Cheers to the newest veg-head! ;)

What's a vegetarian?
A vegetarian is someone who eats a lot of vegetables and generally, when you think of a vegetarian, you think someone who doesn't eat any meat. But in doing my research, there are a couple different types of vegetarians.

• semi-vegetarian: eats meat, but only fish and chicken.
• pesci-vegetarian: eats only fish.
• lacto-ovo vegetarian: eats no meat, but will eat dairy products (milk, butter, cheese) and eggs.
• ovo-vegetarian: eats eggs, but no meat or dairy products.
• vegan: eats no meat or animal products.

I'm going into this as a lacto-ovo vegetarian. I can't give up my yogurt and cheese! But I want to try and abstain from all meats, including fish, because I feel like, when I eat meat, I crave more food. Then I get full way too fast and feel sick and then feel hungry again later. It's a bad cycle I'm in and I want to get rid of it.

So, my vegetarian ways aren't that hard to live by. I guess in this list I'm in the middle as far as difficulty is concerned. If you want to look at it that way. Not completely vegan, but not just avoiding red meats.

I have a plan that involves meal plans and plastic containers and make-ahead-meals. My boyfriend isn't that into it, and he seems concerned about my protein intake, but everyone else is seemingly supportive. I'm looking at this change as a temporary experiment. I'm not ready to make this a life style [forever] change, because I don't know how it'll affect my body. If everything goes well, then it'll be fine for me to continue this vegetarian lifestyle into my future years of life.

Why are you becoming a vegetarian?
I don't really have a great answer for that. Since I've been about 19, I haven't ever craved meat. I'll eat it, but I get more excited over pastas and cheesy potatoes. Plus, I love veggies. Plus, I depleted my energy storage with diet sodas (also something I'm omitting from my life) so veggies will give me a natural boost of energy that will keep my body in check and healthy at the same time. I'm, of course, against animal cruelty, but I'm not against people eating meat. People can always do what they want in my eyes, so why can't I do what I want, ya know?

How is this going to affect your life?
Honestly, I don't think it will affect me too much; good or bad. I have been eating like a vegetarian for a few years since I've been on my own, and my body craves veggies and fruits. Aside from the amount of money I spend on fresh fruits and veggies raising a little, I don't think I'll be too affected life-wise.
Health-wise, I hope it will affect me! Haha, what I mean is, I hope it will help me reach a good (maybe lower?!) weight that I can maintain. I hope I can regain the energy to do things that come easily to other people. I hope it [helps] combats my anemia. I hope I feel better inside; no constipation, no cramps in abnormal places at abnormal times, no sugar crashes, etc. I hope that I look better outside; better complexion, better hair, stronger nails, etc.

Most of all, I hope my friends and family will support me in this journey. I'm not asking anyone to change their lives for my new needs. I'm not asking anyone to come with me on this journey - be it short or a life time. I've made a sane, conscience decision to change the way I eat in a healthier way.