Losing weight is a typical New Year’s resolution, but seldom does it stick. Why? The motivation to change is not strong enough. How about “eat better, get healthier and be kinder”?
Hit all birds with one stone—go vegan. Seriously, it’s the most meaningful, fulfilling thing you can do for yourself and for the planet.
On average, vegans are 20 pounds lighter than omnivores. And, as highlighted in the 2018 documentary “The Game Changers,” unlike fad diets, being vegan keeps the weight off for good, and boosts your energy and recovery. Plants are the best fuel for optimum athletic performance.
No hormones, saturated fats
Vegans are unlikely to get heart disease, cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure versus meat eaters, because they fill up with plant protein, fiber and minerals, without the hormones, cholesterol and saturated fat found in animal products.
Watch the documentaries “Forks Over Knives” (2011) and “What the Health?” (2017) for more information on how to prevent and even reverse such lifestyle diseases.
Each vegan saves about 200 animals annually. When you choose plants over meat, eggs and dairy, the killing stops, too. Educate yourself by watching the 2005 documentary “Earthlings” to find out how our choices affect our fellow sentient beings.
It takes lots of crops and water to maintain animals on a factory farm—about 13 pounds of grain for a pound of animal flesh. Land and water can be more efficiently used if people go vegan. See “Dominion” (2018) to learn how land should remain arable to feed the hungry.
Animal agriculture is the top greenhouse gas emitter, the worst environmental pollutant, the main cause of rainforest destruction and habitat loss, and biggest producer of untreated waste.
Check out the 2014 film “Cowspiracy” to learn that what we eat affects the planet. Going vegan is the most impactful thing you can do if you really want to make a difference.
Bikini-ready year-round
Vanity is shortsighted and willpower alone is finite. Be bikini-ready not just in time for summer but year-round by embracing “the new normal.”
Don’t be tempted to take “baby steps”—doing so keeps one foot in the problem and will prevent you from seeing and feeling results.
Going cold turkey—no meat, dairy or eggs—has been the best and most effective route for most. Why?
Your palate will be trained to adapt faster to appreciate the flavors of real food. Continually teasing your taste buds with hyper-palatable processed food and animal products is like tempting an alcoholic with “just a sip” or a nicotine addict with “just one puff” from time to time.
Instead, surround yourself with like-minded people for support. Join online communities such as Manila Vegans on Facebook, where you can find local information, recipes and even request for a mentor to help you in your transition.
Old habits are hard to break, so mentally prepare yourself and have firm roots and reasons beyond just getting a rocking bod.
Reevaluating your life choices can help reaffirm why you’re doing what you’re doing— making your resolutions matter for your health, for the animals and for the planet.