I read the Power Steer article in the March 26th issue of New York Times magazine and it gave me enough of an added push to try and transition to vegetarianism. Now I was a huge meat eater. My favorite meal in my home town of Los Angeles was a tommie chili cheese burger (double) and chili cheese fries. And the past couple of months in Austin I discovered Golden Corral a buffet for around 6bucks lunch and 8bucks dinner that is pretty darn good.

In fact, buffets were probably my biggest weakness along with the fact that I've gotten down to 195-200 from a high of 320 and I feel damm good so I don't have a lot of motvitation to get down to 180-185 which is where I want to be. Well so far 10 days into it, it has not been hard at all to do without meat.

I believe that thinking you are really going to miss your favorite foods may turn out to be overstated depending on the individual. I like meat but so what? There are thousands of other foods to like that are not meat. I was a milkaholic. I use to drink probably 40 ounces of milk a day. Seriously for me and my uncle I bought 2 gallons (cause the 2nd gallon was like 40 cents and the first one was 3 bucks, grrr I hate supermarkets sometimes). And 'we' would finish them in a week and it was me drinking it predominately. It was skim milk no fat, but A LOT of calories. I may have lost a good chunk of my weight just from going cold turkey of milk. I've probably had 3 or 4 glasses the past YEAR.

So far I've at least lost enough weight the past 10 days that people are commenting on it and my stomach, particularly has gone down a lot. I really, trully, don't miss meat. I obviously have a lot of confidence that I can make big changes because of my track record, but looking forward to all the new food you can try when you change your eating habits is a good lesson for everyone. Experiment. Some alternatives are horrible, like the fat free string cheese I have tried. But others are tasty, like soy ice cream or Kettle Crips from the people that make Kettle Chips (the french onion flavor is my favorite). So without buffets and without meat I should be able to make my last 20lbs by the end of summer.

Larry

[suzie76]

Hi Larry,

That's great that you've decided to become a vegetarian. Did you go vegan as well? That's a huge step! Best of luck on your journey.

I was a vegetarian for four years-1995-1999. When I was expecting our son, I got incredible cravings for chicken, which I succumbed to. Unfortunately, I haven't gotten back to being a vegetarian. I avoid all red meat, but there's no such thing as being "semi" vegetarian. I do eat a lot of vegetarian meals, though.

Have you tried Yves soy sausages or Morninstar farms hot dogs or veggie burgers? They're all really good. I prefer the veggie burgers that taste like vegetables, not meat, but you may like one type over the other.

There are tons of vegan/vegetarian cookbooks out there. If you need any recommendations, please let me know.

sherry

[nasus40]

Larry I am glad that you found something that makes youfeel good (for me it is more meat). I keep saying that everyone has their own nich that workd for them. and glad you have found yours!!! way to go.

[PNG 2]

Way to go, another veggie on the board...whoohoo! We actually found it was easier to stay vegan in the beginning than it is now, a year later... odd huh? but for the most part we stick to it, and we feel better overall when we do... Hubby was a huge meat eater before we went vegan, meat with every meal, and he he has less cravings than I do. He lost a total of I think 45 pounds since going vegan, but we tend to run into sweets, and mess ourselves all up, which is what we're working on now, besides staying with mostly whole foods, rather than processed.
Good luck to you! :-)

I have no plans to become a vegan at this point. And I admit that since I started I have eat fish once, and I haven't decided yet if I am going to continue to eat seafood but probably not. Thanks for the morning star suggestion. The one thing I have found is that taste varies a lot with veggie burgers. Personally I think they have to work more on texture then taste, some of them really do seem to be cardboard. I think I fall under liking the vegetable and grain types but I think I tried a bocca burger or something like that, which was 'meat flavored' and it tasted pretty good. So I guess I will continue to experiment. So far it seems to be the right decision for me.

Thought I would bump this up. It has been 2 or almost 2 months now and I am still veggie and finding it is no problem at all, and I have been losing weight. I also feel more 'even' throughout the day with my energy level. No post lunch blahs that I had when eating meat even though meat protien is suppose to supply long-lasting energy. Go figure. Anyhow here is an article from mayoclinic.com. Enjoy.

Larry

A vegetarian in the family: Don't panic



With all of the vegetarian options available now, many people — including kids and teens — are going veggie.

Tofu dogs, soy burgers, nut loaves and sausage made from textured vegetable protein are replacing what may have been old favorites: hot dogs, hamburgers, roast beef and bacon.

Don't panic if your child, spouse or friend suddenly decides to eat meat-free. Instead, educate yourself about vegetarian nutrition, advises Donald Hensrud, M.D., a preventive medicine and nutrition specialist at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dr. Hensrud recommends the book The Vegetarian Way: Total Health for You and Your Family, by Mark and Virginia Messina.


Vegetarians in the mainstream


People adopt a vegetarian diet for many reasons. Religion and concern for animals motivate some to go "cold turkey" on meat. In other cases, people become vegetarian to save money. Your child may choose vegetarianism on his or her own, without any explanation at all. But most commonly, people change their eating habits with health goals in mind.

The health benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle are numerous:

A vegetarian diet is consistent with many nutritional recommendations. For instance, the American Cancer Society's 1996 guidelines on diet, nutrition and cancer prevention include these suggestions: Get most of your food from plant sources and limit high-fat foods — especially those from animals.
Vegetarians may enjoy health benefits. In numerous studies it has been shown that following a plant-based diet is associated with lower cholesterol levels, less heart disease, lower risk of many cancers, lower blood pressure, decreased weight and even stronger bones.
It's easy to get enough protein. At one time dietitians thought vegetarians had to eat certain food combinations at one meal, such as rice and beans, to get enough protein. Today that view no longer holds. Studies have shown that as long as you eat a variety of vegetable proteins throughout the day, you can get all the protein your body needs.

Eating less meat leaves you with many options


Before making a decision for yourself or your family about going vegetarian, consider your options. As a vegetarian you can eat fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds, peas, beans and dairy products. Someone who consumes fish or poultry is not a vegetarian.

Vegetarians fall into groups defined by the types of animal-based foods they eat:

Lacto-ovo vegetarians omit red meat, fish and poultry but eat eggs, milk and milk products, such as cheese and yogurt, in addition to plant-based foods.
Lacto-vegetarians eat milk and milk products along with plant-based foods. They omit eggs as well as meat, fish and poultry.
Vegans eliminate all foods from animals. They eat only plant-based foods.
Perhaps none of these options seem appealing. Instead you can choose to reduce, rather than eliminate, meat and still follow a diet high in plant products. Or you can eat vegetarian at home and loosen up your dietary restrictions on certain occasions — such as restaurant meals or family gatherings.


Children and vegetarianism


Vegetarianism is safe, even for kids who have special growth needs. If your child goes veggie, you can support this new lifestyle by:

Making side dishes without meat at each meal. These can serve as your child’s main dish, for example beans and rice or pasta primavera
Taking your child to ethnic restaurants and sampling their vegetarian fare
Occasionally making vegetarian dishes for the entire family
If you or your child chooses a vegetarian option, create a nutrition plan.

"It's especially important to plan to make sure children get appropriate calories and nutrients for growth and development," says Jennifer K. Nelson, a registered dietitian at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. "The 'wiggle room' in diet is much narrower for young people than for adults. If your child likes a wide variety of foods, then he or she is likely to have an adequate diet. If your child is a picky eater and still wants to be a vegetarian, you and your child may want to see a registered dietitian."

In particular, choose how you'll get adequate amounts of protein, iron, calcium and vitamin B-12. Here are some suggestions.

Vegetarians who eat eggs or dairy products have convenient sources of protein. Nonmeat sources of protein include soy products. Many foods marketed as natural, such as veggie burgers and hot dogs, are made from soy products or tofu. Tempeh, a fermented soy food, is a source of protein that some people prefer to tofu. Peas, peanuts, beans, breads and cereals all contain protein. As noted earlier, vegans can get adequate protein by careful meal planning. If you or your child decides to become a vegan, ask your doctor for a referral to a registered dietitian.
Your body needs vitamin B-12 to produce red blood cells and prevent anemia. Vitamin B-12 is found almost exclusively in animal products. To ensure your vegetarian gets enough B-12, use breakfast cereals and soy products fortified with B-12. If you or your child becomes a vegan, your doctor might recommend a B-12 supplement.
Everyone needs iron, another nutrient crucial to making red blood cells. Children and teenagers need iron to grow. Girls need iron to replace red blood cells lost during menstruation. Many foods besides meat contain iron: beans, peas, whole-grain breads, spinach, raisins, apricots, peaches, nuts, seeds and iron-fortified cereals. To help your body absorb iron, eat foods rich in vitamin C, such as strawberries, citrus fruits, tomatoes, cabbage and broccoli. Don't take iron supplements unless your doctor advises you to. Excess iron from supplements can be harmful.
Calcium is important for children to grow and to maintain strong bones and teeth. In addition to low-fat dairy foods, include dark green vegetables such as broccoli, kale, and collard and turnip greens in your meals. Also try tofu that’s prepared with calcium or drink fortified soy milk. All of these options contain calcium.
Maintaining a vegetarian diet can reduce the amount of fat, cholesterol and calories you consume. For most of us, that's great. But keep in mind that children — especially those age 2 and younger — need fat, cholesterol and calories to grow. Don’t place young children on a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. A vegetarian diet can still include many sources of fat, such as dairy products, eggs, butter, margarine, nuts, seeds, salad oils, vegetable shortening and cooking oils.

Even if you decide not to eliminate meat entirely, you and your family will benefit from eating as many plant-based foods as possible.