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. Let’s put it this way: I left the country after getting measured for a bridesmaid’s dress. When I returned, the dress wouldn’t zip. All of that was enough to convince me to give it shot. Plus, I’m 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. It took a while for the social factor to fade. When you decide to make a lifestyle change like giving up dairy, you experience unsolicited feedback from friends, family, and co-workers. 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!” I did cave every once in a while and had a bite of brie or a piece of bread with real butter — but I didn’t beat myself up about it. Instead, I used it as a lesson in why I’m making my food choices: am I eating consciously or am I being influenced by societal trends? 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. It felt like a brick fell into my stomach and was surely going to remain there for the rest of my life. Plus, my nose was stuffy. I couldn’t breathe that night when I went to sleep. And finally, I couldn’t poop! It totally messed with my regular schedule and made me feel icky. It took a few more instances of eating dairy products and feeling the wrath of their hangovers to be done with that experience of feeling yucky and stopped up. I realized I was holding on to the mental attachment of the cheese — the melty, stretchy visual allure — rather than acknowledging how it was affecting me physically. 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. I’m no longer a slave to cravings. I operate more from a place of needs rather than wants when it comes to food. Plus, giving up dairy lent itself to a bunch of other empowering changes in my life, like releasing other unhealthy lifestyle choices, losing weight, and sleeping more soundly. Honestly, I don’t even feel deprived or miss any of it. But as someone who once cherished cheese, I know how hard it might seem at first to give up dairy. Here are four tips I used to make it easier: In my case, I started with what I was least attached to: milk and coffee creamers. It was an easy shift that empowered me to explore other alternatives for butter and creamy desserts, before addressing cheese. 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. For example, add a big salad to eat along with your pizza, or a cup of fresh-squeezed fruit before you have your coffee with cream in the morning. In time, the new things you’re introducing reduce and eliminate the dairy. Some of my favorites: Daiya cheese for nachos, vegan mac and cheese and sandwiches, So Delicious coconut milk for cereal and in tea, Earth Balance vegan butter for cooking and spreads, and cashew ice cream as a great ice cream alternative. So place yourself in environments where your choices are respected and encouraged. Enlist a friend to take the dairy-free journey with you, and share your wins with someone who can cheer you on. Plus, there are a ton of great, free resources for vegan and dairy-free recipes. Some of my favorites: Minimalist Baker, Oh She Glows, and Cookie and Kate. Having experienced bouts of clinical depression, disempowering relationships and body image challenges in the past, Sarah understands the journey of personal healing and seeks to use her lessons to inspire others. She believes that everyone can create the life of his/her choosing and be joyous in the face of life’s circumstances. In her blog Back to Complete, Sarah covers topics ranging from health and fitness to conscious self-love. You can also connect with Sarah on Instagram and Twitter.
