Unintended Consequences…

Well it seems like my attempt to become vegitarian may well have had other negative consequences for my body. I went to the doctor this week because I thought I was having issues with anxiety. Mostly I was feeling a pressure in my chest that made it feel like I could not breathe. Given that I am on immune suppressant drugs and the fact that my hemoglobin was somewhat low at the last blood test she mused about whether I was experience air hunger again. This had happened to me before and it is very unpleasant. Although we did conclude that with everything going on in my life in the last year being anxious wouldn’t be unexpected.

In hindsight I think she may have been correct. Also, I had not been eating beef for months which is very high in iron. I have eaten beef several times in the last 10 days, almost daily in fact. I am feeling better – no more discomfort in my chest. So perhaps she was right. I had another blood test yesterday to see where we are at with regard to my hemoglobin count.

I decided to eat roast beef or pork today…

So, off I went to the grocery store…thinking about how good that pork chop or slab of roast beef was going to be. I went to the meat section and I looked at the roasts. They had a decent prime rib there (which, in my opinion, if you are going to eat roast beef it might as well be the best) and it looked ok…but it really didn’t do it for me. Off, I go down the row because afterall I am sure what I really want is a pork chop. I get to the pork chops and they look ok too…but, I don’t really want that either. So, I walk away after grabbing a package of hot dogs for Deb.

Then the usual dilemma starts – what will I have for dinner. I can’t really eat beans for a couple of days so that is out. Then I see a huge zuchinni and I think that would be really good in soup. So I buy it. Then I look at the other squash and remember that I want to make a butternut squash soup…so, in that goes. Oh, and I love spaghetti squash. Then I decide to have tofu stroganoff for dinner, I grabbed some refried beans and wholewheat tortillas for burritos later in the week. The only meat I left with was the stuff for Deb.

I think for me making changes has to do with giving myself persmission to have whatever it is I am trying to reduce or get out of my life. It worked when I quit smoking. I walked around with cigarettes for 2 weeks and told myself I could have one in 5 minutes if the withdrawl was still as bad. It never was. So now I have a week of veggie dinners planned and stuff purchased. I feel good.

All of this is not to say that I have completely given up meat. I did have a subway sub with meat yeserday and some bacon. But I have certainly reduced the amount and frequency a great deal. Progress!!!

July 13, 2008

Well being around my mother is not good for my food choices. I ended up eating a Macdonald’s burger yesterday! Very unlike me. Anyway, she is gone now and hopefully we can get back to some semblance of normalacy. I find her very stressful. I did end up eating a veg dinner though.

Hopefully today will be a meat free day!

July 8, 2008

Well, I did ok yesterday. I did have salad (with a bit of bacon) again as it was so freakin hot. I avoided the chicken and the hot dogs – two of my favourite things.

Today I intend to have meat free as discussed yesterday. I will not be eating steak with everyone and will instead of grilled eggplant – which I love. Deb is also going to make her killer potato salad.

That is it for now, I have a job interview this afternoon. Wish me luck!

July 4, 2008

Well yesterday was ok. We were pretty stressed out because of Madison but she continued to improve all day. But I was really tired and did not feel like cooking so I ended up having left over beef stroganoff. I am done with it now. Today the plan is to either make my soup or have a salad and a baked potato for dinner. Dinner is where I really struggle with the meat choice but I think it should be ok today. If we have caesar salad there may be a bit of bacon in it but not alot. I may choose a green salad with chick peas and my most favourite thing in the world: blue cheese dressing!

July 3, 2008

Well I did make beef stroganoff last night. But I mostly ate the sauce and gave about half of the meat to the dogs. They liked it. I am not sure yet what today brings. I know I will have eggs for breakfast but that is as far as I can plan. Madison, one of our dogs had a stroke last night. She is recovering but the day is up in the air. (check out my other blog for an update on her in a little bit. If I have time to cook I am going to make the soup/stew I mentioned yesterday if not I will do it tomorrow.

I really appreciate everyone’s suggestions and comments! Keep them coming!

Oh, and the good news is that my colon handled that salad fairly well the other day. I did not have any serious repercussions from it. I am very happy about this as I like salad and I have been missing it. It does not mean that I can eat it everyday but for now once a week should be ok.

Knowing myself…

I have been thinking about my goal all day and why I suddenly don’t feel like I am able to achieve it. I think that part of the problem for me is that I don’t do well when things are forbidden as in “I am no longer eating beef.” Now, all I can think about is eating beef. Yet I went 2 months without eating it. I suspect it is not going to be as good as I think it is or maybe it will be better who knows.

I am going to change my strategy. I am going to strive to have 2 meat free days per week and then gradually increase as my body is more able to handle the vegetables and beans. Right now, although meat causes inflammation it does not wreak havoc in my intestinal tract. So, I think this is going to be a much slower process than I had originally thought.

I was inspired at the grocery store as there was fresh okra. I love okra! It is one of my all time favourite veggies. I am going to make a soup with barley, okra, tomatos, eggplant, zuchinni and lots of onion some time on the weekend. Sounds good to me!

First official day of the blog…

Well, I had been doing quite well up until I started the blog! However I have been craving beef horribly for days. Part of the problem is that I have a hard time eating vegetables, beans and salad. My colitis is newly in remission so there is still some inflammation in my colon that makes digesting anything with fibre difficult. I also have IBS and it is not responding well to the changes in diet. So I am backing of a little bit. I had a bacon cheese burger from dairy queen last night. It was so good! I normally do not eat that kind of stuff, ever. Today I have decided I am going to make beef stroganoff because I have been craving it so badly. Then I will start over again – it is a process after all.