So - as you may be aware, I decided to be Vegan for a month. Then, after 2 weeks, I decided to add dairy back into my diet and just be vegetarian. Then, 2 weeks after that, I inserted meat back into my diet. So I had a whole month of no meat! How was it eating meat again, and how did I feel about that month? Let me tell ya:
Vegan - my body felt great. I wasn't working out but I still felt fit. I was eating TONS, as my body was burning off the vegetable VERY quickly. I was in good moods, and it was easy to not get stressed out. Overall - it was great. However, going out to eat limited my options. I easily found plenty of places to eat in Hanoi - but my tastebuds were getting a little tired of Tofu.
Vegetarian - once I added dairy back into my diet, I DEF felt a difference. I felt a little heavier, but still was eating a lot. I started working out again during this time, but I still didn't feel as good as I did when I was vegan.
MEAT - my first meal back into the carnivorous world was crispy pork. I was expecting a life changing event to happen in my mouth. Like, OHHH HOW I'VE MISSED PORK (or chicken/or beef). But nothing like that happened. I felt tired, and heavy. I felt mostly like "ok, I've had meat again, big deal". There was no rush for me to have another meat dish, so I felt a little disappointed. I've eaten meat again since, but it just doesn't fulfill me like it used it.
It's not been about a week since I've been back to a "normal" diet. I've come to learn that I pay much more attention to what I'm eating if there is a dietary restriction. I had figured that after I put meat back into my diet, I would be more careful about what I'm eating. But I'm not. I also find myself eating meat not because I want/need to, but mostly because it's available and easy.
What now?
1) I've learned that keeping dairy out of my diet is the healthiest - most of us can't digest it anyways. So, I'm going to work to not have any (with the exception of yogurt, due to the healthiness of the bacteria cultures). That means no milk in my coffee, no cheese in my sandwich, no ranch on my veggies (easy enough on that one in Vietnam).
2) While I like pork, chicken, and steak (every once in a while) I don't feel as if it is super important to my diet. I am going to make a segway into being a pescatarian. I feel seafood is healthier (and MUCH more delicious). While it is easy to find in Hanoi - it is a little more expensive. But, I don't HAVE to eat it at every meal - there is plenty of veg and tofu to fulfil me otherwise. Of course - this won't happen until I finish eating all the meat in my freezer - luckily I have a boyfriend with a healthy appetite to help out with that.
So it looks as if soon I will be a Pescatarian (w/ no diary). How strange, but healthy. Of course, when I am traveling, I may need to adjust my diet accordingly.
Xin Chao,
Apes
Vegan - my body felt great. I wasn't working out but I still felt fit. I was eating TONS, as my body was burning off the vegetable VERY quickly. I was in good moods, and it was easy to not get stressed out. Overall - it was great. However, going out to eat limited my options. I easily found plenty of places to eat in Hanoi - but my tastebuds were getting a little tired of Tofu.
Vegetarian - once I added dairy back into my diet, I DEF felt a difference. I felt a little heavier, but still was eating a lot. I started working out again during this time, but I still didn't feel as good as I did when I was vegan.
MEAT - my first meal back into the carnivorous world was crispy pork. I was expecting a life changing event to happen in my mouth. Like, OHHH HOW I'VE MISSED PORK (or chicken/or beef). But nothing like that happened. I felt tired, and heavy. I felt mostly like "ok, I've had meat again, big deal". There was no rush for me to have another meat dish, so I felt a little disappointed. I've eaten meat again since, but it just doesn't fulfill me like it used it.
It's not been about a week since I've been back to a "normal" diet. I've come to learn that I pay much more attention to what I'm eating if there is a dietary restriction. I had figured that after I put meat back into my diet, I would be more careful about what I'm eating. But I'm not. I also find myself eating meat not because I want/need to, but mostly because it's available and easy.
What now?
1) I've learned that keeping dairy out of my diet is the healthiest - most of us can't digest it anyways. So, I'm going to work to not have any (with the exception of yogurt, due to the healthiness of the bacteria cultures). That means no milk in my coffee, no cheese in my sandwich, no ranch on my veggies (easy enough on that one in Vietnam).
2) While I like pork, chicken, and steak (every once in a while) I don't feel as if it is super important to my diet. I am going to make a segway into being a pescatarian. I feel seafood is healthier (and MUCH more delicious). While it is easy to find in Hanoi - it is a little more expensive. But, I don't HAVE to eat it at every meal - there is plenty of veg and tofu to fulfil me otherwise. Of course - this won't happen until I finish eating all the meat in my freezer - luckily I have a boyfriend with a healthy appetite to help out with that.
So it looks as if soon I will be a Pescatarian (w/ no diary). How strange, but healthy. Of course, when I am traveling, I may need to adjust my diet accordingly.
Xin Chao,
Apes
