To say that I used to love cheese is an understatement.
Nothing tasted complete without it.
I even took my love affair across the pond when I studied abroad in France during college.
A solid month of cheese, bread, and cream-filled goodies.
Lets put it this way: I left the country after getting measured for a bridesmaid’s dress.
When I returned, the dress wouldnt zip.
But it wasn’t until about two years ago that I started to shift my dairy habits.
All of that was enough to convince me to give it shot.
Plus, Im a great student and I also like people-pleasing.
So honestly, I mostly tried it to prove that I could, and win favor with my trainer.
All that time I was consuming dairy, I was ignorant of how it was actually making me feel.
Then I swapped butter for a vegan spread, and ice cream for nondairy alternatives.
But cheese was the last to go.
It took a while for the social factor to fade.
Some of my favorite responses were “I would DIE if I were you!”
and the classic, “I feel like I don’t even know who you are anymore!”
After a couple of weeks with no dairy, I decided to incorporate it back into my lifestyle.
I hadn’t noticed any dramatic changes in my body other than increased regularity and ease with bowel movements.
I had given it a try and proved I could do it.
But now it was time to get back together with pizza.
Absence made the heart (and cheese craving) grow fonder.
But something happened after I embraced cheese again.
Within a couple of hours of eating pizza, I felt physically ill. Plus, my nose was stuffy.
I couldnt breathe that night when I went to sleep.
And finally, I couldnt poop!
It totally messed with my regular schedule and made me feel icky.
All that time I was consuming dairy, I was ignorant to how it was actually making me feel.
It took detoxing to fully understand the results that were showing up in my body.
Ever since then, I’ve stayed dairy-free and I love how I feel, physically and mentally.
Im no longer a slave to cravings.
I operate more from a place of needs rather than wants when it comes to food.
Honestly, I dont even feel deprived or miss any of it.
Here are four tips I used to make it easier:
1.
Eliminate dairy gradually and try the “crowd out” approach.
Sure, it’s possible for you to drop dairy all at once if you’d like.
But for more intense cheese addicts like myself, slow and steady was the name of the game.
A gradual phaseout is a much more sustainable approach.
In my case, I started with what I was least attached to: milk and coffee creamers.
I also recommend the crowd-out approach with my own health coaching clients.
That means incorporating other healthy options into your routine, instead of depriving yourself of the things you enjoy.
In time, the new things youre introducing reduce and eliminate the dairy.
Explore delicious dairy-free alternatives.
Grab a buddy or accountability partner.
If going dairy-free is a big life change for you, support is essential.
So place yourself in environments where your choices are respected and encouraged.
The best way to know the ingredients in the dishes youre eating is to make them yourself!
Youre the master of what youre eating when you do the cooking.
Plus, there are a ton of great, free resources for vegan and dairy-free recipes.
Some of my favorites:Minimalist Baker,Oh She Glows, andCookie and Kate.
