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Family promoting unhealthy lifestyle
hi!! i need some advice on my family. i am very big on nutrition and am currently trying to lose weight after leaving a particular medication.. i live with my mom and grandparents. they, however, don't have the same idea on nutrition as i do. they think that if you don't eat a steak, you are not nutritioned at all. i am a vegan. i really have been trying to cut a lot of dairy out of my diet because i have had a lot of indigestion problems... and it just has not been good. i eat a lot of tofu and very healthy things. but, i am really going to try to take some of this weight off. the thing is, that they are very unhealthy here in this house. there is always chocolate cake and different things here and it's not exactly fun. imagine being on a diet or trying to be healthier and there is always some desserts and things lying around. i know that it's impossible not to have something, but this is all the time! i'm trying to give up diet coke because i have had a really bad addiction to caffeine.... and they buy a fresh bottle every week. They also make coffee by the loads every morning. they keep ice cream in the freezer all the time! i have really been wanting to move out for a while, not because of anything or even because of this situation, just because i'm older now. but, i decided to stay here for college my freshman year because i had just found out i was adopted and it wasn't a good time to leave. but, times are tough, you know! i don't want to leave my school or go away, because right now, i have my life here already. my grandparents are older, and i just want to be with them. i have pets, and i can't just leave them here. i have two jobs here, and all my friends are here... so it's just that right now, i've established my life here. but, i do need my own space. for now, though, while that is in the works... any tips on keeping me motivated with all the junk food lying around? or a way to explain to my cuban family that there are other meals other than steak with rice and beans?? thankss
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You can make sure you make lots of vegan desserts. There are tons of recipes online! I do that when I feel like I want something sweet. There is also diet caffeine free soda (it's either pepsi or coke).
I know how hard it is. My family is the same way with me being vegetarian and my husband is only eating a little healthier now. He always has sweets or chips or soda around and it drives me nuts!
Start trying out new recipes that you think they might like. Not alot of people enjoy tofu (especially if they're big meat eaters), but you could substitute meat with lentils or tvp (textured vegetable protein).
I use tvp alot to make chili, spaghetti, etc. It's really handy because it soaks up the flavor. I know it's hard, but this will help make you stronger! By resisting while you're living with them, you'll be able to conquer the world! :)
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Being a Vegan and wanting to have a healthy life style, I do not have a problem with that. The problem comes in where you are complaining about your mothers and grandparents’ unhealthy life style is imposing on you. It is your life style, not theirs. If you do not have the will power to stay away from the cookies, candies, cakes and Ice Cream they keep around then you have to question your desire not only to lose weight but to be a Vegan as well.
When my niece was sixteen she decided she wanted to be a vegetarian. My sister supported her choice to the point that she purchased and made room for the items my niece requested. They rest of the household continued as they always had. After a few months my niece decided to go all the way and become a vegan. Again the house hold was supportive but did not change their preferred eating habits.
My suggestion is rather than try to change your mom and grandparents habits; you work to gain their support for your new life style by taking with them and teaching them about being a vegan. Tell them what it means to you to be a vegan. To go from carnivore to vegan is a huge step to make at one time. They may see this some type of phase you are going through; especially if you have trouble sticking to it. So talk to them, ask for their help but don’t try to change them.
When you try to force change on someone who does not want to change that is when things turn ugly. They dig their heels in and there is nothing you can do or say as they are not listening. By asking for their help you put the situation in a much more pleasant light. As a grandparent myself there is very little I would not do for a grandchild who came and asked for my help. But if they came to me and said grandpa I want you to change the way you do something because it is not the way I do it. That is probably not going to happen. I’m to set in my ways.
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Heyy I can understand how hard it is, I secretley dieted when I was 17 because I didnt want my family to know and it was so hard with crisps, fizzy drinks and junk food everywhere you turn.
Talk to your family and just ask them if they can buy less junk food each week, maybe buy diet coke every 2 weeks or something. Or ask them to buy healthy food for you aswell as food for them. Buy flavoured water, healthy meals and healthy snacks such as fruit and low calorie cereal or fruit bars. I know its hard but think of the benefits of having a healthy lifestyle, the health benefits will be great.
I wouldnt leave home just yet because you have your job, family and friends around you and thats great, just think of other ways to get through to your family about not only buying junk food and snacks.
Good luck hunnie
xo
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What you could do is have them put all there junk food in one section of the kitchen and you can put your food in one section and have them put everything away instead of leaving it out on the counter for you to see and for the refrigerator get a mini fridge for yourself and seperate your referigerator food as well.I think this is reasonable because if your family doesnt want to stop with the junk food you cant make them i mean you could try to convince them but i doubt they will listen but by seperating your food you wont be so tempted to eat there food but just so you know treating youself once in awhile while losing weight wont hurt so its k if you do. Good luck :)
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