Good EARLY morning!
I used a random number integer back on the original Meatless in March post to pick two winners!
- #20 Jessica—You win Amy’s!
- #87 Courtney— You win Cookies!
**Girls, please send me an email with your mailing address so I can get your prizes out to you!
Thank you all SO much for accompanying me on this journey. I have to say, being a strict vegetarian is anything but easy!! I found myself really craving sushi, salmon and rotisserie chicken. Did you guys have any cravings? What did you think the most difficult part of it all was? I would love to hear your feedback!
In the first two weeks I became worried that I was going to have a really hard time getting enough protein, but that turned out to really not be an issue at all! I relied a lot on greek yogurt and protein powder but I guess that is better than relying on cold cuts, no?
Although I am not going to stay meatless, I definitely think this month taught me that it IS possible to eat an all vegetarian diet and be a very active person. In the past month, I have run three races and set a new PR for myself! On top of that, I have taken up swimming and biking and decided to not only train for a triathlon but also a half marathon! Before when I didn’t eat meat, I still chose to eat seafood so this was my first time going all out. I was actually surprised that I didn’t feel deprived at all although whenever Ryan and I went out to dinner I really wanted seafood! 😉
Any thoughts from those that participated?
oh, and I forgot—for the e-cookbook, if you want a copy please email me at HelpJennaRun@gmail.com starting on Thursday! I’m trying to keep all e-cookbook stuff going to that email address to keep things organized! Thanks, guys!
Courtney
March 31, 2009 at 1:22 amOkay, so I have not gone to bed yet here in CO and you are already up for the day, Jenna! CRAZY girl :)!! Anyway, thanks for the great blog, and congrats on being meatless in March! And as soon as I get paid I cannot wait to get an e-cookbook! Yummy desserts and it’s for a great cause! Have a nice day!
Courtney
March 31, 2009 at 1:28 amP.S. I just checked, and I won cookies! Holy moly I cannot WAIT to try them! Thanks again Jenna, you rock!!!! 🙂
Candi
March 31, 2009 at 3:44 amI think I had my first real test last night, for the first time this month I had to prepare a meat eater’s meal…I’m having girls’ night at my house tonight and last night I was prepping some chicken for the meat eaters’ quesadillas and while I was chopping I was expecting I’d have an urge to nibble. Guess what?! No urge! All I could think about were the pretty green grapes in my fridge and icy cold glasses of water…maybe I was dehydrated!
Looking forward, I definitely don’t think I can leave broth/stock out of my diet because of my looove for my homemade chicken soup (without chicken chunks), also it will definitely be easier to eat out (without looking like a weirdo ordering only sides!) if I can include seafood.
Shelly Pantz
March 31, 2009 at 4:40 amI miss bacon…lol but I know my health will be so much better for not eating it 😛 I have switched to a mainly meatless and dairy free diet and actually have more energy now. The only occasions that I do eat meat is wild meat and that is only once or twice a year when I am actually able to leave the city and go to their communities; my close friends and family hunt every fall for moose, deer and goose (lol as you may be able to tell from the far north :P)
life coach jen
March 31, 2009 at 4:48 amSince I am already meatless it was easy to do meatless in March, but I’ve gone vegan in the past and I really missed being able to eat things with eggs in them, whether it was a baked good, certain pasta noodles, etc, and finding vegan stuff at a restaurant is very, very hard! I’m so proud of you for going the whole month!
As far as your comments on running three races and setting a PR over the month, Carl Lewis, with the hugely successful track and field career, is a vegan, so working out and being strong and fast are certainly possible without meat!
Rebecca
March 31, 2009 at 5:00 amYay! Great job on doing it for a whole month! That’s so awesome!
Megan
March 31, 2009 at 5:00 amAlthough I wasn’t completely meatless in March, I do abstain from eating meat on Fridays during lent. It’s a fun challenge to think of protein packed, yet meatless options! I actually wrote a blog post on cheap (and vegetarian) meals:
http://runnerskitchen.wordpress.com/2009/03/18/cheap-eats/
Mmm, can’t beat mac n’ cheese!
Leah @ simply fabulous
March 31, 2009 at 5:58 amI love the recap of your meatless month! Thanks for that! Enjoy your day.
Sammie
March 31, 2009 at 6:15 amCongrats on being able to stay meatless for the month. I couldn’t do it because I can’t eat soy and I need my protein. Enjoy your day.
VeggieGirl
March 31, 2009 at 6:17 amCONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS!!
Mara @ What's For Dinner?
March 31, 2009 at 6:26 amI did the best I could to eat fewer meat meals in March, and found that both my fiance and I craved baked tofu and big salads more than we craved steak and chicken! Health wise, thats awesome… but money-wise, its even AWESOMER!
K
March 31, 2009 at 7:06 amCongrats to the winners and way to go on the meatless March!
Danielle
March 31, 2009 at 7:45 amCongrats to the winners! I actually have a little while longer to go since I gave up meat for lent. I haven’t really missed red meat, but I have missed chicken so badly! I can’t wait to have some again, just 12 more days!!!!
Genesis
March 31, 2009 at 8:21 amCongrats on a Meatless March. I think it takes a lot of discipline to go without meat. I’m not sure i could really do a meatless month considering i have to prepare meals for two other people, but its an interesting thing to try. Congrats again.
Liesl
March 31, 2009 at 8:25 amHey Jenna!
Congrats on meatless month, that’s great! I went vegetarian for 2 months once, but like you I absolutely LOVE seafood, and I don’t think I could give it up forever. 🙂
I just found your blog a few days ago and I love it. I will definitely keep myself posted on how things are going with your training and life. You are inspiring.
I do have a question though…the e-cookbook, is it just desserts or are there other recipes as well? Just curious.
Have a great Tuesday!
Jessica
March 31, 2009 at 10:25 amThank you Jenna so much! I never win anything and I LOVE Amy’s!!!
Anyway, i’m already a vegetarian kind of, I eat seafood and chicken and turkey so cutting out those 3 took a big hunk out of my diet. I craved seafood also more than anything. Also, I had a big craving for a turkey burger. BUT I do not think my nutrition suffered at all. I ate a lot of beans, nuts, nut butters, greek yogurt, and protein bars and I found that I was completely satisfied. I think going meatless for a while does your body good. However, I do not think I could live on a vegan diet with no dairy but you never know I guess!!
Run Sarah
March 31, 2009 at 10:28 amSince I became vegetarian I became even more energetic — I feel like I’ve made a greater effort to balance out my meals and make sure I am meeting my daily req intakes. So many people assume I am anemic, malnourished etc just because I don’t eat meat…they are mistaken!
Lisa
March 31, 2009 at 10:33 amI did the Meatless in March challenge and it was a great experience. I have to admit, that I craved meat a few times, and I’m looking forward to re-incorporating meat into my diet. It was especially hard when I went out to dinner with friends and played a show at a venue where almost everything had meat (and looked delicious!) But I stuck with it for the whole month and it was fun. It was definitely the longest I’ve ever gone without meat, but I already eat a lot of tofu/legumes/nuts/etc anyway, so it wasn’t that bad. 🙂 Thanks for putting the challenge out there!
Stefanie
March 31, 2009 at 12:22 pmGrats on making it the whole month Jenna!
Back a year or two ago, when I was dabbling with vegetarianism, the one thing I craved and couldn’t really give up was pastrami. I’m a former NYer and I love pastrami on rye! I don’t eat it often, but when I do it’s a big treat for me.
Marissa
March 31, 2009 at 2:00 pmCongrats on not eating meat for a month!!
anon
April 1, 2009 at 11:59 amI am a vegetarian and I guess I do not understand all the fuss here.