When making any healthy lifestyle change, sometimes it’s hard to focus on what we are striving for and instead focus on what we feel we are loosing. As we are making progress with our new healthy ways, it is good to look back to see how far we’ve come. However, there’s a big difference between looking back and clinging to what we feel we’ve lost. If we are making a change for the long term, such as my transition to a Vegan Calorie Restricted Lifestyle, we need to focus on the things we are gaining, and focus on the fact we are making a choice.
I touched on this briefly during my post “I’ve DECIDED! I want to go VEGAN! Now What?“, and want to talk more about this topic today.
When going vegan, it’s sometimes hard to move on from foods we have emotional or habitual attachments to. When eating socially, friends and family may point out to us (sometimes this is done passive aggressively) that it is such a shame you *can’t* have such and such anymore.
If you find yourself in a situation where either your inner dialogue or someone you are eating with mentions how you *can’t* have some food item anymore because of your veganism, remind yourself or them that this is a CHOICE! You *could* have this item if you wanted, but you are *choosing* not to.
This is the type of positive reinforcement that is crucial for a new vegan, newly CR’ed person, new CR’ed vegan, or new healthy life liver. :-p Even if you aren’t struggling with your choice, the people around you need to really understand this is a choice. Every time you open your mouth to consume something, you are making a choice. There is no “can’t/can have” about it.
This type of thinking also extrapolates to the types of food you are choosing. As a vegan, I eat all sorts of things I never thought to eat as an omnivore. I just never thought to explore with certain types of food or cooking methods. Make sure you find new foods and recipes to replace the things you have CHOSEN not to consume anymore.
Beyond veganism, this also extends to Calorie Restriction. Except the way I determine my choices are different. I try to avoid very calorie dense foods with the exception of healthy fats. I will CHOOSE to go hungry at times instead of eating something. I pick lower calorie dishes at restaurants, and will opt out on options I once never think twice about. I am CHOOSING to keep my calories low so I can have a long and healthy life.
Whether we are stuffing ourselves with Twinkies all day or eating a Vegan CR diet, we are making a CHOICE. An unhealthy lifestyle is as much of a CHOICE these days as a healthy one.
Now, I now that most people are raised with unhealthy ways as their default. This does make it harder to break out unhealthy habits. However, people now know they could buy a few books, read on the internet, and start making healthier choices if they really wanted to. It only takes a little learned to get started. You don’t have to become a “health guru” overnight. Just opting out of fast foods is a good start for some people. It’s taken me YEARS to amass the knowledge I have about food and nutrition. Change doesn’t happen overnight, but if you aren’t at least headed in that direction, it isn’t going to happen!
I think most people underestimate how much a healthy lifestyle can improve their lives and health. Also, I think many people also have misconceptions about healthy food too. I know a lot of people that think anything “healthy”, “organic”, or “vegan” must taste so nasty that they won’t even try it! Seriously! They won’t even take a bite!!! And I’m not talking weird foods here, either.
People can’t understand why we could CHOOSE to live a healthy lifestyle, especially a Vegan CR’ed lifestyle, because in their minds we are taking all the joy and pleasure out of life. Quite the opposite, I’d say!!!
So, reinforce in your own mind that your are making a CHOICE for health (possibly a Vegan CR’ed life like me) so you can keep your focus. Focus on WHY you made this CHOICE! Make sure the people in your life understand you are making a CHOICE, and you are happier and healthier because of it. If they hear you bemoaning about all the things you have given up, they will not be jumping to join you in health!
Focus on your CHOICES! Focus on all the things your new lifestyle exposes you to. Focus on how good you feel mentally and physically for continuing to live out these choices.
Food for November 13th 2010.
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2 Brazil Nuts (63)
2T Organic Peanut Butter (190)
Carrot + Kale + Ginger Juice (137)
My Impromptu 3min Recipe. Boca Rotel. (172)
Thai Yellow Curry & Vegetables (250)
Peach & Pumpkin Chia Pudding (234)
Hempilicious Berry Sorbet (339)
* 120g Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
* 240g Unsweetened Vanilla Hemp Milk
* 240g Strawberries, Frozen
* 120g Blueberries, Frozen
* 15g Hemp Protein Powder
* 6g Flax Oil
* Stevia
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Nutrition Summary for November 13, 2010
Report generated by CRON-o-Meter v0.9.7
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General (90%)
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Energy | 1371.7 kcal 103%
Protein | 68.7 g 121%
Carbs | 174.7 g 90%
Fiber | 49.4 g 198%
Starch | 6.5 g 43%
Sugars | 60.7 g 121%
Fat | 57.1 g 121%
Vitamins (100%)
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Vitamin A | 89117.2 IU 1782%
Lutein+Zeaxanthin | 35338.5 µg 707%
Folate | 416.2 µg 231%
B1 (Thiamine) | 1.6 mg 149%
B2 (Riboflavin) | 1.9 mg 146%
B3 (Niacin) | 19.4 mg 129%
B5 (Pantothenic Acid)| 16.2 mg 324%
B6 (Pyridoxine) | 2.5 mg 154%
B12 (Cyanocobalamin) | 52.1 µg 2604%
Vitamin C | 460.5 mg 768%
Vitamin D | 3700.0 IU 1850%
Vitamin E | 21.1 mg 175%
Vitamin K | 821.1 µg 912%
Minerals (100%)
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Calcium | 1781.8 mg 178%
Copper | 2.2 mg 111%
Iron | 15.3 mg 102%
Magnesium | 747.2 mg 234%
Manganese | 5.5 mg 139%
Phosphorus | 1117.8 mg 160%
Potassium | 3650.1 mg 104%
Selenium | 173.9 µg 316%
Sodium | 3104.8 mg 621%
Zinc | 13.3 mg 111%
Amino Acids (95%)
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CYS | 0.7 g 280%
ILE | 1.3 g 114%
LEU | 2.0 g 91%
LYS | 1.6 g 93%
MET | 0.5 g 78%
PHE | 1.4 g 142%
THR | 1.6 g 192%
TRP | 0.4 g 189%
TYR | 0.9 g 194%
VAL | 1.5 g 90%
Lipids (67%)
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Saturated | 13.7 g 69%
Monounsaturated | 11.8 g 47%
Polyunsaturated | 22.1 g 88%
Omega-3 | 8.9 g 812%
Omega-6 | 13.2 g 120%
Cholesterol | 0.0 mg 0%
