Herbivore No More

            After being a vegetarian for many weeks, I can say that it is a very morally rewarding experience. I have put myself in another’s shoes and survived. Meat became the enemy and vegetables the ally. I experienced the ups and downs of a meat free life, and can say it has made me more aware. I am no longer ignorant to the conditions of industrial slaughterhouses around the nation. But through this project I have also become aware that cutting meat out of my life isn’t going to change those conditions.

            Now this might come as somewhat of a surprise, but I am not going to continue living the vegetarian life. I know that cows are being tortured, but my not consuming meat isn’t going to make the impact I want it to. Besides it’s not even consuming meat that I have a problem with, it’s the torturing of the animals and workers that I don’t like. Animals were placed on this planet for us to eat, not for us to torture before we eat them. This is why I plan on limiting myself to having meat only once a day and getting meat from local places I know as often as possible. I’m not making a complete switch back to my old lifestyle, but I’m not sticking with my new one either. This plan is the compromise I’ve come up with, to satisfy my moral and logical sides, and to keep healthy.

My body has taken somewhat of a toll during my weeks as a vegetarian. I started bruising more easily, and it got to the point where it looked like I was getting beaten up because of how many bruises I had and the amount of them that were in abnormal places. My energy levels started off higher, but slowly began to decrease as the weeks went by. As far as I can tell, these symptoms go along with getting low levels of protein. If I wasn’t lactose intolerant I would be more likely to stay a vegetarian, my intolerance for dairy cuts out a main source of protein and eliminates many vegetarian dishes.

This past weekend marked the end of my project, and the official end of my vegetarianism. I’m proud of myself for sticking with it as long as I did, but as the end neared, I knew it wouldn’t last. My breaking point was when I went to my friend Jill’s house in San Francisco for Memorial Day Weekend. I knew that I didn’t have to be a vegetarian anymore, but hadn’t made the transition back to my old ways. The first meal that we had was pulled pork, sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts and a salad of avocado, cucumber and tomatoes. I politely passed on the pulled pork that night, but when Jill’s sisters were eating it for lunch the next day, I cracked. Pulled pork is my favorite! I then consumed meat for the rest of the weekend (barbeque chicken, bacon, burgers, etc.) without one ounce of regret (terrible, I know). I overdosed on meat, and my body is not very happy about it. I’ve been plagued with a terrible stomachache. I guess this is the price I’m going to have to pay while my body gets readjusted. Goodbye veggies and hello meat.

There’s one thing I still want to know even though this is my final goodbye; have any of you experienced an upset stomach when you decided to quit being a vegetarian? I’m curious to know if this is normal. To my lovely readers that were moved by my words and are going to stay a vegetarian, keep on trucking. I believe in you and I have a lot of respect for vegetarians and vegans worldwide. To those who have decided, like me, that the vegetarian life isn’t an option, it is okay. We tried and the cows (hopefully) appreciate our efforts. Stay true to yourself, and most importantly, stay healthy.