| LIFESTYLE | The Vegetarian Hooper

It's October, and I'm officially celebrating one year of being totally meat free! 

Yes, for those that weren't aware I am a vegetarian. And a basketball player. Thus, the vegetarian basketball player. 

This means no chicken, no beef, no turkey, no meat! Now I will indulge in some sushi REAL quick, because that's just a negotiable that I REFUSE to negotiate. So I guess you could call me a semi-vegetarian, if that makes you feel better. Regardless, I'm celebrating one year without consuming meat and honey, I've never felt better myself!

Not equating yoga to the veggie life, but going vegetarian has inspired some pretty beneficial habits. 

The most common question I get is "how do you get your protein?". While it's definitely not a dumb question, it is definitely a repetitive one. I tend to include a lot of spinach and chickpeas in my diet, and I've recently started taking a Chlorella/Spirulina supplement, which are very potent algae. The Chlorella/ Spirulina mix even provides more protein than both meat and lentils combined! I also like the Naked protein shakes, and although they're packed with sugar, I've found that diluting a little of it with water helps stretch the drink, as well as help with the sweetness of the shake itself. Other than that I stick to my veggies, peppers being a big part of almost every meal, and I throw in rice, pasta, and whatever else I'm in the mood for that day. The most important part of any diet is listening to what YOUR body is calling for, i know there are so many "fad" diets to choose from, but inately your body communicates to you exactly what it needs. When you're craving specific fruits and vegetables, its your body comunicating certain vitamin deficiencies that food provides, not the actual food itself. Also for those with craaazy sugar addictions, your body is really trying to compensate for a lack of affection, or some "sweet" loving in your life (being single I proudly wave my sugar flag, because I do indeed love my snacks). For some reason people think being vegetarian means you have to live some minimalist lifestyle, eating only spinach and carrots or something. Mannnn give me some french fries, some stir-fry, and tacos (meatless of course) and I'm just as happy as the fat kid that loves cake! (shout out to you fat kid. Shout out to you cake.) 

I add about a teaspoon to my orange juice or hot tea every morning/ night. So far so good :) 

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As far as physically, I've really noticed the reduction in my body fat, which I previously thought only came from the trans fat (grease) that comes with meat, but I have found that it's actually the inflammation of my digestive system going away!

Have you ever noticed that after eating red meat (burger, tacos, steak) that your joints tend to swell up? I used to notice my knees would get really swollen, and I was much less flexible when it came to stretching. I also used to hate seeing that pudge at the bottom of my stomach after a heavy meal. Being an athlete and working out all the time I couldn't figure out whyyy I could never get that gut area to stay flat, but during my transition to getting off meat ( I didn't quit cold turkey), I noticed the days I went without red meats, my knees didn't seem so swollen, and my overall body just slimmed down. I recover from workouts faster, and I honestly feel much more athletic than I did when I was juggling sprints and steaks. 

BEFORE: Around the time I started my transition. You see that stomach pudge I was talking about? Like c'mon planks do your job.

AFTER: About 8 months into being vegetarian. Feeling better, looking slimmer. Yassss. 

I originally decided to give up meat as a personal sacrifice for myself. When I started really cultivating my  lifestyle brand Spirit of the Forest, I realized that I was missing a key element to seeing my brand through: Discipline. 

I loved to start new projects and not finish them, and not because I quit on the idea, I just couldn't  push past that inertia that comes after the excitement of that "new relationship" you get at the beginning of a relationship, whether its business, romantic or personal. Giving up meat gave me that discipline, because I knew that I would have to CHOOSE to not eat meat everyday, and constantly making that commitment to myself I knew would transfer over to other areas in my life. I have to say that I've made a more intentional commitment to excellence in my life since becoming vegetarian, taking in less shit and putting out less shit- in every way possible. 

Me blocking bullshit, negativity, and anything not aligned with these goals.

Would I ever go back to eating meat? I know this sounds so narcissistic, but waking up everyday and seeing the physical results of this lifestyle and daily exercise I get from playing basketball motivates me to stay away from the animals. In other words I'm LOVING the way my body looks! Maybe when I'm older I'll decide different. 

While I'm equally grateful and impressed at you getting this far into my blog, I'll wrap it up. If you're thinking of quitting meat altogether I'd say you really need to establish a personal reason for doing it, a "why",.. something that will motivate your soul because being vegetarian is a test of true will, at least in my experience. Because if you're not inspired to constantly decide to not eat meat, it will be SO much harder to stay strong when you see your friends and family eating steaks, when you smell barbecue in the streets, and especially when you have to make a food decisions while you're hungry! Baby step the transition, start by giving up red meat, then white meat, and then seafood. There is no pressure to be perfect in giving up meat, especially if you (like me) have been eating it you whole life thus far. I still eat sushi, one because I love it way too much and I don't really consider fish to be a meat, but I'm sure those die hard plant-only vegetarian warriors do, so we don't want to oppose the status quota too hard, at least until enough of us outnumber them :) 

Have any questions? Are you vegetarian? Tell me your experience!