I can't do it. :(

[Kfamr]

I know it's probably meaningless to some of you but I feel so stupid right now. :(
I feel like a failure. I've wanted so bad to be a vegetarian for a long time. I haven't eaten meat for a while but now I feel like I can't hold back anymore. I want chicken so badly. I want tacos. I want bacon.

I don't think I can do it any longer. I'm starving.
Most of the time when i'm hungry I want something warm.. veggies get boring.


I guess I can't be completely vegetarian, but I don't want to eat a lot of meat. I'm craving it so badly right now though.


I'm such a failure. :( Although I still haven't ate anything yet.. I want to.

[catnapper]

You could be like me --- no red meat at all. I eat chicken and fish. I don't like red meat at all. The smell makes me ill. I love chicken, but simply cannot eat it off the bone. If its attached, I refuse to eat it, unless somebody else is willing to pull the meat off for me.:o

[chocolatepuppy]

I don't think you're a failure Kay. To me it would be hard to completely eliminate meat from your diet. I don't eat alot of meat anyway but I do like my chicken and some fish. I'd die without pepperoni on my pizza and I love bacon although I don't eat it often. :)

[lizbud]

Well, you tried it.:D You are still a young person & still growing and changing all the time, maybe your body needs the protein.
You could try again when you are older if you want to. I wouldn't
consider you a failure at all. :D

[momoffuzzyfaces]

You're not a failure Kay, so please kick that idea out of your head. Changing you life style is not easy.

I eat very little red meat. I just don't like it. But will eat a hamburger every 6 months or so. I do eat chicken and tuna and cheese and eggs and the like.

I look at it this way: I didn't kill the animal, I didn't ask for it to be killed, but if it's not eaten, it will have given its life for nothing. That would indeed be sad.

[NoahsMommy]

Kay,

You are NOT a failure!!! Become vegetarian is VERY, VERY hard. Especially in our society....its not easy to do...even in California!!

I eat only free-range, "kind raised" meat. Maybe that's something you can consider?

Hugs, Kelly

[flamepony12]

You're certainly not a failure. I wouldn't be able to do it either! I agree with Kelly, it's very hard to become completely vegetarian, even harder veegan. Don't worry about it! Maybe, if you really want to, you can try again when you're older. *hugs* :)

[christa]

I'm proud of you! ;)

Seriously, I eat any lean meat and really don't see anything wrong with it.

Obviously if you're craving it, it doesn't repulse you . . . so I guess my question is, If it doesn't repulse you to eat it, why give it up?

You can always cut back or choose healthier cuts of meat.

Hang in there! You're not a "failure"!!!

[NoahsMommy]

You have me thinking. ;)

ANY life change like this is supposed to happen gradually. Did you start "cold turkey"? (ha ha...excuse that phrase ;) )

ANY THING you do requires practice, right? It takes time.

I know some vegetarians (my boss, for example) that eats fish because its so hard to get the protein you need if you...oh I don't know..have a LIFE! ;)

I'm supposed to start a new diet after my surgery this summer. They say EVERYWHERE that you have to start gradually because its proven that it wont work otherwise.

Don't be hard on yourself, sweetie! Keep up if you want to...or don't....if you don't want to. You'll do what's right for you, OK?

Hugs, Kelly :)

[Kfamr]

It does repulse me but at the same time i'm starving. I wanted something warm SO badly.

I finally gave in and went to Taco Bell. I know, from one extreme to another - but I plan on eating better tomorrow. I still want to eat healthy like I was but I'm going to add meat in here and there.


I just scarfed down a spicy chicken burrito like there was no tomorrow. I feel so much better now.


Thanks so much guys. I didn't necessarily start cold turkey, but around 2 weeks or so before I declared myself vegetarian, I realize I hadn't eaten a lot of meat, only every once in a while. So I guess i'm back to that.


Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE chicken. LOVE it. It doesn't help that my mother works at Chick-Fil-A and I could basically just walk in there and grab whatever I want.

[caseysmom]

Oh don't be so hard on yourself. Why don't you start out eating less meat? I know you have been trying really hard and your not a failure.

Try to get some soup going when you get home, like lentil, someone on here had a really good lentil soup recipe. You could have a bean burrito too, I know there are probably animal products in it but its a start.

Good for you for all you've done so far.

[luvofallhorses]

Oh Kay,

You are NOT a failure. I was thinking about becoming a vegetarian, but like you I CANNOT give up chicken. ((((((hugs)))))

[sirrahbed]

Kay - You have done a very good job at trying to change your diet and I commend you for that. You know there are various types of vegeatrians and perhaps you can start - like several others said - by cutting out red meat, etc. Maybe you can eliminate most meat and only have chicken, fish, etc - several times a week.

We have done this in our family - not because we are against eating animals raised for food - but for our health.

Whatever your reasons - perhaps gradual changes make the most sense.

Oh, and you are hardly a family Kay ((((HUGS)))))

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Like everyone has said, Kay, you are not a failure! Anyone who is trying to quit anything or make a major life change experiences these doubts. I've gone on many a diet before where some days I just can't take it and I "fall off the wagon." Then the next day get right back on it again. There would be nothing wrong with you breaking down and having a chicken sandwich or however you like it, then tomorrow go back to trying to be a vegetarian. Eventually you will get to the point where you don't crave the chicken/meat anymore and eating vegetables will become second nature instead of something strange and new.

Also, being a vegetarian in today's world is easier than it ever has been in history, but it's still awfully hard in our meat eating culture. It's a commitment and if you stick with it - good for you! But there is no shame is realizing it's not the life style for you. At least you've tried which is more than most people can say. :)

[PJ's Mom]

Originally posted by Tubby & Peanut's Mom
Like everyone has said, Kay, you are not a failure! Anyone who is trying to quite anything or make a major life change experiences these doubts.

She's right. I'm going through what you are now only I'm giving up carbs. Hang in there and you'll find what works best for you. :)

[Suki Wingy]

Originally posted by catnapper
You could be like me --- no red meat at all. I eat chicken and fish. I don't like red meat at all. The smell makes me ill. I love chicken, but simply cannot eat it off the bone. If its attached, I refuse to eat it, unless somebody else is willing to pull the meat off for me.:o

good Idea, that is me too!

[Daisy and Delilah]

Kay, Your cravings are only normal. We all crave certain things at certain times. I've always been told, by nutritional experts and/or doctors, that you should "give in" to your cravings rather than let it drive you nuts. Kay, you're being too hard on yourself. You are a very good person and no one could begin to think of you as a failure. Please don't beat yourself up over this anymore. Going to Taco Bell was probably the best thing you could have done considering the circumstances. I personally love Taco Bell and I'm pretty sure I can't live without it. Look at what you accomplished and be proud of yourself. How many people could have survived on veggies for as long as you did? You're right Kay, veggies are pretty boring if that's all you eat. I don't know how my brother does it because I know I can't do it. Now you've shown yourself that you can live without meat every day. To me, that shows that you've changed your life for the better already and I'm happy for you.:D

Terry

[Barbara]

Of course you're NOT a failure! The important thing is to think before you eat!
It happens that just this morning I read an article about vegetarians in the newspaper. It said that the only substance you do not get as much as with a meaty diet is iron. All the rest can come as well from a vegetarian diet (incl. milk and eggs- just greens is more difficult). The body of vegetarians however seems to accomodate to the lesser supply of iron, so in adults - even women who nee more iron because they loose a lot every month- it is no problem.

However they recommend to young women to have meat one or two times per week.

I am just like you: I do not want to eat meat but sometimes I like it just too much. So I consider myself as a part-time vegetarian;) Which means that usually at the weekends I cook myself without meat or with fish. And if I use meat I see that I buy good quality and get also information where it comes from (one of the things that bother me most are animals that are transported over half Europe under horror conditions to be slaughtered:( - so I see that I can get stuff from local farmers).

I also hope that one day I can be a full-time vegetarian but up to now the thought of a home made burger with fried bacon is just too enticing sometimes;)

[carole]

Kay I admire you for trying so hard to become a vegetarian, it simply is not an easy task, if we were brought up from birth with no meat in our lives , it would be a piece of cake.

I also wish I could be a vegetarian, but realistically I know I just cannot do it, I too love chicken, I don't eat red meat as I find it too hard to digest, and am allergic to Fish, so if only I could give up the chicken, but I know I cannot.

Don't berate yourself sweetie, you gave it your best shot, which is more than I could accomplish.

:)

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Originally posted by Barbara
I also hope that one day I can be a full-time vegetarian but up to now the thought of a home made burger with fried bacon is just too enticing sometimes;)

Great, thanks a lot Barbara, now I'm just going to have to breakdown and have a good ol' bacon burger for lunch. I normally don't eat them because the amount of fat and cholesterol involved, but boy are they are just too yummy sometimes! <drool, drool>

Kay, ignore this post. Bacon burgers are the worst, just think of the poor cow and pig and all that fat and cholesteral. A good veggie burger sounds much better, doesn't it?

Which, by the way, brings up a good subject. I like the Garden Burger brand of veggie burgers. You can get them in different flavors and they're actually quite good. Once you put cheese, ketchup and mustard on, you can't even tell it's not a real beef burger. Have you tried them?

[lady_zana]

Please don't think of yourself as a failure. I once tried to go vegetarian when I was in high school and I couldn't do it. I think a lot of it depends on how you were raised eating and what you like to eat. I was raised in a home that respected animals greatly but we still ate hamburger and steak and other meats. I grew up on red meat. That's why when I became a vegetarian, I couldn't do it. I felt bad at first, like you are feeling but then I realized there are other ways I could support the animal kingdom such as giving money to the HSUS and donating bags of cat food to the local shelter.

My husband respects animals too but he's not an activist like I am. However, he's closer to being a vegetarian simply because his mother didn't like meat and hardly ever cooked it.

So you're not a failure, not at all. Don't feel like a failure and if someone makes a negative comment about the fact you eat meat, simply inform them of the good things you do for animals instead.

[FizzGiggs_Mommy]

Kay you are not a failure. I am a vegiterian.
this web site helped me out alot! http://www.jtcwd.com/vegie/index.html

[Fox-Gal]

Kay, you are defiantly not a failure. Just by trying made you not a failure.

I was a vegetarian for 2 years, a long time ago. But my health got bad and I really needed more then I was getting and the vitamins were not getting it done for me. So I went to having Chicken one day a week, on Saturday. I picked that day because we usually went out to eat then, it made my body a little happier and of course I wasn't limited on what I could get at a restaurant. All restaurants have chicken, somewhere on the menu.

You can always try that, just eat what ever it is you and your body is missing, one day a week. Also are you being creative with your vegetables? Just have plain veggies, will make you miss things. Being creative was the key for me.

[ramanth]

You say you craved something warm. Do you eat cooked vegetables or only raw?

I love steaming vegetables and mixing in olive oils and herbs and spices. :)

I usually burn my tongue more on the veggies than the main course. LOL!

You are not a failure. *HUGS*

[LKPike]

You shouldnt be giving up everything all at once!! Youve got to slowly take things out of your diet, your going to put your body into a type of shock giving it all up at once!

Theres a reason puppers get so sick when you change their diets immediatly, you know.


I haven't eaten Mcdonalds or any of those fast food places in 2 years. I still get craving days but its only once in a blue moon. If you fight them, cravings will become less and less each week :)

[smokey the elder]

Don't be so hard on yourself. Cravings are your bod's way of saying, I NEED something. Like everyone else said, when you "fall off the wagon", nothing's stopping you from climbing back on or not.

I used to be a major sweet eater. Over time I just tried to eat less of them; now I hardly ever eat them. But sometimes I just JONES for chocolate, so I have a little bit, and don't get the guilts over it.

Good luck with whatever you do!

[KYS]

Kay!! YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE!!!!

I like catnapper's idea. :)

My neices are either vegitarians or vegans?
Not sure which.
I made my spinach pasta for
mother's day with-out the chicken soup so they could eat it. :)

[jesse_3]

You ARE NOT a failure...You have done what most people can't do! You have gotten so much farther than so many people I know at giving up meat! I think that you did a great job! I agree, give up red meat, and eventually just cut down to chicken, fish, etc..

[RobiLee]

Kay, I can't add anything more to what everyone else has said. All I want to say is no way are you a failure!!! Get that kind of thinking right out of your head!

Hugs....Robin :)