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Vegetarian Lifestyle Advice: Balanced Diet & Emotions

Question: I am really unhappy because of my eating habits ... do you have any advice on how to start a vegetarian lifestyle again?

I am really unhappy with the way I look, feel and behave because of my eating habits. I have gained a lot of weight, have joint pain, constipation and breakouts. At one time I ate only fatty fish, fruits, veggies (raw/steamed) and lots and lots of water. Now, I've been through a bad relationship and have tried to comfort myself by eating like crazy. Please help!

I need to begin my cleansing by eating raw organic foods (no meats) and start from within. I have started to pray/meditate and now I need to replenish my body and cells. Do you have any advice on how to start a vegetarian lifestyle again? - A. P.

Savvy Vegetarian Advice:

Dear A. P.,

I do have advice about starting as a vegetarian, partly on the SV site, and partly in my reports. I recommend a balanced, easy, gradual approach to the vegetarian transition. Apart from that, I have a few thoughts to add about your situation.

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but from your letter, I have the impression that your diet is closely tied to your emotional state, and that it tends to swing from one extreme to another along with your emotions. When you're unhappy, you comfort yourself with food, overeat and eat the wrong things. It's really punishment of a sort. To correct the situation, you overbalance in the other direction, for example with an extreme fasting and cleansing regime, also punishment of a sort. Both extremes are hard on your body.

You would definitely be healthier and happier if you could balance your diet and balance your emotions at the same time, using food as a gift from nature for your body's optimal functioning, and as a simple pleasure, one of the rewards of being human.

In our culture, this can be challenging to accept and to practice, as you've already experienced, and it's definitely a long term, even a lifetime goal. I think you're quite right that you need to start from within - all outward transformation and evolution has subtle, powerful, inner change as it's basis. I believe that's a basic human need, and I'm glad you have that in your life.

I feel that you would also benefit from counselling, to help process and balance your emotions at this difficult time in your life, and expert help from a dietitian or other qualified professional, to help you tailor your diet to your individual physical and emotional needs.

As a place to start with your diet, you have the SV reports: 10 Tips For Beginning Vegetarians, and Vegetarian Nutrition. I also recommend a book to you, 'The New Becoming Vegetarian' by Vesanto Melino and Brenda Davis, compassionate and experienced experts on vegetarian nutrition.

Thanks for writing - I'm honored that you asked me for help. I would love to see you both happy and healthy, whether vegetarian or not. I hope this advice has been helpful - please let me know if you have any other questions, and how things are going with you.

All the best, Judy Kingsbury, Savvy Vegetarian