Four Steps to Starting a Plant Based Diet

When you decide to make a change as dramatic as going from the S.A.D. (standard American diet) to a whole food, plant-based diet, there are bound to be challenges. To overcome the most obvious, set yourself up for success from the start.

Not only will you have a greater chance of sticking with the protocol, others will likely follow your lead when they see the changes you are going through. Changes like releasing of unhealthy weight, more energy, better focus, improved state of mind, fewer aches and pains and overall, an improved outlook.

Even with all the benefits of going plant-based, it helps to take the steps to assure you stick with the process.

1. Determine Why You Want to Make the Change

The first step in making any change is to determine why you want to make the change. The bigger your why, the more likely it is you will stick with the process. Take time to write about your reasons. The more thought you put into this, the better.

For me, it was about reducing inflammation. Little did I realize how quickly the inflammation I was experiencing would completely disappear. Within a couple of days it was gone. Had I known this, I likely would have started a plant-based diet sooner.

After the inflammation disappeared, I dug deeper for more reasons to stay plant based. As I experienced the weight literally melting off of me, that was another reason to stick with it.

One area I hadn’t given much thought to, but it became apparent very quickly, was my desire to be in alignment with my love of animals. The more research I did on factory farming, the more I realized I could not consume animal products, including dairy. To do so would be in direct conflict with my value of protecting animals.

On the one hand, I claimed to care about animals. On the other, I was completely ignorant of how animals are farmed and processed. Once I became aware, there was no going back.

2. Blood Work

According to many experts, it only takes a few days, maybe weeks, to notice a substantial changes in your blood work. I was three months into plant-based eating when I had my annual physical, which included blood work. My doctor was overjoyed with the results. Needless to say, I was too. My numbers were outstanding and my risk for any health problems are nonexistent.

There are plenty of documented cases where people are able to do away with medication they have been taking for years for high blood pressure, diabetes, heart conditions and other common situations. Of course, work hand-in-hand with your doctor to assure you don’t end your meds prematurely.

If your health professional does not know the benefits of a plant based diet, you may want to search for one who does.

If you want proof of what a plant-based diet can do, the proof is in the numbers… blood numbers. A health professional in the know can show you how to track your success with this.

3. Prepare Your Kitchen

One of the first things I recommend to people who decide to go plant-based is to clean out their refrigerator and cabinets of foods that do not align with this way of eating. Granted, you may be in a situation where others in your home are not going to go plant based, but if at all possible, get rid of any foods that are triggers.

Talk to family members to let them know what you are doing. Hopefully, they will be supportive of your choices. If not, check with local meetup groups, plant based support groups in your area and even friends who are willing to do this with you.

However, the bottom line is this; you have to want this with every fiber of your body. If you are not 100% committed to your outcome, it’s likely you will not stick with it.

4. Go Beyond Just You

As previously mentioned, compassion to animals is huge for me. This is one of the most important reasons I stick with a diet void of animal and dairy products. The more I learn about the health benefits of a plant-based diet and how compassionate this way of eating is to animals, the less likely it is I will ever consume any type of animal product ever again.

You have to find your own reasons. And truth be told, if your health isn’t enough, I’m not sure what is. If having the energy to do more than plop yourself on the couch at day’s end doesn’t convince you to at least give plant based eating a try, I’m not sure what will.

If feeling better about yourself doesn’t convince you, I’m not sure what will. If kindness to animals isn’t enough, I’m not sure what is.

Bottom line is this; you, and only you, can decide the quality of life you want. There is plenty of evidence that a plant-based diet can have dramatic effects for those who choose this way of life.