Is dieting really your friend?

When trying to eat healthier, it’s easy to trick yourself into thinking you’re on a diet. The biggest thing I try to stay away from is that word. “Diet” is an evil word in so many ways. First of all, when someone is on a diet doesn’t that make you think they’re over weight and trying to shed some fat off their body? I feel like it’s just a negative word. Lifestyle is a much nicer word and implies that it’s a life-long thing, unlike a diet which seems to be temporary. Honestly, you can’t live your whole life dieting! That would just be depressing!

The “plant-based” lifestyle isn’t dieting at all. It’s just replacing animal products with plants. It’s become my normal, everyday lifestyle and I never feel like I’m on a diet. In fact, I have started to eat more than I used to and I’ve lost weight! If that isn’t crazy I don’t know what is!

To me the word “diet” sounds like it’s setting someone up for failure. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anybody who is happy and dieting at the same time. Why would you want to go on a month-long diet that only gives you temporary results, when you can turn your lifestyle around and see life-long results? I would choose a “plant-based” lifestyle over a restricting diet any day!

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Recover from sore muscles faster

As I’ve gone plant-based I have only experienced positive changes in my life. My body has been happier than it’s ever been before! My skin in glowing, I feel lighter, and one of the most amazing things has happened. I’ve been recovering from hard workouts faster than my friends. This year my track coach has been pushing our team pretty hard. Many of the girls are suffering sore legs and tired, achy bodies but, I have felt energetic and ready for every obstacle he throws our way.

Before I changed my eating habits my mom told me this was one of the things that would happen. I have seen so many great things happen to me, just by eliminating animal products from my diet and replacing them with more fruits and veggies. I figured it would help a little bit but, I didn’t expect it to work this well!

I have also been in a better mood! I have wanted to go to practice and work harder because I know that I’m fueling my body with the perfect things it needs to perform fast. I have even been able to motivate one of my team mates to go plant-based with me! She has seen my progress and believes me when I say that this can be the most effective way to fuel a runner’s body.

Plant-based nutrition has become a passion of mine. I have seen only positive effects come from it, and I hope that it can inspire you as much as it has inspired me!

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(N)ice Cream

As the weather gets warmer, the treats get colder. Spring is the time when we get a sample of what our summer is going to be like. The days are longer, warmer, and happier and the ice cream shops start to open. Now this is a problem for me! Ice cream has been a long time favorite, and it’s been hard to give up (sadly ice cream does not fall into the “plant-based approved” category).  So I found a great, tasty alternative that I’m sure you would love!

It’s delicious, pretty to look at, fun to make, and it is great for your body! That’s why it’s called “Nice Cream”. You start off by freezing two bananas overnight. I suggest peeling them before you freeze them; otherwise it’s really hard to get the peels off. Once your bananas are completely frozen put them in a blender (we have a Vitamix and it seems to work really well but I’m sure any blender would work). Next you’re going to add a teaspoon of vanilla and a little bit of almond or soy milk. I never actually measure the milk but it’s probably close to one-fourth of a cup. I also like to add cocoa powder to my ice cream. I’m always in the mood for chocolate! I don’t measure that either but I’d say it’s close to one and a half tablespoons.

When you blend it all together make sure you don’t over blend it. Otherwise it will turn into banana soup, which I’ve accidently made and it’s not that good. Also make sure you don’t have chunks of bananas in it (unless you like that). You want to go for a smooth texture, like soft serve ice cream. If you've never tried this "plant-based" ice cream, you're in for a real treat!

 

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Changes

As a runner I have tried many different ways of fueling my body and I finally found the right fit! I decided to go whole foods, plant-based about 5 weeks ago. For those of you who don’t know what that is, it’s a lifestyle (I don’t like to use the word “diet”) that eliminates any animal products and replaces them with plants (fruits, veggies, legumes, nuts, seeds, whole grains…).  So that means no eating ice cream, yogurt, chicken, fish, cheese, eggs, milk, etc.

                You might think that sounds crazy and impossible, but it really isn’t. My main motivation was, and still is my mom. She went plant-based a few years ago, and we all saw amazing results. She lost weight, lowered her cholesterol, became more toned, her skin was basically glowing, and she had (and still does have) more energy. After seeing only positive results I started to get more serious about my health related decisions. I decided to join my mom and go down the plant-based path of life.

                One of the biggest obstacles for me right now is the fact that I’m a teenager. All of my friends are eating pizza, ice cream, milk shakes, and chocolate. I mean, that is the standard American diet so it’s nothing surprising but, sometimes it’s just a challenge.  The temptation is sometimes brutal but, every time I say no to an ice cream cone or cheese burger I’m winning a small battle, and the victory is oh, so sweet. The victories add up and changes in your physical appearance start to become noticeable. For me it was my stomach. It has gotten a little smaller and flatter every week. I decided to document my changes by taking a picture at the end of each week. This way I have been able to see the small changes. Not only have I gotten fitter, I have also seen my skin clear up. To all you teenagers out there who struggle with acne: IT’S ALL ABOUT YOUR DIET! By eliminating meat and dairy from your diet, you are avoiding the consumption of hormones (from cows) and bacteria that can cause acne http://www.onegreenplanet.org/natural-health/the-dairy-and-acne-connection/.

Now trust me, I’m not perfect when it comes to eating all the right foods. I might have a slice of vegan cake or some French fries on the weekend. Just remember that it’s progress not perfection! This will make it much easier to live this new lifestyle! I Promise!  If you happen to be looking for a sweet treat to kill your cravings check out my (N)ice Cream post!

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