It's officially been one month since I started my vegetarian lifestyle. I can't say it's been easy, but it also has not been hard, given that I had been working towards this for the last few months of 2006. I don't find myself wanting or missing meat at all. The only "hard" part is knowing what is vegetarian safe and what is not. There are the obvious, the dishes with meat in them, then there are the not so obvious. Those that contain chicken broth (lots of soups, mashed potatoes), gelatin (frozen vegetables) and renet (cheeses) are all off limits as well. I will still eat egg and milk products, as well as honey.
Protein intake does not seem to be an issue, as I probably get more protein now that I'm watching it than I did before. I have a huge can of peanuts at my desk at work, eat yogurt and hummus regularly, as well as a lot of beans and soy products. It's not all tofu either!
Not that this is a reason for my decision, but two friends have "challenged" me. One gives me until April, the other until July. Now I'm determined to beat them both, and it should be easy enough.
I feel good physically and mentally, and look forward to continuing my journey.