A 270 pound vegetarian

February 24, 2009 – 9:17 pm

Ya…that’s me.  Through Easter.  I’m not Catholic, but I love the idea of giving something up for Lent.  In fact, I started a few days early on Saturday, just because I’ve always liked doing a little more than expected.

So, I gave up meat.  Here are the reasons:

  1. I love steak, chicken, burgers, etc.  Plus, I hate seafood anyway so there will be none of that either.  So this is a real sacrifice and test of self-discipline.  We all need to work on that every once in a while.
  2. The meat industry is shameful.  I’m no PETA loser, but I do have respect for animals and think that they should be raised with respect regardless of their final destination.  A 12% drop in my annual meat spending is just a small personal protest I guess.
  3. I wouldn’t mind dropping some pounds.  250-255 sounds really good….and without meat in the meal, I’m unlikely to like it.  I’ll eat less, in theory.  We’ll see.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some chocolate chip cookies, ice-cream and bourbon to attend to :)

  • bankdraft/Leigh Scott
    OK...I'm trying to help you here....think homemade milkshakes....mushroom omlette....Special K with bananas...hot and sour soup and vegetable spring rolls....and of course, bourbon balls
  • bankdraft/Leigh Scott
    How's it going Andy? Ironically, I chose the same sacrifice.....REALITY....doing well but admit to fantasizing about a 6" high corned beef on rye from time to time....sigh. Nuts are your friends..ha ha ...literally not figuratively
  • Allergic. Black beans/eggs. Tough
  • Kevin Kim
    Good luck! Be careful about eating too many carbs/starches to try to replace feeling full. Another problem is that since meat takes longer to digest, you might get hungrier sooner - and end up eating more.
  • Thanks!
  • You'd make a good Catholic. I'm giving up wine, beer and bourbon. Seeing as that's the only alky-haul I drinks, that means tee-totalling for me.

    BTW -- Sunday is a day of "relaxation" for Lent. So you can have a burger that day, if you so choose.

    Aside-- My parents stayed Vatican II-less, and never had meat on Friday... any Friday. Mom backed off that a couple of years back, and well, it never DID help Dad, I guess.
  • Giving up Bourbon?! :-o

    I can't/won't imagine that. I'm no alcoholic, but there ins't much better than a fine Bourbon sitting on a few rocks. I have to indulge at least once a week. Good luck my man!
  • I plan to be on a much higher spiritual plane come Easter. B'sides, you can get a "relief day" on Sunday... just...54 .... more.... hours.....
  • No way. Just meat. I'm not insane
  • I feel you on liking food amigo. What I have found, is that if you can get over the initial hump, cutting out breads, sugary dairies, and other complex carbs, your hunger gets cut down considerably. I am not advocate of the Paleolithic diet (Atkins), but i think if you stick to fruits and veges as your carb source, with occasionally throwing in whole grains, its amazing how less hungry you are after the initial couple weeks of cravings. My body feels like it runs so much better. I even found my intake of meat less of a craving when I cut out these heavy carbs and substituted for dried fruit etc. Best of luck on your lent!
  • Thank you for giving me some food for thought. I guess I have 3 hours or so to decide if I will be doing the same thing
  • I have tried similar veggie diets...but the cheese always kills me...kills me I tell ya ;)
  • It'll get me too. Queso? Pizza? Gimmie a break
  • Blessed are the cheesemakers.

    You know that you have Sunday off, right? Get a burger.
  • No off days. Its not a catholic thing
  • You realize that when you don't capitalize it, it means "liberal?"

    Maybe you should think about converting? From... Hmmmm... E'ville -- Lutheran?

    I know! "Mattinglyism!"
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