No Meat and now No Dairy?
By cynthiann
@cynthiann (18602)
Jamaica
April 17, 2013 1:41pm CST
And so my food oddities continue. I gave up eating any kind of meat/fish three weeks ago but supplemented my diet with plenty of peas and beans and the turned cornmeal (which my friends have told me to call Polenta -as it sounds nicer)lol
But this past week, I realised that I had not eaten any cheese and was only putting a splash of skimmed milk in my coffee. I had also cut down on bread but not consciously.
And today, I am planning to buy almond or Soy milk instead.
The result is great as despite eating until I am full and sometimes overful I have lost just over 5lbs in weight and I am happy about this. Also my digestive system has improved and no heartburn etc. The funny thing is that I do not miss what I used to eat and it does not feel like dieting.
I normally have a huge bowl of oatmeal with cinnamon for breakfast, snack on a mango (in season) lunch on lightly steamed cabbage with tomatoes and a potato and in the evening more vegetables with rice or 'polenta' or curried/baked beans. Other snacks may be more fruit or a few water crackers with butter - but last night the butter didn't really thrill me. Not that butter should thrill me
.
Today, I rememebered the old 'Fit For Life' way of eating in the 80's and so had fruit all morning and then had the steamed veggies and potato for lunch.
So what do you think is going on with me? Should I roll with what my body is telling me to eat? What do you think will be the next thing that I will want to give up eating?
.
Today, I rememebered the old 'Fit For Life' way of eating in the 80's and so had fruit all morning and then had the steamed veggies and potato for lunch.
So what do you think is going on with me? Should I roll with what my body is telling me to eat? What do you think will be the next thing that I will want to give up eating?5 people like this
17 responses
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
17 Apr 13
No not chocolate. I don't buy chocolate but did have some yesterday and enjoyed it so much. This is a mega upset in my life. I went to the city for the weekend and could not even put a piece of smoked salmon and marlin in my mouth?
I guess that this means counseling then. No, I will NOT go to counseling unless I do not want to eat chocolate
I don't buy chocolate but did have some yesterday and enjoyed it so much. This is a mega upset in my life. I went to the city for the weekend and could not even put a piece of smoked salmon and marlin in my mouth?
I guess that this means counseling then. No, I will NOT go to counseling unless I do not want to eat chocolate3 people like this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
17 Apr 13
I have been wondering about that too. It is like my whole digestive system has been shocked. Hard to explain. I am eating a lot of hot peppers cooked with veggies and 'polenta'.
3 people like this
@velvet53 (22534)
• Palisade, Colorado
18 Apr 13
I could never eat like that. I like my meat, cheese and milk. It might not hurt to get a doctors point of view just to be safe. Myself, if it isn't affecting me in a bad way I would stay with it but one never knows. Maybe the healthier foods are just tasting better than what you used to eat.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
18 Apr 13
I am down to teo cups of coffee in the morning and that is it. But I think that 2 cups is okay. I have got to have some pleasures
@velvet53 (22534)
• Palisade, Colorado
18 Apr 13
Maybe you are a good example of what more people should be like and that is listen to our bodies. I guess if you feel ok and healthy then maybe everything is ok. I know that I have cut back on my caffeine and I sure have noticed a difference.
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
18 Apr 13
As a preventative measure, please consider it
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
17 Apr 13
Wow!
I don't think I could ever give up meat or dairy.. although I'm closer to giving up dairy than anything else. I pretty much only eat cheese on sandwiches. I don't eat cereal or ice cream or anything else with dairy products.. and I use non-dairy creamer for my coffee.
Not that you need to be worrying about your diet now because you're doing a great job, but potatoes aren't really that healthy for you. They're full of bad carbs. You should try to cut down on them..
Not that I could.. I love potatoes and bread!!
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
17 Apr 13
Yes.. sweet potatoes are good.. white potatoes are bad. Go figure, but there you have it.
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
17 Apr 13
It is not a deliberate choice - I just don't feel for it. Potatoes not healthy? I thought that they were good carbs. I just can't keep up with what is good and what is not as it changes. What about sweet potatoes? I have a lot of those from the farm. Can I eat those?
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (167015)
• Boise, Idaho
18 Apr 13
I am glad you can do without these things in your diet. I think I could do without cheese but not milk, cheese and yogurt. I don't care for mangos, love cornmeal. Not sure what is going on with you. I would roll with what your body is telling you. I eat as I please. Hasn't killed me yet.
@celticeagle (167015)
• Boise, Idaho
18 Apr 13
I am happy for you. As far as cornmeal goes--we all have our favorites we just can't give up. For me the list is long. lol
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
18 Apr 13
Yep. I think that I am now in tune with what my body is telling me to eat I have a portion of cornmeal - too much really - every day as I love it so much
1 person likes this
@TheCatLady (4691)
• Israel
20 Apr 13
Me too. I lost 20 pounds and 2 dress sizes just by going vegan. Funny thing is, I'm eating more than I have in years.
1 person likes this
@TheCatLady (4691)
• Israel
20 Apr 13
I have yet to go hungry. Somehow a low fat vegan diet helps to loose weight without dieting.
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
22 Apr 13
I am not hungry at all and I would love to lose 2 dress sizes but I think that I am eating too much of carbohydrates
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
20 Apr 13
That is great. I am eating a lot too but I think too much polenta with coconut milk but I have no intention of going hungry even though I do want to lose weight
@GardenGerty (160696)
• United States
18 Apr 13
I never cared for soy milk, but I am buying almond milk now and again. I love it and it has a lot of calcium. I would consider trying rice milk as well. Lately I have been adding a lot more vegetables, not that I am leaving off meat and dairy, but I do feel so much better with the added veggies. I love beans and cornbread, but I want my real butter on it and I top that particular meal off with a huge glass of milk. I am more likely to over do on that than on a lot of more complicated meals.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160696)
• United States
18 Apr 13
I use pinto beans or white navy beans, or a bean mix. I soak them over night or I parboil them for fifteen minutes. Dump the soaking water or the parboil water.Put fresh water on to cover, cook until tender in slow cooker or crock pot or on simmer on the stove. I usually put meat in but not necessary. I find that adding something acid, like tomato or salsa blend or lemon juice helps it not make gas. I love adding onions and garlic as well. My corn bread is almost more like a dense cake or bread. I use buttermilk or sour milk to cook it though. My favorite way to make it is to heat oil in an iron skillet while mixing up the batter and pour the batter in and put it in a 350 F oven. When I make cornbread I put in an extra egg beyond what the recipe calls for. I use canola oil in the batter. Those two things seem to add more moisture. I also throw in flax seed meal or wheat germ, or oat bran just to make it healthier. It is a combination of both corn meal and wheat flour as well.
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
18 Apr 13
Thank you for this. I cook the beans in almost the same way but add a few potatoes so that the gravy thickens and I also had a tin of tomatoes. I think adding the extra egg would help make the bread more moist so am going to try it this way. I so appreciate you sharing this with me GG
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
18 Apr 13
I did look at the Almond mil but it was so much more expensive and am not sure that I can buy rice milk where I live. Well - you are making a change too and that is good. Please tell me how you cook the beand and what kind of beans you use. I am still having a low fat spread - an olive oil one. Basically it is real butter, cheese and milk. I have never been an ice cream person. My cornbread is dry. What can I do to make it more soft and yummy? Please can you help me?
2 people like this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
19 Apr 13
The thing is Jill, it is not will power. I just don't want it. I look at meat and feel nauseous. I do eat potatoes, both kinds but not much bread really. And I was the most prolific bread eater out. I could eat bread at every meal
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
17 Apr 13
I say go with what your body is craving. I don't know but that is what I've always done and I am so so thin. I probably could stand to gain a few pounds. I just eat what I want and when I went and I don't think much about it other than I try to make sure that what I eat is healthy. The other nite, I had 2 oranges for dinner and was full for the night. Another night, I ate pizza...2 slices and I was good. I don't eat chips and rarely do I eat fries...can't recall the last time I ate fast food. My diet is mixed and my weight is down, blood pressure is normal...I feel I'm healthy. I think too much focus on weight loss tends to have the opposite effect. I eat what I want and I don't eat a lot.
1 person likes this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
17 Apr 13
I don't know because there are times that I can eat 3 pieces of Pizza. I just go with what I'm hungry for and don't worry about it. It works for me. When I have tried to diet in the past (there was a time that I was overweight), all I did was think about and crave anything that was not good for a diet...pizza, pasta etc. once I stopped thinking about it..,.I shed the pounds.
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
17 Apr 13
I could not even consider being happy with just two oranges for dinner. But maybe your stomach is small as you have not stretched it by overeating? I envy you my friend. I would say that I am 20lbs overweight so maybe I am conscious that for my heart health then this should come off. My bp has gone high since I regained weight
You certainly are a good example of not worrying about it all of the time.
You certainly are a good example of not worrying about it all of the time.2 people like this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
18 Apr 13
You found the answer all right. Stop worryng and only eat small portions when you are hungry
1 person likes this
@artemeis (4194)
• China
18 Apr 13
What you have does sound logical and safe but I believe you need to know what your body truly needs and want. Don't follow diets or recommendations blindly, not when you are recovering from your surgeries.
Your body needs all forms of nutrients from various foodstuffs. You need to be balanced than restrictive. You can always have milk and meat - don't deprive yourself unnecessary because there are nutrients in them which is vital for your health and well being.
Use common sense and not someone else's experience hearsay.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
18 Apr 13
Ah, the voice of reason and praacticality and all things good from my new friend. I think that I am listening more to my body now and when I reach for something to eat am just eating healthier. I promise to use common sense
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
19 Apr 13
lets hope your body just isnt needing certain things. do you take vitamins? you need a certain amount of protien and thats what has concerned me with my son not eating meat any more.
but he does take some vitamins. ive noticed i dont crave meat quite as much as i did myself. 
you need to ask your doctor before this gets out of hand. just in case.
but he does take some vitamins. ive noticed i dont crave meat quite as much as i did myself. you need to ask your doctor before this gets out of hand. just in case.@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
19 Apr 13
yes, I take a mulyi plus cod liver oil and mega three oils, and lecithin and vitamin E. I get my protein from beans and peas mainly or a couple of tins of tuna a week. I still like tuna. I did speak to one doctor who is a friend and he said that I was at last beginning to listen to my body. I am eating a lot - too much probably but have lost weight and feel quite healthy
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
19 Apr 13
As long as you're still eating what your body needs in terms of nutrition, then I guess it's OK to give up anything else.
I know of someone who's given up on meat too (not a friend, but just a workmate of a friend; I've heard a lot about her, so I think I could write about her here
). It seems she lost a lot of her strength. Nowadays, she has a hard time carrying chip trays (she works in a casino). A task which was normally an easy one for her, now she's having difficulty with. She gets tired easy too.
I hope you won't turn out like her.
). It seems she lost a lot of her strength. Nowadays, she has a hard time carrying chip trays (she works in a casino). A task which was normally an easy one for her, now she's having difficulty with. She gets tired easy too.
I hope you won't turn out like her.@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
20 Apr 13
I went out to dinner tonight with my women's group called Unruly Women. They were having babyback ribs etc and lamb amd food that I used to adore. I had ot refrain from looking at the meat. I had a wondeful veggie platter with all sorts of Greek dressings and salads and lots of hummus. If I do get tired then I will get advice. I think that I will have to monitor exactly how much protein I get. Thanks Bounce for your concern.
@allknowing (136540)
• India
18 Apr 13
Is there anything left that you would want to give up eating? Now let me see. Do you drink cynthiann?
1 person likes this
@allknowing (136540)
• India
18 Apr 13
I would not ask you to give up your drinking habit!
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
17 Apr 13
Every month or so I will blog a section of one of my old diaries. For example, last night I finished typing out February 1989. It's very revealing. For starters, I'd already stopped seeing this guy called Russ (who became a vegetarian after reluctantly working in a slaughterhouse for two weeks) but, it was obvious, from my diary entries that I'd CONTINUED to not eating meat. I mentioned veggie burgers, for example, something I had NO IDEA until now that I'd even eaten in the past. I drank soya milk as well and ate vegetables on a Sunday without the beef...and there's me thinking I'd stopped this diet way before after splitting with this Russ bloke.
I guess, what I'm trying to say is, if you're happy with what you're doing (and it's great you're losing weight too) then my advice would be to stick with it. I don't know at what point I started eating meat again but it will be interesting to find out once I type onto my blog again.
I've never been the same since I went back on the meat, weight-wise, put it that way. A combination of that and being on the Pill to regulate my periods for 6 years, really did it for me.
I guess, what I'm trying to say is, if you're happy with what you're doing (and it's great you're losing weight too) then my advice would be to stick with it. I don't know at what point I started eating meat again but it will be interesting to find out once I type onto my blog again.
I've never been the same since I went back on the meat, weight-wise, put it that way. A combination of that and being on the Pill to regulate my periods for 6 years, really did it for me.1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
17 Apr 13
Perversely my own doctor reckoned I had 'mild angina' after a heart scare and an overnight stay in hospital in 2010 but when I was at the hospital for another operation (not heart related) I was told I didn't have mild angina after all.
I do need to lose weight though as I'm not the most active of people not working at the moment. I keep thinking about getting the roboroller out as it's the only thing I can use indoors.
1 person likes this
@aileen2008 (838)
• Philippines
18 Apr 13
Did you choose to live this way or are you targeting for a specific weight?
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
18 Apr 13
Difficult to answer you. I just woke up one morning and looked at meat to be cooked and felt nauseous. Now I am feeling the same way about dairy. Bought some soy milk today. I do want to lose weight as am recivering from 2 open heart surgeries that entailed massive complications. Yes, I want to lose 20lbs but I just don't know why I fel the nausea
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
18 Apr 13
Thank you for your input. I don't see anything wrong with it either except I am still eating a bit too much at each meal
@rocketking (189)
• Singapore
18 Apr 13
No there is nothing wrong and in fact I myself would love to be on such a diet except that I am living with my family, my mum prepares all the meals, and the rest of the family wants to have meat and fish. I am not so sure I can give up dairy though, I love cakes.
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
18 Apr 13
I love cakes too but just don't want them or feel for them at this time. Odd isn't it? I am wondering what I will do when my grandtwins come home to live with me at the end of the month. One day you will have your own place and then you can eat what you like
