Vegetarian Update

Well, last week I told you I would update on Friday with the vegetarian recipes I made.  Sadly, I only made two of the recipes.

I'm sticking to being a vegetarian for May.  It's a fun challenge!  What I'm finding is this:  I buy too much food, and a lot of it goes to waste.

I am desperately trying to get back to how I was eating about a month and a half ago... to no avail.  I refuse to step on the scale and see the weight that I worked hard to take off only to be back on because I can't control myself when it comes to food.  So I am a little disappointed in myself.

I know that I am the only one who can make that change, but I am finding it so difficult to do.  What helped me before was using Weight Watchers Online... so I'm wondering if I should get back into using WW again.

I also have not been running as much as I used to.  As soon as I was laid off, I took a run... and then stopped.  I've pushed myself to run once a week.  This is not good because I have a 5K coming up in July.  However, I bought "Runner's World" which has practical advice for running your first 5K.  They even have a training schedule listed.  I have about 10 weeks until my 5K, which allows to to use that training schedule twice.

So, this post is more or less written to keep myself accountable.  Number 2: Loose 25 pounds by my 25 birthday.  I am going to do it because I said I would.

I have the power to make a change in my lifestyle, and I've done it before.  So, because I said I would, I am doing it again!

Here goes nothing!

Meatless May

On Monday I told you I would be doing another challenge this month.  This is a month long challenge for myself - I will be going Vegetarian for the month of May!

I have been talking about becoming a vegetarian for the last few months for health reasons - mainly to help with my anxiety.  I haven't been able to find much information online about the connection to animal meat and anxiety, but I read about this in the "Anxiety and Phobia Workbook."

... [I]t was mentioned that steroid hormone residues in red meat can exert an effect not unlike the body's own steroid hormones, activating natural defenses against stress and suppressing immunity.  Another reason, however, is that meat, poultry, dairy and cheese products, and eggs - along with sugar and refined flour products - are all acid-forming foods.  These foods are not necessarily acid in composition, but they leave an acid in the body after they are metabolized, making the body itself more acid. - Anxiety and Phobia Workbook

For the last few weeks, I've successfully cut out read meats from my diet.  Now I will be eliminating poultry. Cheese and dairy products won't be coming out of my diet for now - one step at a time! (Actually, I'm not sure if these will ever come out of my diet...)

Anyway, my plan is to cook during the week, and save the weekends for leftovers! Here are this weeks meals:

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Ratatouille

Greek Salad Sandwhich

Yum! I will post my results of each meal on Friday!