This health and wellness blog is for anyone who wants to find and maintain an emotional, physical and intellectual balance in their life. More specifically, if you belong to any one of the following groups, you will like what you see here:
- you are already following a plant-based diet, or you would like to learn more about it;
- you want a place you can turn, in order to find a variety of resources on plant-based diet and lifestyle- regularly updated lists of reading material, documentaries, vegan-friendly cafes and restaurants, food and snacks, influencers and websites;
- you have questions, thoughts, ideas about creating a non-toxic environment (cosmetics and household supplies) for yourself and your loved ones;
- you would like quick, easy, healthy, AND delicious recipes which require only a few ingredients;
- you have, or have had, a problematic relationship with food and eating which you are not happy about;
- you would like tips on feeling healthy, balanced, and peaceful…
If any of the above sounds like you, stick around because you will probably find something you will like.
Health Struggles Led to a Better Life and Made This Blog Happen
I have a Ph.D, but in a completely different field. So, I am not an expert in dietary practices. That said, academics rarely stop reading and researching. Throughout the years when I suffered from anxiety (graduate students, I feel for you!) and was (wrongly) diagnosed with multiple conditions, I read whatever I could find on diet, nutrition, and health. I had been a vegetarian for years by then, but vegetarian (or vegan) does not mean healthy. My emotional state at that point prevented me from self-care. There was even a time when I was consuming food that I never even liked. I had all the corn syrup in the world, all the least complex, least nutritious carbs, and, basically, whatever seemed to be the cheapest and the quickest, the most harmful choice at the moment. I had not realized truly that these were not real food. I mean look at what my students made for me years ago when I was not feeling well (although peanut butter CAN be real food! Check out the recipes here, here, here, and see this post for a low-calorie peanut butter option, and a bonus recipe.)
We have too many assumptions about eating-disorders (or disordered eating habits). People (except for my darling students) rarely believed when I told them that I did not take care of myself. I am a thin person by nature, and I “looked” healthy. Folks assumed that I was exaggerating, or, worse, that I was showing off my ability to keep the pounds off. Some of them, with good intentions, advised to “listen to your body”. But that isn’t always easy, is it? Sometimes we mistake our distorted thoughts for biological cravings. What’s more, hormonal imbalance might trick the body into wanting certain types of junk food. This causes us to blame ourselves for being out of control, for lacking self-discipline. We think that there are good and bad foods, that we are a failure because we keep eating the bad ones. We try to go on this diet or that one, hurting our bodies even more. Can we win the fight against the vicious cycle of abusing ourselves, depriving us of the joy of living, or constantly feeling like a failure? I didn’t think so.
What helped me, then?
What helped me the most was taking the smallest steps to get better: Having a glass of green juice every day, making sure to eat healthy proteins every day, not shying away from healthy fat. I created new habits to get rid of the old ones. Simply knowing about your problem is not going to make it go away. You must act by creating new habits.
It is not always easy to change one’s habits. I toooootally understand and know from experience. But small, healthy, quick steps helped me a lot. My aim here with this blog is to show how easy, how healthy, how fast, how convenient, and how delicious a *balanced* plant-based diet can be.
Within one year after I started to act on building healthy habits, my blood sugar went back to normal. I no longer suffered from anxiety or anxiety-related issues with food and eating. I continued to read tens and tens of books, articles, not knowing back then that I was going to quit my job to officially make health and wellness my “calling”. I was following websites, podcasts, panels, and conferences almost religiously. I took online courses in nutrition and exercise, ended up finishing certificate programs on nutrition and exercise sciences. All of these, in order to continue to heal myself, and to care for my loved ones. I know that I have been stronger, healthier, with much better skin, energy, mood, thanks to plants. I gave birth to a wonderful little human who is loving his plants.
I would recommend two things:
—> Read through the list of resources I have on the blog (and please do subscribe to the blog to get notified every time I edit the page).
—>Keep in mind that everybody (and mind!) is different. Everyone interacts with foods, beverages, herbs, supplements, even protein or energy powders, differently. This is WHY I love Ayurveda- because it has a unique, customized approach to health, design for the unique selves that we are.
You might want to seek out help from a professional. Ideally, see more than one specialist, to get a second opinion. Still, try to learn about your body/mind, do research, as knowledge is power. Decide on your own health. be your own advocate, your own guide, be your own guru, your own healer.
Hang around and get in touch any time you like. We get stronger by lifting each other up!
Besides yummy recipes, you will find lifestyle, skincare, and hormone-health-related articles on the blog. Here is a selection of those posts:
Announcements and Supplements: Clean Skincare and Beauty
How to Go Plant-Based: The I-Have-No-Idea-What-I’m-Doing Guide
How to Cook Healthy Everyday: The I-Have-No-Idea-What-I’m-Doing Guide
What I Eat in a Day for Hormone Health
Skin Care I: Three Main Rules and Supplements I Use
Skin Care II: Clean Products for Vata Skin
Clean Products for Big Appetites
Thank you so much for considering to support my blog. The best way to show support is by sharing, liking, commenting. You can also follow Shakingmytofu on Instagram and Facebook. However you support me, please know I am truly grateful.
Editor’s note: The information in this article is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition and before undertaking any diet, supplement, fitness, or other health programme.
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