45 days of a new diet...I am sticking to it

Hey everyone,

30 days ago I switched to a somewhat vegitarian diet. I was inspired by an article that I read on plane returning home from a business trip. The article, was in the Wall Street Journal and it was titled "The 247 lb. Vegan*". As I read on, the story was about Tony Gonzalez. Tony plays football in the NFL for the Kansas City Chiefs. He also played high school football here in San Diego at the same time I did. I guess I felt some connection on that basis, but more of the one on the issue of weight and overall health.  Click on the title of the post and it will take you to the article

If you look at the title of the article, you will see an asterisk.  It is due to the fact that he mixes in some chicken and some fish.  It is essential to make sure that are getting some form of protein.  I have been having things like tofu and some beans to make sure I am getting enough.  I am also mixing in some chicken and fish.  As of today, I have only had red meat 3 times.  Not that I had an urge for it, but I was literally pinned in a corner and had to eat it as the only option.  

Why am I doing this?  For the most part, I am trying to really lean down for the following reasons; 

1. The baby is coming and I want to make sure that I am in good health.  Not that I am not in good health now, but there is always room for improvement when it comes to making food choices.  
2. I wanted to help Taunya out more and start cooking more.  With the baby coming and all,  I wanted to give her one less thing do to.  Plus with me cooking more it forces me to learn how to make more vegetarian choices.
3. Race schedule.  Triathlon season starts this month.  I am curious to see how I will do making the switch.  After 45 days into it, I am slimming down already.  
4. Why not?  I started this thing saying to myself lets be realistic right?  So I began doing it slowly.  When going out to dinner or lunch, I started just ordering the vegetarian option.  For example, at work they ordered food for us due to an all day meeting.  I ordered the veggie sandwich.  When I got it, I thought it was the best thing I had ever had.  I must admit, I was leery about the whole thing but I just went for it.
5. It's a great long term health plan!

Now that you know why, here is how I am doing it.  As I mentioned earlier, I am just merely trying to eat better.  I like to take it meal by meal.  That is how I started and now its become habit. I am eating more fish and last night I went to sushi.  That is okay.  It helps me get my protein and I really like sushi anyway so it works.  I have come the realization that eating vegetables and other non-meat items is not really hard.  What is the really hard part, is trying to find vegetarian options.  This is the HARDEST part.  This forces you to cook more and look for more healthy places to eat over all.  Since I have been doing the veggie thing I have had to learn about more spices and stuff as a way to help increase the tastes of some dishes that I make.  This has been a struggle, but when its all over, I do not feel stuffed or hungry.  Its a weird feeling, but I am addicted to it.  

On another note, I did go thru a period of breaking out.  I have done some research online and this may be a result of my body "cleansing" itself of some of the processed products that may have been in my body.  It has pretty much gone away, but it made me think about what I WAS eating. 

Finally I also cut out soda as well.  I did this kind of at the same time and I have been doing well.  I just either have water or iced tea.  

If you have any questions or comments, please send me an email.  Remember, If I can do it, you can do it.  After all, my father is a butcher.