From Diet to Lifestyle

7 tips on how you can adopt a healthy lifestyle.

In the words of one the greatest of our lifetime: “We came straight from the bottom, to the top, my lifestyle.” -Jeffrey Williams (aka Young Thug)

Alright — I wasn’t necessarily at the bottom. But dang, I have come a looooong way. As a self proclaimed foodie, I never thought salads and cauliflower steaks would be my go-to meals but, here we are!

My health took a back seat during college and it wasn't until junior year that I finally got my shit together. As an avid runner, I would eat whatever I wanted because I figured I burned enough calories to "treat myself". Pasta wasn't the key to a snatched waist and every meal I ate left me bloated and droggy. My best-friend Kalen incorporated veggies into.every.single.meal she ate and I always admired her discipline. She shrugged it off by saying"this is how I ate growing up" and I was the person who thought any person eating vegetables on purpose was a psycho. Fast forward to now: I am approaching my 3rd year plant-based diet anniversary and I have never felt better to be one of those psychos!

Old habits die hard

Whew. Pizza is my kryptonite and I would never pass up an opportunity to eat baked mac & cheese. I am a self proclaimed foodie but nothing has ever tasted as good as being healthy feels! The benefits of going plant based have exceeded all of my expectations! I initially adopted a plant-based diet to lose weight... but the various ways these super-foods made me feel... and how they will make you feel are almost indescribable! My fruit & veggie-diet quickly turned into a permanent lifestyle change far after I reached my goal weight. Anything that grew out of the ground, I ate it with no hesitation! And I really enjoyed experimenting in the kitchen with new recipes.

No one talks about the power that is packed into these foods and how good they will make you feel! I have so much more energy! I feel stronger mentally & physically! And most importantly, I am more conscious about what I choose to fuel my body with and my overall health.

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With more and more people switching to a plant based diet for a multitude of reasons, it can be difficult knowing where exactly to start. I am here to hopefully shine some light on that confusion and offer tips and encouragement to help you achieve your plant based goals!

30 days to form a new habit, 90 days before it comes a lifestyle

Be gentle with yourself. Rome wasn't built in a day. Changes take time. You will still have cravings and fall into temptations. It is important to set daily/weekly goals to start cutting certain habits out and bringing new habits in. After 30 days, it won't be as hard as it was in the beginning but after 90 days... shoot! You won't even think twice about choosing that veggie burger over Mickey D's.

Find a motivation

Find your why. Health problems? Preventing health problems? Pursuing your body goals? Checking out what the plant based fuss is about? Just wanting to be healthier? Whatever it is, your motivation/goal is what will keep you grounded and will re-route if you find yourself getting complacent or lost.

Notice the changes

Big or small, there are a lot! More energy. A better nights sleep. Clearer skin. Better fitting clothes. Weight lose. Muscle gain. Feeling happier. Whatever it is, celebrate all of the victories.

Be conscious in your decision making

But never obsessive. Plan out your meals. Know your cheat days. Do what feels good for your body in that moment. Only you know yourself better then anyone else! And never ever feel guilty with any decision you make!

Plant based is more affordable

There is a common misconception that eating healthy is expensive. I think that is false. UNLESS, you live in a food desert. And with that, I totally agree and I will save the socioeconomic disparity conversation for a different post because that is an important issue. BUT, if you do have the privilege of living near a variety of grocery stores and farmer markets, check out their weekly ads! Browse for coupons! Buy what is on sale! You can walk out of Spouts’s with a weeks worth of produce for $20. Far less than the national average a person spends on groceries a month. A lot of money saving possbilites here!

Healthy eating DOES taste good

No vegetable is disgusting if you know how to season and cook it properly! If you enjoy trying out new recipes or have been itching to step your cooking game up, this is an exciting new world for you to step into! Eating healthy can & does taste great and you will be quite surprised with how much plant-goodness you have been missing out on. Never underestimate the power of Pinterest for you recipe needs.

Health = Wealth

If you're blessed enough to walk this life with zero health problems... do not take that for granted! Ever! And if you're looking to lead a healthier lifestyle, it is never too late! There is an immense amount of science that backs up the power of super-foods and the direct correlations it has on our health. Our health is paramount and food is a direct link to maintaining it. If this is any confirmation, fruits & vegetables are a great way to maintain a healthy life and the wealth it provides is priceless.

Stay strong and stay healthy! You've got this! And in the words of Mr. Thug:

I was livin’ life like beginner and this is the only begin'!

This is only the beginning to a long and healthy life.