The Decision
In 2013, I decided to give the plant-based lifestyle a try. My main motivation was athletic: I wanted to improve my performance in long-distance races like 10Ks and half-marathons. After reading countless books and articles about how a plant-based diet had helped other runners, I thought—why not? Let the plants prove themselves.
What followed wasn’t easy. Switching to a plant-based diet is not like changing a brand of shoes or trying a new app. It’s a commitment that disrupts habits you may have nurtured your entire life. You don’t simply drop meat and carry on. You have to rethink, relearn, and most importantly, reprogram.
For me, the transition wasn’t immediate. It happened slowly and without pressure. I simply noticed that I no longer craved meat. I stopped cooking it. Eventually, I was down to eating it just a few times a month—usually pork. Then in May, I made the full switch. No roadmap. No milestone chart. I just made the decision.
Growing into the Lifestyle
Some people are born planners. Their parents raise them to be goal-oriented. Others, like me, stumble forward more instinctively. I’ve never had a natural flair for long-term planning. But I do have one advantage: once something clicks, it sticks for life.
That’s how it went with quitting smoking after 16 years. And that’s how it went with switching to a plant-based diet.
Early Challenges
The transition came with bumps. I felt tired. I felt hungry. I slept more. My marathon training suffered. Recovery was slow, performance dipped, and I almost gave up.
But the voice in me that had already conquered cigarettes said: “Keep going.” And I did. Slowly, the benefits began to show. More energy. Better digestion. A renewed sense of control over my body.
The mistake I made in the beginning? I didn’t eat enough. When I gave up meat, I didn’t replace its caloric contribution with plant-based alternatives. Once I began logging my meals using an online food diary, I realized I was under-eating.
Training for races demanded 2,500 to 3,000 calories a day. On rest days, I needed around 2,000. Once I adjusted my intake, the fatigue faded. So did the cravings.
Food Freedom
The beauty of a plant-based diet is that you can eat a lot. If you’re eating whole foods, you can fill your plate without obsessing over weight gain. I could eat freely as long as I kept the calorie balance in check.
Over time, I discovered another truth: oils, nuts, and avocados are easy to overdo. When I ate too many nuts, I broke out with pimples on my back and chest. Oils, I learned, offer no nutritional value—they’re just 100% fat. I began minimizing or eliminating them.
From Logging to Intuition
At first, I tracked everything—every calorie, gram of protein, vitamin, and mineral. Over time, I learned what foods gave me what I needed. Bananas, apples, beans, sweet potatoes—I began to know them intuitively.
I still recommend tracking at the beginning. It’s educational. But eventually, you’ll be able to eat well without a calculator.
The Power of the Scale
Another habit that helped me stay on course was weighing myself every morning and every evening. It kept me accountable and aware. It also helped me adjust my weight before races. Dropping five pounds before a half-marathon can make a real difference over 21 kilometers.
That habit helped me shed the 44 pounds I needed to lose. It helped me reconnect with myself—the version of me buried under layers of fat and bad habits.
What I’ve Learned
I came to plant-based eating for athletic reasons. I stayed for the health benefits. And in the process, I discovered a truth far bigger than myself: eating plants is not only good for me, it’s good for the animals, and it’s good for the planet.
We live on a fragile blue-green world, and the way we consume meat is turning it to dust. Every meal is a choice. Every choice is a ripple.
Through this blog, I hope to help others choose differently—to move toward a lifestyle of health, empathy, and balance. A lifestyle in harmony with the wisdom the ancient Greeks spoke of: to live in alignment with nature, with others, and with ourselves.
Discover my full story in Thirsty for Health, where I share the grit behind quitting smoking, adopting running, and embracing a plant-based life.
Disclaimer: This article shares personal opinions and experiences. It is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any health-related decisions. Use this information at your own risk.
