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Wow, just need some motivation.
Started
by Ashley Mangin
on July 14, 2011
This is quite the daunting task. I find myself wondering what the point is. I'm on the journey, but I just can't seem to stick with it sometimes. The allure of crap is overwhelming today. I need to "keep my eyes on the prize" so to speak. I'm just really struggling. I'm the only person in my family that is trying to go superhero. It makes it really hard to keep the resolve. I'm so unfamiliar with a lot of the superhero dishes that it makes me feel kind of off. I'm a midwestern farm girl at heart, so these changes are kind of dramatic. It's really hard to stick to this. It's feeling really overwhelming today. Like I'm drowining in seaweed and rice. AHHH!!! It doesn't feel comfortable. Did any of you have that problem? Just feeling weird emotionally because the foods just didn't feel right? It's weird I know. Sorry for dumping on you all.
Hmmm, Ashley...maybe you just need a treat. Some vegan ice cream or chocolate? Some popcorn? It sounds like you are pushing yourself too far too fast. Just being vegan is a challenge sometimes, let alone superhero. I'd been flirting for 8 months, still eating fish and eggs. I decided not to push myself into vegan, then a couple of weeks ago, vegan just happened naturally. So maybe you can flirt with superhero. Don't go all-in quite yet. Eat foods you enjoy and don't be hard on yourself, okay? 
What Isabelle said sounds like it makes good sense. There is no need to push yourself into something you are uncomfortable with. I started out kinda slow, just eating less and less meat, until I was comfortable with going vegetarian. I'm still vegetarian and not entirely vegan. Maybe you could go that route for a while, until you are ready.
Also, similar to what Isabelle said, variety is key. I found myself getting bored when I was eating the same, plain things. Once I started exploring receipes, more kinds of fruits and veggies, different fake-meat options, AND desert options, things picked up for me and it got more exciting.
Just hang in there and take it one step at a time. There's no rush. Also, keep talking to people here (and whereever else there are veggies). Engaging with similar folks is very helpful, I have found, particularly when you are surrounded by others who are not appreciative of your lifestyle choice.
I love the advice above. Life isn't always all or nothing. And it is very tough to be the only one in your circle taking the journey. Remember, this lifestyle is supposed to be kind to yourself first and foremost. The kindness to the animals and the environment is a wonderful by product of that. So have a little treat, take a breath, and begin again. Smile, you're doing great.
Echoing everyone above: don't let transitioning to superhero become a source of stress. That defeats the point! Congratulations on making it this far. Find one superhero recipe that appeals to you and see how you like it. Don't worry about loading up on all the ingredients you'll ever need right away; I made that mistake. And yes, please come here to ask specific questions.
you guys are great. that is definitely awesome advice. isabelle, i just got myself some vegan ice cream that sounds absolutely delish. laura, thats a really good idea. i just got some umeboshi so imll try that out. dennis, thats how i got here too. just a little at a time. i should know bwtter. kim, i love what you said. it is absolutely true. thanks guhs for helping me back up.
I found going superhero to be really exciting in a big "i'm going to change my life phase"... and then a few weeks later I just wanted to maybe be able to eat what everyone else around me was eating.. the stuff that's available to you everywhere. It makes it really easy to think, " Am I seriously going to keep this up forever?". I wanted to prepare meals together with my boyfriend instead of having completely different things all the time. The guilt, and not to mention the feeling shitty that comes with running off course is often enough to either keep me on track or get me back on track when I fall off....
I also have strong reasons that made me want to start eating superhero and THAT is what keeps me going. You must have some specific reasons you turned to The Kind Diet in the first place! Are you trying to lose weight? Are you fighting a medical condition? Are you fighting for the animals? Trying to just get healthier? If you have something you really want tied to eating this way, maybe just remind yourself about it!
Try not to get too serious about it or beat yourself up. You're trying so many new foods, getting so many more nutrients and taking care of your body!
One thing that really helped me was to just keep nailing through all the recipes in TKD that I could afford to. That way you become familiar with the recipes (which are always much more tasty than if I were just to throw together some food on my own) ... and when it comes to dinner time I can think about a recipe I liked and make it again. Then they start becoming part of your normal meals and planning process!
And absolutely.. find some vegan foods that may not be superhero, but help you to feel sane!
Best of luck!!!
Great advice. There are also some great vegan websites and blogs out there; if you get bored or frustrated with the recipes you're using there's certainly plenty on the web. I've found that I go on and off superhero and at best I'm superhero about 60% of the time. I feel much better when I am but sometime life intervenes.
You can do it!! The best motivation for me is seeing the difference being a superhero has made in my life. The beginning was so hard, but after a few weeks, I found I was losing that little belly I had, my skin and hair looked great (no more foundation - yahoo), and I just really felt alive. Don't beat yourself up, go easy on yourself. I definitely treat myself to sweet things, on occasion. Rice Dreams Mint is excellent and to me, tastes just like real ice cream. You can do it, just go easy on yourself :)
Dana Vigilante
Take a look at the "Hip Chick's Guide to Macrobiotics" by Jessica Porter. She has quite a few superhero-nized recipes of comfort food. In some cases, I couldn't believe what I was eating was macro. You need to find that level of comfort where you are happy and it just feels natural. Then you won't feel so overwhelmed to try new or unusual foods b/c you have that safety net to fall back on without feeling guilty.
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