Eat the way that makes me feel good emotionally or physically?

[babygrant]

I'm really battling with myself. I was eating a low carb high protein diet (a fair amount of meat) and physically I felt awesome. Lots of energy, mood was more stable, etc, etc. Emotionally I was a mess though. Even though we mostly only eat wild meat that DH hunts, it just broke my heart. I don't like the killing.

I've tried eating a vegetarian diet before and emotionally I felt so much better. There was no guilt involved in eating. I found I ate better because there was less emotional ties to food therefore less binge eating (strange I know), but physically I felt off. I was tired, fatigues, sluggish, etc.

I've tried balancing the two but then I just feel crappy in general. I've tried minimal amounts of meat, but I still feel emotionally drained.

Any ideas?

[newcastlemama]

s
I have to eat a higher amount of animal products to feel good too..everytime I try and cut down I start feeling unwell (low energy ect). I am not sure what a good solution is to that besides acceptance at this point.

[Carley]

Bewildering. You said it yourself... you're really battling yourself! Whew!

You mentioned binge eating & related abstenance from binge eating with a vegetarian diet. Are you upset right now because you've been binging? Do you binge on meat?

I dunno lady. Sounds like you've got a lot going on just thinking about what's for dinner! s

[lil_earthmomma]

I think you need to respect your body and your spirit.

I would try to honor the spirit of the animals your husband is hunting. Research native american cultural resources in your area and ask about rituals you can do.

My husband is metis, and when he fishes or hunts he thanks the animal for it's sacrifice. He promises to use it's body wisely and not be wasteful. He promises to care for the animals land and respect it's home.

[Sol_y_Paz]

many people when they eat vegetarian don't seem to do it right, not saying that is or is not what you do though! there is a wide range of foods in our world and a HUGE amount of healthy options for vegetarians of all types. Have you ever been to an Asian market or eaten Indian food? The traditional American diet doesn't seem to value much variety in healthy foods, not so in other cultures.
I suggest visiting a qualified dietitian or nutritionist, that way you can also get your blood levels checked and other important things before starting a new way of eating and living, eating meat or not eating meat, with either option you can benefit from a nutritionist or dietitian.

[crunchy_mama]

Originally Posted by newcastlemama

s
I have to eat a higher amount of animal products to feel good too..everytime I try and cut down I start feeling unwell (low energy ect). I am not sure what a good solution is to that besides acceptance at this point.

That is me- even trying to eat a few veg*n meals and I feel bad. However, it doesn't bother me in the emotional sense. That must be very difficult.

[homewith1]

I feel exactly the same!!!!!

This is me to a T.

I have tried to be vegetarian many times for many years and I just can't seem to do it . I feel HORRIBLE on a vegetarian diet but I have NO guilt. When I make myself eat meat I feel FANTASTIC but I have SOOOOOOO much guilt I want to cry.

I like you don't know what to do. I also think I might have a gluten and dairy problem. And eating too much fiber lilke beans and whole wheat pasta make me sick. And I don't eat soy.

Why does the simple task of eating have to be so hard??? It makes me want to eat nothing.

Also when I eat vgetarian I gain weight and when I eat meat I lose weight. I just don't know what to do. It is all very draining emotionally.

homewith1

[Carley]

Where does the guilt from eating animals come from? The protein in animals is what caused our brains to grow from "caveman" to "modern man!" No other species has guilt over eating animal. My chickens sure don't! They're out there scaveging for grubs and worms as I type! Other primates hunt & kill... why the sadness and guilt? It's the cycle of life! It's a beautiful thing!

[avendesora]

Originally Posted by Carley

Where does the guilt from eating animals come from? The protein in animals is what caused our brains to grow from "caveman" to "modern man!" No other species has guilt over eating animal. My chickens sure don't! They're out there scaveging for grubs and worms as I type! Other primates hunt & kill... why the sadness and guilt? It's the cycle of life! It's a beautiful thing!

I agree... to a point. I don't like to eat more meat than I actually need. Taking an animals life so that I can be healthy and productive can be considered part of the cycle of life. But if I eat more meat than is necessary for myself (like this past week, when we had extended family stay with us that are intense carnivores), I end up feeling gross and guilty. Like I've misused the animal's life. Just because it's part of the 'cycle of life' doesn't mean we can binge on meat, obviously.

Maybe the OP can find a happy medium? Like lentil soup with a modest amount of bacon?

Aven

[babygrant]

Originally Posted by avendesora

But if I eat more meat than is necessary for myself (like this past week, when we had extended family stay with us that are intense carnivores), I end up feeling gross and guilty. Like I've misused the animal's life. Just because it's part of the 'cycle of life' doesn't mean we can binge on meat, obviously.

You know, this really made me perk up. The night before I wrote this, I had spent the afternoon with my entire family. My dad and brother in law are going on a grizzley bear hunt on Wednesday and they were planning it. So for almost the whole night all I heard about was what their plan was, blah blah blah. They have NO intentions on eating it, they are just killing it to make a bear skin rug. That really makes me upset and want to cry. Also, on and off throughout the night they watched grizzley bear hunts on youtube (the sound of a dying bear is one of the most horrific thing ever ).

[laohaire]

I think the place where I'd start is by asking myself what I WANT to feel good about?

So, would you LIKE to let go of the guilt of eating meat, eat meat responsibly and respectfully, and honor the animal's life by being strong and healthy?

==

FYI, I can somewhat relate to what you are feeling. I don't eat wild meat, just local, pastured meat (was vegetarian until recently), but still struggle with a lot of it, especially the dairy. Oddly enough the meat I'm most comfortable eating morally (chickens - the free range chickens at our local farms live a terrific, free, interesting life) is the ones that I can't bring myself to stomach physically (as in - YUCK). Otherwise I'd be willing to raise and slaughter my own chickens, give them a free and interesting and maybe even somewhat long life, and take responsibility for their deaths. But yuck! The very thought of eating chicken turns my stomach. (But cow, pig and even turkey tastes pretty good to me... explain that to me!).

[lil_earthmomma]

Originally Posted by babygrant

You know, this really made me perk up. The night before I wrote this, I had spent the afternoon with my entire family. My dad and brother in law are going on a grizzley bear hunt on Wednesday and they were planning it. So for almost the whole night all I heard about was what their plan was, blah blah blah. They have NO intentions on eating it, they are just killing it to make a bear skin rug. That really makes me upset and want to cry. Also, on and off throughout the night they watched grizzley bear hunts on youtube (the sound of a dying bear is one of the most horrific thing ever ).

[Carley]

Aw... maybe you can talk to them about either using the meat (mmm... bear meat) or selling the meat. I'm sure they could find some takers!

I don't know anything about Grizzley Bear hunting, but I'm sure it's quite a feat and historical to boot! Very impressive. I'm not trying to sway you, it was clearly upsetting to you to see an animal be killed. I spent 1/2 my childhood on a farm full of beef cattle & lots of hardened cattlemen. I guess the reality of where food comes from is ingrained in me.

[Carley]

Originally Posted by avendesora

I agree... to a point. I don't like to eat more meat than I actually need. Taking an animals life so that I can be healthy and productive can be considered part of the cycle of life. But if I eat more meat than is necessary for myself (like this past week, when we had extended family stay with us that are intense carnivores), I end up feeling gross and guilty. Like I've misused the animal's life. Just because it's part of the 'cycle of life' doesn't mean we can binge on meat, obviously.

Maybe the OP can find a happy medium? Like lentil soup with a modest amount of bacon?

Aven

This is how I feel too. I think most people binge on other foods than meat though Hunter/gatherers didn't have access to doughnuts or pancakes... or chocolate... mmmm....

Lentil soup is fantastic with bones & ham too! My husband loves it this way... sometimes I make a ground nut soup (with peanuts) & it's delicious!

[*Aimee*]

I know how you feel! I was vegetarian for 4 years, vegan for 3. I just started eating meat again. And I was hard core, like even a month before I started eating meat again I remember laying in bed crying that animals suffered. But I felt like crap. I gained 100lbs (yes, 100 lbs) on my vegetarian/vegan journey. And I knew how to eat, I was just hungry constantly.

We eat pastured local meat now (with the exception of chicken, because we can't find any for less than 20.00 a bird). Sometimes I still feel sad about it, but my health was truly suffering.

[Periwinkle]

physically. Make sure the animal foods are from humanely raised souces (pastured/true free-range poultry and eggs, grass-fed/pastured dairy, wild-caught Alaskan salmon, etc.) and enjoy.

[cristeen]

I would be far more worried about my physical health, honestly. The emotional health can be handled in other ways like therapy, buying ethically raised animals, working for animal rights, etc. But if you don't take care of your health, there's not much point to the rest.