First Week Going Whole Food Plant-Based

Personal experience of my personal experiment

I finally did it.

I took the leap to try this whole food plant-based ordeal. Here’s my personal experience, my embarrassing moments and my verdict after 7 days on a plant-based diet.

Is it hard to follow?

No. Not at all. Don’t be silly. We already consume some aspects of this diet. We are now just doing more of those, and excluding some of the other food options. Pretty easy.

But yes, it’s a pretty hard adjustment to make initially. And this probably has more to do with the mindset shift than it does meal preparation.

Was the food bland and boring?

The food is actually great. Much better than I expected. It’s almost like Mother Nature created a menu of different colours and flavours…

After the first clumsy and initial attempts at meals, I managed to discover the power of wraps, salads and soups. I also realized that avocado can make any meal feel more substantial.

How about the bloating?

Yes, this is real.

On the first night, I had serious bloating and discomfort. The flatulence-threat is very real. On night 2, I felt significantly better than the first, but still like a balloon that might take off to the moon at any moment.

By the third night, I was hardly aware of it any more. I am now less bloated than I was before starting this journey.

It only took 3 days for me to get used to the higher fibre. And honestly, now it only has benefits…which brings me to my next point.

What’s the scoop on the poop-situation?

Relax, I’m a doctor. I’m allowed to say poop without it being too weird for everyone.

So from a medical perspective (and with the Bristol stool chart in mind), I can tell you that our digestive system approves of this way of life.

Try it. You will become as regular as the daily news.

Is it a lot of work?

More than ordering McDonald’s? Yes.

But as it turns out, you’re an adult and your definition of “happy” should never go in front of the word “meal”.

Find a knife and start chopping. There is something quite primitive and therapeutic about it all.

Pro-tip: To get through week 1, go buy a massive box of your favourite fruit. Bonus points if it doesn’t require chopping or peeling. Every time you feel hungry, or crave those sugar and salt death-bombs, snack on the things you actually enjoy.

Does it make you “feel” any better?

It made me feel, sleep, think, and move better. And, of course, that thing doctors are allowed to say…

Honestly, you will be amazed. By day 5, I was shocked at how I felt noticeably lighter. I also had a lot of energy and slept like a baby who got the “special syrup” during teething.

Another big surprise: I put in some serious workouts at the gym. I was able to lift more weight, more times, and my cardio was fairly easy too.

An even bigger surprise: I never woke up with sore muscles. Even considering the increased training.

Now, let’s talk some adult-business for a second.

Mental health.

If you have read some of my other stories, you will know that I have had the odd struggle with the blues before I hung up my stethoscope. This week, on this diet, I could feel my mood lifting a little more every day.

I felt happier and had the energy to do some fun stuff. This makes for a pretty enjoyable week.

What’s the final verdict? Yay or nay? In or out?

It’s only been a week. But it’s not a hard decision to make.

I am continuing on the journey. I am making this my very own experiment, one that you can follow along on by following me.

I forgot to mention that I lost 3 pounds, while eating delicious and BIG meals. And apart from the first few nights of gratitude for my ceilings that kept me from floating away, there have been no downsides.

So let’s see how this goes…

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