1 year, and 1 month ago I became a vegetarian. I think i've gained more than people realize. Yes, I love animals; unfortunately that's not the sole reason for my change. Honestly, I only did it because my friend did. Little did I know-she was not going to follow through with it. I had already started this habit, and was not about to just give it up.
Eventually my entire family caught onto what I was doing, and they seemed to be nonsupporting, which made me want to do it more. I remember hearing: "oh your skin looks so great Alicia!" and "Are you losing weight?" I loved this attention I was getting. Every day it became easier to say: "no Burger King for me!" I cut out fast food in general.
I think this was my substitute "eating disorder." There were times that there was so little to eat, and it sounded unappetizing so I didn't eat. I gained control over something in my life.
There are always the people that ask, "why?" Of course I was not going to tell them it was to gain some control over my life. Generally, that is not an acceptable answer. So I looked up some interesting things(peta2.com is a good sight, and you can join their street team!). I found out some gruesome things about farm animals, and circus animals, even animal products in make-up, crazy.
Now, I just say why not? I have other things to eat.
I know people wonder about animals becoming overpopulated, but what i'm worried about is the human race becoming overpopulated. (that may have been a little off-subject, my mind drifts off easily) But that does bring me to another point. Overpopulation of the human race scares me, not for my generation, but maybe in the next 100 years. That's an epidemic.
If everyone becomes a vegitarian, we really don't have to worry about animals becoming over populated. The animals that you eat are bred and harvested for their meat, and if there is less demand for their meat, simply less of them will be manufactured. So really, vegitarianism just prevents sorrowful lives.
do you mean vegetarianism just prevents sorrowful lives of humans, or of animals?
You have no idea how much in my brain you got. Going completely vegetarian was very much for me a thing of control. The compliments didn't hurt either.
:dances:
Luckily this is a healthy "eating disorder". I was lucky that I do have an intolerance for certain kinds of meat. I have developed a passion for animal rights and now have better motivations for my vegetarianism, but I started exactly were you did. I've been at it for four and a half years.
Think about it...
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/tomorrowtoday
Being a vegetarian is a good thing and I'm glad you choose that. I could never do that but power to you. lol. Just realise that there are some nutrients from meat that you can't get from plants. This doesn't mean switch back. This means certain vitamins you need to take in suppliments so you don't get sick like B-12. Fish also produces Omega-3 so if you don't eat fish ( some vegetarians don't consider certain meats meats.) then you may need a suppliment for that as well. Wasn't sure if you knew this or not but this will help you out.
I am aware that a main source of protein and vitamins come from meat. I do take take vitamins daily as well as iron pills, because of an iron deficiency I have.
I do not eat fish, but that is mostly because I don't buy it. Although I do occasionally indulge in a nice bowl-o-clam chowder!
Thanks for your concern!
Peta2.com is not a good site. It is chock full of skewed info/lies targeted at young teens who don't bother to fact check.
Not that I don't support your vegetarianism. I just don't like the vegetarians that attempt to take a moral high ground or stage cruelty to animals to sway people to their side.
--Mike
Check out the Topic of the Week
http://www.progressiveu.org/weeklytopic
While I dislike anything related to peta (they promote euthenasia as a humane way to kill animals, as if killing is humane) there is some truth. I dispise circuses that have animals as well as some petting zoos I've seen. Also, animal testing for make-up is just wrong. I admit that it may be a neccessity for medical testing however.
Like what you've read? Well, then here's more:
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/tricia0711
I love to hear about veg heads that have stuck with it, it has been 2 years and 11 months since Ive ate meat and It empowers me to hear about others who stuck with it. Its funny how you mention it be your eating disorder because when I first went veg I was just winning my battle with anorexia and bulemia. It was easier to say i cant eat because there is meat then to say nah i just dont like food. Ive learned a lot since then and even though im beating my disease (most days) i know so much more about being veg and im very proud to say ive chosen this lifestyle.
RIGHT ON LIL MOMMA.
I'm decidely not vegetarian. I grew up on a cattle ranch in a family that had ranched for five generations. But I have no problem with you eating what you want as long as you don't try to dictate what I am allowed to eat. I get grouchy when people get between me and my food.
Unless I missed the meaning of your last paragraph, it sounded to me like you were very concerned about human over-population, not animal over-population.
I very much share your concern. Human population is currently at around 7 billion and it is headed rapidly towards what demographers hope will be a peak of around 9 billion within this century. Almost all of this population growth is happening in the poorest and most miserable parts of the world and it is a tragedy. These parts of the world are already hard pressed to feed their current populations.
I think that the over-populated parts of the world are going to experience horrific conditions over the next century and the magnitude of the problem is going to beyond our ability to even make a dent in it. Life will be very cheap. Slavery will make a come back and perhaps the slaves will be the lucky ones because they will get fed. It's all going to be a sad ugly thing. Dr. Malthus will have a field day.