Meat-Free Me 07/09/2010
 
Well, I did it! I went 30 days without meat and I didn’t die of protein deficiency. So now that I’ve met my 30-day challenge, you may be asking, “What next, Michele? Are you a full-fledged vegetarian?”

The truth is… I don’t really know what I am.

But I will say that as a result of this little experiment, I’m much more aware of what I’m eating and how it makes me feel ~ physically, mentally and spiritually.

And, truth be told, I feel pretty damn good. I even think my taste buds are more alive!

In the interest of full disclosure, I have to tell you I never did give up seafood (hey, a girl’s gotta know her limits). But even that was limited to about once or twice a week.

For the most part, my diet consisted of veggies, fruits, healthy carbs, lots (and lots) of beans and a surprisingly tasty assortment of "tofuish" meat substitutes.

And yes, I actually lost a few pounds. Although I think that probably had more to do with my newfound awareness of my body's needs than the elimination of pork, beef and chicken from my diet.

I won’t lie and tell you that there weren’t times that I looked longingly at a juicy steak or coveted my husband’s chicken tacos as I sullenly ate my beans and cheese.

I’m not gonna say that the smell of bacon doesn’t still turn me on, or that if someone offered me a delicious cheeseburger I wouldn’t be tempted.   

So I can’t tell you with 100% certainty that all tasty farm animals are safe from me from now on. The truth is, I’m just planning to listen to my body and to honor it in whatever way feels right in that moment.  

But one thing I can tell you is that I’m not craving meat right now. I don’t NEED meat the way I thought I would at the end of this 30 days. And that’s a great start, or finish, depending on your outlook.
 


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