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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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!

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