I have been a vegetarian for three months and vegan-ish for three weeks. It’s time for a checkup.

In my 40 days and 40 nights blog, I quoted PETA Europe who said that vegan women, on average, weigh about 10 pounds less than women who eat meat. As a test, I have been avoiding the gym since the beginning of Lent. I went once, on Valentine’s Day, to boost my mood.

The results are in and I am 10 pounds lighter, sweat-free.

Weight loss wasn’t my number one reason for the change, but it certainly helps. Even if I’m the only one who can see or feel the difference. It’s just one more motive to keep my hands off the cheese. I wasn’t even that strict!

Time for another step. Stay on the vegan wagon, remember daily vitamins and add in gym time.

Also, I want to reiterate my original reason for becoming vegetarian. Although weight loss can be good for your health, the bigger health issue here is heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, coronary heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States. They also say a vegetarian diet has been proven to “lower risk of obesity, coronary heart disease (which causes heart attack), high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus and some forms of cancer. “

GoVeg.com directly blames the SAD (Standard American Diet) for heart disease in the U.S.:

This link between animal products and heart disease is now very well documented. It’s no surprise that half of all Americans develop heart disease, because the typical U.S. diet puts almost everyone at risk. – Dean Ornish, M.D.

You want to lose weight, avoid a heart attack and save some animals?

Go veg.