Meat is Murder (To My Health)

Did you know that just one serving of deli meat per day raises your chance of developing cancer by 50%? I didn’t either, and I feel a little pissed off right now.

If you’re like me, and a product of ‘70s parenting, you grew up consuming copious amounts of animal flesh, believing it was healthy. Our parents encouraged us to get our protein, all the while believing that three squares a day of meat were the way to go. They didn’t know any better than most of us do now. We are excited for summer BBQs, a huge ham for Easter, and roast beef on Christmas Eve. We have adopted, much like our parents did from theirs, a “meat and potatoes” lifestyle, never knowing that this lifestyle is more detrimental to our health than SMOKING.

Yep, I said it. Eating animal flesh, in some ways, is worse than smoking tobacco.

I recently watched the documentary ‘What the Health?’ on Netflix, and I urge you all to do the same. Little did I know that the meat I’ve been eating my whole life is full of carcinogens and various other poisons, and is more of a contributor to diabetes, heart disease, and cancer than is SUGAR. What the health!? Unfortunately for me, I was eating a deli chicken sandwich while watching, and almost puked up my lunch. When you realize you’re eating poison, it’s hard to justify taking another bite.

I can admit that I am absolutely shocked at how Americans are slaves to the food industry in our own country; that our government makes money off of our sickness and ignorance. That our food industry has been hijacked by big business and profiteering. Sweet baby Jesus, it's insane how hoodwinked I feel right now. To be blunt, I feel stupid to have been lulled into a false sense of wellness.

I've been thinking about giving up meat for a while now. Learning what I have, there is really no debating the benefits of a plant-based lifestyle versus that of a meat-based one. Simply put, the animal proteins I ingest are clogging my arteries, starving my blood vessels, and contributing to my dependence on modern medicine to avoid illness. The science is there, people – and I, for one, am anxious to reap the benefits of going meatless. Honestly, the logic is pretty simple; to be fully healthy on the outside means healing from within.

Dear friends, I’m not going rogue here. I’m not jumping on a bandwagon, or adopting a holier-than-thou vegan attitude. I’m merely trying to tell you that I’m making a new choice that I feel will be right for my weight loss goals, my well-being, and my life. I am fully aware that this change will be a difficult one to make. I know that my dad will think I’m crazy, my kid will be flabbergasted, and my commitment will be questioned. I know that I’m infinitely flawed, and I might not succeed 100% of the time. I know all this, and yet I’m still thrilled to take the leap. 

30 Pounds Ago

I would never walk around Chicago, in 90° heat, without giving up (or dying).

I would never register for, or finish, the Holland 100.

I would never wear bike shorts in public.

I would never consider joining a triathlon relay.

I would never wear skirts, for fear of chub rub.

I would never consider dating.

I was never brave.

I didn't realize my worth.

I was so, so very sad.


Thirty pounds is important. I've been stuck at 30 lbs down for several weeks now, and was having difficulty keeping my motivation. It took yesterday, a dismally bad day, for me to realize what a difference that loss has made in my life. 

As I wandered unfamiliar streets, sweating my ass off, and feeling vulnerable, I realized that I was...comfortable. I was not out of breath. I was not struggling to walk even long distances. I even ran a bit. I was able to imagine how much more difficult my ordeal would have been, had I been carrying a 30 pound weight around with me. 

Funny how that thirty pounds felt like the weight of the world.

TIRED

Man, I’m tired.

Single mom. Full timer. Cyclist (sorta). Workout enthusiast (that’s a stretch). Pet owner. Cook. Chauffer. (Smoker, joker, midnight toker.) I do it all, every day.

I know there are a lot of others out there, right now, who can claim exactly the same resume, and so I’m not having a pity party. However, I can fully admit that I’m damn tired, most of the time. My job is mentally difficult, and often stressful. I don’t sleep well at night, despite the CPAP and the good bed, so I wake up as tired as I was when I went to sleep. I worry a lot. All of these reasons, and so many more, meld together to create one dragging lady (and I use that term loosely).

One thing I tried today was getting up early (5 AM!) and meeting a friend to go swimming. I thought, why not? If I work out in the morning, I’ll have more time in the evening to spend with my kid, get chores done, and relax. Also, school will be starting up again soon, so I’ll have loads of homework to complete. Problems solved, right? The perfect solution, for sure.

You know what, though? 5 AM is EARLY, my friends!

Actual photo of me at work today:

I’m not coming to you today with answers I’ve already found that work for me… simply because I have no answers to give. I haven’t figured this one out, ya’ll. So this time, I’m asking all of you for help. What are your tips for putting a pep in your step? How do you combat those early afternoon drowsies (without caffeine and chocolate)? HOW THE HELL DO YOU GET EVERYTHING DONE? What are you willing to sacrifice in your life to fit everything else in, and still binge watch It’s Always Sunny? I’m looking for help this time, folks. Seriously, help a sister out.