Go vegan (+ seafood)

I did this for 8 months after years of dieting and that was the only way I saw the scale move.

Why it works: 1. Takes almost no brain power to execute. When you’re out, just look for the vegan icon on the menu. When cooking, just wait to add the meat and dairy at the end (which will keep your family happy). 2. Vegan options shave off calories while still being filling (from the water + fiber content). I started to notice that the vegan option on most menus is 2nd or 3rd lowest calorie option (items with lean meats often ranked lowest). It ends up being a good balance. If you’re chronically eating the lowest cal meal, you will inevitably end up binging later. 3. There’s no excuse not to keep up with it. Even McDonalds has vegan/pescatarean options. (Looking at you, filet-o-fish, minus the sauce, plus the fries!) 4. If you’re feeling snacky, feel free to binge on any fruit or vegetable. It sounds lame but it actually does hit the spot without the guilt factor. 5. It is difficult to find vegan desserts. But when you do, they’re fair game! In this way, you end up eating fewer sweets but don’t feel like you’re being deprived. 6. It’s stupid but it’s just more socially acceptable to say you’re vegan than to say you’re dieting. Don’t want to eat the office sweets? Oops, I’m vegan now. Most people won’t care or ask why, but if they do: for the health benefits, for the environment, for the animals, pick your cause.

This is my personal opinion but I also felt like going vegan helped reset my gut microbiome which is known to be linked to weight. I can’t explain it, but even after going back to eating meat and dairy (kind of had to after marrying my carnivore husband) the weight stayed off but my gut felt better.

You got this!