Thoughts on Lifestyle Change

Change is an intimidating thing. No one necessarily wants to just jump up and change things because change is the unknown. It's scary, it's exciting, it's overwhelming at times. It's all these things that make it so much easier to just go about what we have been doing day in and day out.

We changed one thing in our family and it was a big thing. We took animal products out of our house. Animals products are: eggs, fish, deli meat, chicken, steak, cow's milk, cheese, any cows milk based products like yogurt, butter, proceeded foods that are made with cheese such as crackers or popcorn. That was the change that I knew needed to happen to at least see what would happen if we did it. I knew enough about organic farming, heart disease, cancer, cognitive impairment, autoimmune diseases that if we did not change what we ate at home that we were at far greater risk for all of these things. Change had to happen.

Changing just one thing was a big deal and it was intimidating. So many questions ran through my head: What would I feed my kids? What would I buy at the store in place of these staple items? Since the change of this lifestyle seemed overwhelming I started simple. I replaced things that seemed simple. I substituted organic almond milk in place of cow's milk. I got rid of all the cheese and deli meats. I held onto having eggs for about six months because that seemed to be a harder thing for our family to let go of eating. All of this change took time. It did not happen over night.

Change for us meant breaking habits for my kids and myself. I couldn't default to ordering pizza or making a box of macaroni and cheese. The change forced me to be a bit more prepared in my meal planning. I changed other things along the way to help me. We joined a local CSA vegetable group. Each week I now pick up local organic vegetables. We had ate a ton of veggies prior as well but there is something about getting them all at once each week that simplifies things for me. I am also challenged to figure out what to do with the diversity of vegetables and it's turned into something fun and creative. I've changed the way I pack snacks for my kids before we leave the house. I own more tupperware so I can have the resources to pack more fresh fruit as snack before we leave rather then handing them goldfish crackers or a packaged bar. I've changed what I bring to the potluck parties. Most times at potlucks there are not vegan options so I bring my homemade hummus with veggies or homemade vegan muffins. There are so many things that I have changed myself and how I prepare for our family to succeed.

Change doesn't happen fast and in fact in may take more time. Plan for that time to be prepared for what it is you want to accomplish. Do not comprise your goals because you were not prepared. Do not show up the potluck and eat the cheese platter because you did not make time to give yourself another option. Do not swing into the fast food drive thru because you did not prepare another option. Make time to be prepared so you can change what needs to happen. Make time to be prepared so you can succeed!

Change can be made step by step. Take whatever goal it is that you want to accomplish or something about yourself that you want to change and make a plan. Plan out each step. Change one thing a week or one thing a month. Get yourself into new habits and a new way of thinking in small steps. Those small steps will feel like huge victories. Those 'wins' will start snow balling and adding up that you will not look back at what you used to do. New habits will be formed and you can do these small changes without even thinking about it. The new habits will allow yourself time to continue to challenge yourself and make even more changes towards your goal. In our case for our family's way of eating it was about changing small things over time that have now added up to the one big change in our lifestyle.

Our mindset and conversation around the idea of change needs a fresh perspective. Let's welcome change as an opportunity rather than a burden. Change can be exciting, exhilarating and place to get out of your comfort zone. Let's look at change as a positive situation and one in which we can control. If you can plan out the steps it will take to change you will not feel burdened or stressed with idea. If you can foresee what may happen or the roadblocks you may potentially face then you won't be as surprised if they do happen. You can take it all in as part of the plan for something greater. There is no way to anticipate everything and that may be the best part because a lot of times it will be something better or greater than you could have imagined. There are things that will change along side of you or in a direct result of what you have done.

You and your goals are worth it. My family's health doesn't have to be comprised and neither do your goals. Change your mindset about the unknown, plan out the steps it will take and start there. The possibilities really are endless.