5 Tips On Transitioning to a Vegan Lifestyle

Friday, June 23, 2017

Ever since I can remember, I've been an animal lover. My family has always had dogs and I don't think I owned a single item that didn't have a horse on it. Of course, because I didn't know any better and because society has normalized eating animal flesh, I ate meat, dairy, and eggs growing up. Not once did I stop and make the connection between the foods that I was consuming and the process it took to get to my plate.

Even through my teens and twenties there was an emphasis on getting "enough protein" which, of course, you got from animal sources. I had a one year stint as a vegetarian where I ate a LOT of soy-based and processed products. I eventually stopped because I had started weight lifting and I had convinced myself that I wasn't getting enough protein. First it was chicken, then it was everything. It wasn't until almost two years ago that I decided to go back to being a vegetarian. I started getting really uncomfortable with the videos, pictures, and articles that I came across.

Finally, one evening, after subjecting myself to a particularly horrible video, I decided I just couldn't live with being so upset and uncomfortable with the reality of the animal agriculture business. That night, I said no more. I made up my mind then and there to stop eating (and wearing) all animal products.

I know making an overnight decision is not going to be everyone's path. Which is why I wanted to provide these tips to those of you who are considering making the transition.


1. Educate Yourself & Find Your "Why"

It's very easy to fall back on the old saying "ignorance is bliss." It's also probably much easier to go through life without looking beyond the packaged animal parts that are presented to you in shrink wrap at the store. What do all the organic, all natural, free range, grass-fed, and local labels really, truly mean? From start to finish, where did your food come from? Furthermore, could you even stand to watch the process from the animal being taken to the slaughterhouse, to the "processing" that happens afterwards? Would you be comfortable showing your children this process? I think it's very important to be aware of exactly what goes on and ask yourself why it make you so uncomfortable, if it's not something you can stand to watch. 

The other thing that really blew my mind when I made the decision to stop consuming animal products was the effect that animal agriculture has on the environment. It is ruining our water, our ecosystems, and is a huge contributor to climate change. 

Having a strong "why" is crucial when transitioning to a vegan lifestyle. My reason for not eating animals is so strong that I have no desire to ever eat meat, dairy, or eggs again because I don't see those foods in the same way that I used to. I am truly an animal lover and it pains me to see animals suffering for no reason. 




2. Take it Slow If You Need To

As much as I wish everyone could go vegan overnight, I understand that the world doesn't work that way. I've heard so many people comment that they could go vegan "if I didn't have to give up my precious cheese." Being able to eliminate everything except for dairy would be a huge step in the right direction, so don't be afraid to take it slow. Maybe you start with eliminating beef from your diet. Then pork, then chicken, etc. If you can give up meat easily, maybe you try vegetarianism for a while. (I was a vegetarian before I went vegan.) Making a slow transition and taking small steps is absolutely okay, especially if it leads to sustainable change.


3. Set Yourself Up for Success (Be Prepared)

One thing to remember when making a transition to a plant based diet is that if you are eating mostly whole foods, you have to eat a LOT more of them to meet your energy needs. Make sure you are stocked up with healthy plant foods in your pantry and fridge so you don't end up hangry. Another thing I often hear is people saying that they tried to be vegan but they got headaches and felt tired. It's highly likely that these individuals were not consuming nearly enough calories. I usually have a CLIF bar, a NuGo bar, or a banana in my bag in case I get hungry while I am out and about running errands.

Another way to set yourself up for success is finding plant based alternatives for some of your favorite foods. Of course whole foods are best, but if you find a veggie burger you like, or faux-meat crumbles that you can enjoy with pasta, there is nothing wrong with having them in your meal rotation if you feel like you are missing some of the "comfort" foods.



4. Join the Community & Don't Be Afraid to Ask Questions 


I'll be the first person to say that there can be a lot of toxicity in certain vegan communities, especially on the internet. However, there are so many helpful, friendly, welcoming communities out there that you shouldn't shy away from asking questions or joining discussions. At the very least, you know I am here for you! Definitely don't be afraid to ask me questions and/or reach out for resources or tips. Some awesome recipe sites can be found  here on the "Resources" page at my main site.


5. Make it Fun & Positive 

Instead of seeing it as a challenge, think of veganism as an opportunity. An opportunity to get healthier, to try new foods, to eat more veggies, to learn new recipes, and promote non-violence towards living beings. Try to recreate your favorite foods with plant based alternatives. 
Going back to Tip #2, be kind to yourself to ensure a positive experience. It's okay to start slowly. And I mean REALLY slowly. A great place to get your feet wet would be having a "Meatless Monday" tradition. 

Another idea would be to through a meatless potluck dinner party where you invite your friends to make and bring a meatless or vegan dish to share.

 Also, let's not forget that most beer, wines, and liquors are vegan! ^_~

 

My Thoughts on Personal Development (Bonus- 10 Free Resources)

Friday, June 16, 2017


A peek at my bookshelf
The term "personal development" was not part of my regular vocabulary until about 2 years ago. 

When I started down the path towards a career in holistic health and wellness I was like a sponge, absorbing all of the information I could get my hands on. This meant reading books and blogs, watching videos, and seeking out other wellness practitioners who shared my values. One thing that kept coming up was this idea of personal development and self-improvement.

Simply put, personal development is about investing in yourself to maximize your potential and become the best human being you can be.  This is, of course, going to look different for everyone. I love learning new skills and abilities so for me, personal development is about being a lifelong learner. I'd love to learn a few languages, learn how to code apps and websites, and continue developing my coaching and nutrition skills. In my personal experience, PD never feels like a chore or extra work. I am always excited when I get to read a new self improvement book or take advantage of a free online course.

Sometimes money can be a barrier to getting started so I've curated the following list of websites and apps that offer a wide variety of personal development opportunities. I hope that there is something here that sparks your interest!

Code Academy- Learn to code for free! Includes courses on HTML, CSS, Java, and Python, to name a few.

Khan Academy- Provides free courses on academic subjects. Great for brushing up on the basics. Their mission is to provide "a free, world class education for anyone, anywhere."

Coursera- Over 2,000 free courses from colleges and other higher level learning institutions around the world.

Palouse Mindfulness - A mindfulness based stress reduction program with videos, articles, and weekly exercises.

Living Well and Wild's 7 Free Physical Fitness Resources- A few months ago I put together a list of online resources for anyone wanting to take their physical fitness to the next level without breaking the budget.

edX- Free online courses and classes from some of the world's best universities, including MIT, Harvard, and Berkeley. 

Open Yale Courses- Lectures from selected Yale College courses

Duolingo- Learn a new language for free with this incredible app. Right now Duolingo has 19 languages available with 2 more in the beta stage and 6 more in development, including Klingon for my fellow Star Trek fans.

Alison- An e-learning provider and academy with over 800 free courses in categories that include IT, languages, the humanities, business, and marketing to name a few.

Don't forget to also check your local library's self-improvement section!

(It wasn't until I put together this list that I realized just how many free resources are available. You can pretty much learn the basics of anything!)

"So Alexis, what is it that YOU are working on?" Besides reading, (Currently: Awaken the Giant Within" by Tony Robbins) there are two main things I am working on at the moment. I am studying French and Swedish on Duolingo and learning some basic coding skills through the Code Academy website. (I'm loving the lessons on HTML and CSS!) I think it is incredibly important to learn and know another language and proficiency has been one of my goals for years. I can't say enough good things about the app! I'm learning to code because I have a goal of creating an app some day. I also think that coding in general would be a great skill to have as technology advances and becomes even more omnipresent.

**I do also want to recognize that personal development is a privilege. If you are familiar with "Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs" it makes sense that our basic needs for survival (i.e. food and water) and safety usually need to be met before one can focus on things like self-actualization.



holistic wellness

You Deserve Self-Care

Friday, June 02, 2017


Self-care is the time/energy/space we give ourselves to recharge spent internal "batteries". These are the things that bring us joy and give us back the energy we need to fulfill our daily responsibilities. Self care also has the power to help us build our mental and emotional resilience. 

So with all of these benefits, why wouldn't someone make self-care part of their routine? 

The biggest challenges I have seen (and experienced personally) are time and societal pressure. And to some, self-care might seem selfish-  which is definitely not true!

I know it can be difficult to find (or make) the time for self-care activities (which could mean doing nothing at all!). I have often looked down at my daily schedule and wondered when I will be able to catch my breath. Take a moment to think about the last time you scheduled 15-30 minutes for yourself to just BE. This could be in the morning before work, after the kids have gone to bed, or during lunchtime. I know this self-care time might be a luxury for some, but I encourage you to really look at your schedule to see when you might be able to find 15 minutes, if not once a day, then maybe once every other day.

Societal pressure can be challenging too. So many of us have taken to using "busy" as a badge of honor. If your day isn't packed from the time you wake up until the time you go to bed, you must be slacking. Self-care activities are sometimes seen as indulgent or time wasting. 

In reality, by engaging in self care, we can contribute to our well-being, increase our ability to handle difficult situations, and better support others when the need arises.

If you are not currently engaging in self-care, take a minute to imagine what it would look like. Imagine what you would do, when you could do it, and what might be different about your life if you were able to carve out that time for yourself. You deserve it.

If you're looking for a way to get started, here is a list of 10 free self-care activities: