Blubber To Runner

If you would have asked me 6 months ago what one phrase would probably never… EVER… come out of my mouth it would have been ‘I’m going vegetarian’.  The only thing salad used to do is take away room in my stomach for the 20oz. Porterhouse I was about to destroy at dinner.  I mean, why eat fresh fruits and vegetables when there’s an equally fresh bag of salt ‘n’ pepper potato chips in my cabinet?

Well, that was 6 months ago.

Times they are a-changin’… and so am I.  And so is Weight Watchers for that matter.  The weight loss juggernaut just overhauled their entire program… the first time in 10 years they have made significant changes to their system.  Without getting into the technical aspects of it, lemme summarize the biggest change – most fruits and vegetables are now zero points (very few are not – such as potatoes, corn and avocados).

For those that aren’t aware – WW assigns point values to everything that you eat.  When you sign up you are given a daily point value that you are allowed to consume each day.  This point value is based on weight, daily activity and a few other factors.  So why is ‘fruits and veggies are zero points’ such a big deal?  Here’s an example: on the old program, a banana was two points – the same amount of points as a 100 calorie snack pack of Doritos.  Now… given the choice of the two I chose the Doritos 100 out of 100 times.  I mean, why not?  It’s the same amount of points, right?

There’s clearly a difference… and Weight Watchers recognized this.  So now, in the NEW plan, a banana is ZERO points, while that same snack pack is 3.  I’m a big dude… I get a lotta points daily.  My mom?  She’s a petite young woman :)… she gets roughly 18 points/ day.  So to now be able to eat something that helps her fill up and not worry about losing points doing it?  It is HUGE.

So, the new plan started Monday… and I immediately went out and stocked up on fruits and veggies.  Then, without realizing it, I went almost two days without eating anything but fruits and vegetables – the only exception being a chicken breast with my salad Monday night.  So this got me thinkin’… why can’t I try being a vegetarian?  I know people that are.  I’ve had several reach out to me after reading my blogs just talking to me and telling me some things about healthier eating.  I know people who buy industrial strength blenders (that realistically could make a human body disappear) which they use for whole fruit and veggie smoothies.  It’s obvious that it can be done.

So why can’t I?  This, friends, is where YOU come in.  Sunday, Dec. 12th – Sat. Dec 18th I am going to become a vegetarian… for a week… with your help.  I want to do this right.  There’s no reason at all to try this if I’m gonna do it half-ass.  No fish, no chicken… straight up, full-out vegetarian.  Now… here’s what I need from you guys (besides the usual support):

*  FOOD IDEAS – Yeah yeah… laugh all you want.  “Fruits and vegetables, dummy!”  I get that.  What I want to know is what are some of the things I may NOT know that do or don’t fall into a true vegetarian diet like, for example, milk… I’m not trying to be dumb but is that considered an animal product or not?  I don’t know.  But that’s and idea of the types of things I’m talking about.  Also, anything that you guys really enjoy?  Let me know what it is!

* RECIPES – Lord knows I’m not gonna eat 21 salads over the course of the week, so I would love to get recipes, websites, etc. that can help me try some different things – and hopefully learn to like some of those different things at the same time!

*  ADVICE – I’m not claiming to know anything about what it really takes to actually do this, even for a week.  I’m gonna spend the next week or so researching and making sure that I can not only do this, but do it right.  So, if you’re reading this and have ANY sage advice, words of wisdom, etc.  PLEASE SHARE IT WITH ME – even if you stumbled across this blog and we haven’t ever spoken before in our lives.  Send it my way!  This also includes the ‘dude… you can’t do this’ advice also.  if you don’t think I can, I wanna know why.

It’s in writing… so it must be done.  Ladies and gentlemen, with your help, The week of December 12th will be…

… for me.  YAAYYY!  Algae smoothie anyone?!?!  🙂

**** UPDATE 12/9/10 – So… I’ve received a ton of great advice, and done a good amount of my own research, and I have decided to go full-out vegan for my Vegetarian Week.  I think it can be done… well, we all know it CAN be done, so maybe I should say I think I can do it!  My friend Brandi is even going to try and do it with me, so I’ll be sure to keep you all updated on our progress (BTW – if you wanna join us… LET ME KNOW!)  I have changed the date for my challenge to coordinate with my Weight Watchers weigh-ins, so it will now begin SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11th and go through FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17th (Yes, Todd… I will be vegan on the day we immortalize your birth… who woulda thunk it?!?!) since my weigh-ins are now Saturday mornings.  Wish me luck and keep sending that advice over! ****