A developer published a candid 40-day write-up on joshtronic.com about going vegetarian for Lent with his family. He made it most of the way before breaking at a work BBQ, lost about 3 pounds, felt lighter during the day, and noticed his workouts got harder. He also discovered how easy it is to replace meat with junk food when you do not plan ahead.
What follows are the patterns worth noting—not as nutrition advice, but as real-world data from someone who tracked his own experience.
What happened
- The family aimed for 40 days and quit early at a work BBQ.
- Snacking on chips and other junk spiked in the first week before tapering.
- Headaches hit his wife and kid about two weeks in; he was spared.
- He lost around 3 pounds, which he suspects was partly muscle.
- Digestion improved noticeably while meat was out, and slowed again when it returned.
The bad: what showed up fast
Four cons came up. First, junk food. With meat off the menu, chips, crackers and pantry items become the easy grab. Second, headaches showed up for two of three family members after a couple of weeks. Third, breakfast quietly disappeared from his routine, which probably amplified other effects. Fourth, gym performance slipped. Even casual training felt heavier. He ties the 3-pound loss to skipping breakfast and reduced protein intake, with muscle loss as the likely culprit.
The good: the stuff nobody warns you about
The standout pro was digestion. Bowel movements got regular quickly once the diet settled, and flatulence rose briefly before normalizing. The second pro was energy. Sluggish post-meal feelings were rare during the meat-free stretch and came back the moment meat returned. He also noticed mild constipation during reintroduction, which he suspects was related. None of this is medical advice, but the pattern matches what nutrition folks tend to say about fiber load and meal composition.
Why this matters
The experiment has three clear takeaways for anyone considering a similar stretch.
The trade-off is protein, not vegetables.** Dropping meat without a plan means dropping the most convenient protein source. The body notices before the mind does—performance drops, hunger increases, and junk fills the gap.
Digestion changes faster than energy.** Regularity improved within days. Energy smoothing took about a week. If anything feels off early, give it time before deciding the experiment failed.
The reintroduction matters.** Constipation showed up when meat came back. Any sudden dietary shift carries this risk, vegetarian or not.
Who should care
| Reader type | Why it applies |
|---|---|
| Remote developers with gym habits | Protein timing and pre-workout meals are load-bearing; dropping breakfast quietly undermines performance. |
| Anyone doing a temporary diet challenge | Snack planning matters more than willpower; chips are not a strategy. |
| Families testing dietary changes together | Side effects vary by person; what hits one person spares another—track separately. |
| Curious omnivores | The digestion and energy observations are worth noting; the experiment is most useful as self-data, not ideology. |
Bottom line
A short meat-free stretch works if you plan the protein and the snacks. Expect digestion to change first, energy to feel smoother mid-day, and gym numbers to slide unless you replace what you cut.
Key takeaways
- Stock real snacks before cutting meat or you will eat chips for a week.
- Keep breakfast and a clear protein source; otherwise performance will dip.
- Treat a short vegetarian run as a data-gathering exercise, not a lifestyle overhaul.
Frequently asked questions
Will I lose muscle on a short vegetarian stretch?
Possibly, especially if total protein drops. The writer tied his 3-pound loss to skipping breakfast and reduced protein. Aim for a clear protein source at each meal.
How long before energy levels change?
The family noticed smoother daytime energy within the first week and felt sluggishness return when meat came back.
Is it normal to feel worse in the gym?
Common when protein and calories drop without a plan. Lift numbers, soreness and recovery can all shift in the first two to three weeks.
What about headaches?
Two of three family members had headaches after a couple of weeks. It is a common report when caffeine, salt or meal timing shift at the same time as the diet change.