When it comes to wellbeing, change is hard… making small improvements over time can even be harder! That’s why I’m so proud of the success I’ve had with my own journey to health and happiness. As I share my diet story, you’ll discover some tips and tricks I learned along the way. So fasten your seat belt and join me on this health-filled journey!
My Contents
- 1. A Fork in the Road: How I Discovered the Power of Diet on My Happiness
- 2. Biology 101: How I Changed My Eating Habits to Become Healthier
- 3. Strength in Numbers: Why I Seeked the Support of Others on My Journey
- 4. Weight of the World: The Mental Health Impact of My Dietary Changes
- 5. Sugar and Spice: My Love Affair with Clean Eating
- My Diet Answers
1. A Fork in the Road: How I Discovered the Power of Diet on My Happiness
In my early 20’s I faced a real turning point in how I felt and thought about life. I wasn’t suffering from a severe mental illness, but more just what felt like a lack of energy or will to do anything. I felt like I was running in circles, stuck in an endless dead-end tunnel.
After some research, I realized the dishes I was cooking and Wolfing down could have a big part to do with my lack of energy, outlook, and overall lack of happiness. A simple look at the food pyramid made it very apparent to me. I wasn’t eating right, and it was sowing the seeds of my discontent.
Not only was I in tune with what I was eating and how I was eating it, I also realized that my entire lifestyle was obstructing me from being the happiest and healthiest version of myself. I knew that if I wanted to get things going in the right direction I had to make a change. That is why I decided to commit to a lifestyle of whole foods and conscious eating. I care about what and when I put in my body.
- I stopped eating processed food whenever I could and chose sustainable, plant-based dishes and ingredients.
- I started cooking more and incorporating more homemade meals into my diet.
- I forced myself to move more instead of sitting around all day, such a walking and biking.
Simply put, I changed my diet and exercised regularly, and it completely changed how I felt about myself and life. By being mindful about the food I consume and other lifestyle choices, I have managed to maintain the feeling of contentment and joy.
2. Biology 101: How I Changed My Eating Habits to Become Healthier
Having a healthy lifestyle is essential if you want to be the best version of yourself, and eating habits are part of that. In this post, I’m going to talk about how I changed my diet to improve my overall well-being.
Here are some tips that have worked for me:
- I eliminated soda and sugary drinks. I used to drink three to four cans of soda a day, but I slowly weaned myself off of it. I replaced them with herbal tea and other healthier options.
- I ate more fruits and vegetables. I tried to eat a variety of veggies every day, and I made sure to include at least one fruit in my breakfast. I also started drinking fruit juices.
- I limited my processed food intake. I stopped buying fast food and prepackaged snacks, and I started cooking my meals from scratch.
- I reduced my dairy and meat consumption. I tried to make Monday vegetarian nights, and I limited my dairy consumption to just a few spoonfuls of yogurt each day.
Eating healthier has definitely improved my overall well-being. I have more energy throughout the day, and I feel less sluggish after meals. If you want to make improvements in your life, I highly recommend changing your eating habits.
3. Strength in Numbers: Why I Seeked the Support of Others on My Journey
When I decided to pursue my dream, I knew it was not a journey I could embark on alone. I needed a support system to safely try out different ideas, build upon my successes and learn from my failures. There was only so much I could learn from books or online courses – the real knowledge and inspiration for my journey came from my peers.
I quickly realized that many like-minded people were already connected in networks, circles, and clubs. I engaged with them through their social media pages, blogs, webinars, and offline events. Meeting people who shared a similar enthusiasm gave me a huge boost in morale. A few of them even ended up becoming lifelong friends and mentor-mentee relationships.
The Benefits of Growing a Network
Having a social network became invaluable in my journey. With each person I connected with, I acquired new tools and resources from their experiences, which helped me go the distance.
- I learned about industry trends, and businesses that supported my cause.
- I received feedback on my projects, allowing me to fine-tune them and be more successful.
- I was invited to collaborate with other professionals and form teams for bigger projects.
- I was exposed to different approaches, which helped me think outside the box.
4. Weight of the World: The Mental Health Impact of My Dietary Changes
Adopting a new dietary lifestyle isn’t always as simple as it may seem. While the physical process of transitioning to a healthier lifestyle can be rewarding, the psychological requirements of the transition are often overlooked. Keeping track of what you eat is an exhausting task, even with a variety of meal-planning apps at your fingertips, and it can take a toll on your mental health. Here are four ways that dietary changes can affect your mental health:
- Increased Pressure & Stress: If you’re attempting to commit to any sort of dietary change, whether that be calorie counting, veganism, gluten-free, etc., it’s likely that you’ll feel some extra pressure and stress as you strive to stay on track with your plan. This could lead to feelings of frustration, anxiety, and/or guilt.
- Isolation: When you make dietary changes, it’s common to feel isolated from people who are continuing to eat the foods you loved eating in the past. This could stand in the way of forming social connections and eventually lead to feelings of loneliness and sadness.
- Disappointment & Discouragement: As you try to stick to a healthier diet, the occasional slip-up may be inevitable, and this could lead to feelings of disappointment and discouragement. The guilt surrounding the occasional indulgence may be enough to cause serious stress if you’re not careful and aware of the internal dialogue that may be taking place in your mind.
- Forced Routine: Routine is important in any lifestyle, especially when it comes to your diet. For those who like to switch up their meals every day, following a strict diet could be extremely daunting. The ever-present need to stay within the confines of the dietary change can lead to feelings of stagnation and boredom.
It’s important to stay conscious of the psychological effects of dietary changes, no matter what type of lifestyle you’re attempting to commit to. Find healthy ways to keep your mental health and well-being in check, such as talking to a friend or mentor or therapy. And never forget, the most important aspect of any lifestyle change is that it makes you happy! How you choose to eat should be something that is done for you, not against you.
5. Sugar and Spice: My Love Affair with Clean Eating
The deliciousness of Clean Eating – Clean eating is possible the most delicious way to live and eat. It takes a little bit of discipline but the reward is so wonderfully healthy and tasty. My love affair with clean eating began when I was searching for ways to lose weight and stay healthy. I found that by focusing on eating healthily and switching up my diet, I could enjoy delicious meals with little effort. I now relish the idea of eating whole, clean foods.
The Benefits of Clean Eating – Clean eating is not just about eating simple foods, it also has incredible health benefits. By cutting out processed and unhealthy foods, you can reduce your risk of health problems such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Clean eating is also great for those who are trying to lose or maintain their weight. I have become leaner and fitter since I incorporated clean eating into my diet.
My Clean Eating Tips – If you are looking to switch to a cleaner diet, here are some tips that have helped me:
- Start small and swap out unhealthy snacks like candy bars or chips for healthy options such as fruits and vegetables.
- Don’t forget to include protein sources in your diet such as eggs, fish, and legumes.
- Focus on adding in whole, unprocessed foods to your meals and limit your refined sugar intake.
- Include healthy fats such as avocado and nuts in your diet.
- Experiment with different recipes and foods to make sure you don’t get bored and lose interest.
Clean eating has allowed me to appreciate the importance of nourishing and wholesome food. It has become a way of life for me and I couldn’t be happier.
My Diet Answers
Q. What motivated you to start your journey to better health and happiness?
A. I was motivated by a feeling of being unfulfilled. I wanted to make a change for the better and take control of my own destiny.
Q. What has been the most challenging part of your journey?
A. The most challenging part has been making changes to my diet. It takes a lot of discipline and dedication to change your eating habits, but it has been well worth the effort.
Q. What has been the most rewarding part of your journey?
A. The most rewarding part has been the feeling of accomplishment I get when I look in the mirror and see the progress I have made. It’s also great to have the energy and mental clarity that comes with living a healthier lifestyle.
Q. What advice would you give to someone else who might be inspired by your story?
A. My advice would be to start off small. Make changes that are reasonable and achievable, and don’t be too hard on yourself. It may take time, but taking strides towards a healthier lifestyle can lead to a more fulfilling life.
Thank you for joining me on my journey to health and happiness through my diet story. I hope you feel inspired and encouraged in your own wellness paths. With an open heart and willingness to learn, I’m confident you can find the diet that works for you and leads to a lifetime of health and happiness.
