Site Navigation

Vegetarianism for Beginners Part 2

Vegetarianism for Beginners Part 2

Your WHY

Welcome to part two in the series on vegetarianism for beginners!  Now that you’ve decided what type of vegetarian you want to be, you need to identify WHY you want to make this lifestyle change.  You’ll notice I said lifestyle.  This is not a diet.  It’s a way of life.

So, let’s get to it!  There are a variety of reasons why people choose to give up animal protein.

  • ethical issue—you don’t like how animals are treated at slaughter houses
  • moral issue—you don’t believe in eating living creatures or you want to reduce your carbon footprint on the planet
  • religious reasons—you belong to a religion that believes in reincarnation and opposes eating animals
  • health reasons—you want to improve your health and minimize the risk of certain diseases
  • personal reasons—you’re just plain sick of animal protein
  • weight loss—you want to lose a few pounds and inches

For me, it was a combination of things that made me go vegetarian 30 years ago.  I had royally screwed up my metabolism with yo-yo dieting and a nutritionist recommended I lay off the heavy animal protein.  This was the impetus that started this lifestyle for me.  Over the years, my why has evolved and yours will, too.  Today, it saddens me to think that animals are being killed for human consumption.  I am a huge animal lover!  Yes, I’m the person at a party who will be in the corner playing with the host’s dog.  LOL!  But, I digress. . .

Having a clearly identifiable reason, or WHY, will help you stay committed to your vegetarian nutrition plan when the going gets rough (and believe me, it WILL get rough)!  All change is difficult initially.  Let’s get real here, stepping outside of one’s comfort zone is well. . . uncomfortable!  BUT, you know what?  That’s where the magic of change happens!  Stick to your plan and you’ll reap the benefits of the vegetarian lifestyle.

If you’re becoming a vegetarian because it’s the trendy thing to do or your significant other is pushing you to do it, the odds are that you’ll quit before you even truly get too far into it.  Getting in touch with your why will help you stick with it for the long haul.

I’d love to hear what your reason is for becoming a vegetarian, so drop a comment below and share!  I’ll see you back here tomorrow for part three of our series.  Until then, remember to FUEL UP for a FIT LIFE!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

2 Responses to Vegetarianism for Beginners Part 2

  1. Kmbr says:

    I want to be vegatarian because I don’t like the grissle in a lot of the meats. You give me a can of tuna and I will find a bone or a fin in it every time. If I chop down on either one my meal is done. Weather it be the first bit or the last.
    I also want the health benefits from the vegatarian diet. Everyone says I can’t do it. I am turning 50 this year. I have tried many times and failed. I don’t plan to fail this time. I would like help. And am doing research like crazy.

    That is my why? Please help me succeed this time.
    Kmbr

    1. Madelin Tundidor, Ph.D., Certified Personal Trainer says:

      It’s never too late to make a change, and I applaud you for deciding to improve your nutrition! When I first started as a vegetarian, people thought it was a “phase” and that I’d quit rather quickly. I proved them wrong and reaped all the health benefits in the process. 😉 I’ll email you so we can connect and I can provide you more support. 🙂