Plan Now to Get More Out of Life in the New Year

You're probably asking yourself why you ever would want to try a lifestyle that eliminates meat and dairy from your plate? Well, you are what you eat. 

What you eat influences your weight and your likelihood of having to battle the  chronic, degenerative diseases so common in our society today. Give yourself the opportunity to lose weight and keep it off, to reduce or eliminate medications you may be taking, and increase your chances of avoiding a chronic condition later on.

January is a perfect time for new beginnings. The hustle and bustle of the holidays are over and you can take some time to concentrate on you.

If you've decided to begin an exercise program, that's great, but keep in mind what Caldwell Esselstyn, Jr., M.D. says, "Diet trumps all." It is difficult to "out-exercise" dietary intake. It takes one hour riding a bike to burn 240 calories, but one small order of french fries, which can be consumed in just a few minutes, contains nearly the same amount of calories. For an exercise program to be successful, it needs to be coupled with a smart eating program.

If you've tried every diet out there and have disappointingly achieved no long-term results, then why not give yourself just three weeks to see what a low-fat, plant-based lifestyle can do for you and your loved ones?

The guidelines are simple and involve no calorie counting, fat gram tracking, or complicated sets of rules.

Set aside all animal products (meat, dairy, eggs, fish and seafood).

Minimize added vegetable oils.

Build your meals from whole grains, legumes (beans, peas and lentils), fruit and vegetables.

Eat when you are hungry and eat until you are satisfied, but not stuffed.

It may feel awkward at first, but planning ahead makes this test drive a pleasant and exciting culinary adventure.

1. Give away any foods that do not meet these guidelines so that you are not tempted to reach for them in a time crunch.
2. Spend some time planning what you will eat. Select favorite meals that do not contain any animal products and minimal added oils, choose meals that can be easily adapted to meet this criteria, and pick a few new recipes that look interesting and tasty. Make sure to have some healthy snacks and quick-to-prepare meals on hand for days when you don't have any time to focus on what to eat.
3. Make sure to give yourself a full three weeks. It takes time for your tastes to change and for old habits to melt away. Sporadically eating healthy meals will not give provide you with a noticeable difference and will not enable you to experience how good you can feel with a change in your menu. I cannot stress this enough.
4. If you currently have a medical condition and are under the care of a doctor, give him a quick call to let them know what you are doing. The test drive of a plant-based lifestyle and the subsequent improvement in your health may decrease your need for certain medications. It is imperative that you do not alter your medication regimen or stop it entirely without the advice of your physician. If you are a type II diabetic, you could begin to regain your insulin sensitivity within as little as a week.

This could be your year if you let it. You could finally drop that excess weight you've been lugging around or improve your health to the point that your doctor discontinues your medications. Don't feel older than you should. Instead, see how tasty and enjoyable a low-fat, plant-based lifestyle can be and how quickly and fully your body responds with gratitude for the change. It is easier to adopt than you might think.

I am a Plant-Based Nutrition Counselor, a graduate of Cornell University's plant-based nutrition program, the only program in the country which focuses on the medical benefits of a low-fat, plant-based lifestyle, and am board certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners.  I help people to achieve their wellness goals by providing them with the tools that they need to gain control over their health.  I hope you enjoy my blogs.  If you would prefer individualized assistance with your weight, with a chronic, degenerative disease, with other health and wellness aspirations, or if you would like me to speak to a group, please email me at traceyeakin@gmail.com or give me a call at 724.469.0693 to arrange a time.

I can personally attest to this lifestyle.  The results are nothing short of dramatic.  I had been a vegetarian for 21 years when 4 years ago I adopted an entirely plant-based lifestyle.  Since that time, I have lost over 50 pounds and have kept it off and resolved an autoimmune condition known as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura or ITP.  My body was attacking and destroying my platelets.  I could have faced platelet transfusions or the removal of my spleen.  A low-fat, plant-based lifestyle changed everything for me.  My goal is to help as many people as possible to make similar positive changes in their lives.