I regularly get asked whether I miss having meat in my diet.
You see, I was quite a carnivore who loved all types of meat from steak to brats and wild game to delicately prepared sushi. If asked what I wanted for a special dinner, I was likely to say steak grilled to a perfect medium rare if not blue or rare. And boy could I put it away. Nothing for me to polish off a big T-bone or prime rib all by my lonesome. I LOVED meat.
So the idea of going on a plant-based diet was a bit daunting. But, I reminded myself this was a temporary situation and one that I could change after I hit my goal weight.
At first, it was strange. We’d have these lovely dinners with these wonderful plant-based dishes and I’d immediately think… “Boy, this would go great with roasted chicken” OR “This would be an excellent side dish with a steak.” This lasted for a few weeks… I think… but honestly can’t say for sure as I simply forgot about it. I remember one day suddenly realizing I just didn’t even think about chicken, steak, burgers and the like. I was a plant-based eater who was focused on watching her weight decrease.
Now, I am NOT saying that you have to stop eating meat to lose weight. I do not believe that is true. But what I am saying is keeping meat off my plate worked for me mainly because it helped me significantly reduced my calorie intake. Different types of meat contains a lot of calories. Just to give you an idea…
- Roasted or backed chicken thigh WITH SKIN (4 oz) = 279 calories
- Grilled rib eye steak – lean (4 oz) = 278 calories
- Johnsonville Brat — 1 link (2.3 oz) = 220 calories
- Baked salmon (4 oz) = 233 calories
- Fried haddock (5.5 oz) = 307 calories
Plus… I never ate 4 oz of any steak or piece of chicken. And yes… I ate the skin. Oh and my steak, ya, I liked a well-marbled piece of deliciousness thank you so add even more calories! And who ever just ate 1 brat. C’mon!
I didn’t get fat without trying people!
I knew that if I was going to lose weight, besides cutting out alcohol (see my previous post… Dear Alcohol, It’s Not You, Its Me…), I was going to have to do something drastic to cut my calories so weight lost could happen. I had a lot to lose… over 100 lbs… so I needed to find something I could maintain for a long period of time.
I also knew that I had an obsession with meat. I could nibble on the leftovers all day without regards to the calories I was sticking in my mouth. Quite frankly, that is why I believe the protein diets never worked for me. Today I look back on my experience with those types of diets and laugh. I loved the parts of those diets where they would say eat if you are hungry just keep your carbs below 20 g a day. Ha! I don’t think they knew how “hungry” I thought I was and how much meat I could consume. Sure, I was successful in keeping my carbs at the required level. That wasn’t difficult for me. But every time I felt like snacking or felt hungry, I’d pop a piece of ham, chicken or leftover steak in my mouth.
My meals looked something like this…
- Breakfast — approximately 408 calories
- 3 – 4 pieces of bacon
- 2 -3 eggs
- Lunch — approximately 400 calories
- Avocado (1/2)
- Chicken Thigh
- Tomato
- Dinner — approximately 400 to 500 calories depending on size of steak
- Steak
- Salad
That’s over 1200 calories which isn’t bad but I was often hungry between meals and would have snacks like slices of deli meat or leftover steak/chicken. This really increased if I was also working out at the time.
Conversely when I went on my plant-based diet…
- Breakfast — approximately 200-250 calories
- Whole Grain Toast
- Banana (1/3)
- Strawberries (3 or 4)
- Peach (1/2)
- Lunch — approximately 200 calories
- Salad
- Avocado
- Dinner — approximately 250 calories
- Beans or some plant-based dish like ratatouille
- Brown rice
- Vegetable or salad
Equaling approximately 600 – 700 calories.
But the real bonus I found, I WAS NOT HUNGRY. In fact, there were days when I skipped lunch or only ate a piece of fruit like an apple. Yes, I was motivated and realize that played a huge role in my stick-to-it-ness but even after I was months into my new way of eating where motivation was not my only guiding force, I still found I ate the same way. I typically averaged around 600-700 calories and had no problems. (Of course, I wasn’t working out at that calorie level but that is for a different post.)
So when people ask me why I quit eating meat, I simply answer… to reduce my calorie intake significantly!
Plain and simple. I do not subscribe to the fact there is anything magical about food combinations. I don’t buy into the high protein/low carb, Paleo or low carb/high fat (LCHF) diets as being a magical combination of foods. I have no problems if they work for other people, they just simply didn’t work for me. But I also don’t subscribe to vegan or vegetarian diets being the only way to be healthy or to lose weight. It was just a method that worked for me.
I, however, do think calorie intake is key.
And however you can accomplish the right amount of intake to lose weight that you can easily maintain, I say go for it.
Today, I find myself caring less about my old friend meat. I don’t think about or crave it anymore. Sure, I have had a burger, a steak or 2 and an occasional brat or Friday Fish Fry (I am from Wisconsin after all). But I find myself going in that direction less and less often even when not following a specific eating regimen. And when I do eat it, I eat significantly less as it just feels like a lead weight in my stomach and makes for uncomfortable bathroom visits (sorry… I know that last statement falls into the TMI-category).
Now, I am guessing if you are reading this, you may be asking… “where do you get your protein?”
Honestly, this question drives me nuts.
Sorry, I don’t mean to be rude. Really. But have you noticed how obsessed people have become with protein? And when you chat with them, you discover they really are talking specifically about animal protein like that is the only source of this important macro-nutrient. I especially get frustrated when the faithful Paleo- or LCHF-dieters argue with you. People… there is protein in almost every type of food including many vegetables (think broccoli, spinach, peas, kale and even corn) and, of course, in beans & nuts. There is even protein in fruits albeit not as much as the former items mentioned. Trust me… I get plenty of protein… in a variety of foods… but my main source is beans followed by vegetables and then fruit. (Not a big nut eater, though, I love them. I avoid them as they pack a high caloric-wallop!)