Sunday, November 14, 2010

Montague Reporter article from November 4, 2010!



Here is the Montague Reporter article on the blog from November 4, 2010!  Click on the pictures to peruse in a bigger size.  Special thanks to Anne Harding and the rest of the fine folks at the Montague Reporter!  Enjoy! 







Talk to you soon!
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Tuesday, November 2, 2010

The Last Supper

Day 366—1st Meatless Year Complete!


By the time you read these words my first full year as a vegetarian will have been officially completed.

It’s chilly outside and clouds completely line the sky like a continuous sheet of cotton as I scribble onto a cheap notepad that will comprise this entry. It very much reminds me of another day, November 2nd 2009, to be exact. Precisely one year ago on that very day I chose to go meatless for a year.

That day started with me waking up in a very comfortable and clean bedroom in upstate New York. After showering, shaving and dressing I bid the owner of said bedroom goodbye. I didn’t know at the time when we would see each other again but somehow I think we both knew deep inside that it would be never.

She looked very beautiful that morning in a black dress, which was inadvertently appropriate on this occasion. We briefly kissed goodbye and she left for her teaching job. I packed my suitcase for the long trip back to Western Massachusetts and saw myself out.

About five hours later, I was driving north on I-91 and decided to take Exit 20 to go into Hadley, MA. I had a shopping list of my basic food staple items that would help me wade into this new vegetarian lifestyle. Whole Foods, Wal-Mart, Target, Trader Joe’s and Stop & Shop were all in relatively close proximity to each other. This was a good opportunity to compare and save prices. I went home that day with three or four grocery bags filled with natural peanut butter, whole grain bread, salad greens, canned beans and fresh fruit.

Days passed, meat was successfully ignored. Pounds started to leave and long lost energy came back. A relationship ended with one woman and, soon after, another very special woman in my life passed away.

Weeks passed, and I added exercise back into my life. Holidays where thanks and gifts were exchange passed without turkey passing my lips.

Months passed and I was watching movies like King Corn and Food Inc. Going meatless was a big factor behind my healthier state but not the only one—I looked at everything I ate. More vegetables than ever before were consumed, less and less processed foods were eaten and whole grains and brown varieties replaced white breads and white rice. Of course, the exercise played its role as well.

365 days can change a lot.






I have not been this thin since grade school. I feel energized, have increased flexibility and have not experienced any illness or irregularity in the past twelve months. The closest to illness I have experienced in this time is feeling sluggish the day after I have treated myself to too many sweets at the movies or wherever.

In the middle of writing drafts of this text I had my own private celebration to commemorate being veggie for a year. I had a simple meal of rice, beans, greens and cheese-filled tortillas with a cup of coffee at this nice local place called The People’s Pint. I alone decided to go meatless and eat better so I think it was only fitting to have the last full meal of my initial meatless year by myself.

I was initially thinking about how to celebrate it in a bigger way. I thought my first ever skydive would be fun but it isn’t in my budget right now. There were many good suggestions and I went with the simplest suggestion of a veggie friendly dinner at a local restaurant. However, that actually isn’t my true reward.

Improving ones health is the reward in itself. I cannot think of a finer prize, can you? This is not some fad diet but instead healthy eating habits one has to keep up for life. Nothing in this life that is truly valuable comes without hard work.

And speaking of making a change to a meatless diet, are there those out there who want to undertake their own meatless year? Please let me know. I can do my best to give you advice and if I don’t have the answer I can most certainly point you in the direction of someone who can.

Thank you once again to Audra, Chris, Joe, Melinda, Mike and both Rebeccas for relating their experience with their chosen ways of eating before I went veggie a year ago.

To my family for accepting this new eating choice of mine and the many friends who did the same.

To the wonderful faculty and staff of the Greenfield YMCA for showing me how to properly get back into an exercise routine and also for their great sense of community.

To Mike Glazier, David Neil and Steve Mish for acting in films made especially for this blog.

To David Centeno for providing the opposing point of view and keeping all of us meatless consumers on our toes.

To Ingrid dos Santos for designing the nice new masthead.

Thanks to Dr. Paul Carlan, Jade Arcade, Monte, the cast, director and crew of Ja’Duke’s Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, Nayana Glazier and Anne Harding of the Montague Reporter.

I also want to thank all of the veggies out there for supporting my efforts on Facebook and other places on the web. Lastly I want to thank you, the reader, for checking out this blog. A Man Finally Eats His Veggies will continue as an ongoing blog. See you in a week.


All writing, videos and pictures copyright the author of this blog unless otherwise noted or, if really darn obvious.

Monday, November 1, 2010

The last day…


Day 365

of the first year of me being a vegetarian.

I have almost made it.  I am almost there and quite different than I was a year ago.

Just a matter of hours…

Talk to you soon!
http://twitter.com/ManEatsVeggies Meatless Man on Twitter
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Sunday, October 31, 2010

A Look Back Upon My First Meatless Year: For those who came in late


Days 363 and 364

Look just above this text and you will see that I have reached day 364.  As of this writing, I am one day short of having been meatless for an entire year.

In the last couple of months this blog has gone from having hundreds of visitors a month to thousands.  Many of you discovered this cozy corner of the blogosphere after the halfway point in my first meatless year.  For your benefit, I have posted below links to most of the highlights of this year of personal change.  Enjoy. 












One more day to go… thanks for reading.

And Happy Halloween everyone!


Talk to you soon!
http://twitter.com/ManEatsVeggies Meatless Man on Twitter
All writing, videos and pictures copyright the author of this blog unless otherwise noted or, if really darn obvious.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Why the updates have not been as frequent: The Final Chapter


Day 362

If you are in Western Massachusetts and are trying to get into the Halloween spirit then please come see this show I am in!  Click on the images below for more details.



Talk to you soon!
http://twitter.com/ManEatsVeggies Meatless Man on Twitter
All writing, videos and pictures copyright the author of this blog unless otherwise noted or, if really darn obvious.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

The Future of this blog

Day 361

After, “Will you stay veggie after your meatless year is up?” the question I get asked most is “Will this blog continue after your first meatless year?”

Yes.

Which is why the title of this blog has been modified from "A Man Finally Eats his Veggies: A Meatless Year" to just "A Man Finally Eats his Veggies".

To reflect this change, the new and shortened name is in the beautiful Ingrid dos Santos artwork on the blog’s masthead and has now been incorporated into the blog’s Twitter page as well:


Speaking of the blog’s Twitter page, I have changed my screename on there as well. The new name is ManEatsVeggies and you can find the new location for the Twitter page by clicking here.

So far, the blog has primarily focused on my veggie eating habits but it has also talked about the other things that we put in our bodies. Don’t be surprised if you see even more food topics in this blog that don’t necessarily focus on a meatless diet. After all, dropping meat alone does not guarantee a clean bill of health.

Talk to you soon!
All writing, videos and pictures copyright the author of this blog unless otherwise noted or, if really darn obvious.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

How should I celebrate one year of being meatless?


Day 360

How should I celebrate one year of being meatless on November 2nd?  Any suggestions?

It seems that something this important to me that has radically changed the way I look and feel should be commemorated somehow on the 2nd but how? 

I considered making my first skydive ever and videotaping it but that is something I really cannot afford right now so that is out.

And before anyone sarcastically suggests it (you know who you are) I am not going to celebrate with a hamburger, steak or anything that involves eating meat.

Any ideas?  Let me know.

Talk to you soon!
http://twitter.com/ManEatsVeggies", Meatless Man on Twitter
All writing, videos and pictures copyright the author of this blog unless otherwise noted or, if really darn obvious.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

The Final Week Begins

Day 359

As of today I am one week shy of having been meatless for an entire year.

For 51 weeks I have eaten no beef, pork, poultry, seafood/fish or whole eggs.

It went by so fast, didn’t it? I am still in disbelief that I stayed meatless for almost a whole calendar year, met my weight loss goal, gained the energy of my youth back and overall changed my health for the better.

Many of you have asked if I am going to quit vegetarianism after November 2nd. My answer to that question has been, “If you were doing something that made you feel great and was good for you with no side effects, why would would you stop doing it?” I will admit, this was initially going to be just a year long experiment, but I just don’t feel the urge to go back to the lethargic way things were before November 2nd of last year.

However, I am wrestling with the idea of going back to eating whole eggs and seafood. One of the factors keeping me from consuming the latter again is the pollutants that some experts claim to have contaminated the fish and seafood—before or after the Gulf oil spill earlier this year.

Of course, there is also the matter of how sea life and egg laying hens are treated. There are more humane ways to get eggs so maybe I will only consume them from free range chickens.

Speaking of poultry, the smell of turkey on Thanksgiving and Christmas is tempting. These are the only times I would ever be tempted to partake in poultry. But should I? Starting my meatless year in November wasn’t an arbitrary decision. I started that particular month as to get the hardest part of being meatless, the holidays, out of the way within the first two months.

There is the social aspect to consider as well. Over the course of the past year I have also received funny looks from people when I ask if a dish is meat free—so imagine how it would look to others refusing turkey on the holiday in front of a friend’s family or my own. If I just eat turkey on the holidays would it make me a bad person? Would it make me a hypocrite?

What do you all think?

One week to go.

Talk to you soon!
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Monday, October 25, 2010

Week of Sweets

Days 356 - 358

Two Weeks Ago…

Where has my will power gone? Just look at this scale reading—look at it:


I was just 150 the week before!

Excuses to skip the gym have been turning up like mad. It feels a few days on, then one week off. It is like some ADD that I have when it comes to working out, “Alright, the nautilus room—look, a squirrel!”

Of course, these tempting treats could have been easily avoided during the course of this week:




According to this article a workout break for a couple of weeks could help ones muscles relax, especially if they are usually good at keeping a regular workout schedule and have been pushing themselves.

This week…

I am down around 150 lbs again. That is a weight I can live with. I think it is okay to fluctuate, just as long as I keep one eye on the scale and the other on my dinner plate.

Talk to you soon!
All writing, videos and pictures copyright the author of this blog unless otherwise noted or, if really darn obvious.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Why the updates have not been as frequent: Part III


Days 349 - 355  



Talk to you soon!
All writing, videos and pictures copyright the author of this blog unless otherwise noted or, if really darn obvious.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Once again, why the updates have not been as frequent...

Day 348

In Western Mass the next few weekends?  Click on the picture below for something fun to check out while you are in the area:


Talk to you soon!
meatlessman@yahoo.com
Facebook A Man Finally Eats his Veggies Fan Page
Meatless Man on Twitter
All writing, videos and pictures copyright the author of this blog unless otherwise noted or, if really darn obvious.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

And I thought the blog redesigning was over…

Day 347  

You may notice the blog masthead has gone through yet another change!  Loyal blog reader and artist, Ingrid dos Santos, approached me with a new graphic for this blog:


Wow.  How could one pass up this superb piece of art?

Want to see more from her?

You can check out her blog:  


And there is also her official webpage:


Tell her Jason sent you!

Talk to you soon!
All writing, videos and pictures copyright the author of this blog unless otherwise noted or, if really darn obvious.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Things That Don't Surprise Me (and Shouldn't Surprise you Either): Happy Meals Don't Decompose!

Day 345 & 346

This is just gross:


Talk to you soon!
meatlessman@yahoo.com
Facebook A Man Finally Eats his Veggies Fan Page
Meatless Man on Twitter
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Monday, October 11, 2010

Motivational Monday!

Days 339 - 344  

The wonderful Shana Moore writes a blog named 100 Pounds and Counting that you can check out here

It is the story of how Shana one day discovered she didn’t like being 250 lbs any more and decided to do something about it.  It is very inspiring and I will be talking more about her blog in the coming days.  Please click on the link above in the meanwhile and give it a good read.  It is very inspiring.

From time to time, Shana features other weight loss stories in her blog in a segment she calls Motivational Mondays.  This Monday she has chosen to profile me and I am very honored!  You can check out my piece by clicking on the image below. 


Talk to you soon!
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Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Flocked

Days 337 & 338

To Steve, Mark, Jared, Andy, Kumail, Pete and Amanda.

The following videos are from 2007. They are a sitcom pilot I acted in and I am heavier looking in it. I may have been a little around 212 lbs at that time. Well anyway, during the filming of the diner scene found in part one below, Pete Grosz and I are having breakfast. In between takes we discussed what we liked to eat for breakfast which you can read about in more detail here.




In this last part watch for the scene where I am photocopying (no, it is not that kind of a video!) and you will notice I am thinner than in the previous scenes. This is due in part to them filming a few weeks after principle photography had ended. By that time I had started a weight loss competition at work.



Needless to say, I quickly put all the weight that I lost back then on again. Right now I have managed to keep my current weight loss off for about two months. That is something huge for me. Never before have I managed maintaining such a loss of weight for such an extended period of time. Eating healthier and exercising pays off.

Talk to you soon!
All writing, videos and pictures copyright the author of this blog unless otherwise noted or, if really darn obvious.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

New Look, Same Goal.

Day 336

This is the bland way my blog used to look:



Here is the blog you are looking at now in screenshot form for comparison:



You will notice that it looks much sleeker in design now. It is something that I had been meaning to do for a bit now and I really apologize for not doing it sooner.

New look but same mission to inform the internet surfing public about better eating choices. Stick around!

Talk to you soon!
meatlessman@yahoo.com
Facebook A Man Finally Eats his Veggies Fan Page
Meatless Man on Twitter
All writing, videos and pictures copyright the author of this blog unless otherwise noted or, if really darn obvious.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

One more month to go…

Day 335

As of today, I have been meatless for 11 months!

- I have not had beef, pork, poultry, seafood/fish or eggs in their whole form in almost a year!
                                                                                                                                         
- I am presently at a very healthy 150 lbs, a 62 pound difference from the 212 lbs I more or less weighed around this time last year.

- I have increased energy, stamina and flexibility.

- Better digestion.

- Overall I feel fantastic!

Thank you all for all the kind words of support.  Keep reading as there is still one more month to go!

And after that?  Who knows?

Talk to you soon!
All writing, videos and pictures copyright the author of this blog unless otherwise noted or, if really darn obvious.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Happy World Vegetarian Day!


Day 334


Talk to you soon!
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Thursday, September 30, 2010

How YOU can celebrate World Vegetarian Day.


Day 331 - 333

Tomorrow, October 1st, is World Vegetarian Day and I have pondered just how exactly will I celebrate it. What exactly do I do to show how exactly I feel about having gone veggie?

I have found the answer my friends. For the duration of World Vegetarian Day I will post the following image I made in Photoshop as my Facebook profile pic and I encourage all other veggies and veggie supporters to copy the image below and do the same:


Have a Happy World Vegetarian Day bitches!

Talk to you soon!
All writing, videos and pictures copyright the author of this blog unless otherwise noted or, if really darn obvious.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Ben & Jerry’s is no longer all-natural…was it ever really?

Days 329 & 330 


Okay, I confess I have done it once—maybe twice since I wrote the above mentioned entry.  It is my favorite hard serve ice cream and I think as long as I don’t do it every week or even every month it is okay. 


Oh Ben & Jerry’s, I know you are no good for me but I need you upon my lips and in my mouth every now and then just to feel alive.



Talk to you soon!
All writing, videos and pictures copyright the author of this blog unless otherwise noted or, if really darn obvious.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Haven’t updated much this week because...

Day 328

I have been busy with a new temp job and in rehearsals for this:


Check out the Facebook event page for here.

The OTHER Facebook event page for it here.

And you can buy tickets directly here.

See you in October.


Talk to you soon!
meatlessman@yahoo.com
Facebook A Man Finally Eats his Veggies Fan Page
Meatless Man on Twitter
All writing, videos and pictures copyright the author of this blog unless otherwise noted or, if really darn obvious.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Cheers to Kirstie Alley?

Days 321 - 327

Remember when I voiced my doubts over diets and weight loss programs in this entry and then in this one?

Yesterday, the news broke that Kirstie Alley has recently lost 50 lbs. Congrats Ms. Alley, that is quite an accomplishment!


Wait.

Didn’t you slim down before? How did you do that again?

Oh yeeeaaaaaah:

"Last year, Alley, 59, confessed that she had ballooned back up to 230 pounds — after initially losing 75-pounds via Jenny Craig and announcing it on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in 2006."

Ms. Alley, I know it is hard to lose weight and keep it off, but I also know the best results I have ever reached for weight loss was from exercise and eating healthier—more vegetables, no meat, less sugar and white flour, as well as reducing my processed food intake. I am not saying you have to drop meat from your diet but please, see a dietician or nutritionist, one that doesn’t work for or endorse a weight loss center because it seems those places didn’t work for you. I am not saying weight loss centers don’t work at all, but you can’t depend on one forever to keep the weight off. That comes from you and nobody else.

So how long until the “Organic Liaison" line of foods fails you as well and you gain some or all of that weight back?

Not trying to be mean, just playing devil’s advocate.

Once again, congrats on the weight loss, Ms. Alley.

Talk to you soon!
meatlessman@yahoo.com
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Meatless Man on Twitter
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Friday, September 17, 2010

Have you tasted Green Lantern’s Glo Balls?

Day 320


I saw this ad in a magazine on Wednesday:



DC Comics, a subsidiary of DC Entertainment Inc., is trying to push the Green Lantern name onto the public at large before the movie of the same name starring Ryan Reynolds reaches theaters in June of 2011. Flash is in an even earlier stage of film development, so he gets a snack cake of his own as well. However, instead of focusing on Flash’s cakes, I will instead focus on Green Lantern’s Glo Balls.


Thursday, I went on a hunt for some Glo Balls. As luck would have it I found Green Lantern’s Glo Balls resting on a shelf at a local grocery store. As you can see, there were plenty of Glo Balls for anyone who wanted to take a box home and put a Glo Ball in their mouth:



These Glo Balls were too good not to pass up, so I purchased a box and brought them to play rehearsal that night:




I offered my soft and puffy Glo Balls to my fellow thespians, but only two of them took me up on my offer. It was tempting to try these tantalizing treats as a “reward” for slimming down this past year, but after reading the ingredients I decided against it:



Yep. Beef fat in the form of animal shortening. Be careful to read those ingredient labels folks. I am sooooo glad I didn’t place Green Lantern’s Glo Balls upon my lips.



Talk to you soon!

meatlessman@yahoo.com

Facebook A Man Finally Eats his Veggies Fan Page

Meatless Man on Twitter

All writing, videos and pictures copyright the author of this blog unless otherwise noted or, if really darn obvious.