This week, we’re featuring awesome tips and tricks from some of our favorite health and fitness experts. Keep reading for more information on each expert and their advice on how to achieve healthier habits for life.
The Vegan Nutritionist: Tips and Tricks for Optimal Health
In our opinion, when it comes to nutrition and diet, nobody does it better than vegan nutritionist Lisa Lynn. Not only does she apply her expertise towards helping animals, but she also provides practical advice to people seeking to live a healthier lifestyle. As a dietitian and nutritionist, she has helped individuals navigate the changes in and out of the vegan lifestyle, as well as counsel those looking to make the switch.
Since 2014, Lisa Lynn has been the face of a vegan diet revolution, leading the way in helping people choose healthier lifestyles as a way to reduce their eco footprint and better their lives. She is the author of the newly released book, The Ultimate Guide to Going Vegan, which she co-authored with Juliana Barnard
In 2016, Lisa won the Best Weight Loss Blogger award from the National Institutes of Health, which inspired us to interview her on this front page nutritionist interview series. Let’s get into it.
What is your background, and how did you decide to go vegan?
My journey into veganism was a long one, and it actually started when I was a child. My dad was always worried that I would turn out to be anemic, since I would rarely eat anything other than fruits and vegetables. So, he would always give me a couple of eggs every day, which I would mash up and hide in my sandwiches. Eventually, the obsession with my blood type led me to discover that I am an A+ blood type, which means I am extremely compatible with all animals. Naturally, I decided that I would never be cruel to animals, and being vegan seemed like the way to go.
Then, in 2014, I started to notice a lot of articles and videos on Reddit’s r/vegan subreddit about people losing weight. It was then that I realized that not only did veganism stop me from becoming anemic, but it also helped me lose weight. It dawned on me that there had to be a better way to shed the extra pounds, and I wanted to share my discoveries with the world.
How has following a vegan diet helped you lose weight?
Since 2014, I have lost over 100 pounds on my vegan diet, and I attribute a lot of that to the dietary changes that I have implemented. First of all, I stopped eating meat and opted for a plant-based diet. What I love most about this way of eating is that it is incredibly customizable. You can have it any way you want it!
For instance, let’s say you’re trying to lose weight because you’re feeling less vibrant and want to live a healthier lifestyle. If you want to feel more energized, you will want to have more fruits and vegetables in your diet, and less starchy foods. The sky is the limit on what you can do to change your eating habits, and it is a great way to find what works best for you.
Another thing that you can do to shed the weight is swap out your regular cup of coffee for a plant-based one. There is a large body of evidence that shows that caffeine speeds up your metabolism and encourages you to eat less. So, by switching to a plant-based, caffeinated drink, you will start to see some significant weight loss.
What are some of the challenges you’ve faced along the way, and how have you overcome them?
As you can imagine, being the public face of a vegan diet transformation has its perks. I get to meet a lot of interesting people who want to know how I did it. One of the biggest challenges that I faced was convincing people that a vegan diet is actually good for you. Most of my clients are beginners, and they have never tried a vegan diet. So, they do not understand the benefits of avoiding animal products. When I tell them that eating dairy and eggs will damage their health, they do not believe me at first. After a while, they start to see the benefits of a vegan diet, and I am able to make them see the light.
Another challenge that I have faced is explaining to people that a vegan diet is not just about not eating animals. There are tons of ethical considerations that you need to think about when choosing to not eat an animal product. For example, if you are choosing to go vegan because you believe that animal agriculture is inhumane, then you will have to avoid all animal products, including dairy and eggs. The reason for this is that dairy and eggs come from animals who have been confined to small spaces and raised under horrible conditions. This is very different from how fruits and vegetables are grown. So, even if you feel that animals should not be eaten because they are flesh-eating creatures, you will not be able to avoid the fact that you are consuming animal products in some form or another.
Last but not least, I would say that my biggest challenge has been staying motivated. Being the public face of a vegan revolution has its perks, but it also comes with a lot of responsibilities. For example, I have to stay on top of the latest trends and fad diets so that I can provide advice on how to implement them into one’s lifestyle. I also have to be mindful of what I say and don’t say, because I wouldn’t want to misrepresent the benefits of a vegan diet.
Do you have any advice for people who want to switch to a vegan diet?
If you want to make the switch, then congrats! I would say that the most important thing that you need to do is take it easy at first. Try out a few vegan recipes and build up your protein intake, while avoiding saturated fats. Remember, you are learning to navigate a new lifestyle, and it is normal to feel a little bit overwhelmed at first. Just keep in mind that every lifestyle change that you make for the better will give you a bonus in the end. So, don’t be discouraged if things do not go according to plan at first. Keep plugging away and you will start to see the results that you are looking for.
For those seeking to live a healthier lifestyle, going vegan is certainly a step in the right direction. Not only does it stop you from becoming anemic, but it also helps you to lose weight. For those looking to make the switch, I would suggest trying out a vegan diet, as it is extremely customizable and can be used to fit anyone’s needs and lifestyle.