What Do You Mean You Don't Eat No Meat?
It's January 1st, 2023, and I'm eating a McMuffin AND McGriddle hungover to the high heavens courtesy of LIPS' NYE celebration.
I regret nothing.
I'm scrolling through Netflix, and I come across a documentary.
Keep in mind, I never watch documentaries. I stick to my favorite shows when I'm holding the couch down on the weekend.
I see a documentary called "What the Health", and since my husband, Kyle, was out running errands NOT being a useless human like yours truly, I turned it on.
Cut to: Hi, my name is Aly, and I'm a vegetarian. ish.
Did I mention I had just scarfed down a McMuffin AND McGriddle?
I was off to a great start.
If you haven't seen this documentary before, I highly recommend you watch it. If nothing else, you'll become a more mindful eater if you aren't already.
I'm not going to sit here and preach that eating meat is bad, because I'm new to the game and what do I know?
BUT! I will tell you that it's been a game changer so far.
It's been two weeks, and I feel fantastic.
How so, you ask?
My skin looks AMAZING, and for those of you who don't know, I'm an esthetician (who struggled BIG TIME with acne at the beginning before stumbling upon Jan Marini - story for another time)
My cookie pouch (fancy slang for "tummy") looks flatter... right?
I'm eating a lot more and feeling fantastic doing it
I have A LOT more energy (anyone else a napper? Not anymore!)
Cooking has been so much fun
BUT! Has it been easy?
Not gonna lie... kind of. This is because I've been following the Mediterranean "diet" for a few years, so my meat intake was spars.
(If you're afraid to cut out meat cold turkey but want to make a healthier change, 10/10 I consider switching to the Mediterranean diet.)
Have I had 3 shrimp because I've convinced myself it's okay? You bet.
Did I have soup at a Greek restaurant without realizing there was chicken in it AS I WAS LOOKING AT THE CHICKEN? Right again.
But with all those hiccups, I did take away so much useful information that has completely transformed the way I eat, and I can't imagine going back (ask me again in a year).
What have I learned from this documentary that I didn't know before?
We don't NEED meat
We don't need meat for PROTEIN
Plants based meals cover all the protein, vitamins, and nutrients we need (except you'll need to take a B12 supplement - how difficult is that?)
Humans don't need milk from any animal to survive (that breakdown was FASCINATING)
The hormones from the animals' milk are no bueno for us - hence why estheticians immediately tell their clients to cut out dairy when their skin starts breaking out... it's the hormones!
Medicine, medicine, medicine (because I'm not a doctor, I won't get into this, but it's very interesting, and probably my favorite part about the whole documentary)
So here I am, 9 days into the new year, I've had a McMuffin, a McGriddle, 3 shrimp and soup with chicken in it, and I'm trying my best to not eat meat.
Are you trying to focus more on your health?
Is a new way of eating something you've been considering?
This is PROBABLY a clear-cut sign to start
So, what am I going to tell you to do?
PUT THIS IN YOUR UNIVERSE:
Look up one recipe that you've never made before that has the health benefits you're looking for. Take a picture and send it to me!
Try one new workout you've never done, or you fell off the wagon doing (Mine? I used to walk 2 miles every day for work. I hadn't done that in a long time, so I started walking again and I feel amazing!)
Watch one documentary, read one article, listen to one podcast, OR follow one page that feels in line with your new way of living healthy
You got this!
