Let’s get one thing clear – I don’t make resolutions. If you’re confused, it’s understandable but, as you read on I promise everything will make sense. If you’re as sick to death as I am with articles boasting “5 Easy Steps to Keeping Your Resolution,” or “How to Maintain Your New Year Goals,” every January then this is going to blow your mind. I hope.
My Resolution
Unbeknownst to almost everyone, I gave up eating meat last year. I haven’t had so much as chicken broth since August 2018.
Let’s see how it all went right, even though most “experts” will tell you I did everything wrong.
The “Winning” Formula
What they say: Have fewer goals
What I did: I have a ton of goals all the time. So many in fact that at any given moment someone can ask “when is your next race?” and I have one within two months. At the time I gave up meat, I had the Las Vegas Rock N Roll half marathon in 10 weeks, was just starting piano lessons, beginning my first online class for writing fiction and the boys were about to start fourth grade with a new principal.
I didn’t really have a goal of not eating meat but, at the time, it seemed like I was bombarded with so much information on how it’s really not good for you (especially as an athlete), not to mention how horrifying for the animals and our environment. I never ate that much meat anyway, but I absolutely loved a great cheeseburger or perfectly cooked steak, so I wasn’t sure how it would play out.
Put it in Writing
What they say: Take the time to write down your goals, including small manageable steps to achieving it. Celebrate small victories.
What I did: I wrote down nothing. I just stopped eating meat.
I did make the mistake of ordering chicken fried rice with my sushi within the first couple of days, so I just let my kids and husband eat it. Sadly, I did not celebrate.
Share Your Goals with Others
What they say: Tell everyone so you have accountability.
What I did: I told no one, except my husband and kids. My kids mistakenly thought “vegetarian” meant “vegan” so every time I would have cheese or milk or fish they would yell “you’re cheating!”
I was also harshly corrected by a book club friend that I’m certainly NOT vegetarian but pescatarian.
My book-reading, dinner buddy is Indian and has never had a morsel of meat in her entire life! I ordered the tuna nicoise at our holiday party and she was sitting next to me. When it was her turn to order she said “I’m the vegetarian” and proceeded to order a pasta dish sans meat. I was so excited (because I had told no one about my new diet, and this was four months later!) that I told her I was also in her exclusive club, to which she replied “No you’re not! You just ordered fish!” Um what? I was then schooled as to what I truly was, a pescatarian.
I refuse to tell anyone I’m a pescatarian lest they think what I’m really saying is “I’m a douchebag.” I’ve gone back to simply saying “I don’t eat meat” especially when waiters repeatedly suggest things like ribs and filet or bacon wrapped everything. < – – I kinda miss bacon wrapped dates, not gonna lie
January is Best
What they say: Make a new year, new you, resolution starting January 1st!
What I did: August seemed like as good a time as any. I was just ready to do it, so I did.
The Good, Bad and Surprising
Luckily, I stopped eating meat at a time when you can order vegetarian (or pescatarian) everything. I don’t have to venture to specialty stores or go out of my way to accommodate my new eating habits. It’s been super easy for me to just drop the meat and eat more fish, vegetables, cheese and peanut butter.
I confess it was a tad hard to sit across from my husband at one of our favorite steak places, about a week into my new habit, and not get the filet. Instead, I had seasoned muscles and truffle fries which were absolutely fabulous. Once I was over that hurdle, I knew I would probably not go back to eating meat anytime soon.
I can say in all honesty that I’m shocked with how I feel. I didn’t stop eating meat to feel better. I already felt great and the decision to cut out meat was in no way based on how I felt physically. Then, about three months in, I started to feel really great.
I can’t pinpoint how exactly (except in ways you don’t want to read about) but I had and still have an overall feeling of just BETTER.
In our house we always say “you don’t know what you don’t know” and I had no clue I could actually feel better ditching the meat.
The Bottom Line
Personally, I think the best way to maintain a lifestyle or diet change has nothing to do with rules but everything to do with you. Making big changes is so personal that the only expert you need is YOU. After all, who knows you better than you know yourself?
And please, don’t tell anyone I’m a pescatarian.
Is there a “resolution” you stuck to while breaking all the rules?
Is there a goal or change you’re looking to make this year?
I love this! There is no need to follow the “rules” to make something stick. I was veg/vegan for a time and got so sick of explaining everything that I just stopped telling people. I ate what I wanted and didn’t put a label on it.
You were?? I seriously do not think I could ever give up cheese 🙂 And yes, no labels are best!
Thanks for sharing your story, Allie. You went into this life change with such a good attitude, and I think that’s a huge part of your success.
My change? Eating lots more fruits and veggies everyday – I aim for nine but even five is a win for me.
SO true about the attitude – it’s everything. It was also way less intimidating because I didn’t tell anyone so I didn’t feel accountable and I couldn’t really screw it up!
Love your new change. And 5 is absolutely a win!
I love this post! Trying too hard to follow the “rules” loses sight of the actual purpose of any goal or resolution (because then the rules become the goal, not the actual goal). I try to eat less meat for environmental reasons and health – a sort of pescetarian before 6 Mark Bittman type approach. Trying to label it just complicates things.
OMG you said that so well! I wish I wrote that or that I could go back and quote you 🙂
Love the Mark Bittman approach (and Mark Bittman) and I suppose I was doing that without knowing it prior to August so yay!!
This is what I’m talking about!! Everyone thinks that January is the ONLY time to go after your goals and it’s sooo not. Just like you can lose weight at anytime. I love that you made the right change for you and you keep knocking out those goals surely and quietly (or loudly if you want!!)
We just GET it Nellie!! You can do anything you want at anytime, period. Thanks woman and so good to hear from you! I’m loving all the baby posts!!
I never formally announced it, but I gave up red meat a few years ago. It seemed to really bother my IBS and then when I was diagnosed with RA, it all made sense. I do occasionally splurge but I always pay for it. I’ve also cut sugary stuff and “white” carbs too, but that wasn’t a resolution, it was a gradual thing. I feel so much better eating the way I do. I’m happy to still be running and doing my thing. I don’t say much to people because I always get push back on it. I don’t get why eating healthy is so polarizing.
Just keep doing your thing!
That makes perfect sense Wendy! It’s funny that all you really need to do is pay attention to how food affects your body and you can eliminate whatever doesn’t work for you. And I feel you on the push back. I’ve gotten a lot of rolled eyeballs.
Well… I like how you snuck in there that you took a fiction writing course online without telling any of us… unless I somehow missed in a prior post!
I’m impressed with your ability to stop eating meat and not announce it to the entire world.
I like how you picked up on that 🙂 Just another thing I haven’t mentioned… wish we lived closer (for so many reasons) so we could get together and write tons of pages of shitty first drafts!
WOW. I’m really, really impressed. I’ve followed a vegan diet for 25 years, but I always hated meat. To give up something that you truly enjoy, for ethical and health reasons, shows a lot of willpower and determination. I’m glad you’ve been rewarded and hope you continue to feel great (I’m pretty sure you will!) Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much for that! Your words are so appreciated and congratulations on being Vegan. I wish I could go there but I’m not ready yet. Baby steps 🙂
We mostly eat chicken or fish at my house but I love a good rib eye once in a while.
I don’t believe in following specific “rules”, nothing is always black and white.
I couldn’t agree more!! Thank you!
That’s awesome and I love this. Congrats on making it a year!
I actually completed my NY resolution last year as well of not buying any new clothing. I didn’t and it made me realize how much clothing I don’t wear LOL.
OMG that is a great one but I could never do it. I have kind of an addiction to shopping 🙂 And I have only made it 5 months so far but I’ll take the congrats anyway – LOL!!
I totally agree . sometimes you just gotta step outta your comfort zone to achieve your goals.