So how do we create a healthy habit? First things first – HONESTY!

Many of us are not actually doing the things we “think” we are doing. Are you perpetuating a vicious cycle of chronic self-talk, make-believe OR living with lifelong unconscious patterns of deceit? Let me explain – in essence, many of us are NOT actually doing the things that we are telling others we are doing.  An example of this would be “I eat healthy.” Although we may THINK we eat healthy, it is easy to conveniently forget the times when this is not so. In other words, the truth would be better stated by the following dialogue,

“I eat healthy except when I go out to eat and have a steak, except on holidays, except when I am invited to a friend’s house, except for Saturdays, except for the ice-cream, except for the occasional snack at work, etc.”

Are you one of those people who are convincing yourself and your loved ones that you are making more healthy choices than unhealthy ones? So the first step is getting honest about how many unhealthy habits you are really doing.

The second step in embarking on this new dietary plan is to take responsibility for your current state of health and bring simple AWARENESS to all your actions without passing judgment. You have to know where you are in order to get to where you want to go. For example, we need to bring into awareness that eating dead and decaying flesh is not in our best interests and most certainly is NOT is the best interests of the animals who have sacrificed their lives.

The third step is to write down your goals (business, personal, financial, spiritual, etc.) and answer the “what, why, when, and how.” By understanding and bringing clarity to your goals, you will come to recognize that there is a common denominator – YOU NEED YOUR HEALTH TO ACCOMPLISH YOUR GOALS!

With this knowledge, your health becomes your top priority – your most precious asset. I often see too many people fail due to a lack of commitment to this particular step. I believe, that without this process, you will never get what you want. Simply put, you can’t have what you want if you do not know what it is that you want.  

The fourth step is habituation of mind. Our mind learns new habits through repetition. Therefore, we need to create new self-talk that the mind/body can actually create. Every morning write down your goals as formulated in step three in order to allow your thoughts to move from the non-local to the local, from the ether of thought to the material, and finally from the un-manifested to the manifest.

The fifth and last step is habituation of action. It is time to awaken from your past programming of the subconscious, from cultural indoctrination (EAT YOUR MEAT!) and all the self-defeating thoughts from the past. This step is about starting and not stopping. This step is about respecting yourself, your wishes and goals. By taking action you will begin to change. Avoid the wise definition of insanity which states the following: doing the same thing and expecting a different result. If you become overwhelmed, remember that you do not need to know HOW to get there, you simply must take action in the right direction. It is not about perfection – it is about progress.

We all wish you luck on this journey – remember, your thoughts create your feelings which direct your actions which will manifest your RESULTS. Use the resources, people, and events during the month of March to transform your life away from illness and towards optimal health and wellbeing through the use of a whole foods plant based diet!

Being an advocate for all things green and leafy is a new thing for me!  I was born and raised in Wisconsin, land of all things cheese, and grew up eating the Standard American Diet (or S.A.D.) as did all of my friends.  I subsisted on diet soda, candy, processed snack foods and desserts, fast food, dairy in all its forms, and meat at least twice a day.  Not surprisingly, I was overweight/obese my entire life.  I haven’t eaten land animals in over 12 years but I continued to eat cheese and small amounts of dairy.  In fact, when I removed the meat from my plate I replaced it with cheese!  I learned firsthand that vegetarian fare isn’t necessarily healthy.  

I have been with Whole Foods Market for 6 years now, and I am amazed at all I have learned about healthy eating.  When I started I was working as the cake decorator, my sweet tooth took over as I rode the roller coaster of sugar addiction tasting my way through the pastry case.  I rationalized: “how can I sell these cakes, cookies, pastries and breads to customers if I haven’t tried them?”  You may not be surprised to hear that I gained 30 pounds in 6 short months of eating this way.  When I moved to Jacksonville in 2008 to help open the store and joined the marketing team, I swapped cheesecake for fresh strawberries and I haven’t looked back since.  

I have been maintaining a 65+ pound weight loss for four years and counting, and I am happy at a “normal” weight without counting calories or stressing over every bite.  I went from a bona-fide couch potato that dreaded having to run laps in gym class to completing a couch-to-5K program in 2009.  I have so much more energy eating healthy that I have continued running – I finished 3 marathons and 6 half marathons to date – and I love how I feel.  

What worked for me was the concept of baby steps: I would take a healthy eating nugget that I learned at work and incorporate it into my life.  After a few days I felt a difference in my energy level, my quality of sleep, and my mood.  My skin became clearer, and my hair and nails became stronger.  These changes motivated me to keep it up and to try more and more positive habits.  The number one most important change I made to my way of eating was to enjoy fresh fruit instead of processed sweets, and learning how to make ice cream at home using bananas changed my life – really!  Here is a decadent, vegan, super easy recipe for Banana Nice Cream: http://wholefoodsmarket.com/recipe/banana-nice-cream, and a creamy-tart Raspberry Nice Cream: http://wholefoodsmarket.com/recipe/raspberry-nice-cream.  Get your blender motors revving!

As the Healthy Eating Specialist for Whole Foods Market – Jacksonville, I am honored to play a role in changing the way my fellow Team Members and customers eat.  I truly believe that the way to a person’s heart is through their stomach (sharing tasty and satisfying food), and healthy plant-strong meals are the most direct path to a longer and more joyful life.  We have the power to increase our quality of life and our health through what we choose to put on our plate.  The more colorful the food, the better!  Remember that old saying, “eat the colors of the rainbow every day”?  Plants are where all the good stuff is – the micronutrients – vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and antioxidants.  In fact, Plant-Strong is one of the four pillars of healthy eating in Whole Foods Market’s healthy eating education program: Whole Foods, Plant-Strong, Healthy Fats, and Nutrient Dense.  

You can learn more about Health Starts Here, and of course enjoy healthy vegan recipes, by signing up for events at the store: cooking classes, supper clubs, store tours, 28-day challenges, individual consultations, and more!  Visit our online calendar of events at: http://wholefoodsmarket.com/events?store=6583 for details.

You have a lot to be proud of!  Take a moment to reflect on the positive changes you are experiencing as you choose to eat plant-strong, and pat yourself on the back for making healthier choices.  My hope is that this experience is the beginning of a new way of life for you.  Good nutrition is the foundation of your health, and it’s truly amazing what your body can do when you choose to enjoy whole, nutrient dense foods.  Keep up the great work, and I hope to see you at healthy eating events at Whole Foods Market!

Heather Olsen is the Healthy Eating & Green Mission Specialist for Whole Foods Market – Jacksonville, and is a Certified Holistic Health Coach.  

Heather facilitates cooking classes, store tours, recipe demonstrations, 28-day challenges, and presentations for groups of all ages, and in addition provides healthy eating consultations to individuals.   

Heather has worked for Whole Foods Market for 6 years and she enjoys educating others about the company’s Core Values, in particular healthy eating education and caring about our communities and environment.