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A beginner’s journey: Part 2
Bridget Walsh on 03 September, 2011 | 
Once you decide you’re going to do something good for your body, and you understand your reasoning on a holistic level, justifying a little bit more effort here and there gets easier and easier. In part one, we found out a bit about Rori Leonard, who comes from a high-demand career background in television & events. She knew she wasn’t treating her body with the care it deserved, and she has recently made the time to do something about it.
We learnt a little about some of the challenges you can face when trying to approach a lifestyle overhaul, but rewards can also be found in the most interesting places. Sure, you skin may improve, your waistline may shrink and your sleeping patterns should regulate. But take heed of the smaller victories as well - in many ways, they are more important!
“You get to feel smug about looking after yourself! I find secret smugness very helpful at the moment, with every bite thinking 'Yep I'm getting these benefits and this level of energy' and a sense of satisfaction instead of remorse. It's a great improvement!”
In addition to the external challenges that you can face, there are some personal adjustments that you may encounter. But once you’ve made that genuine decision to do better, and you understand the wider implications of your improvements, the adjustments start to become part of the learning and joy of the experience.
“By far the biggest adjustment I've had to make is actually cooking - I never used to cook. I used to live on toast and mochaccino! I’m now starting to actually follow recipes, think about what on earth I'm going to buy at the supermarket, spend some time cooking and essentially introduce a completely alien activity into my life. It's kind of fun though when you get in the zone, and when you get a good result, you are stoked with yourself. And smug again, which I like.”
Often knowing you’re making the right decision can motivate you to get started, but sometimes you need a little bit of encouragement and inspiration along the way. We are so lucky to have access to such a wealth of websites, books, programmes, documentaries, communities and individuals, that there really is no excuse to be lack-lustre in your approach. If one day you’re not feeling too psyched about things, you have so many sources from which to draw inspiration.
'”Oh she glows' is a great vegan website because the food blogging stye is cute and funny. The way she writes about recipes make them seem like a non-intimidating, fun experiment. Womens’ Health Magazine is also a great website for fitness- you can download programmes and teach yourself to exercise for free. 'The Kind Diet' by Alicia Silverstone was a great book to read which really changed my thinking about veganism. Talking to people who have been doing it for a while and faced all those awkward encounters I fear also really helps…”
You may find, when beginning a new life journey, that what you considered to be the ‘cornerstones’ of you new lifestyle, are actually just the tip of the iceberg. Once you start to learn more about the myriad of reasons behind plant-based nutrition, or the philosophy behind yogic cultures, you may find yourself driven to inspire others. This happened to me, and it seems to be happening to Rori too!
“I am working towards are getting a working knowledge of what nutrients are in which foods so I can combine them to combat specific ailments. I have this crazy idea of concocting a 'Vegan PMS Battle Menu', where you have a week’s worth of dishes supplementing all the nutrients you really need during that time to combat mood swings, cramps and all the other associated symptoms! Husbands and boyfriends the world over would love you for it!”