Any vegetarians out there?

I've been slowly cutting meat, poultry, eggs and cheese out of my diet. It's been three weeks since I've eaten them. I get my protein from beans and nuts... wow. I thought I'd be deprived of energy but actually my energy has gone through the roof. I've also dropped ten or fifteen pounds! I feel great. I never have that "weighed-down" feeling anymore, and my meals completely satisfy me! I wake up and feel lighter instead of heavier, even if I eat a ton.

I stopped eating junk and fast food a long time ago and learned how to read labels and beware of certain ingredients (partially hydrogenated oil, high fructose corn syrup, sodium nitrite). I stay away from anything processed if I can help it.

I work in steel manufacturing... anyone who has done it knows it can be extremely hard work, especially when you work overtime every day and a swing shift (which I've been doing). To put it in layman's terms, I do a man's job. LOL. It's not possible to go on a crash diet because you will simply pass out at one of the presses. It's also very easy to eat like crap because a breakfast truck comes around every morning hauling all the greasy and sugary food in the world, LOL. The owner buys us free lunch (burgers and hot dogs) on Wednesday, and we get $5.00 free from the truck on Friday morning. Also, the vending machine seems like a good choice for a snack but nothing in there except peanuts is healthy, and even the peanuts are probably salted and have added oil.

Mike and I usually come home during lunch to eat instead of eating the fare offered at work.

Today, I had a generous helping of lightly sauteed bella mushrooms, tomatoes, cucumbers, peas, broccoli, and onions with fresh parsley and cilantro, and sprinkled with salt and pepper. I also had a small cup of peaches with cinnamon. Dinner was chickpeas dressed with fat-free Italian dressing and a cup of Total Cranberry Crunch with skim milk. For a treat, I had a little square of chocolate.

It's weird, and I know I should maybe eat more, but I'm completely satisfied! For protein I basically eat beans and nuts and I've been feeling better than ever... like I'm balanced.

I was very overweight until I was 17, and still have struggled with weight fluctuations. Not only that, but I've had issues with emotional overeating and undereating. It's amazing, but I think this might be what my body needed all along! Only if I had known this 15 years ago...

I'm glad its working so well for you! I was a vegetarian for 5 years, and still eat a very similar diet, but I do eat meat a little if its offered to me at someone's house or something. It isn't difficult for me because I've never cared too much for the taste or texture. My rule is I just don't buy or prepare it for myself.

Props on going at it healthily...I've seen many friends actually gain weight because they are 'junk vegetarians or vegans' meaning all they eat is sugar and potatoes (hey I guess its technically vegetarian, haha!) You should look into some crockpot type recipes, there are some great veggie ones out there and the crockpot makes them so easy to prepare.

I need to start eating better too...finals has been killing my diet.

I used to be a vegetarian, but have become much less strict about it. Like Ally, I don't prepare meat at home for myself. Well, rarely. And when I do, it's fish or chicken. Handling red meat freaks me out a little, lol.

I'd actually be very happy going back to a vegetarian diet (I would miss bbq though, lol). Before, I was still in high school and I'm sure I wasn't eating healthy---I eliminated the meat from the dinners mom prepared, but didn't replace the protein well enough. Now that I'm cooking for myself, trying new meatless recipes is fun. However, my fiance is a "meat n pototoes" type guy who I know couldn't fathom not eating meat. Preparing dinner is hassle enough without trying to plan around 2 diets.

However, my fiance is a "meat n pototoes" type guy who I know couldn't fathom not eating meat. Preparing dinner is hassle enough without trying to plan around 2 diets.

I can relate to this. Tonight we're making stuffed bell peppers. Mine is filled with cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, beans, and corn. His is ground turkey, onions, and garlic. Our diets are polar opposites in every way except the fact that we both dislike sweets.

We always have to go shopping for our own food and, most of the time, prepare our meals separately. It's not really a problem because we both like to cook. :)

Raw meat freaks me out, too!

Julie, I think it's great that you're a vegetarian! Stick with it. I have been a vegetarian for over 8 years, and I love what I eat! I did it simply because I never enjoyed meat. I am a big texture person, and meat was nothing short of disgusting. You're doing the right thing by eating a good amount of protein and produce. I know so many vegetarians that will sit there and eat a whole bag of Doritos. Most junk food is still technically vegetarian, so good for you for avoiding them!

I have kept my weight around 130 the whole time. Only now am I starting to gain a little, but that's because I now run a business from home and sit on my ass all day. To keep things balanced, I eat 5 mini meals instead of 2 or 3 huge meals. It helps, and vegetarian food is often easy to find in smaller portions anyway. Grazing helps control stomach size, so you are full more easily. Oh, I am a sucker for chocolate, too, so I get organic extra dark because it's so rich that I can only eat one square! Dark chocolate covered dry roasted soybeans are delicious, too, and they have about 7 grams of protein per palmful.

It's amazing how difficult it is to avoid all those salty, sugary convenience foods at first. I used to work at drugstores, and all they ever had were chips and other "road trip" foods. Thankfully Walgreens eventually stocked hummus and pita chips and all natural salsa, but that was all I could really eat there besides wasabi soy sauce almonds. ;) Once I heard about how terrible HFCS is, I looked into it and now I am a big time label reader. I also try to avoid anything artificial or heavily concentrated. It's hard sometimes, but I have finally found a good amount of foods that meet my standards. They're out there, you just need to know where to look.

I recommend checking out vegetariantimes.com (http://www.vegetariantimes.com) for their recipes. They have so many great ideas, and a lot of times they are quick and small. For the recipes that are big, I like to make it all and freeze it in individual serving containers. If your work has a freezer, I suggest going that route, that way you don't have to feel rushed. Eating slow makes a big difference, after all. At least for me it does.

Wow, I type long messages. Oh well. I wish you health and happiness!