stop eating processed foods

How I did it: I'm a vegetarian and a few years ago, I started running. After a few years, I realized I wasn't going to advance in fitness, unless I started eating better to speed my recovery and hence train more often and faster. I'm not a professional by any means, but I enjoy pushing myself as much as possible.

A friend recommended Brendan Brazier's Thrive Diet book, and that thing changed my life. I learned so much from that guy. A professional vegan triathlete, the guy's done his research. My bf and I started following his guidelines about 7 months ago for several weeks, and I couldn't believe how great my body felt. Since then I've been on again/off again with my eating habits, but I ultimately always wind up feeling lethargic and sick...and battling Candida albicans, a formidable opponent. I got so sick of all of this, that now whenever I crave anything processed or sweet, I automatically recall how crummy it will make me feel. That's pretty much all the motivation I need anymore. Once you're used to feeling good and having energy and clear thinking, you really don't want to go back, and the habit is much easier to break.

Lessons & tips:

1. Educate yourself. The more you know about biochemistry and nutrition, the more outraged you'll be at this processed junk the manufacturers attempt to peddle as "food."
2. Pick up a regular exercise program. I found that once I adhered to running almost daily, I was much more prone to make good food choices. After a 5 mile run, for example, my body needed quality nutrients and protein to rebuild the muscle I had just broken down. Feeding it pbj sandwiches and cookies was only making it worse, rather than helping. I'd eat and eat and eat after a run, never understanding why I was still hungry. Not all calories are created equal. Despite the abundant starchy calories I was ingesting, my body wasn't able to replenish itself with the kind of food I was eating. Once I switched to seeds, nuts, fruits, and veggies, I noticed I could actually eat very little after a 5 miler and still have tons of energy! It was really mind-changing.
3. Teach yourself new habits. Eat to live, rather than live to eat, as many North Americans do. Thinking about food in this light helps one make better food choices. Considering the consequence of eating a carrot instead of a cupcake and how each will break down in your body and fuel your cells makes a big impact.
4. Accept that you're human and will make 'mistakes.' Breaking habits is HARD. And I've learned that processed sugar and other foods can have a somewhat narcotic-like effect on the brain. So, you'll mess up. I did...many, many times. But pick yourself back up and get back on track.
5. Listen to your body. Making yourself sick is not cool, and eventually your body will tell you that it's had enough of this stuff. By then, you may have diabetes. So try to get in touch with your body and what it needs. Pay attention to cravings.

Resources:

1. Brendan Brazier's Thrive Diet
2. Dr. Neal Bernard's Reversing Diabetes

There have been others I've perused/been interested in checking out, but these are my 2 favorites as far as getting you started on new eating habits. Try In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan.

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Oct 15, 05:27AM PDT | 0 comments