After having a lot of problems, I have decided to completely cut meat out of my diet - for the moment I will be leaving eggs in my diet though. There are just a few reasons for this decision - first and foremost is the fact that I would never be able to kill an animal myself and then eat it. The whole pre-packaged killed animal does something to ease the conscience about taking the life of a living creature. It's been something I have struggled with for years - I was a vegan at 14 years of age and upon doctor's request I went back to a normal diet - integrating more dairy and eventually meat came back into my life. I've read up on protein and how it's too complex for our bodies to break down properly and most of the meat we ingest is expelled from our body... something else that made me start thinking again. On top of all of this - I noticed on the days I ate only vegetables I felt better than when I incorporated meat and dairy into the diet. It is absolutely possible to get all the necessary vitamins and nutrients from a plant-based diet.
Now... onto a few tips that may help you like they helped me.
1.) Buy smaller utensils so the "bites" aren't as big. I have small spoons that are similar to baby spoons, slightly larger - this will give you a feeling of being satiated because of the amount of time you are taking to consume the food on your plate.
2.) Chew slower - I remember seeing a show where one of the girls had a certain number of times she would chew her food. That's a bit extreme, but eating slower and chewing a little more can be beneficial. It takes your body about 20 minutes to reach the feeling of being "full," so if you eat quickly it is very easy to overeat. At the beginning of your new eating regimen, I suggest measuring, weighing... doing whatever you need to do to ensure that you have the correct number of calories on the plate in front of you.
3.) Little things can help you get to the place you want to be. Small adjustments can make you feel better, even on the days you think are absolute crap. These things that make me happy are making sure I look my best every day. I'm a big girl, but I take pride in the way I handle myself and the image that I project. I want people to know that I do care about myself and there's more to this than meets the eye. When I dress sloppy casual... I feel like crap, I don't feel like getting out and doing anything, I just want to veg on the couch and watch television and snack on random crap all day long. When I look how I feel... I'm ready to go out and conquer the world. Yes, that means every now and then I do it up big - high heels, curling iron, and the occasional dress. I make sure I brush my teeth 3 times a day - morning, afternoon, and right before bed. I make sure I have breakfast every morning (when I don't... it's bad!). I make sure to drink my full 8 glasses of water a day. I pluck those darn eyebrows when they start growing out. Sometimes I paint my nails, sometimes I don't. I know you may be thinking "oh em gee, this girl is so vapid," but truth be known... losing weight is about projecting an image too. I want to be the person I feel like, the person I believe I am, not this overweight person that sometimes likes to do nothing but watch television all day on a Saturday. I LOVE animals, I love the outdoors, I LOVE sweating... so why am I not out doing what I love? This leads me to the final thought for the day...
4.) Become the person you want to be. I am 150% an animal and people person. I have always wanted to help people and animals alike (yes, I know... people ARE animals, but well... deal with it! Hah). Why am I constantly trying to find a "secure" job with high pay when I will just end up regretting my choices and being bitter in the end? What is money in the grand scheme of things? Maybe I won't have that mansion, but I'll have my happiness and peace of mind knowing I did what I was truly meant to do, what my "calling" was for lack of a better term.
With that... I bid you adieu. I hope you are all faring well in the changes you are making in your lives. We all deserve happiness... let's find it! We may fall short here and there, but get back up - we got this.
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