DailyOM: Why do you believe in a plant-based diet?
Scott: When I learned the science behind a whole-food, plant-based diet, it just made sense to me. The data invariably points to the same conclusion: People around the world who eat more whole plant foods and less animal-based products such as meat and cheese tend to be healthier overall. That provided a clear path in my mind to switch to eating whole, plant-based foods.
Even with all the evidence, I will admit I was a bit skeptical about whether all of the benefits achieved by others would actually work for me. I believed there was no way I was going to feel full and that I certainly would never enjoy the taste or flavors of a diet based only on plant foods. To me, it meant gnawing on a raw head of cabbage or a sack of carrots. Basically, eating like a rabbit! I could not have been more wrong.
A new world of delicious, filling, and healthy meals opened up before me. Within the first day, I felt different…much better! I was cautiously optimistic it would continue. Weight started coming off, I had more energy, and longtime aches and pains simply disappeared. Then I was convinced.
DailyOM: Briefly tell me how you came to live and teach this topic.
Beth: We began our plant-based journey after months of researching the best diets for optimum health and longevity. Also, my family medical history indicated the potential of future health issues I wanted no part of. I needed to find a lifestyle I could maintain that served and energized my family's health and long-term well-being. I had reached the most important tipping point of my life and knew, beyond a doubt, that I needed to eat more plants.
We started with a plan that included giving up all animal-based foods (meat, fowl, fish, eggs, and dairy). The first thing I noticed was that the chronic hip pain I had struggled with for many years was gone. I felt an increase in mental clarity and slept better within the first week. By the end of the second week, I had tons of happy energy and started losing weight. At the end of the plan, my entire family wanted to continue with the delicious fresh foods we enjoyed preparing and eating together.
At the end of six months, Scott had lost 65 pounds and was training for his first half marathon, and I was finally living at a healthy, sustainable weight and feeling fantastic about how I looked and felt. Scott and I became certified plant-based nutrition consultants through Cornell University that year, and based on our personal success living this lifestyle, we knew we had to share our knowledge and experience with others.
DailyOM: What can a student expect their journey to be like as they go through the 21 lessons?
Scott: Beth and I joke about wishing there was a course like this when we started our plant-based journey. We created the course with the beginner in mind, but we also support those who are looking for new ideas, tips, and tricks for continuing their plant-based journey. From day one, students receive a full menu of delicious plant-based recipes, as well as weekly shopping lists for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the next 21 days.
Students can expect to lose weight naturally, and it's common for many to awaken to a new way of approaching food. They begin to view eating in a more positive light. Once students begin to feel the benefits, they get even more excited, and many experience a new feeling of optimism in their life. People become motivated as they realize they can do this and it is real!
The course provides the opportunity to go a little deeper into the "inner game of change," with lessons to help change mind-sets and beliefs surrounding food. We all know change can be scary or difficult, especially when we're talking about trying to change habits. Students gain new tools to face any "food issues" they may have and learn to break the cycle of self-sabotage. The lessons are pleasantly manageable and fun!
DailyOM: How can people following a plant-based diet get the nutrition they need?
Beth: Please be aware that a whole food, plant-based diet focuses on whole foods packed with nutritional value. When eating a plant-based diet, you are integrating a wide variety of plants every day, including greens, vegetables (including potatoes), legumes, fruit, grains, nuts, and seeds, so there is usually little need to supplement.
Everyone is different and every person enters into this journey with a variety of personal goals and needs. It's important to talk with your doctor if you have questions about your health or major changes in diet, especially if you currently take any medication or deal with chronic health issues.
DailyOM: Many people believe that a plant-based diet takes too much time with the extra planning and prepping.
Beth: Yes, I agree that living a thriving plant-based life does require some planning and prep time. I have embraced the entire process, brought my family into the kitchen, and I now know that time invested in good nutrition greatly reduces stress, fatigue, and chronic health issues now and down the road. When cooking with others, it's a perfect time to unplug, catch up, and connect.
Cooking by myself is my meditation time. I love creating beautiful food that nourishes the body, senses, and soul. But even though food prep is my personal Zen time, I am just as busy as anybody else, so we have included several food-prep hacks to make things quick and easy.
DailyOM: What is the most unexpected benefit people receive when switching to this way of eating?
Scott: I would say the most common benefit is the disappearance of long-time aches and pains almost overnight. Much of our pain is caused by inflammation, and when we remove foods that cause it, inflammation and pain disappear as well. We get used to, and learn to live with, debilitating pain and inflammation, so it's quite shocking when people realize it's no longer there.
A few additional unexpected benefits of switching to this way of eating include increased mental clarity, improved digestion, reduced hot flashes, clear and glowing skin, brighter eyes, and weight loss in spite of eating carbs. Finally, people who choose to establish a personal baseline by checking cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and weight before and after our program are pleasantly surprised when all three improve after only three weeks. The word "amazing" keeps showing up in our testimonials.
People tend to think of changing their diet for weight loss, health, or increasing their energy. When they are blessed with the added benefit of reducing or eliminating pain, they fully realize the power of food. Adding more greens and veggies to your plate is like adding a huge multivitamin to your daily regimen. Increasing the phytonutrients that support our digestive, cardiovascular, immune, lymphatic, and other systems is the "magic" behind the increase in mental and physical energy. It also supports weight loss and sustainability. Essentially, all of our systems start to run at optimum levels to support our best being.
DailyOM: Please share some feedback with us from some of your DailyOM students about this course.
Scott: Many of our students are overjoyed when they realize this is not a calorie-counting or starvation plan. Some of the most common feedback is about the surprisingly delicious recipes, easy weight loss, increased energy, decreased pain, and improved mental clarity. Several people claim their sinuses and allergies have cleared up, and hot flashes have disappeared. Many students are reaching weight loss goals without feeling deprived or battling with food cravings. They enjoy cooking now and are getting their kids and spouses into the kitchen.
The discussions are lively, and we're honored to help facilitate amazing stories of people developing completely new and healthier relationships with food. We can all come up with 100 excuses to delay or avoid change, but all you really need is one compelling reason to start. We're thankful to be part of the DailyOM community and look forward to continuing to change lives for the better!
DailyOM: Thank you, Beth and Scott! As you read above, the feedback for this course has been amazing. To experience it for yourself, give this course a try! Until next time, be well.
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