Why I Went Vegetarian
About two months ago, I decided to go vegetarian. I’d like to be able to tell you it was because of some form of moral outrage about how animals are treated, and while there is an element of that, the main reason was simple: I needed to change my relationship with food1.
If you’ve met me, you’ll know that I’m fat. No, not just fat…obese. I have a definite problem with seeing food as a reward, something to be an emotional comfort, instead as a source of nutrition. When I was commuting to work a few years ago, I would stop for two bagels with cream cheese on the way to work, and pick up two McDonald’s double cheeseburgers on the way home every day, but then I would have my normal meal with the family on top of it. Why? It’s the same reason some folks have a drink after work, it made me feel better, allowed me to de-stress.
I went vegetarian because it sets up a strong and clear line for me and forces me to think about everything I shove into my face. It has eliminated any stopping at all at fast food places, because if I cannot get the fat and salt of the meat, there’s no real reward. At parties and gatherings, it helps me moderate my food intake because I need to think about what I want to eat, not just fall into the flow and grab whatever is in front of me. I’ll admit, I’ve fallen off the wagon, but when I have done so, I’ve come to regret it2.
I’ve been reading about the science of food a lot over the last few months as well, about how different things foods cause our brains to feel comfort, happiness, even something similar to mini-orgasms with the right combination of chemicals. This report from CNN was interesting:
This is not a pity party, and this is not an attempt to blame the food industry for my problem. It’s my personal responsibility to stand for myself again the tide, and I strongly believe that. However, I do find it interesting and disturbing just how the food industry, like the cigarette companies before them, use marketing and chemistry to create a social norm and provide an emotional experience regardless of consequence. Food can become the ultimate addiction, especially when specifically engineered to provide an emotional response. You can give up cigarettes, but how do you give up food? I think there is a discussion to be had there, and I think that’s fodder for a future essay.
I’m not telling you this so you can hear the strains of violins and weep for my unfortunate condition.. Far from it. I bring this up because I know there are lots of other people out there like me. I’m hoping that by talking about this, I can bring some of the issues out into the open. It’s one thing to sit in a theatre and watch Super Size Me, but it’s another to be sitting in the car, driving home, resisting the strong urge to stop and get something to eat because it’s been a hard day, and by god, you deserve it.
Expect more from me on this topic. They say to write what you know, and food issues…well…yeah. I know those all too well.
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July 4th, 2009 at 9:33 am
Yeah, I was going to ask about Schmidts. Sorry.
I don’t think I knew you were vegetarian. Good luck with it all. I too see food as a major reward. It’s a good thing to break.
July 4th, 2009 at 9:38 am
On Schmidt’s: Bah. Not your fault. I’m a big boy (heh) and I can take care of myself. I knew I shouldn’t have, and I paid for it. I could have had the salad. It’s just another lesson.
Thanks for the well-wishing, though. I’ll be writing more about this as I go.
For now, we just got a free treadmill from some neighbors, so I’m off to get my fat ass in motion. I hear that’s good for me. Or something.
July 4th, 2009 at 9:55 am
I’m right there with you! I’m not vegetarian, but recently have been trying to be more disciplined and thoughtful about food choices for myself and my family. It’s really quite difficult, and yes, that “I’ve earned this!” argument can be VERY hard to resist. Living with a diabetic person has really opened my eyes to the huge impact diet has on our overall health, though, and once you’re aware of this, it makes it a little easier to say no to over-processed foods, fast food, and ridiculously sweet stuff. Good luck, Chris, and keep it up – it’s absolutely worth it!
July 4th, 2009 at 10:02 am
Thanks, Aurora! Yeah…it’s a interesting thing, isn’t it? We take it for granted, but it’s the biggest impact daily life has on us. So much flows from what we eat.
July 4th, 2009 at 10:07 am
You’re already ahead of 90% of Americans, just by making a conscious decision about your eating habits. I’m no expert on this kind of thing, but I’ve been trying to lose an extra 30 or 40 pounds for years now, and it’s difficult. If you don’t mind, I humbly offer the fruits of my experience: What I can tell you empirically is that all of the conjecture out there is damn near worthless. Which diet? Which supplement? Which work-out plan? These questions are just debating minutia, signifying nothing. The only things that matter are the big 3: move more, eat less, and BE CONSISTENT.
The last part is the toughest for me, and I imagine it isn’t easy for anyone. It’s easy to go vegan and work out every day for a week, but doing it every week forever is a grueling challenge, especially if you’re making a drastic change–from tons of meat to none at all. In fact, I think such drastic changes hurt more than they help, because there is far too great of a tendency to give up and snap back to one’s old lifestyle.
In my experience, the slower you make a change, the longer it will last. In college I tried starving myself for 4 weeks, working out nearly to exhaustion almost every day. I lost damn near 15 pounds, but the month after that, I burnt out and gained 20 back. I also felt horrible for at least the next 2 months. I’ve had the greatest success with starting small and establishing a stable foundation of nutrition & exercise, then slowly ramping up from there. You know–walking before you run.
The other biggest challenge I’ve had is turning off autopilot when I eat. I was raised to be in the “clean plate club,” and when I leave a few fries in the box, I experience that vague sense of shame at depriving all of those starving third-world children. I have to constantly remind myself that it’s all bupkus, and the good stuff is letting myself process each bite, and to *stop eating when I’m no longer hungry*. The first time I ever did it, it was like an identity crisis. I sat there with half a steak on my plate and thought, “Wait… I am simply no longer hungry.” I didn’t know what to do with myself. Would the Clean Plate Police come and get me? Would the waiter shame me for wasting the bounty before me? Neither happened. It gets easier, and more natural.
I hope some of this helps. With the above amateur wisdom I’ve managed to lose 15 pounds over 3 or 4 months. It’s slow going, but there are more benefits than just fat loss. When your nutrition is well-rounded and you exercise regularly, everything else starts falling into place: you sleep better, you have more energy, it’s easier to be happy and harder to sulk. It’s a wonderful path, and I wish you the best of luck in walking it!
July 4th, 2009 at 10:07 am
Chris -
Excellent post. One of my “brothers from another mother” (You know him better as Dave Kanter) is a vegetarian. In fact, I would highly recommend you contact Dave, because Dave does vegetarianism like he does everything else, with vigor and style. I’m sure he’ll have some amazing ideas for foods that you might like.
I’ve also struggled with a weight problem during my life. For me, the answer was twofold: first, I got *really tired* of being overweight. I hated how I felt about myself, I hated how I acted, and decided that “Taco Bell just isn’t worth this.” (I still fight the urge when I pass the Bell)
Then secondly, I didn’t just cut all the junk food out of my life, I looked for replacements I could actually enjoy. It doesn’t help your cravings to eat rice cakes if you hate rice cakes. But I found a peanut butter/honey (or jelly) sandwich makes a good substitute for a sweet dessert, if you have to, and the same with orange juice for soda.
I think it’s terrific that you’re doing this, Chris. What you’ve done in the past doesn’t matter half as much as what you’re doing today. If I can offer anything, I would say: “Spend a little research time on healthy substitutes _that you enjoy_” — that last bit is the hard part, but if you can find something, it helps keep those cravings at bay.
Good luck sir -
Earl
July 4th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
You are not alone. I think you are strong to write what you did. There are many people out here who can feel what you are going through. It is true that you can quit cigarettes, but you cannot quit food. Just remember that what you are on the inside has nothing to do with your weight. you will be the same honorable person just thinner. I am also someone who goes to food for comfort and I think vegetarianism is a great idea. We like you for who you are now and we will be rooting you on your way to being healthier
.
July 4th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Hi Chris,
I went vegetarian a number of years ago. My wife (girlfriend at the time) made the switch and it caused me to look at what I ate and why. I don’t regret my decision, it makes it that much easier for us to eat, and I don’t miss meat that much.
I agree it does make decisions at restaurants easier. I did think that I would eat healthier because of my vegetarianism, but there are plenty of foods that still contribute to my growing midsection. Turns out, I substitute carbs — pasta, bread, etc — for meat and because of that I’m still overweight. I’m still having to adjust my diet to reduce the quantity and improve the quality of the food I eat.
I wish you all the luck in your adventure in vegetarianism. Maybe we could start a veggie-geek support group.
-Jim
July 4th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
Congratz on going vegetarian! I’m still part of the omnivore club, but if I had to go lacto-ovo vegetarian, I could probably do so with little difficulty. I’d cry much more saying farewell to eggs and cheese.
Lots of great points here. I have to say that today’s current food trends are completely obvious – cheap, prepackaged foods laden with what our bodies are hardwired to crave – fat, salt and sweet – which we *do* need to survive, but in MUCH smaller quantities then we consume. Fat helps us absorb vitamins, salt is essential for brain and body function and sweetness reminds us of our mother’s milk. Combine that with the “Clean Plate Club” as mentioned by Max, we not only want these tasty calorie laden foods, but we feel the need to eat the giant portions that restaurants and manufacturers offer.
I try whenever possible to bisect meals out in half at the start and take the rest home. Tracy and I also have a couple of “meat free” days during the week that we choose based on what we feel like that week.
We want to do a Zwei Fat Chicks podcast on vegetarianism, so that will probably be coming next month. In the meantime, we try to always mention what restaurants have to offer in the way of vegetarian dishes whenever we review a place. We applaud your choice to eat more consciously and carefully!
July 4th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
I’m happy to have been to Schmidt’s for the first time ever while at Origins, but vegetarian or no, it is the death to any semblance of dietary self-control.
Any success I’ve had in regards to changing diet and controlling weight has been to treat it like an addiction, which is something you touch on above. Especially when it’s tied to stress and convenience, as it definitely is for me, it does end up being a “one meal at a time” thing for the rest of your life. I once lost 30 pounds in 6 months during my year as a chief resident, by cutting portion sizes in general, most fast food in particular, and making a regular effort at physical activity. The main reason that worked was because my duties that particular year were relatively light, and so my level of stress was low. The following year was crazy, and I ended up gaining most of it back since.
In the end, we all tend to default to our habits. Making regimented good ones, like your choice to go vegetarian, are only way to counter the comfortable ones, like the post work snack (burgers for you, and my former vice of a massive apple danish & shake). Much luck, and keep us in the loop.
July 5th, 2009 at 9:36 am
I was so happy to read this post. We all want you to be happy and healthy – and with us for many more years to come!
Going vegetarian and the simple awareness of what you choose to eat is ceratinly going to help. Throughout this journey remember to be kind to yourself when you slip and don’t give up.
Also, I have had great success with Emotional Freedom Therapy. It’s a simple & powerful tool for resetting the way we respond to physical and emotional triggers. I think this can be helpful in dealing with the emotions connected to food.
Food, Inc. opens at the Cedar Lee on 7/10. I’ll be going to a preview Tuesday and will tell you more once I’ve seen it.
Hugs, S.
July 5th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
[...] essay, “Why I Went Vegetarian” (thanks to all who [...]
July 6th, 2009 at 10:49 am
Good on you, Chris. Just commenting to throw in my support. And to help lump blame on Mur. She’s up to no good.
July 7th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
Go see Food Inc & you won’t want to eat meat ever again (unless it’s raised & processed on a small farm, free of growth hormones & antibiotics). Parts of the movie were very hard to watch, but so important to see.
I was most moved by the mother of a 2 year old who lost his life from an e-coli tainted hamburger. This woman’s activism is inspiring. The legislation known as Kevin’s Law will help put the teeth back into the FDA and hold food companies responsible for their practices.
The screening on Monday 7/13 at 7:10 will be followed by a panel discussion which should be very interesting.
July 8th, 2009 at 7:32 am
Chris,
As I added your feed to Google Reader, I decided to browse through the last few posts. This one definitely caught my eye. Kudos to you on the vegetarian route and the #onourfeet hashatg. I’m getting prepped to join you on that one! Some other good sources of info for you:
The Beck Diet Solution: A cognitive therapy for managing your relationship with food. Might be an interesting read. I am starting to review this week.
Food Inc: Haven’t seen it but I hear if you do then you will never look at food the same way again.
Fast Food Nation: Great book. Not that I stop at McDonald’s all that often but…yuck
Animals in Translation: This is more of the animal moral approach but an interesting read nonetheless.
Applause – Tracy
July 10th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Greetings Chris,
Its nice to know that others have self-discipline. I’ve never really had the same problem with food myself, but I can relate to your comparison that it’s like when people have a drink after work.
Best Wishes,
Joseph C.