Some people think that the terms, “vegan” and “vegetarian” are interchangeable. They’re not. Vegans don’t eat/use anything from an animal. For example, they don’t drink milk or eat eggs. And if you’re knitting a sweater for a vegan friend or family member, be sure to use yarn that isn’t wool.
Vegetarians, on the other hand, don’t eat meat, but do use animal products (cheese, leather). I’m guessing vegetarians give up meat because they feel that the farming industry treats their animals cruelly. Others do it for their health.
I chose to become a vegetarian 3 years ago, which doesn’t mean that all I ever eat are vegetables! Well, most of what I eat has vegetables, but it has things like pasta or brown rice, too.
Anyway, 3 years ago I was the heaviest I’d ever been. At 5’1″, I weighed 180 lbs. I don’t know what caused the weight gain, but my primary care physician mentioned that the gall bladder, which processes fat, could no longer do its job because it was surgically removed I think, the year before. So that could be one of many reasons for the weight gain.
Another is my craving for Peanut M&Ms. Every once in a while I’d have a craving for something sweet, and it would usually be Peanut M&Ms and I would end up binging on them. Also, I didn’t exercise. And to be honest I still don’t.
After I gave up meat, I lost 30 lbs. Then I lost another 10, and another 10, which is where I am now. I don’t know if all people lose weight if they become a vegetarian; this is just my experience.
To be perfectly honest, I do, sometimes, miss eating meat. Mostly I’ll have a taste for kabobs, ribs, maybe a nice steak, BBQ for sure. I’ve even approached my husband about having a cheat day, but he remains steadfast as far as his own vegetarianism goes. So I do, too.
Plus, also to be honest, I’m afraid of eating meat because now I’m afraid I’ll gain all that weight back. It wouldn’t be the end of the world, but still.
Are you a vegan or vegetarian? Or neither? Would you ever consider giving up meat?
