Ever find yourself struggling to balance the pressure of societal expectations with your personal needs and beliefs, especially when it comes to lifestyle choices? Let's get real about embracing authenticity in our lives, as we explore the world of plant-based living with our special guest, Heather Fusilet, a national board certified health and wellness coach. Heather is here to share her insights on the importance of owning your truth and aligning your lifestyle choices with your passion and personal beliefs.
Heather lets us into her personal journey, sharing her experiences with veganism and vegetarianism. She gives invaluable advice on dealing with challenges, staying motivated and redefining success as you navigate the plant-based journey. Her words on the importance of setting goals, being open to change, and consistently checking in with oneself will resonate with anyone on a similar path. Heather emphasizes that this journey should never be about meeting external pressures or expectations, but rather about curiosity, passion and a personal need to lead a healthier, balanced life.
Fear of judgment can often dissuade us from moving forward. Heather addresses this concern, telling us about her own struggles with others' judgments when transitioning to a plant-based lifestyle. But she urges listeners to stand in their own truth and make decisions that align with their personal beliefs, rather than bending to external pressures. With practical advice on starting small, following your intuition, and focusing on the journey rather than the destination, Heather's insights will surely empower anyone embarking on a plant-based journey. So tune in, and be inspired to embrace authenticity in your lifestyle choices. Let's discover together how redefining success and dealing with judgment from others can transform your journey towards healthier living.
Ever find yourself struggling to balance the pressure of societal expectations with your personal needs and beliefs, especially when it comes to lifestyle choices? Let's get real about embracing authenticity in our lives, as we explore the world of plant-based living with our special guest, Heather Fusilet, a national board certified health and wellness coach. Heather is here to share her insights on the importance of owning your truth and aligning your lifestyle choices with your passion and personal beliefs.
Heather lets us into her personal journey, sharing her experiences with veganism and vegetarianism. She gives invaluable advice on dealing with challenges, staying motivated and redefining success as you navigate the plant-based journey. Her words on the importance of setting goals, being open to change, and consistently checking in with oneself will resonate with anyone on a similar path. Heather emphasizes that this journey should never be about meeting external pressures or expectations, but rather about curiosity, passion and a personal need to lead a healthier, balanced life.
Fear of judgment can often dissuade us from moving forward. Heather addresses this concern, telling us about her own struggles with others' judgments when transitioning to a plant-based lifestyle. But she urges listeners to stand in their own truth and make decisions that align with their personal beliefs, rather than bending to external pressures. With practical advice on starting small, following your intuition, and focusing on the journey rather than the destination, Heather's insights will surely empower anyone embarking on a plant-based journey. So tune in, and be inspired to embrace authenticity in your lifestyle choices. Let's discover together how redefining success and dealing with judgment from others can transform your journey towards healthier living.
It's important for everybody to embrace their authentic selves, because that's where the magic happens. When you become a partner with yourself, when you truly get to know yourself, accept yourself, team up with yourself to embark on the adventure of life, then you're making choices based out of curiosity and a sense of adventure and a sense of exploration in your life.
Speaker 2:
Welcome to the Plant-Based Curious podcast, a place to explore and discover the plant-based and vegan lifestyle. Each week, we'll talk about our own stories and real discoveries, alongside our experts and experienced guests, about changing behaviors, whole food, living, nutrition and the amazing facts and positive curiosities about veganism. We're here for you as a guide in a place to gather resources, but with the simple click of our subscribe button, you're allowing yourself a little time and good energy to listen, laugh and indulge in the lifestyle you may love. Please welcome your host, a certified holistic coach and plant-based lifestyle believer, Diane Randall.
Speaker 3:
Hello and welcome back everyone. Today we are talking about authenticity and to help us navigate that topic today we have a very special guest. Her name is Heather Fusilet. She's a national board certified health and wellness coach, and Heather's expertise lies in helping people live healthy, balanced life, and she's here today to share her insights on the importance of embracing authenticity and redefining success in a plant-based lifestyle.
Speaker 1:
Thank you, heather, welcome. Thank you for having me. I'm pleased to be here.
Speaker 3:
I am pleased that you are here and you know what Authenticity in the context of a plant-based life is so key to the whole thing. I just never thought about it that way, at least initially. So it's so great that you're here to talk about it, because I want you to tell our listeners why is it so important for individuals to embrace their authentic selves.
Speaker 1:
It's important for everybody to embrace their authentic selves, because that's where the magic happens. When you become a partner with yourself, when you truly get to know yourself, accept yourself, team up with yourself to embark on the adventure of life, then you're making choices based out of curiosity and a sense of adventure and a sense of exploration in your life, rather than trying to check boxes that have a list that somebody else may have written for you or that you think you're supposed to be doing at this point in your life. And so many times we jump into lifestyle choices that are made because of parameters like those instead of what you're really curious and excited about, and a plant-based diet can be one of those things. Going into a lifestyle that is including a plant-based diet because of some outside, external reason that doesn't really resonate with you, it makes it just a different experience than if you are going in, because this is something that you are curious about and exploring.
Speaker 3:
What powerful insight. What I was thinking about while you were saying that if you are true to yourself and you're living authentically, it really supports your actions and alignment with your choices when you are on the plant-based journey, because plant-based journey is not easy. I love what you're saying about being authentic, because if you're aligned with and in partnership with yourself, then that helps you to make external choices for yourself. That is beautiful, thank you so much. It's such a time saver oh my goodness, it's such a time saver.
Speaker 1:
You don't have to stand around and try to figure things out. You know what's right for you and you can just jump right on into it.
Speaker 3:
My goodness. Or get caught up in, like you said, and what someone else wants you to do and then mess around with that, then end up doing something you really don't want to do. Being authentic keeps us on a path with ourself. I love that. I love it. Many people face challenges and moments of doubt on their plant-based journey. How can they overcome these obstacles? By staying true to themselves.
Speaker 1:
Well, I think you have to really be clear, before you start adopting a lifestyle like a plant-based diet, what you want to get out of it. What is your motivation? For me, I'm a vegetarian. I dabbled in plant-based diets as a teenager just because of curiosity. My dad was a vegetarian. I was interested in why he ate that way. But now, in my mid-40s, I've been either vegan or vegetarian for probably about a decade. For me, it's a health issue. I've been convinced that eating whole, mostly plant-based foods is just the best decision for my body. That's how I feel and that's how I eat. For others, it is an environmental issue or a humanity issue. Being why you're curious about a plant-based diet or you're ready to explore something like that is a big part of sticking with it when it does become challenging, because there are some layers. In one way it's very simple, but in other ways there are some challenges that you have to overcome or some things that you have to think creatively about.
Speaker 3:
Absolutely, heather. I hear what you're saying because, being on the plant-based path, it's really looking at what do I need? What choices do I want to make for my body not just my body, but also my mind? You talked about balance. How does that help me stay in balance, not only with my life, but with this journey that I'm on? For people that are listening, can you share some practical strategies to celebrate progress and maintain motivation?
Speaker 1:
Oh gosh. Well, I always like to start with the end in mind I think that's brilliant advice from Stephen Covey and to know what does success mean for me? How do I feel that this is going to be a worthwhile use of my time? What do I want from this? And then set your goals in a way that you're moving towards that and then regularly checking in with yourself to ask am I still on that path? And that can be asking questions like is this still rewarding? Am I still enjoying this? Does this feel like a burden or is it a rewarding element of my life? And if the answers are making you feel like you've wandered away from your path, it doesn't necessarily mean get back on it. You can then ask what? Is that still the right path for me, or have I outgrown that path and I need a new one? What's really important to me at this point in my life and how can I make sure that I'm staying aligned to that? Because the decisions that we make 10 years ago aren't necessarily relevant to our lives now.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, and that's what I always think about. I say life decisions come with ebbs and flows, depending on where you are in your life. Are you raising kids, were you married, were you working, are you retired? It really depends on what's going on for you and also, like you just said, the definition of your success will change. So it's keeping that in mind that what you thought about six months ago may change a little bit down the line. So that is just awesome advice.
Speaker 1:
You mentioned the word balance, and for me that was what shifted me from a vegan diet into a vegetarian diet, because my lifestyle factors had changed and following a vegan diet was just too complicated for me at that time of my life, and when I shifted into a vegetarian diet it was a much better fit. And so that's an example of how you just check in with yourself and keep it in the fun zone. If it's not rewarding and it's not bringing something joyful to your life, then really evaluate whether it needs to be there or if it needs to be there in the context that it is.
Speaker 3:
So it's going back to your why, always going back to your why, and also changing and making sure you're realigning what a success looked like for me on this journey. I always say a lot of people come into this plant-based portal differently. They come in because of the animals, the climate, they come in because of health and at some point you align all those reasons you came in with your goals and with what success looks like for you and knowing that it's practice, it's practice and it evolves over time.
Speaker 1:
Yes, the evolution was key for me. I didn't even intend to become a vegetarian when this last time that I set out on this path, 10, 12 years ago. I just wanted to eat more vegetables. I felt like I'd gotten away from vegetables. I love them and I want to eat as many as I can. One of my motto's is am VAP as many vegetables as possible, and I had gotten away from that, and so I started eating more vegetables and looking for opportunities to include them in my meals. And then a couple of months had gone by and I realized I wasn't even eating meat anymore. I had become a vegetarian unintentionally, because I was following my intuitive tastes.
Speaker 3:
Right and for me, I started out on my plant-based journey, clearly for my health, to make my health better. And the vegan came later. So and it wasn't intentional, it was I got information. I said, wow, I need to eat more vegetables, I need to really clean up my health before things get out of hand, Because the path I was heading on was just an unhealthy outcome, with chronic disease and those kind of things that as we mature as adults, we all face it unless we're doing something intentional other than the standard American diet. So that is what started me.
Speaker 3:
But the veganism came later because my life was more balanced. I was open to hearing more information. I wasn't putting pressure or punish myself when I made a mistake or if I got out of alignment. I just became more intentional and I would get back on track. So the more I learned, the more open I became. And, like you, 20 years ago I never saw this coming. But I'm so happy that I am open and I don't try to force my life down a certain path, because you have no idea of what could happen great in your life. So that's really beautiful.
Speaker 1:
It sounds like you really came to this lifestyle from a place of intrinsic motivation your health and preserving your longevity and your lifestyle and not from a diet mentality of this is something imposed on me that I have to follow these rules so that I have this outcome that I'm supposed to want and that makes it so much more compelling and more fun rewarding when you're working towards something that's good for you.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, that is so true, and I guess when you say that it does for you up, it's a choice in that case it becomes a choice.
Speaker 3:
That, yeah, that's beautiful. It's the choices and it's the actions and the choices that you make based on that. And Also, like you've helped so many people, how do you help the people With their balance and with defining success in general? How do you help someone that has no idea of what to do? Even people when they say I want to go plant-based, they have no idea of what that means. So how do you help people like that?
Speaker 1:
First I ask why? Why are you curious about this? What do you hope to gain? What do you hope to learn? How did you come up with this idea? What inspired you to go down this path?
Speaker 1:
Because I want to make sure that if I'm working with somebody as their health coach, their best interests are at the the center of that relationship, and I want to work in their best interests while also helping them reach the goals that they have identified for themselves.
Speaker 1:
So I really want to know why, and we create a vision statement based on what their motivations are, what their values are in life, and then also taking a look at where do you know that you have challenges? Where do you think that you'll need to have a backup plan? Who can you rely on for support in your life and what types of things do you want to be doing Consistently, and what do you want the outcomes of those behaviors to be? And the reason why I'm curious about that is because I Want to be able to come in with reinforcement for those times when you're at a learning curve and or like you're jumping up to the next level in your education about whatever it is that you are trying to learn about and Keep them connected to the reason why they started in the first place and to be able to ask if that reason has changed man and being on a plant-based journey is one of those things where you really need to understand and ask those questions and have those goals because of all the challenges, all the people that Make fun of you, that always say you have to have courage to be on this journey, because what you're gonna find out quickly is that You're on this journey and you really can't pull anybody along.
Speaker 3:
Good luck with that right.
Speaker 1:
You mentioned the people who make fun of us. I just don't get that. I hear it all the time. People mock me or tease me for being vegetarian, and I don't understand why, because for one, it's nobody else's business. And also, why do they care?
Speaker 3:
Well, heather, I have kind of rethought that over the years and I hear what you're saying, because that's just the first thing people do and what I feel is, when I'm eating and minding my own business with what I'm doing in terms of eating a plant-based meal, it could be a reflection to them of what they should be doing. That's how I see it now, even though they're making fun. I used to feel a little weird about it, but now I just think, okay, I'm reflecting something that they probably should be doing. So I used to take it real personal, you know, but yeah, it's a reflection of exactly what they should be doing. And they're curious because you're eating this food, you're not eating what I'm eating, so what am I doing wrong? So it's really about them, because I mean 20 years, but now when people make fun, it doesn't resonate the same. You know what I mean. I don't even feel I have to say anything.
Speaker 1:
I'm lucky to be in a community where a plant-based lifestyle is pretty common amongst my friend group, and which is really helpful because I get lots of ideas for new ways to prepare food.
Speaker 3:
But every once in a while I just have to smile and yeah, it's true, because the work I do, sometimes I have to go into companies and sometimes I've bought my lunch and I'm actually eating in a cafeteria eating around other people. So nine times out of 10, I'm gonna attract some kind of attention, even if they just say what kind of diet are you on? So it gives me an opportunity. I always look at it now as an opportunity to share why I'm eating what I'm eating, and not the opposite of ramming something down someone's throat because I don't wanna be that person either. So my only job is to model my own behavior and if you have questions, then I'll answer questions. So and I'm always happy to I wear my plant-powered shirt when I'm working out. I'm really happy to talk to people if they're interested. I don't wanna put anything on anybody, because this is something that you know. If you want to do it and you have your why and you can listen to the podcast or get your answers, but I'll answer any questions that anyone has.
Speaker 1:
I always pleased when somebody is surprised by something that I'm eating and they might say oh, but I thought you were a vegetarian. It's like well, this is a vegetarian meal. It might just cause it's not a salad. It doesn't mean that it's not vegetarian, and I prefer to eat whole foods as much as I can and stay away from some of the processed vegetarian and vegan foods. But there's a wide range of foods that you can eat on a vegetarian diet and choosing them, I think, really goes back to your why. Why am I doing this?
Speaker 3:
Why am I doing this? Even if it's for your health, even if it's for the planet, even if it's for just wanting to support, as a collective, climate change and all those things that we really most of us are starting to pay more attention to. And the question is how can I impact that? And just because you become vegan doesn't mean that you're gonna be plant-based, eating a whole bunch of whole foods, because, as we know, veganism is a philosophy. It's a philosophy and a plant-based diet is the dietary portion of it eating the whole foods.
Speaker 3:
I taught a class yesterday and it was just beautiful, teaching people the difference between what is plant-based mean and what is vegan, and I told them that there are a million labels in between and we're not gonna get into those today because it's a lot. So what I shared was, if you're thinking about plant-based, it's no mother, no face, and it's grown in the ground. That's how you keep up with that For anyone that's listening and wanna just have a simple idea. So I am happy that you are talking about authenticity, because it's so important in learning who you are, your true self, so that your actions Align with what you really want to do. So, heather, thank you so much for being here and talking to us about how do you redefine success in the context of a plant-based lifestyle. So for people listening and they want to approach their Journey with authenticity and self-compassion. Do you have any final thoughts or words of encouragement?
Speaker 1:
I think you said it best when you're true to yourself, the decisions are pretty easy. If you're curious about adopting a plant-based diet, that's doesn't have to be a permanent decision. It's the type of thing that you can stick your toe in and Start with just incorporating more vegetables into your diet, exploring what other foods are plant-based that you might not have realized Could be. Just start small and follow your intuition, follow your taste buds, and it's not necessarily a light switch where you're on or off. You can always be incorporating more plants into your diet.
Speaker 3:
I'm so happy you said that this is not an all or nothing. It takes practice and it takes patience, and there's no perfection in what we're trying to say here I sure hope not, because I'm not getting it perfect by anything.
Speaker 3:
Is that really a thing? So thank you so much, heather, and thank you, the listeners, for tuning into this episode of plant-based curious. I hope you found inspiration and valuable insights to apply to your own plant-based journey and remember embracing authenticity and redefining success is a powerful path towards a healthier and more fulfilling life. Until next time, stay curious. Thanks again, heather.
Speaker 2:
Thank you for joining us on the plant-based curious podcast. We really hope you've enjoyed our discoveries, experiences and resources about the plant-based vegan lifestyle. Remember to click that subscribe button so you can join in on our future conversations. Until next time, allow yourself a little time and good energy. You.
