Are we still Vegan/Vegetarian? The answer is YES! We've been non-meat eaters for over three years. Now, from time to time we do eat seafood. I personally like wild caught salmon. (I try my best to find the best quality.) Ryan likes shrimp and crab. It's hard for people to keep up with all of this terminology but when you eat seafood, you're considered a peskiterean. Honestly, I am a bit tired of using labels but I guess I do understand it gives people an idea of what you eat. For the past year I really was trying to focus on eating whole foods mindfully, as Dr. Caroline Leaf put it. In this blog I wanted to share with you what I learned through this process and 5 tips that can help you start your journey.
Eating Wholesome Foods
I think this has became a lot clearer for me while we were in this season. I found a lot of local farms that are not too far from me. It's always an adjustment when it comes to making a new habit especially if you're so used to shopping in a certain super store. Eventually you try something new and you realize that you're not only doing this for your health but also for your community.
How is eating locally helping your community? Let me explain. When you support local businesses, you keep the money locally. A lot of food that you buy in the supermarkets are unfortunately sprayed with preservatives and pestisides. They do that so it looks like it was freshly picked for you when the truth is that it was picked way before it's time and then sprayed so that it is preserved until you buy it. Farm fresh food doesn't stay fresh long. It actually starts rotting in a few days time. This doesn't sound like a good thing but it is because that means that it is in it's freshest form which means that your body will actually get nutrients from it. I know that it may take some effort to research and find places where you can get this food, but trust me it is worth in the long run.
Because of this diet, I’ve been able to add so much more variety into my meals and I can tell you that my body is very grateful. So don’t be afraid to explore and try new things. :)
Eating Food Mindfully
Did you know that if you eat food while you’re not feeling good emotionally, that it is actually bad for you? There is a mind and gut connection that is happening when you‘re eating. Ever heard of emotional eating? Well, it is the same concept. You are basically eating because you’re sad or happy and that can cause you to overeat or have indigestion. This is why taking the time to eat and not be distracted by a screen or work is so important. You stop what you’re doing and you savor every bite. This helps you to make a conscience decision about what you’re eating and how much of it you’re eating.
Supplementing
I personally believe that it is pretty difficult for an individual to get all of the nutrients that they need in a day and therefore good supplements are a must. Now I know that the vitamin industry is a billion dollar industry and therefore not all supplements are good for you. In fact, some can actually cause more harm than good. I read it in the articles too often about certain vitamins that were tested and came back with high levels of heavy metals. I‘m sure that certain companies don’t really care about your health or well being and just want to make a quick buck by making a supplement that’s ‘affordable’ but are just made cheaply without the lowest quality ingredients. So because we are non-meat eaters there are certain things that our diet needs to have like essential amino acids and B12 vitamin. I personally tried several kinds of vitamins and these are some of my favorite that I take daily.
(All of the vitamins are linked. Also on any Gaia supplements, use my discount COLE20 to get a discount gaiaherbs.com )
Another great test that you can do to test your nutrition is to get a micro-nutrient test that backtracks 6 months. This is basically done by taking your blood and sending it to the lab. They will send you an extensive report on all of you levels. This can be super helpful as every person is so unique and it can really give you the right direction that you should take when it comes to eating a specific diet and supplementing with good vitamins.
Being Active
I personally have fluctuated in my weight quite a bit in my 30 years although I consider myself very active. Even when I don’t consistently workout, I am always on the move. One thing that I‘ve learned in this season of my life is that it is very important to take care of myself. I am learning that it is not selfish. This not only benefits me as an individual but my family that I am taking care of. I can tell how my mood is affected when I am active versus not. Being active really helps me push through the challenging days.
The last 8 months have been really hard on my body. I experienced a lot of grief and stress. Quite frankly I am still recovering. This past January I decided to quit caffeine and really hydrate myself. I am ashamed to say that I had 6 shots of espresso every day for the past 6 months. I decided that I was going to be consistent and workout every morning for at least 25 to 30 minutes. This is going on the second month and I feel so much better and so much stronger. Even when you don’t see that scale drop as quick or even when you still see a lot that you need to work on, think of how much stronger you’re getting and how it really helps your mind in the process.
My personal choice for eating more plant based is that I feel better. My skin no longer breaks out. I don’t have indigestion and I have so much more clarity and peace of mind. At the end of the day, my suggestion would be that you don’t follow a popular diet, but you find something that works for you that you can maintain as a lifestyle. Jumping from diet to diet confuses your body and can cause you to be more frustrated. Consistency does so much for your mind and body so whatever diet that you choose to follow here are my top five tips:
DO IT FOR YOU
THINK MORE IN THE LIFESTYLE TERMS
EAT WHOLE FOODS MINDFULLY
SUPPLEMENT
BE ACTIVE
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 HCSB
Don’t you know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body.
Much Love :)
Create Coleture, Be YOU
Viktoriya Cole