This photo was taken in late January, 2014.
The beginning of this year was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. I had decided toward the end of 2013 that I needed a major change in my life, so from January to early April, I had blinders on, working toward a specific goal, involving a pretty major career move to an amazing position I secured abroad. Unfortunately, in early summer, it became clear to me that I wouldn't be able to get the pieces to fall together, and I was forced to put all plans on hold until further notice. In short, I was devastated. Even now, months later, I am still feeling the regret of not being able to follow through on that plan at this time in my life.
Once my plans fell through, I became motivated in a different way. I thought to myself that I could still do some things to change my life and get out of my rut, so I started moving in another direction. I threw all my energy into a new goal: getting myself healthy.
On July 1, 2014, my first ever 6-week [paid] summer vacation began. Before it started, I had decided that I wanted to use that time to essentially reset everything in my life. I had been catching up on medical visits during the first half of the year, and I came to the realization through those appointments that I wasn't getting any younger - I know, how cliche. My health was really starting to suffer due to obesity, untreated hypothyroidism, sleep deprivation, and a generally unhealthy lifestyle.
Over the first couple of months, I started the process by making better dietary choices. I started by visiting the nutritionist at my university who suggested using the USDA's "MyPlate" for portion control and macro balance, which I did for about two months. I eventually saw another nutritionist who calculated my macronutrient requirements, and that helped even more.
Then, in September, I began exercising almost daily at the ODU gym doing cardio and weight training and even set up a home gym. I also started to take up swimming 2-3 times per week.
I even took up yoga!
By mid-October I had lost over 50 pounds.
Around that time, though, I'm not sure what happened. Slowly, but surely, I started to fall of the wagon; I guess I got busier with work, and I had some things going on in my personal life that were distracting me from my goals.
In short, I didn't make any real progress for the month of November.
Thanksgiving Day, 2014.
Now it's mid-December, and honestly, I'm at a complete stand-still. Let me be honest: I haven't been to the gym in probably a month now, and I've gone back to some of my poor eating and sleeping habits again. Thankfully, I don't think I've gained too much of the weight back in the last couple of months or so, but I do feel that I've gained a bit, and I've definitely lost some of the strength and, more importantly, the discipline I had developed when I was really serious about the diet and exercise regime I had established for myself.
So, it's time to get serious again.
First, I would like to adopt a vegan diet.
There are a number of different reasons why people choose to follow a vegan diet, but the main reasons I would like to do this are 1) to force myself to restrict my food options to primarily whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and nuts, and 2) to make more ethically and environmentally conscious dietary choices. There are obvious health benefits to a vegan diet, but in thinking about all of the reasons why I really should make the personal choice to be vegan or at least vegetarian, I'm still experiencing inner turmoil with regard to how I can make this a sustainable lifestyle choice for me.
My current thought process:
1) I am an animal lover. I abhor animal cruelty of any kind. If I eat meat or poultry (or even eggs or dairy products) that I know come from cruel farming practices, that makes me a hypocrite, right? Not to mention factory farms have a major negative impact on the environment - how can I call myself an environmentalist and support these practices by consuming products coming from this type of industry? Being a meat eater is inherently unethical and environmentally unsound. So, it's a simple choice right?
2) But, what if I just eat meat etc. from small, local, sustainable farms? That is environmentally sustainable, and the animals are (typically) treated better. But what about the natural resource requirements (water, energy, space) required to raise livestock? A plant-based diet is so much better for the environment even in this regard. It just makes sense to be vegan/vegetarian.
3) But what about wild harvested meat? And fishing? It would be really hard for me to give up fishing. Also, I think hunting is a really important life skill, and I love game meat (read: venison, rabbit). Could I consume these things sparingly maybe? I'm really really torn on this point.
4) I've always wanted to raise chickens for eggs. Also, I could use the manure for fertilizer. I'm torn on this too.
5) What about when I travel or am in the company of my international friends? I feel like I may find myself in social situations where I will need or want to make a lot of exceptions either for social or cultural reasons. Also, perhaps sometimes out of necessity.
So, here is what I am thinking: follow the vegan diet MOST of the time, unless I am 1) traveling or in a "cultural" situation requiring me to eat non-vegan food, or 2) catching/hunting or raising the animals and animal products I will be consuming myself. So, I'm not really sure what to call this, but it's the best I can do for now. Maybe this can be like step 1 to veganism?
Second, I need to kick start my exercise routine. I've already started this process by setting up a standing desk at work. I'd also like to re-start my daily walks. I also need to be weight training again - I'd like to do 4 times per week. I also want to do 4 days per week of cardio. Also, I really want to give jogging another try; I may need to start with walking, though, as my knees became a concern back in October.
Third, I want to focus on yoga and meditation practice. Yoga three times per week. Minimum. Meditation daily.
Fourth, I will fully embrace minimalism and establish strong routines at home. I will continue Project: De-clutter until I no longer am in possession of unnecessary things in my home. I will also establish some really awesome schedules and systems for myself so I can stay on top of things at home - this has been hard for me in the past because of my work-life imbalances.
So, here's where I stand. For the last two weeks of this year, I'm going to make a final push. I'll work on forming these new habits and routines now so that I can ease right in to the new year.
I learned a lot about myself in 2014, and I'm really excited to see what 2015 brings!
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