phasing into vegetarianism

I've set a date- March 4th- as the last day I plan on eating meat (with the exception of fish) in at least a few months. Mainly it's for health reasons, I need to lose weight before I spend a good portion of my summer at a pre-college program in Miami where I'll be spending a considerable amount of time at the beach. I would like to lose about 20- 30 pounds by then, which isn't impossible because I have 4 months to do it in and I could easily lose 10 pounds a month with a healthier diet and more exercise, I think.

My question is how did you all become vegetarian? Did one day you decide that you were going to never eat meat again or did you do it slowly? If you did it slowly, how exactly did you do it?

I'm mainly giving myself a week so I can adjust and take care of any cravings now. Also, I have a box of Girl Scout cookies I need to savor before my diet begins. =P

 

well, i went to this camp and they had really disgusting meat and i decided that meat was really discusting so i decided that i wanted to be veg.

so i started by not eating red meat for like 6 months and then i stopped eating meat altogether, even fish

 

i just did it all in one big step. one day i just decided meat was rank and stopped altogether. for some reason, doing it that way wasn't as hard as i thought it'd be either. what you gotta think about it just taking it day by day. don't get into the thought pattern of "well, i didn't eat meat yesterday... so it's ok to have some today..." i tried that so many times before actually becoming veggie and it screwed me up every time. good luck!!

 

Yeah I went 'cold turkey' too. Just thought one day, I know how wrong this is so why carry on. So then stopped. That will be 20 months ago as of tomorrow.

The longer you put it off the harder it'll be. That's how it is with my vegetarian to vegan change. It's proving near impossible, always thinking 'yeah I'll start tomorrow' and find another excuse.

So just go for it, good luck

 

When I found out about the all animal cruelty in the factory farms and slaughterhouses, I stopped within one week (had to tell my parents, and finish the rest of the chicken I had left, etc...) .

I couldn't stand the thought of supporting such cruelty. So I stopped very quick.

uuurrghh.... still makes me sick thinking that I payed money for it...

 

i just decided one day that i wasnt going to eat meat anymore for 94282984 reasons, didnt have a problem with it at all once i informed myself of what i was actually contributing to and doing by eating meat, didnt feel tired or sick or anything, i just ate relatively well and carried on...

i think if you do experience any 'sideffect' it is most likely in your head, i am not too well read on the subject but i am pretty sure the only thing you get from meat that you dont get from anything but supplements is vitamin B12, which you already have plenty of stored since youve been eating meat most of your life probably anyway, and i dont think that vitamin is too significant anyway, though i really dont know.... the protein argument is totally wrong, our suggested amount of protein was discovered via testing on rats, as long as you have fingernail and hair growing you are getting plenty of protein....

i hope you stick with your healthier lifestyle choice, healthier for you and the planet.....

 

i just figured id try it out one day. 11 years later . . . . here i am. main reason was i was eating 2 much mcD's, cus i was workin out in NJ and they were right across the street, and i wasnt the incredibly good cook i am today yet

 

Another reason I gave it until Friday is because my entire family is hardcore meat-eaters and we really don't eat many veggies- much less have any in the house. We're tight on money right now so I have to plan out menus for myself so I make sure I don't overbuy when I stock up.

 

I stopped eating meat (and fish) 3 months ago, wasn't too hard... just couldn't stand the fact that some animal would get killed because I'm too lazy to eat vegetables...

 

I stopped eating meat 16 years ago, but before that I never really liked it. I ate it, but I picked it apart until it was inedible because I refused to eat the veins, the fat, etc. Plus I was always so scared of getting E. coli that I would practically burn the meat. So I did the logical thing & quit eating it altogether.

 

I'd say I slowly went vegan when I first heard about the environmental and cruelty reasons for not eating animal products. First I ate less meat, then none at all and then I was eating lots of eggs and dairy for about 4 months. It was then I decided I was a hypocrite and started using soy milk instead of normal milk and cutting out eggs and cheese.

If you are trying to go veg on a budget you should check out this thread: http://hipforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56852

I should also add that while a vegetarian diet is healthier, it will not necesiarilly make you lose weight, you still have to count your calories and fats just like any other diet.