smart Ground Mexican a few weeks ago — it’s a meat substitute and makes killer tacos. You can find it in the natural section of most grocers.

Good luck and hang in there!!

http://www.lightlife.com/product_detail.jsp?p=smartgroundtaco

You can totally do it. I don’t think I could anymore but I know you can! Just think of all the chicken you can eat in 30 days.

Morningstar Farms Corn Dogs and Chik’n patties are the bomb.com.

Sorry your struggeling so much with it. I would too :( Hang in there girl. Just think of how good that chicken nugget will be in a month!

ps. I havn’t gotten the bars yet. I think I’ll make a trip to GNC this weekend. I’ll let you know!

I was pointed to your blog via your ice bath post. You are brave! Yet inspirational! I am struggling to recover after a 15.5 miler this past weekend and after my next long run I am going to use your ice bath method. Thanks for sharing your method!

Regarding meat, I would starve if I couldn’t eat meat. Good luck!

another vegan reader here… I’m really impressed by how dedicated you are to this — it’s extremely tough to make this kind of change :)

the hardest part is making sure to keep your protein intake up. I’m not good about this, but I’m fond of Yves’ sausages (Trader Joe’s), Trader Joe’s frozen soy chicken nuggets, and the clif builders bars with 20g of protein each. As far as other foods, I eat a lot of cereal/soymilk, bagels, granola, oatmeal, crackers/hummus, and carrots. I should probably mention Chipotle as well…

Don’t be surprised if your cravings are gone by the end of the month! good luck for your 20 this weekend

I was a veg for several years and was just heavier than I am now. I think it was the cheese on cheese on cheese with some sides of cheese that I always ate! Ha!

Good luck — you can do it!

Check out the vegetarian options in your grocery freezer section. I love Morningstar Farms items http://www.morningstarfarms.com. I’m not a vegetarian but I eat and enjoy the chik patties. In addition, I suggest trying vegetarian lunchmeat and pepperoni.

That’s the whole purpose of lent. I’m glad I sold my Taco Bell and Chikfila stock a couple weeks ago though….

I’ll get you the recipe for black bean burger patties I made the other night. Amaaaaaazingly tasty :) The Gardein bbq pulled shreds made really good sandwiches, and the tuscan breasts were great with couscous. I picked ‘em both up at either Ralph’s or Fresh & Easy. You’re doing great, cuz! When’s the last time you had an ooey-gooey tuna melt? ;-)

Lent is hard. On the bright side you can eat CANDY.(I gave up candy.)I don’t have any at my house…so…I don’t have a lot of temptation.

This past weekend I was at my parents house. I REALLY wanted a mini Reese’s Egg. I stuck to it though.

Sushi. Guac. Tuna Melts. Animal Style In-N-Out Fries.

Also…if you ever have the chance to have Jimmy John’s their Veggie Sub is sooo good. (Prob. not healthy) but delicious!

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