I'd like to start by making a couple of remarks, and then I'll take a few questions. First, I'd like to give my fellow vegan quest competitors their proper's. Although Mike made it easy for us, due to his extreme lack of will power, he was never the less a worthy foe. Well, I'm not sure if "worthy" is the correct word...but he was a foe. Jody on the other hand, proved to be a most challenging opponent. His complete and total disregard for his body is something which we can all admire - and his determination to crush others under his will is nothing short of impressive.
At 12:23 pm on Saturday, January 26th, I placed an order at the Wendy's drive through window in Merrifield Va for a "baconator" sandwich with no mayo, baked potato with cheese and bacon, and a medium coke. For those unaware, the "baconator" sandwich is a hamburger consisting of two all beef patties, lettuce, tomato, katsup, and bacon. . . a whole lot of bacon. After receiving my order I drove to my home, where I pulled the meal from the "to go" bag, and inhaled the intoxicating aroma of beef and bacon. I then sent two text messages, one to my girlfriend, and one to my family, informing them that my vegan quest was about to come to an end. At around 12:45 pm, I ingested my first animal product in 20 days, and eliminated myself from the vegan competition. I did so knowingly, willingly, and without coercion. Having said all of this, I will now open the floor to questions...
Why did you break down? Where the cravings too strong?
The cravings were strong, but they were not the only reasons for my carnivorous consumption. This past week was very stressful for me. In truth, I'd been contemplating breaking down since Wednesday, but the hectic work schedule made it virturally impossible for me to get away from my desk long enough to eat anything worthy. I figured that if I was to end the competition, I needed to do it right. Grabbing a stale ham and cheese sandwhich from the little snack stand, didn't seem worth it.
Did the lack of meat contribute to your stress?
I'm not sure if there is a chemical link between animal protien and stress management. I do know that we have an emotional link to food, and that some foods provide a degree of comfort. It's important to have something to look forward to, and food can be that special treat that helps you get through a bad day. Without any "treats" to provide me with comfort, the stress has just been buiding. As a result, I've been one cranky dude.
Why did you wait until Saturday afternoon - Were you thinking Jody could fall on Friday night?
Jody really had nothing to do with my decision to wait until Saturday. I actually contemplated swinging by Wendy's on my way home from work on Friday, but I also knew that I wanted to grab a few drinks with friends later on that night. I figured that after 20 days with no meat, a hamburger could do some damage to my already confused system. I thought it best to stick out the vegan diet for one more night, rather than risk an all out revolt while out and about.
Are you feeling any ill effects from the "Baconator?"
Nothing yet, but the day is still young. Part of the reason I wanted to have a burger for lunch, rather than dinner, was that it would allow me a full day to recover from any side effects.
Have you learned anything from this experiance?
Yes and no. I can't stand here and tell you that I now respect the vegan philosophy, and will look to protect animals by not consuming their products - but I have learned about watching what I put into my body. The fat content of my diet was previously very high - alarmingly high when you really look at it. I know now that there are options open to me, that will keep me satisfied as well as healthy. Beef, however, will remain a staple in my diet. I will tell you that I am very much looking forward to getting my body back to what it was. I don't like feeling cold all the time, and I hate not having any energy.
What's next?
Training, of course. We've got a 6lb burger on the horizon, and after nearly 3 weeks of not eating animal products of any kind, we're going to need to put in a lot of work in order to put down a beast of that size. I won't lie to you, I'm a little bit scared.
I want to thank you all for coming out, but at this time I must request no further questions. The bacon and beef is starting to make some noise, and I think the cheese is also starting to speak up. Have a good day.
~Saps
