A vegetarian?
I know what some of you are thinking. Literally I do. I hear both sides of the argument all the time. I'm in a torn world, and don't know what is thinking more, my heart or head. Both have reasons to argue about it too. But I'm not here to open discussion, preach or even get approval, but its a windy path I've been moving down for many years. I've been having a really hard time talking to anyone about this. I talk to a vegetarian, and of course I'm made to feel guilty, I talk to a meat eater, I'm made to feel guilty again. I look back to past places I've been, and I feel even more guilty again that I can afford to take time to dwell over what I eat, to dwell upon what goes into my body, and to have the option to refuse what many people could only dream of. But when will the guilt stop? To be honest I don't think it ever will, because I can never look at anything from one point of view. I can only ever listen to everyone, if they offend me or not, I don't forget the seed that gets planted, then it intertwines with all the other growing thoughts from all the other seeds. I always said if I chose this path I would never preach. Yet I'll admit I'm embarrassed to even tell I'm considering it to some people, as often meat eaters will preach the most, 'as it's all about the science'. To be honest for many years I have concentrated on what I eat, and at times let it rule my world, for good or not so good reasons, but one thing my partner has always reminded me for 9 years is "you stress so much about what you put into your body, you forget that the stress is the most damaging thing to your health". And dare I say it..... he's right! And it seems I am on that roller coaster again.
The reason I choose to write about this now, is I have gotten to the point of meat making me sick to the stomach. I gave up fish a few years ago, for reasons I won't share because then I will be that preacher I aim to avoid! Before I was never a big meat eater, since doing yoga I have wanted to follow ahimsa (no harm to any living being), as I do now really get sad just thinking of the trauma any animal has to go through. The challenge is, I go home to England to a cow farm. I see how well they are treated, I see how many people are thankful to my family for providing them with local, free range sustainable food for their families. I really only used to eat meat that I knew how it was sourced, or when it was cooked for me. I again would focus on not being the difficult person at the dinner party, or in the room. I would just eat what I was given, again grateful for the efforts a person would go through to serve me a meal. I rarely craved meat, or ordered when in a restaurant, unless I could ask the chef about the life, and diet of the poor thing I was even considering. But I then became that embarrassing person to take out. I have eaten meat only a couple of times over the past few months and each time I didn't enjoy a bite. The texture, the thought, all wrong, and I can't even put my finger on when that happened.
Do I believe in the massive health benefits of being vegetarian or vegan? Once again yes I do, but I also believe the arguments against. As a person who limits dairy as much as possible (although struggle to say goodbye to cheese) I fully understand the problems dairy brings to our systems, not that I am lactose intolerant, but my body knows when I've had too much, but I am scared to reduce significant protein sources. The past few weeks I have felt weak and tired, but I don't think its lack of protein, but high stress, lack or exercise and general SAD (seasonal effect disorder), but who's to tell, although I can probably guess what you meat eaters are thinking right now. I did read once never to change your diet as the seasons get colder as you body fights for survival more frequently and uses stored reserves. When I was India I didn't eat meat, but did I feel better? Not really, apart from when I was on my yoga retreat. Fully vegetarian, but they cooked without garlic or onions, and yes I felt great, but I also slept more and relaxed more than I have in years. I have researched a lot into Ayurveda, and try to incorporate many of these areas into my life, and these are definitely two food items a person such as myself should avoid. Since leaving India, I rarely cook with onions or garlic and the only time I feel groggy the morning after a meal is when I eat out, (because where can you buy meals without these two ingredients these days,) or too much cheese or sugar (don't get me started on trying to give up sugar). Ok........ you are onto to me, as I am avoiding trying to be a fully fledged vegan out of convenience, for cooking for two, meals out and weak will, to give up cakes and milk chocolate.
Either way I will continue on my journey, eat what feels right and just be thankful for the delightful and yummy array of choices I have available to put on my plate.
I know what some of you are thinking. Literally I do. I hear both sides of the argument all the time. I'm in a torn world, and don't know what is thinking more, my heart or head. Both have reasons to argue about it too. But I'm not here to open discussion, preach or even get approval, but its a windy path I've been moving down for many years. I've been having a really hard time talking to anyone about this. I talk to a vegetarian, and of course I'm made to feel guilty, I talk to a meat eater, I'm made to feel guilty again. I look back to past places I've been, and I feel even more guilty again that I can afford to take time to dwell over what I eat, to dwell upon what goes into my body, and to have the option to refuse what many people could only dream of. But when will the guilt stop? To be honest I don't think it ever will, because I can never look at anything from one point of view. I can only ever listen to everyone, if they offend me or not, I don't forget the seed that gets planted, then it intertwines with all the other growing thoughts from all the other seeds. I always said if I chose this path I would never preach. Yet I'll admit I'm embarrassed to even tell I'm considering it to some people, as often meat eaters will preach the most, 'as it's all about the science'. To be honest for many years I have concentrated on what I eat, and at times let it rule my world, for good or not so good reasons, but one thing my partner has always reminded me for 9 years is "you stress so much about what you put into your body, you forget that the stress is the most damaging thing to your health". And dare I say it..... he's right! And it seems I am on that roller coaster again.
The reason I choose to write about this now, is I have gotten to the point of meat making me sick to the stomach. I gave up fish a few years ago, for reasons I won't share because then I will be that preacher I aim to avoid! Before I was never a big meat eater, since doing yoga I have wanted to follow ahimsa (no harm to any living being), as I do now really get sad just thinking of the trauma any animal has to go through. The challenge is, I go home to England to a cow farm. I see how well they are treated, I see how many people are thankful to my family for providing them with local, free range sustainable food for their families. I really only used to eat meat that I knew how it was sourced, or when it was cooked for me. I again would focus on not being the difficult person at the dinner party, or in the room. I would just eat what I was given, again grateful for the efforts a person would go through to serve me a meal. I rarely craved meat, or ordered when in a restaurant, unless I could ask the chef about the life, and diet of the poor thing I was even considering. But I then became that embarrassing person to take out. I have eaten meat only a couple of times over the past few months and each time I didn't enjoy a bite. The texture, the thought, all wrong, and I can't even put my finger on when that happened.
Do I believe in the massive health benefits of being vegetarian or vegan? Once again yes I do, but I also believe the arguments against. As a person who limits dairy as much as possible (although struggle to say goodbye to cheese) I fully understand the problems dairy brings to our systems, not that I am lactose intolerant, but my body knows when I've had too much, but I am scared to reduce significant protein sources. The past few weeks I have felt weak and tired, but I don't think its lack of protein, but high stress, lack or exercise and general SAD (seasonal effect disorder), but who's to tell, although I can probably guess what you meat eaters are thinking right now. I did read once never to change your diet as the seasons get colder as you body fights for survival more frequently and uses stored reserves. When I was India I didn't eat meat, but did I feel better? Not really, apart from when I was on my yoga retreat. Fully vegetarian, but they cooked without garlic or onions, and yes I felt great, but I also slept more and relaxed more than I have in years. I have researched a lot into Ayurveda, and try to incorporate many of these areas into my life, and these are definitely two food items a person such as myself should avoid. Since leaving India, I rarely cook with onions or garlic and the only time I feel groggy the morning after a meal is when I eat out, (because where can you buy meals without these two ingredients these days,) or too much cheese or sugar (don't get me started on trying to give up sugar). Ok........ you are onto to me, as I am avoiding trying to be a fully fledged vegan out of convenience, for cooking for two, meals out and weak will, to give up cakes and milk chocolate.
Either way I will continue on my journey, eat what feels right and just be thankful for the delightful and yummy array of choices I have available to put on my plate.
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