To be or not to be just what makes a person a vegetarian?

I've been doing lots of research over the years as to what exactly does it mean to be a vegetarian or not. As well as looking at varying degrees of the subject.
I've found myself frustrated because I hate labels. Being a mother that has a child who has a disability would be the strongest part of it, as well as being a person who defines who I am by my own beliefs and standards of life.
So I've decided to share some of my thoughts and findings with others with the hope that maybe it will help someone have an easier time deciding if this is the lifestyle for them.
To be or not to be?
What things are essential to make sure you have in your system to remain healthy.
Many times choosing this lifestyle that they lack protein or are anemic. Do not presume that just because you eat meat that you to do not need to worry about staying healthy. This is an important factor to anyones eating habits.
Each meal should contain a lean protein, complex carbs and at least 1 portion of fruit or vegetable. More doesn't hurt on the fruit veggies. =)
What is a Lean protein?
This could be found in Cottage cheese, Tofu/ bean curd or Soy based products. If your watching your glutton as well
Lean protein:
Cottage cheese
Tofu/beancurd
Soya based products
Other proteins:
Dairy
Beans & legumes (must be consumed with carbs to allow the body to absorb amino acids)
Nuts
Complex carbs:
Wholewheat/wholemeal bread/pasta/rice
Sweet potato
Green leafy veg will provide you with iron, and folic acid amongst other things!.
Good snacks include:
Nuts, seeds and dried fruit!. The nuts should be unsalted and unroasted and the best nuts to eat are; almonds, brazil, walnuts, hazelnuts!. Seeds and nuts provide you with EFA's (essential fatty acids)!. Flaxseed/linseed are a great source of EFA's but also pumpkin and sunflower are also good for you!. Unsweetened dried fruits such as cranberries, apricots and prunes are also nutritional!.
Yoghurts and fresh fruit also make good snacks to keep energy levels up and provide calcium and various vits!. (Just realize I never finished this but I'm going to post it and may add to it or start a new one soon enough.)

Going into week 3 of being a vegitarian

I only thought I'd being a practicing Vegan for 2 weeks it is rolling into 3 weeks. No meat. I did try a piece of chicken 1 night and honestly it made me sick to my stomach. Tasted awesome but was just to much on my tummy.
I've really enjoyed the process for the most part though I do feel a bit alone. My husband seems very supportive and understanding but then the next moment not so much. I've learned an interesting outlook on that however. Human nature doesn't always know how to behave when something is out of the norm and as to which one of us is struggling more is left up for discussion.
Right now I'm soaking lentils so I can make some textured vegetable protein from scratch. If it works well I'll have another option that is so much more of a budget pincer leaving more for fruits and veggies. this is from 2011

I've lost 25 pounds!!!!

WOW! To hear myself say this for the first time in my life amazes me. I have been on so many diets since the birth of my 17 yr old I could make a persons head spin. Each have been positive but the minute they stop, so does the weight loss and here comes the pounds again.
Changing my food lifestyle has been by far the best choice I've ever made. When I stopped wrapping my head around the need to loose the weight and focused on the fact that if I didn't change the way I thought and how I ate I would die before my time. No longer concentrating on the scale.
As people and a society I believe now with all my heart that we make life much harder than it has to be. I've always said " life is so precious and I don't want to waste one moment on trivial things." What an wonderful thing to realize just what that means to my very core.
So for once in my life I can say this is the proudest 25 pounds I've ever lost. I'm sure people will want to know how I am doing this so I'll share a bit more and hopefully it may help someone else. First off I eliminated ALL meat. Yes I still eat cheese and eggs and I guess I admittedly always will. As I have mentioned before. I do believe in animal rights however I did not become a "vegetarian" or "vegan" or semi vegetarian for that purpose, I did this for myself and my personal health. As time goes by I have begun introducing fish.
This was written back in Sept 2011. I had been a vegetarian along time before this I just had not been "rebel vegan" til Sept.

30 pds down and still going strong. plus a few extras...

I am so happy to say that I've lost a total of 30 pds since I started my vegetarian journey. Unbelievable that I'm still going strong. Admittedly this week I have had a little bit of meat. I suspect it is because I'm out of my whey protein and my fish oil that my body is throwing baby fits. Ironically though the fish made me sick but I had a spoonful of tuna fish on a small slice of garlic bread today and it was fine plus the big I can't believe this... I had a chunk of ham and it didn't make me sick either.
However I am going to continue on my journey and not sweat the small stuff if my body and mind decide on occasion it wants meat. Why shouldn't I? I'm doing well and I'm doing this for me and my health, period.
I'll eventually get some pics up but I'm just not quite there yet for me @ 50 pds I probably will feel good enough and accomplished enough to show off a little.

On other notes. I've done some pretty cool photoshoots lately and designed a few new outfits that I want to show off.

       

Down 65 pds!!!

It's been awhile since I posted and I had hoped they would let us link our Google plus accounts to our blogger accounts but I only see it showing up in our google profiles grr. ANYWAY. The happy news is I'm down 65 pounds and it's been such an increadable journey I just had to share a new pic with everyone. I have tons of things going on in my life but the best for me is the growth between my husband and I. Since we moved to our new home I can hardly think of a tough time or even a moment that he didn't make me smile. I guess with age comes wisdom and understanding. Comfort and connection. I'm happy to be 46 and even happier with who I am today!

Still going strong

Despite all the recent "craziness" around here I am still proud to say. I still have kept meat out of my diet.
I admit the smell of meat is 1 big reason but the biggest.... The scale. I have steadily continued to loose weight. I've tried every diet and undiet you can think of. It is hard to believe that something so simple as not eating meat was the factor. I know that someday when I feel comfortable with portion control I will introduce fish and chicken and turkey but the days of a big fat juicy hamburger. No thank you. The fact that I've found that wonderful ticket to getting healthy again and it's not so bad. I will choose it any day of the week.
I'm still on my mission to find the best vegan cupcakes and have had some awesome successes but I can't say I've found that to die for one just yet, or could it be I like the challenge and the mystery of wandering if there just might be another one out there that might be the better choice.
So for now I continue to search. Today however will be another mexican chocolate cookie recipe to see if I like my version or theirs better. We shall soon see.
I've found myself spending more time reading other peoples blogs lately and not getting to my own. A sad but true reality of learning to blabber out loud for the world to read.
Well for now I'm off to decide what's for dinner and to start on my cookies.
OH and on another note. I found a place that is free to post your art's crafts and for sales! Gone are the day's of etsy for this girl. Post it soon as I'm finish adding my wares to my site!