I am a vegetarian and have been for going on 8 years. I believe in my food choices with all of my heart and KNOW that they are the best thing for me and my family.

Having said that I do believe there are ALWAYS 2 sides to every story. So I would like to introduce you to Lisa, a former vegetarian. Her story is interesting and deserves to be heard like all the (still practicing) vegetarians who have come before her.

Thank You.

Why I Started Eating Meat

I was a vegetarian for many years. I did it for a number of reasons. The first was because I found it creepy to eat meat. I wasn’t like a fanatical PETA person or anything, I just didn’t like the idea. Second, my mom isn’t a very good cook (no offense mom) and meat was definitely not her strength. And lastly, I didn’t like the idea of PREPARING meat. I had no idea HOW or what to do with a slab or steak or chicken.

I stopped eating meat for probably 12 years? Not sure how many years. But once in awhile I would eat meat in those “Vegetarian Years” and I’d get really sick. It was almost like my body couldn’t process it or something.

The problem with the way I was a vegetarian, however, is that I didn’t add other forms of protein to my diet. I was just lacking protein! That’s incredibly stupid. In my quest to get healthy, I realized this and realized that my body was lethargic and tired because I wasn’t eating protein!

I decided to start eating meat again about 3/4 of the way to my goal of losing 100 pounds. I was working out A LOT. Something strange started happening: I WAS CRAVING MEAT. ALL THE TIME! I was so confused! I tried to trick my body by eating those Morningstar veggie burgers and it just wasn’t the same. I needed to eat real meat.

So slowly I began adding meat to my diet. I had always eaten fish, so I was okay there. I had a George Forman Grill and I started grilling chicken breasts. I’d cut up the chicken and put it on my salads and call that dinner. It was pretty good!

That meat craving has never left me. I’m now a full-fledged meat eater and I love it. I eat steak, I love steak fajitas. I eat chicken and (gasp) even bratwursts!! Eating meat has definitely improved my health too. I have more energy. When I eat meat, my calories are lower for the day. It’s been a win-win situation.

The one thing I’ve never gotten over is the desire to NEVER touch uncooked meat. It still creeps me out!

The last time my boyfriend Michael and I were in Vegas, he surprised me by taking me out to dinner at Craftsteak!

I’m a HUGE “Top Chef” fan and the restaurant is owned by the one and only Tom Colicchio. There I ate probably the best steak of my entire life. Kobe beef to be exact. The steak melted in my mouth and I still dream about it sometimes.

–Lisa

Want to hear more from Lisa? Read more at her blog 110 Pounds and Counting or if 140 character thoughts are more your style you can follow her on twitter as well!

And now a song that I am currently OBSESSED with!!

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