Veggie Talez

Life in a Meat Eating House. Harsh.

2010-04-04T21:27:00.002-04:00

Let me tell you something - friends - that thing pictured on the left is the enemy of every gluttonous, sloth person in this world. Yup, its a shame, but I have to say I did it again. Mostly because my sweet family isnt making this trip any easier - and Im having more cravings then I ever had when I was tempted.

My family isnt supportive of my new eating habits, I have goals - in fact Ive already lost 6lbs in the last week to two weeks - but the fight to being vegetarian - its right at my door. Its hard living with a meat family, in the last 2 days, skipping today of course, Ive had 4 hamburgers - sad but true. And afterward, I hate to say it but I loved it, but I could almost feel those 6lbs go POOF! right back on.

I need a little encouragement at my door if I am going to be fighting everyone in the house for the next 6 months. I want to loose those pounds before I go to see my boyfriend and spend vacation with him!

I do have good news, however: I got a full 3 months subscription to the YMCA for 18 dollars. Ive been going as much as 3 times a week, I am going to up the goal though: I'm going to try and go for 4 times a week for an hour every time. There really is no feeling like the high after a good long work out.

Please give me some support guys, its really getting me down. I'm trying my best here - but whether I turn out a meat eater or a vegetarian, I'm going to loose those 100lbs. Maybe not by September, but diffidently before my next birthday. Even if I have to go every day, rain or shine, hell or not, Ill loose them. I'm tired of being a size 26, trying to look for anything to fit me - gals: its just not worth the crying, screaming, and pain anymore - you got to loose it to feel more confident.

Unless of course, you take pride in your weight, in which case, by all means - please stay the way you are!

- Sammy Out.

Life in the City.

2010-03-23T13:28:00.003-04:00

Over the weekend a few friends of mine and I took a detour trip to North Carolina. I dont think Ive walked so much in my entire life - we ended up going to a place called The Fields of the Wood. It is a Christian park that has the ten commandments on a large hill, that in order to get to the building (the bible) at the top of the hill you have to climb about one hundred and thirty steps, give or take. Go on that site and you will see what I am talking about.

I did not walk up those steps, because I was already exhausted from walking about a mile in sandals at the Ocoee Rafting Center, which sits on the Ocoee River. It was also the site of the 1996 Olympic Whitewater competition. I will upload pictures from my phone once I am able to get texting again - it will be sometime next month.

The reason we ended up in Murphy, NC is because to get to the Ocoee swimming areas - we had to take a two hour drive around, there were rock slides that had happened and they were having to rebuild the roads because it was so horrible. And they pushed back the time to April.

Hopefully, we can go swimming sometime in late April - I generally loose a lot more weight in the summer from all the swimming I do. If we did not have seasons, I would probably swim all year. There's just something about water that is majestic in its own right.

Aside from taking a long trip, Sunday and Monday were my first days "off" of exercising. Lazing around because the weather was just horrible - no sun in sight. However, I have to admit I cheated on being a vegetarian - and this is the second time Ive done that. I had a little meat. Pizza - its your worst enemy. Do not get me wrong - I love veggie pizza - that's actually would I ended up as MY pizza, but the day after when I wanted lunch - I ate my Dad's which is a all meat lovers pizza. I had taken off the sausage as much as I could - but I had completely forgotten about the peperoni. (Im not even aware what meat peperoni is.)

Well, according to: wiseGEEK - "Peperoni is a spicy dry Italian sausage, cut into slices."

So, there you have it boys and girls, I had Italian sausage - and believe me - it was amazing, but it ripped through my stomach like razors. (I dont blame it, the poor pig I decided to eat, Im sure was not pleased either.)

Shame, shame, on Sam. Don't worry after this mishap, I wont be eating meat anymore. The counter was at 29, one day away from being a month. So, Im starting over. And Im writing on this to say: No meat from now on. Im also going to wipe the poll - since it proved the first 29 days I couldnt do it. Dont worry, Im going to repost it, but it wont have any votes.

- Sam

Orange Juice, the Sunny Side of Life!

2010-03-19T19:03:00.005-04:00

As you can see, I am writing about orange juice today. Why? Because I went to the Goodwill and found..... *dun, dun, dunnnn* a juice extractor! Yay! I had been looking for one for a while - they had one that was electric, but I need to work my arms so I got the manual one!

Here's somethings to help you guys out if you ever run into something like this, and want to do it: 5 oranges make 1 3/4 cups of orange juice. Now, you can microwave it for 10 seconds - which works to loosen up the juice in the orange - but you don't have to. It really depends on how you want to make it and how much.

Today, my best friend and I went walking around town. So, at least I am not going a day or so without exercising! I am doing amazing right now, and I hope in the next few weeks or so I will still be doing what I need to do!

For lunch, we had Chili's and I had a black bean veggie patty. It was amazing! If any of you have a Chili's near you - ask for the veggie burger if they have it! It is definitely worth it. And I indulged a little and had fries - but they were also good.

I could also feel the spring in the air - and in the next couple of weeks I think I am going to start clearing out our little gardens and start planting some things. Winter is really hard to keep up with that - but if I do it while its on the edge of spring, I can clear things out without having to worry about bees and such.

Question: Which is better: Glass pitchers or plastic? And why?

- Sam

Feeling Great!

2010-03-18T18:40:00.004-04:00

Today is a beautiful day! One of the first days of this month where spring really shows.

So my beginning weight (from the doctors) is: 271 lbs. Exactly what I was thinking it was around. So the good news is, I have only gained 10 lbs. in 3 years.

Hopefully, in the next few months I will loose enough to be 220 to 230. My goal weight is: 120. But I doubt that will happen until near the end of the year.
Today my aunt and I spent wonderful time together and went to the YMCA near my house - we spent a good hour and twenty minutes doing different things on the machines. We stretched first of course. Then we went and did our exercise. My friend works at the YMCA, so she stopped by before leaving to give me some advice and help.

Overall, it was an amazing day, and I hope I have more days like these. Also! I ate at Subway - Veggie Delight of course. Though, the subway I went to almost burnt my foot long. :/ And they had carrots - weird on a sandwich but it was definitely good.

And overall just to indulge a little - I had yogurt chocolate ice cream. The best stuff in heaven! After a long day at the gym, then going to her house and talking and helping around her apartment, its good to just finally sit down.

But now that all my energy is stirred up from the gym, I almost want to dance - almost.

Question: How many of you go to the gym weekly? Do you think its worth it?

- Sam

New Day - Part 2!

2010-03-15T20:31:00.008-04:00

So, today was a veryyyy busy day. My neighbor and I played badmitton as well as playing basketball! Overall, we both got at least an hour of constant exercise - while it was fun!

Now, here comes some serious talking. I was looking up some vegetarian facts and I got this:

"Although there are health advantages of being a vegetarian, there are also disadvantages. Vegetarians can develop deficiency in vitamins B12, B2, and D. B12 is only present in animal products. Reduced levels of B12 can cause anemia and degenerative changes in the central nervous system. Vegetarians must get vitamin B12 from either a vitamin supplement or soy milk. Or they can just be sure to eat broccoli, asparagus, and almonds.

Calcium, iron, and zinc, are all major minerals. It's difficult to get calcium without consuming dairy products. Mustard greens, broccoli, and fortified tofu contain calcium but substances in some vegetables, such as oxalic acid, usually decrease the absorption of calcium.

There are nine essential amino acids that act as a building block for protein. No single plant contains all these acids, except for soy beans. It is important for a vegetarian to eat a wide variety of protein-rich foods, such as nuts, legumes, and seeds, to avoid loss of these amino acids."

This came from a site called, Health Zone , which talks about different nutritional facts. Such as the advantages AND disadvantages of Vegetarianism. So, all new vegetarians (or people just enjoying the blog) can see that its not all happy bunnies and rainbows. (Har har!) Just like a omnivore, there are risks to what you eat and what you cant eat.

Now, Ill admit since Ive started I really haven't noticed much of a change until I really started cracking down and working out. I feel like I have way more energy, and that I'm not sluggish all the time. Something that even though I cant pin point is because I ate meat, its definitely because I'm controlling my portions a lot more.

But I digress, I am not going to be one of those vegetarians who go around and spat bullcrap about PETA and how they save the animals and how everything must be organic. Lets be real here - technology is bringing the human race down. Just listen for a second before you start screaming at me and saying I am pulling crap out of places - have you ever looked around and have seen how it effects the younger generations.

Kids don't even talk to other kids now because they are so engrossed in technology. And honestly, I'm here and obese BECAUSE I love technology so much. Is it Bill Gates fault that I never wanted to get up and go running or enjoy the brilliance of outside? No, of course not - but my point is technology has changed how we look at people. I mean for Christ's sake we have child molesters have more access to our children via internet.

Peta - or anyone for that matter - attempting to turn the tables and turn us back to the medieval ages - its not going to work. No matter how much I love being a vegetarian and saving animals and helping people - technology is going to keep our heads to a future of isolation and starvation.

Personally, I hand it to the Amish. The fact they have been untouched by society, and have strong wills to even look at a computer is enough to inspire the hearts of the most stubborn.

My point being: Peta has the wrong approach, good for story telling and fairytales, but the fact is just being a vegan or a vegetarian isn't enough to turn Humanity's face around. Sorry, Peta your out of luck today and for the future.

Question: Do you believe that Peta will eventually succeed in their dreams to turn us all into vegetarians/vegans and that animals will frolic with us?

- Sam

New Day!

2010-03-15T10:49:00.000-04:00

Today is a wonderful new day. The picture you see here is one I took from photobucket, and I love it. I really wish I was the person who took the photo, they are an amazing photographer. So kudos to you, one who made this picture possible!

Anyway, Im not exactly sure what Im going to do. I have a busy week ahead of me, to going to the doctor tomorrow (I am NOT thrilled about that, but at least Ill get my health issues under control.) and going sometime Thursday with my Aunt to go be workout buddies. All while hoping I don't eat meat.

Now, its not that its hard NOT to eat meat, its that you see it all the time. Personally, I don't know how people who have been vegetarians have done it for so long. You see it everywhere. Its like cutting out all technology - its there. Though most of the time its choosing to not make conversation - its still there. (Conversation as in making your mouth water, or wanting it in some way.) ...I really shouldn't be writing this while I haven't eaten breakfast yet - my brain went to nice crispy bacon. Which even when I wasn't a vegetarian I tried to stay away from, but lures you in. Okay, okay, Ill stop.

Anyway, Im not exactly sure what Im going to eat this morning - Im honestly thinking of having some strawberry smoothie. Which, if anyone of you havent had - its something I highly recommend. Its pretty much just 2 cups of frozen strawberry with 1 cup milk. You can add ice, or replace milk with water. But always remember: 1 cup MORE fruit, then liquid. And you got it!

Question for all of you: If you were/are vegetarian what would you fix that is just for you for the morning?

I may write somethings later if I feel like it - or about my wondrous adventure going walking later this evening.

- Sam

First Post! Pledge to Vegetarianism!

2010-03-14T16:23:00.002-04:00

Hi All!

So... My name is Samantha! And Im 20 years old. I have actually been a Vegetarian since *points to the counter on the left* 20 days. Or a little over 2 weeks.

You might ask me, "Why be a Vegetarian?" Well, the answer is pretty simple. Health reasons. The magazine I recently got claims that: "The American Heart Association reports that vegetarians “have a lower risk of obesity, coronary heart disease (which causes heart attack), high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, and some forms of cancer.” - I dont know about you, but thats things I like to stay away from!

Now, aside from who says what and whether its right or not - Im an obese person. My height is 5'3 1/2 (Shush! You tall people out there! I need to add the half!) and my weight is 260 to 270. Now the exact weight will come up later - as I am going to the doctor on Tuesday. (Is anyone really EVER excited to go to the doctor and have their weight checked?)

Anyway, my hope is, in the next year (or so) I will drop 100lbs from being a Vegetarian. Now, Im not saying its going to drop like hot rocks, though that would be wonderful! Im going to, of course, talk to my doctor and exercise as often as I can. (Weekly to daily is my hope!)

My goal weight is: 130, though I would be happy with 150, even if thats not seen as "average"

Anyway, so far, Ive been having fun with it. Though I did have some issues this weekend. My parents decided to cook grilled hamburgers and for a new Vegetarian, that is like seeing the pot of gold - but knowing its going to burn you as soon as you touch it. I decided to just stay away from it - the smell - everything. Worked remarkably well.

Along with spending a wonderful time with my family (and fighting the urge to eat cow) I played badminton with my cousin. It was more fun then I expected. I used to play in High School - but I never really had a partner until yesterday. He's a fast little kid - even if he did fall at least 3 times - though I admit it was partially my fault, as playing in the rain is not exactly the safest time to do so.

Buuuttt I digress, it was definatly a fun day. Even if Im sore all over from having to chase the birdie.

P.s. Check out the side stuff! I have a poll! I will be really grateful if everyone would put what they think!

- Sam