9 Tips for the Vegan and Vegetarian Beginner!

At the end of 2015 I began a a fitness journey. No, I didn’t not stop eating meat at that point. I began meditating and being intentional in the effort to lose weight and to change my diabetic status. After vehemently denying the prescription medications my doctor tried to force me to take to manage type two diabetes; I got serious about changing my lifestyle. Without realizing it, I was practicing a keto diet regimen (all meat/protein and vegetables). I had removed almost all carbs from my diet. I lost almost 25 pounds in three months, on my own doing only cardio, eating protein and vegetables. I realized at that point I needed to do other kinds of exercises in order to tighten my loose skin, tone and build muscle. I enrolled with a personal trainer and began weightlifting and calisthenics. I swiftly lost another 20 pounds, toned, tightened, built muscle and strength.

After some time, a traumatic turn of events, and some medical procedures, I slowed down from my routine and eventually stopped working out completely. Naturally, I began to put some weight and fat back on, I also lost a lot of definition in my muscles. By the end of 2017, I gained about 15 pounds back.

At the beginning of 2018, (February to be exact) I made a decision that wasn’t really a “decision” at all; I abruptly stopped eating meat. When I stopped eating meat I say it wasn’t a deliberate decision because the change came so naturally to me. I’d found myself going days without eating meat all day. I was consuming vegetables and salads for the most part and of course, more carbs than I was eating prior to making the change. I’ve since gained another 10 pounds.

Sharing the changes my body has been through due to switching my regimens over the last three and a half years has nothing to do with a personal bias of eating meat or not. I just want to share what I’ve learned along the way to help someone that may be thinking about certain lifestyle changes:

Tip #1: Do not think about it, just do it!

It may seem backwards because some level of “thought” has to be put into such lifestyle alterations; BUT I assure you that overthinking your new diet or routine will drive you right back to the very things you’ve vowed to cut out of your life.

Tip #2: Do it because it feels right!

Doing anything because it feels right is king, when it comes to what will keep you going forward with a decision.

Tip #3: Figure out your "why!"

Sometimes doing something because it feels right isn’t enough for person so they may need an extra push. Being clear about “why” you want to embark on this new journey can be your major motivational key.

Tip #4: Don't do it for the Gram!

In the age of communication it is too easy to find a hashtag for everything, making literally anything liable to be “trendy.” Doing anything because it’s trendy is a sure way to find yourself distracted by other people’s opinions, progress or lack their of. Even within the vegan community there is divisiveness on what constitutes you as a “true” vegan, so DON'T get caught up in the banter. Do if for you and your personal reasons! Do your own research and be true to you!

Tip# 5: Don't place yourself in a box!

This is probably the most important tip I’ve learned thus far! Defining yourself for whom or what you are is powerful, it’s great but there’s a paradox to this as well. Once you place yourself in a box as far as being “vegan” or “vegetarian” you may find that people, friends and family; for whatever reason are more prone to taunt you with foods that are opposed to what your current stance is. Whether it is due to a “slip of the mind” from your mom, a courtesy offer from of skirt steak via your favorite cousin or a blatant, constant teasing from your accountability partner—it happens once you label yourself as a non-meat-eater; and it can make sticking to your changes harder for you. So make your changes as discreet as possible until you are “strong” enough to resist the offers. Not only that, but by abstaining from “boxing yourself in” you make it easy on yourself to revert back if you ever want or feel the need to. No commitment fees included lol.

Tip# 6: Pay attention to how your body responds to the change and pay attention to your carbs.

Although my change of going meatless was a deck based on me not caring for the taste of meet anymore, between day four and five I had begun to experience what seemed to be physical feelings of withdrawal from not eating it. Either that or my body was trying to reset or detox itself. I’m not sure. My abdomen was bloated, crampy, and I was very gassy for a few days. Between the first and second week my skin had broke out badly as well. It seemed that my body was purging itself from all the years of meat. In the effort of putting the meat down, I found myself picking up more carbs. I gained 10 pounds before I knew it just by doing that and overtime my skin started to break out again. So definitely try to pay attention to carb intake and eat more vegetables than carbs (especially enriched carbs) if you can help it.

Tip# 7: Prepare for greener "pastures!"

Once your diet begins to get more green due to the lack of meat and the intake of more vegetables and fruits; the color of you poop may become more green as well. I noticed early on by not eating meat, my bowel movements were more “regular” as far as frequency goes. The consistency was also different and the smell of the waste or gas expelled was more “pleasant” compared to when I ate meat.

Tip# 8: Make a vision board!

It may seem corny but, be sure to keep yourself encouraged based on your reasoning for making the switch! If your reason is for aesthetics make a vision board full of body goals, vegan food options, etc. If your reasoning is along the lines of being humane and more sensitive to animals decorate your vision board representing your love for animals etc... Whatever your “why” is should be a constant in-your-face reminder; for you by you!

Tip #9: Have fun with it!

It can be a lot of “work” switching your diet or lifestyle so don’t short yourself on the fun in it! Learning new recipes, trying different types of fruits, vegetables or old recipes with a new vegetarian twist is probably one of the best parts of the journey down this road!

(PS: Remember when reading packages, that “vegan” or “vegetarian” isn’t synonymous with organic or non GMO. Just because it’s not an animal or dairy product doesn’t mean it isn’t genetically modified or that it’s an automatically healthy choice!)