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Why I gave up eating meat and how this was the best decision for me. Throughout my life, I have had a slim to medium build always. Most people consider me lucky to have maintained this build while still eating sugary snacks/desserts, all types of meat, carbohydrates and dairy products.

Why did I decide it was time for a lifestyle change?

The realization came one day, it just hit me like a ton of bricks. Hey Chef! You are only getting older. If you want to live a long and healthy life. If you want to look your best physically, change is needed. Even though I physically looked healthy to some. I felt heavy, sluggish, moody, tired most of the time. I was out of shape, couldn’t walk up a flight of stairs without getting out of breath. So I mentally made the decision to cut red meat and poultry entirely out of my diet, along with sugar and unhealthy carbs. I decided to incorporate more vegetables, especially green leafy veggies into my diet. This, along with more beans ( like chickpeas and kidney beans ) added fiber, new proteins and whole grains.

Within the first week, I noticed changes. I had more energy to get through my day. Happier mood, I could focus more on tasks at hand and started to gain a more positive outlook on my life. Of course, the first few days within my lifestyle change was the hardest for me. Being a chef and having to cook all different types of food initially was a struggle. But with mental focus, you can overcome any challenges. I just kept my mind focused on the end goal of being healthy and living a longer life. Due to my profession, I had the advantage of using my creativity to make new dishes involving my new lifestyle of eating.

It has now been three months since I began this new journey. I have dropped two pant sizes, I have more energy, my skin glows, I’m happier, received so many compliments that I look so good and questions as to what I did. According to the 10 Reasons to Try a Vegetarian Diet other added benefits of having a meat-reduced or vegetarian diet include: improving your heart health, may reduce the risk of cancer, lowers the risk of diabetes and can make you smell more pleasant to the opposite sex.

Going meatless was the best decision I could have made. I look forward to sharing more about my experience on my sixth month.

Note: Always keep in mind that these are opinions based on personal experience. This blog is not based on science or studies but solely on the personal experience of the author. Always consult your physician before trying anything new and do your own research.