Months ago, I found myself deciding to try and be a vegetarian because my body didn't need to be put through all the extra hardship. I gave up drinking because I didn't need the extra toxins. I was never a smoker and I haven't really been one for sweets since I was little. You get the idea though, I suddenly found myself deciding to be healthier because my body deserved it and didn't need the extra hassle of dealing with all the unhealthy stuff. Just like that. One day I decided it wasn't worth it, and I was pretty successful for a while. (Click here to read about it back then.)
I lost most of this control over the holidays last year and have since been working to try to re-establish them. I still don't drink very often anymore, to the great shock and disbelief of my friends. I'm still trying to eatchicken and fish and avoid beef and pork, though I give in every once in a while now.
The things is that I didn't consciously do anything to make it all happen back then. It was just like a little light switch had been flipped in my mind and everything followed from there. As much as I would like to take credit for it all, it wasn't really a conscious decision. Now, I would like it to be, but how do I make something again when I don't know how I did it the first time?
8 comments:
Don't stress yourself too much about being vegetarian... think healthy plant-based food instead.
When I was in high school, I decided I won't eat pork. But come December, I'd eat lechon.
When I was in college, I decided to take off beef from the diet.
Chicken went on and off... blame it to Jollibee's chickenjoy and their gravy.
Fish and seafoods, I'd take once in a blue moon but I don't really make myself guilty for eating it or if my food is contaminated with fish sauce. If it's other meat oil/sauce, yes but fish... I'd slack a bit.
Start with the thought that you simply want to live a healthy lifestyle and eat healthy and nutritious food. How do you do that? By following a plant-based diet.
Now, if you really want to practice tapas and take the spiritual path as a sadhu, then a pure sattvic vegetable diet is necessary.
But hey, we're only human and we live in an environment which is not really very supportive of vegetarianism. If we live in India, it's easy. Everywhere you go, half of the menu would be veg. But here, you really need to be very creative and know where to eat, plus be very disciplined.
Don't be too hard on yourself. Surrender to the process and things will flow on smoothly.
Om.
Hmmm...when you say "plant-based" I'm assuming that you mean including things like garlic, onion and mushrooms, whereas by "vegetarian" you mean the sattvic diet.
That makes sense, one step at a time. To know it and to do it are completely different things, but I guess I have to keep repeating it to myself until thought becomes action.
Thanks, Jon. Trying to surrender, although I'm finding that doing so is a skill all on it's own.
One day at a time. Happily, I can say I stayed away from pork and beef all day today. :)
Plant-based would be mostly vegetables, with small pieces of meat, like chopsuey. Not too strict.
Vegetarian would be all veg but can include garlic, onion, mushrooms.
Sattvic would be vegetarian without those 3.
It's like this, you still allow yourself chicken or fish... but your plate should be composed mostly of vegetables, grains, legumes. Typical Pinoy kasi will have, rice and fish... that's it.
Plant-based diet would be, rice, vegetables, like pakbet without the meat, but bagoong allowed, small piece of fried fish. The bulk of the diet should come from vegetables pa rin.
Slowly and naturally, you'll find that you don't really need flesh and the cravings die down.
Important thing is to be always conscious/aware of what and how we eat.
See you soon!
Hi, Avril! Nice to see you last Monday.
Yup, you said it, one day at a time. It took me 13 years to turn vegetarian, but I am sure you can do better than that ;-) No amount of scolding from my acupuncturist worked, like "what's the point of getting a treatment when you keep on eating what's bad for you?" (may kasamang mura pa yun) And it took me 11 years to engage in a regular physical activity, which my acu had been recommending, too. But both just happened one day. And yes, it takes more than knowing...what's that "more" I don't know either (how helpful 'no? he he). Don't worry, it'll come. No matter how long it will take, but it will surely come =D
Thanks, you guys. Nice to know that I'm not the only one struggling with this. Somehow, in my head, it seems like a really easy decision for others to make. I know that's not really true though, but it seems like it.
Chona, was great seeing you! Only for about 2 minutes though. We need to go have a drink or something one time so we can actually talk. :)
Take care, you both!
"Slowly and naturally, you'll find that you don't really need flesh and the cravings die down." After yoga tonight, on my way home, I was craving for balut! =( So Jon, can an ovo-vegetarian eat balut?
Sure Avril! Let me know when you're free =)
Hi...I live in the countryside of germany. For about 3 years now I have been vegetarian. I don't miss meat at all! I started not wanting to after realizing how creul animals are treated in factories...just check youtube it will scare the shit out of you and make you cry. Also,because i admired the buddhist practice of non-killing. My brother in law has sheep and one day told me " I have to kill my lambs every year because its too much work for me to take care of each and everyone that is born year after year....so I give them a good life to roam free and then its time to kill them." In order to make cheese you need certain cultures found in the stomach of animals to make it. Organic farming calls for one to set traps to kill mice and moles...otherwise they would eat our veggies. My point is I had to REALIZE how stupid I was and realize that I CAN CHANGE WHO I AM AND WHAT I THINK IS RIGHT AND WRONG EVERYDAY....because I am a walking contradiction. Period. All life is an experiment.... So don't beat yourself up about it. BUT I'll tell you one thing I DO HAVE STRANGE REASONING....I TRUST VEGETARIANS more than Meat eaters.
Hi Anonymous, I do wish you'd left your name but at any rate, thanks for stopping by.
The poor sheep. :(
"I TRUST VEGETARIANS more than Meat eaters." haha that's a cool way to look at it. :)
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