Well, this week officially marks my first year of going “vegan.” I stress the word because for some people, it can also mean removing everything animal-related from your life, like clothing and furniture. However, when I say that, I mean that I eliminated meat and dairy from my diet. I guess you could also say that I adopted a plant-based diet. However you choose to phrase it, I’m happy to say that I made it through my freshman year. I certainly learned a lot from this experience and wanted to share it with you.

So let’s take a look at my story and the 7 insights I got from all of this!

I was raised by a mom who was into organic food even before it became all the rage. I remember my friends would come over and be like, “What the heck are veggie fries?” It was strange for them, but quite normal for me. So you could say that he had a predisposition for healthier alternatives growing up. Don’t let me fool you though, this didn’t mean I was always healthy. It just meant that I was open-minded enough to try more than just the average options.

Giving up meat and dairy began shortly after ending a 15-day juice fast. My friend showed me this documentary directed by Joe Cross called Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead. It was quite an inspiring story and a look at how one man lost a ton of weight just by drinking fruit and vegetable juices. Now I’m a pretty little guy and I didn’t need to lose weight. Instead, I decided to do it because of the other health benefits the main character displayed throughout his fast. So I impulsively decided to start one of my own and ended up completing it. I was so excited afterward that I wanted to try something else. I thought why not just go vegan. I wasted no time and practically made the decision in an instant. Looking back, this may not have been the best idea. Either way, it gave me an idea that earned me the number one spot.

1. Preparation is key

Figuring out what and where to get your food from can be challenging when it comes to adhering to a vegan diet plan. Sure, most restaurants are now beginning to cater to the health conscious consumer and offer tasty alternatives. But finding pre-made foods at the grocery store that are meat and dairy free may not be so easy. This means that you will have to cook a little longer. I didn’t really prepare for the whole vegan ordeal. I just decided that I knew enough about cooking and would improvise. This ended up working out in the long run, but it could have been sped up if I had bought books and other resources to educate myself. I should have taken the time to develop a better understanding of how to really change my eating habits and incorporate variety into my diet. This really opened my eyes to yet another idea.

2. Eating clothes is hard to die

Going from burgers and hot dogs to FAKE burgers and hot dogs isn’t exactly what I’d call a breakthrough. Unfortunately, this is precisely what I did at the beginning. However, I must admit that it made the transition much more tolerable. In fact, I would even suggest using this method for people who think they couldn’t give up these staples. I just think that after a certain period of time, they should be reduced and even eliminated if the pursuit of real health is in mind. The thing about just eating fake versions of unhealthy foods is that you don’t actually add anything. Instead, you just take away the meat and dairy and then feel like you’ve been robbed. Healthy eating should be seen as an addition and abundance of beneficial foods. This concept helped me understand the notion of adding versus subtracting.

3. Add vs subtract

Too often, people complain about having to give up unhealthy foods, when instead they might be rejoicing in the fact that they will now learn to incorporate a wide range of healthier options. There are so many different healthy recipes online and in print that no one person would be able to try them all. There are also tons of different and exotic fruits and vegetables that are shipped from different places around the world. So if anything, people should see healthy eating as a way to add more to their lives. Doing so will add abundance and vitality not only to your life, but also to the lives of others as you share with them.

4. Social skills will be developed

If there was one thing I had to do last year, it was explain to others what I ate and why I ate it. Almost every time I went out to eat with new people, I found myself performing the same old song and dance. Most, if not all, of the questions were also the same. Where do you get your protein? Are you doing it for the animals? My answers were the same but my delivery was not. Some people were genuinely interested in learning about the vegan diet. Others just wanted to tease a bit and try to be funny. Either way, I slowly realized that I would now be the focal point of dinner when out with others. So sharpening your social skills might not be a bad idea.

5. Don’t feel bad if you make a mistake

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a bite of meat or dairy last year. The truth is that I had more than one bite. There were a few times when I just didn’t know what to do or didn’t have access to a vegan meal and I had to bite the bullet. There were also times when I really wanted to eat a slice of pizza. The point here is to realize that you are trying to break the habits of a lifetime. It takes a lot of discipline and mental strength to do it all at once. It can definitely be done, but maybe not by everyone. So don’t beat yourself up if you decide to go back to your carnivorous ways once or twice. Just remember that it is a process and it takes time.

6. It can be done

When people ask me about my diet and I explain what I do. They always tell me “Oh, I could never do that.” Notice how they don’t say, “I don’t want to do that.” This tells me that people want to be healthier but just don’t think they have the willpower to make the necessary changes. I never would have thought that I would randomly decide to give up meat and dairy. I mean, I used to put burgers down like they were going out of style. The pizzeria down the street could recognize my voice over the phone and knew exactly how to make my cake. Even now, I sometimes try to think about how it all came together. Regardless of how you did it, I now see that it is possible and definitely can be done.

7. Your perspective can change

I don’t really crave burgers, hot dogs, or pizza as much as some would think. Every once in a while, a friend sends me a picture of one of my favorite foods. And I have to admit, it’s like looking at a picture of an ex-girlfriend. Sure the times were great, but ultimately we had to go our separate ways. If anything, I now spend my time figuring out ways to get even healthier. I may be an exception because I have a thing for creating a blog dedicated to living a healthy lifestyle. However, there are others who will come close to going vegan temporarily, but start to see all the benefits and then decide to stick with it. As you detoxify your body, your mind will also gain a sense of clarity. This can lead to other changes or decisions regarding one’s life. So try to understand that your paradigm now may not be the same later. However, the only way to find out is to try it.

That was pretty much my first year of being a vegan and some of the ideas that came with it. Each person’s journey to health will vary and will depend on the unique circumstances of their lives. All I can say is that I’ve enjoyed it so far and I’m just getting started!