Hard truths I learned eating healthily for 2+ years

Starting a healthy diet is a breeze, but sticking to it?

That's where most folks stumble.

Many people abandon their new healthy eating resolutions within just three to five weeks. They revert to old habits that keep their health issues and weight battles going. It's a frustrating cycle, and trust me, I've been there too.

Let's simplify what "healthy diet" actually means.

According to the World Health Organization, it's all about plenty of whole grains, veggies, fruits, legumes, and nuts. Keep salt, added sugars, and unhealthy fats to a minimum. No need for exotic superfoods or complex rules. Sounds easy, right? Well, knowing what to eat isn't the tough part—staying consistent is.

Most people jump into healthy eating focused solely on what to eat or avoid. They plan meals, buy cookbooks, and load up on produce without recognizing the lifestyle changes necessary to keep it up long-term.

That's why, despite all the nutrition info and recipes available, so many struggle to maintain a healthy diet over time.

By recognizing and prepping for these hidden challenges—the ones nobody talks about but everyone faces—you can dodge the common traps that derail most people's health efforts and finally develop lasting healthy habits.

After sticking to a healthy diet for over two years, here are some hard truths I wish someone had shared with me:

1. You'll Need New Friends

Who you hang out with plays a big role in your health. It's more significant than people assume. If your best friend becomes obese, your risk shoots up by 57%. In same-sex friendships, it jumps to 71%. Siblings can boost each other's obesity risk by 40%. Even with spouses, there's a 37% increased risk. This isn't just about overweight folks hanging out together; it's about them influencing each other.

Based on a study of over 12,000 people from the Framingham Heart Study, the influence comes not from the shared environment but from the social connection. The distance between friends didn't matter much; it was the closeness of the friendship that mattered.

You don't need to ditch your current friends, but you may naturally start gravitating toward people who share your health goals.

Once I realized this, I took two steps:

1. I tried to positively influence my current circle toward healthier choices.

   I invited my husband to join me in my new healthy eating goals, and he was all in, which felt amazing. I also encouraged other friends and family to join. Some were on board, while others weren't.

2. I looked for new friends with similar health goals.

   I shared my journey online, joined a Facebook group, and attended conferences to meet health-focused folks both in person and online. I met new friends along the way, like Vivian, who I met at a plant-based conference in New Jersey last year. We even started a monthly podcast about whole plant foods!

These kinds of people can be hard to find, but they're out there. If you're serious about maintaining a healthy lifestyle, you might need to make tough calls about your social circle.

2. It's a Lifelong Commitment

Your appetite and old eating habits don't magically disappear.

The truth is, starting and sticking to a healthy lifestyle requires ongoing commitment and effort. There's no point where you can just stop worrying about your diet.

Eating healthily intensely for a few weeks, then stopping, leads to yo-yo dieting.

Even after hitting your goals—whether it's losing weight, lowering cholesterol, or building muscle—you need to keep making mindful food choices to maintain your progress.

Eating healthily takes time.

You need to research, find recipes, shop for groceries, read labels, and check out restaurants. You'll constantly adjust your tactics for long-term success.

Sure, there are time-saving hacks, like batch cooking and meal planning, unless you're wealthy enough to hire a chef. But for us regular folks prioritizing health, dedicating time is necessary.

Eventually, it becomes second nature. You'll stop seeing it as a big effort.

But here's a surprise.

Even after you've committed and made it part of your life, you'll see that...

3. Eating Healthily Doesn't Fix Everything

If you're in it just to look a certain way, body image issues might still persist. Achieving fitness goals won't automatically resolve insecurities or self-esteem problems.

Life's challenges remain.

Good nutrition boosts overall well-being, but it's not a cure-all for life's stressors or health issues.

For example, I suffer from severe menstrual cramps—so bad that I've cried, vomited, and even fainted. It's a family thing. On a pain scale of 0-10, I'd give them a 7 or 8. My dad had to pick me up due to pain many times from school and work. My doctor even prescribed tramadol. The first three months into my diet change, the pain dropped to about a 4, but it's still there. Every month, I still deal with it.

4. It Changes Who You Are

You've shifted your mindset, habits, environment, and social circle.

You start craving healthy foods over junk.

You develop a healthier relationship with food, exercise regularly, and plan for health proactively. You set boundaries, overcame hurdles, and made this lifestyle as easy as possible. You prepare for worst-case scenarios and forgive yourself for failures.

With repetition and flexibility, you stop overthinking it.

This new routine becomes second nature.

Your body changes too.

You'll need new clothes as it adapts. You sleep better, have more energy, get sick less, and your mood improves. You'll be more productive. This transformation shapes who you are.

This doesn't mean giving up your cultural identity or family food traditions.

It's about finding ways to honor them while making healthier choices. I've adapted traditional family recipes by adding more whole foods while keeping the familiar flavors. The focus is on addition, not elimination.

Accepting this helped me sustain my healthy lifestyle for two years. On June 6, 2022, after three weeks of transitioning to a whole food, plant-based lifestyle, my husband and I promised to be the kind of people who eat healthy. That promise holds strong to this day.

You start a habit with motivation, but you'll only stick with it when it becomes part of who you are. Anyone can hit the gym or eat healthily once, but without a belief shift, long-term changes are hard. Improvements are temporary until they become part of your identity.

When I say it changes you, I don't mean you become someone else entirely. It's more like upgrading to a better version of yourself—like a caterpillar to a butterfly.

You're still you, just with new habits, views, and abilities. Your values and personality remain. You're not losing yourself; you're growing into a stronger, healthier version.

Food was just the starting point—it ignited positive changes in other areas of my life. If you're curious about how I live this lifestyle, check out this video:

5. Some People Will Get Offended

Looking back on these two years, the most unexpected thing was how some people reacted to my healthy eating.

When I learned about the benefits of eating more fruits, veggies, whole grains, beans, nuts, and seeds, I got excited and shared it with loved ones. While some joined me or supported my change without changing their diet, others weren't so thrilled about my shift.

One friend, and I appreciate her honesty, felt judged. People noticed what I ate and wondered why she didn't when we're close.

I learned from Dr. Doug Lisle, author of The Pleasure Trap, about others getting defensive or threatened by changes. They don't want their habits questioned.

Changing who you are makes some people uncomfortable.

They're used to the old you, and shifts in social dynamics, especially around food gatherings, are real. You might engage less in unhealthy eating/drinking activities. That's reality. Friends and family may react differently—some support, while others resist.

But their reaction is their choice, not your responsibility.

You can choose to not give in to negativity. Focus on what you've gained. Be patient with those who differ. You don't need to cut them off. Respect their choices, even if they're different, and build bonds with those sharing health-focused interests.

So, you've decided to eat healthily, and now you know what's ahead—the good, the bad, and even the uncomfortable.

Here's what I didn't tell you at the start:

While most people quit a new diet after 3-5 weeks, those numbers don't dictate your journey. They're just data points, not your destiny.

The journey to lasting health is about becoming someone new—someone who lives this way because that's who they are.

You're starting to become someone new.

While I can't promise it's easy, I can promise this: Embrace these truths, and you'll not only change your habits but also evolve into a version of yourself you never thought possible.

The choice, as always, is yours. Are you ready to become that person?

I hope this was helpful.

Until next week,

Grazelle 🌱