Tuesday, August 31, 2010

O Canada, Part 1

Days 301 – 303

Me: “Excuse me sir, could you take a picture of me?”
Louie: “Sure.”(Takes picture of me standing in terminal.)
Me: “Thanks. It's for a blog that I write.”

That was how the exchange between me, fellow passenger Louie and his wife, Penny, began two Fridays ago at a terminal in Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, CT.

I was there for a 9 am flight to Detroit that would connect with another one taking me to my ultimate destination, London, Ontario Canada. The purpose of the trip was to attend my cousin Scott’s wedding the next day and, due to prior commitments the week of the wedding, I was traveling north of the boarder separately from the rest of my family ho had gone up two days earlier by car.

After snapping of a picture or two on my digital camera to post in this very blog, I gave Louie and Penny both business cards with the blog URL and showed them photos on my phone of how I lost weight by dropping meat, eating better and exercising regularly. I mentioned that I was watching how much processed foods I ate and they started nodding in accord. They were both in their mid to late 60’s (sorry, they didn’t want their pictures taken) and mentioned how they had both reduced the amount of meat they ate on a daily basis, increased their fruit and vegetable intake and mostly avoided processed foods too. Penny and Louie told me that they both felt overall better and had reduced health problems as a result.

It never ceases to amaze me how increasingly relevant healthier eating is becoming to people in this country. You can find people from both younger and older generations taking this topic more and more seriously. I just love that.


Both flights went off without a hitch. I gobbled up the complimentary peanuts and chugged down a Coke on the flight into Detroit. The flight from Detroit to London, Ontario was so empty that almost every passenger had their own row. Getting through customs was an adventure though.

Upon entering the customs gate after touching down in Ontario, all the passengers were told to go over to a side table and fill out a copy of the customs form that our flight crew was supposed to give us on the plane. Thanks Detroit flight crew.

Being a guy traveling alone on a one way ticket to a foreign country made my customs experience even more memorable.

“Sir, I am going to ask you to take a seat on the bench through those double doors over there”, said the twenty-something customs official. “Sure”, I replied, expecting this treatment ahead of time because my father pointed out that due to my above traveling circumstances I would probably be a prime candidate for a brief detainment.

“Is it possible to get my passport stamped?”, I eagerly asked.
“Sure, after we ask you a few questions.”

And with that I went through the double doors and sat down on the bench, occupying myself with watching Gary Oldman and Christian Bale trying to talk some sense into a half deformed Aaron Eckhart on my iPod Touch.

After a few minutes the young customs officer and his older customs companion escorted me into the next room where they had me set my messenger bag down on a counter next to a computer where they were searching through a database to see if I was one of America’s most wanted. The room was dead quiet and empty except for the three of us and after a minute or two the older customs officer seemed to get bored and left. I wondered if this was the most excitement they usually had around here. Were the London, Ontario customs officers the Maytag repairmen of their professional field?

Young Customs Officer couldn’t find anything for a criminal record (I guess the time I slipped an Andes Candy into my pocket at the local drugstore when I was three did not count. Maybe it was because my mother caught me shoving it into my tiny mouth as soon as we stepped out of the store.) and so he proceeded to ask me the same questions over and over again to see if my answers were consistent.

“I am up here for a wedding, officer.”
“My cousin Scott’s wedding, officer.”
“I have no other luggage because I do not want to give Delta anymore of my money then they are morally entitled to, officer.
“My parents brought it up with them when they drove up here earlier in the week, officer.”
“Yes, officer, I am attending a wedding up here tomorrow.”
“My cousin Scott’s wedding officer.”
“It is a one way ticket because I am riding back with my parents on Monday, officer.”
“Yes, only until Monday, officer.”
“My cousin Scott’s wedding, officer.”
“Yes I do like chocolate chip cookies, officer.” (Okay, he really didn’t ask this one.)

And then we finished with a nice search of my messenger bag. Just when young custom’s officer thought he was finished I pointed out yet another pocket for him to explore with his rubber glove encased hands. Being a friendly Canadian customs officer he was thankful for my cooperation.

With no criminal record, unswerving answers to his questioning and nothing suspicious turning up in my bag search he sent me on my way. It was only after I stepped out onto the curb outside that I realized he didn’t make good on stamping my passport like he promised. Darn you crafty Canadian customs officer—it was all a clever charade to avoid stamping my passport!

After a few minutes my mother picked me up from the airport and it was only about a short 10 – 15 drive to my Uncle Peter and Aunt Marlene’s place where we were staying. When we got there they had already set up the giant rented tent in their beautifully landscaped backyard for the following day’s ceremony. We just had to set up some more tables and chairs for that night’s rehearsal dinner.



There were also some munchies on hand that were prepared and laid out for us and other guests that evening. Mmmm…fresh veggies!

To be continued…

Talk to you soon!
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Saturday, August 28, 2010

300 Days Meatless!


Days 298 – 300!

As of this writing I have reached 300 days of being meatless. There is just a little over two months to go for my first meatless year.

I still feel great. This is the best I have felt in years and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Once again, thank you all for your support and positive feedback. This blog has reached over 7,700 visits since November. I don’t really know how good that is compared to other blogs, but I am happy with all those visits just the same. It means that on some level people are interested in healthier eating and that is one of the main points of doing this blog, to inform others about better food choices.

Here are just some of the highlights from my first 300 days of being meatless:

Gave up meat in the first place.

Celebrated the holidays meatless here and here.

And now 300 days of being meatless!!!!!!!


(Don’t worry, I will write about my Canada trip soon like I promised!)

Talk to you soon!
meatlessman@yahoo.com
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Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Happy 80th Mr. Connery!

Day 297


Sir Sean is 80 today and he talks a little about his eating habits in this article here.

Talk to you soon!
meatlessman@yahoo.com
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Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Will and Acceptance

Days 290 - 296

Back? Yes, I am back from a weekend trip to—oh, now that would be telling now wouldn’t it? I will tell you all about the trip in the next entry. Maybe, hee hee.

Well, 42 weeks down and only 10 more to go to complete this meatless year, the first of many. I can’t believe I have gone almost 300 days without eating meat. To me, what is even more amazing is how much I really don’t miss it. Sure, sometimes when I smell it or see it up close I will actually salivate but I never truly crave meat beforehand, either actively or passively. I don’t sit around looking forward to an evening’s steak dinner or looking forward to a weekend BBQ’s grilled hot dogs and hamburgers.

Have you ever had a special food or dish on vacation that you loved but knew while you were consuming it you would most likely never taste of it again? You had to try to accept that this exotic dish would probably never be a part of your life again for reasons that they didn’t or just couldn’t make, sell or grow this amazing food or food dish where you were living at the time.

You know what occurred after that? You got over it and moved on. It may have taken minutes, hours, days or even weeks but you accepted the fact that that certain combination of succulent ingredients or special singular food would most likely never traverse your palette again.

Meat however is readily available all across America. I can have it anytime I want it. Most grocery stores carry a wide variety of your favorite cuts of meat, fresh or frozen. Twenty-four hour diners and even some fast food places make it easy to get a cheeseburger at any time of the night. I have accepted the fact that eating meat is no longer a part of my life and probably never will be again.

Amazing what someone can do without when one makes a real effort to actually do without it.

Lastly, here is a hint where I went this weekend:

Talk to you soon!
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Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Sweet Rewards

Days 285 - 289

I believe that it is important to give yourself some small rewards along the path of a fitness goal—especially when it is a weight loss goal. Everyone has that something special they like to reward themselves with—whether they consciously realize it or not. The best thing about a special reward? It doesn’t have to be good for you.

One special reward of mine I find irresistible is Reese’s Pieces. Mmmmm…. Reese’s Pieces.


Peanut Butter M&M’s are satisfactory but, to me, they simply pale in comparison to Reese’s Pieces. Mmmmm… Reese’s Pieces.


Oh E.T., you were so onto something wonderful. Why did our government mistreat you so? I love Reese’s Pieces to death even though I know they have little to no nutritional worth. They are ideal for the movies—especially the larger sized bags! Mmmmm…Reese’s Pieces.


Yes, I like a good bag of, okay, I will say it again… Reese’s Pieces. They are all right to have once in a while as a reward for losing weight or sticking to an exercise plan, but they shouldn’t be an everyday—or even every week (in my opinion) food staple. Eat the healthy foods regularly, save the sweets and bad fatty treats for a special occasion or a small (emphasis on small) reward for losing weight.

Still…Reese’s Pieces are not my only unwholesome self reward. I am sometimes sorely tempted to eat half a bag of these in one sitting:


Mmmm….Ore Ida Extra Large Cheese Sticks….why can’t you stay out of my life for good?!

Talk to you soon!
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Thursday, August 12, 2010

My Least Favorite 4 Letter Word

Day 284

A few weeks back I got this in my inbox from my cousin Amanda,

A question for the meatless man...
Tuesday, July 27, 2010 2:41 PM
From: "Amanda"
To: "Jason"

"Hey,

I have a question for you. I've recently started a new diet: The Paleo Diet, but it relies heavily on animal protein because legumes and dairy aren't allowed. Having been vegetarian in the past, I'm not fond of eating meat more than once a day now. Do you have any suggestions of good vegetarian protein replacements, preferably those that don't rely on soy (or other beans) or dairy?

Thanks,
Amanda"

And, here is a brief definition of the Peleo Diet from Wikipedia:

“The modern dietary regimen known as the Paleolithic diet (abbreviated paleo diet or paleodiet), also popularly referred to as the caveman diet, Stone Age diet and hunter-gatherer diet, is a nutritional plan based on the presumed ancient diet of wild plants and animals that various human species habitually consumed during the Paleolithic—a period of about 2.5 million years duration that ended around 10,000 years ago with the development of agriculture. In common usage, such terms as the "Paleolithic diet" also refer to the actual ancestral human diet Centered on commonly available modern foods, the "contemporary" Paleolithic diet consists mainly of meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, roots, and nuts; and excludes grains, legumes, dairy products, salt, refined sugar, and processed oils.”

If something sounds too good to be true then it probably is. Never has that famous adage been as true as when it comes to dieting.

Diet is a four letter word, both in the literal and figurative senses. All diets are fad diets because they are temporary fixes. I have done my fair share of diets and they are short term solutions at best. Once you go off one then the pounds start coming back fairly quick.

You may think going meatless is actually a diet but it is actually an eating lifestyle choice. I did not choose to go meatless solely to lose weight and I now plan on being meat free for good. My overall health was a concern and some other things also had to change such as getting regular exercise and looking at the food I was eating that wasn’t meat. Many people have asked if I lost all the weight from just going meatless. Of course not, it was a combination of the exercise and eating better but it certainly wasn’t dieting when it came to the food part.

My advice to my cousin Amanda and others out there looking to lose weight is to see a nutritionist and your primary care physician. Consult with them and let them know that you want to eat healthier. Do not rely on mythical diets. Instead I urge you to go for a realistic way of eating that allows you to get your regular portions from all food groups.

Healthier eating habits as opposed to diets generally:

- Give you all or most of the essential vitamins and minerals you need to carry out your daily life.
- Help speed up your metabolism.
- Give you a steadier stream of natural energy.
- Won’t make you feel starved or ravenous.
- Make you feel overall better.

Don’t simply take my word for it. See your doctor and have him/her refer you to a nutritionist. If you take the time to do so and actually listen to what they have to say you can change the way you eat for the better. All it takes is the initiative to make an appointment with them. Hope this helps Amanda.

Talk to you soon!
meatlessman@yahoo.com
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Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Now is a good time…

Day 283

--for some blog reminders.

You can be a fan of A Man Finally Eats his Veggies: A Meatless Year Blog on Facebook. Just click here and check it out!

And do you like to Twitter? The Meatless Year Blog does. Sign up to get the blog's tweets here.

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

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

So What’s Next?

Days 279 - 282

First off, I thank you all very much for the extremely kind words and congratulations on my reaching my weight loss goal last week. I could not have done this without the advice and support of the blog’s many readers. Once again, thank you all.

Aside from the congratulations and compliments on my trimmer frame, many people have been asking me what is next—some even wondering if this is the end of the blog.

Why would it be? I started going meatless on November 2nd of last year and fully intend to continue chronicling this meatless year which has now become what I hope to be my first meatless year of a meatless life. Much like on that first day last autumn when I started giving up beef, chicken, pork, fish/poultry and whole (unprocessed) eggs, meeting the weight loss goal is a new beginning of sorts. I have now taken off the excess weight I don’t need so what do I do with what is there?

Keep reading the blog people. Weight loss is just one aspect of this whole meatless matter but it is not everything by far. Still, it is nice to be fit and trim!

Talk to you soon!
meatlessman@yahoo.com
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Friday, August 6, 2010

Weight Update: The Big One

Day 278

Well, it looks like good things come in threes.

Earlier this week I passed the 9 months meatless mark, then the meatless blog reached over 5,000 visits to and now it is time for a weight update. A very important weight update.

What makes this one so much more important compared to past weight updates?

Look at the following pictures and see...








That is right. As of yesterday, August 5th, 2010, I reached my weight loss goal of 147 lbs—actually, just below it at 146! That's a loss of 66 lbs since 11/2/10 which was just over 9 months ago!

The BMI range for my age, height and gender is 147 – 162 lbs. Like a kid who encounters a new swimming pool for the first time I just had to touch the bottom of the deep end just once—even if just for a day, even if just for five minutes!

I have done many diets over the years but never reached a weight loss goal. Now, by changing my eating habits (not doing dieting) and exercising I have made my weight loss goal a reality at long last!

And, once again, I want to thank you all for your support! To my blog readers for all the info and well wishes, Facebook friends who have positively commented on pictures of my weight loss results and friends and family who I see in person everyday and have seen the difference in how I look and let me know that I am on the right track for better health. Thank you all. It means so much to me.

Now enjoy some more pictures:







Talk to you soon!
meatlessman@yahoo.com
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Thursday, August 5, 2010

Over 5000 Visits!

Day 277

Dear Meatless Blog,

How have you been? I know our relationship has been suffering lately, as I have only been able to see you mostly on Mondays for the last month. Yes, just once a week I have been updating you and it is true that you deserve more of my attention and—not to change the subject, but did you see the pretty flowers I bought you?

No! No! I am not cheating on you with another blog! How could you even think that?! No, no—I got them for you because I love you and I wanted to do something special for you.

Okay...the truth.

I really got them for you because I felt guilty about
not remembering our 9 months meatless anniversary until the day after—but it doesn’t mean I love you any less—it is just that I have been very busy lately! Now I have free time again and I can spend it with YOU baby!

Don’t fold your arms and look away! Not today! We have reached over 5,000 blog visits as of yesterday! It is true! Happy 5,000 Visits!

Sigh, yes, I know we could have gotten here much sooner if I updated more in the past month but wait until you see what the next entry will be! You will not be able to keep your hands off of me after that!

Now let’s go off to the bedroom and type…

Love,
Jason

P.S. I will REALLY make it up to you tomorrow! It is a Friday after all…


meatlessman@yahoo.com
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Wednesday, August 4, 2010

9 Months of Being Meatless!

Days 275 & 276

On Monday, August 2nd, I reached 9 months of being meatless! I totally didn't remember until early yesterday morning that I had reached that point in my meatless year!

So...

- I have now been meatless for 3/4 of a year.

- My eating habits in general have improved!

- I have shed many pounds!

- I have even built up some muscle!

- My energy levels are generally higher and more consistent too!


- I have reached a better understanding of how the food we eat in our western culture is raised and processed. Believe me, it makes it a bit easier to make better eating choices when you know exactly what is in your food and how (and why) it gets put in there.

Besides the great taste of it, I really don't miss meat—and I don't even miss that aspect all that much! There are plenty of other tasty foods out there that are not cow, pig, chicken, turkey or fish. One just has to look and they can discover them for themselves.

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

Monday, August 2, 2010

Weekly BMI Numbers for 8/2/10

Days 268 - 274

I have been inadvertently switching my BMI and fat numbers for the last few weeks in the entries. That is what one gets for writing before their first cup of coffee of the day. Here are the corrected numbers for those weeks:

7/19/10
FAT 15.1
BMI 22.2
Waist 33"

7/26/10
FAT 18.0
BMI 22.6
Waist 33"

And now, my BMI numbers for 8/2/10 are:

FAT 15.6
BMI 22.3
Waist 33.5"


Looks like my fat and BMI numbers have gone down while my waist has gone up half an inch! How can that be? Well, more exercise is needed. I have begun to slack in that area lately. Now where is that cup of coffee?

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