I knew it was coming.I knew at some point I'd be put in a situation where I would have to eat the kinds of food I used to eat, that being meat, mayonnaise, french fries, etc. I had put it off for a long time. When going out I'd eat very little, or just bread, always making sure to eat beforehand or after. It's been nearly three months that I've been a vegetarian. Not because of some rabid perspective about it, but because it feels better to me and I genuinely like it. Also, should the case arise and I want to eat meat, I will definitely eat meat. It's just that the case hasn't really arisen ... until this weekend.
I was out all weekend, at bars with friends, at bars listening to bands, and then one final hoorah at home with guests in celebration. The first night out I had a "veggie sandwich" which consisted of gross white bread buns, sauteed mushrooms with mozzarella and some fried peppers. I had to eat it because I also had a cosmopolitan (first time I'd had hard liquor in as long as I've been a vegetarian) (Wait! I forgot about those two sidecars!). I was sick all night. I felt awful the next day, too, and that's when I went to see a band I know play. I had too much to drink and fell down in the parking lot, cutting my knee. I didn't even drink that much! I also had french fries, I think, and the next day paid for it dearly. My body was screaming no! no! to all the food and alcohol I'd consumed. I woke up feeling guilty and broken.
And then yesterday at the in-home party, we barbecued "hawaiian style" chicken (which btw, is fabulous) and ate it with mac salad (Hawaii staple) and white rice. I didn't eat a lot and in fact had been drinking filtered water with lemon all day (this cleans the liver). Still, as soon as I ate it I got sick and I mean sick.
Know what I learned? It's just not worth it to go back. Know what else I learned? That's the kind of jazz I was eating and drinking all the time before, and look what it does to the body! Look how the body rejects it!
I will always allow for the occasional dietary deviation -- but never again will I do it three days in a row. It will take me all week to feel strong and whole again.
