I don’t have a fancy medical degree or years of experience as a nutritionist. My degree is in Business Administration and Finance. Coincidentally, I never actually worked in finance. The majority of my career has been spent in Human Resources and Talent Acquisition. Prior to that I worked in the hospitality industry.
So you may be wondering, what qualifies me to write about health and wellness? Personal experience. About 15 years ago I made the decision to make a change in my life. I was in my early 20’s and was the heaviest I had ever been. One day I found myself out to dinner with my parents, we landed on a popular chain restaurant that rhymes with Led Robster. We ordered, and I found myself with a big plate of fried everything sitting in front of me. I vividly remember, looking down at my plate, and then looking up at my parents saying “I’m not happy with myself”.
Shortly after, I decided to do something about it. I downloaded a calorie tracking app and started logging everything I ate. I worked as a bartender at the time so I was on my feet for a minimum of 8 hours a day, logging lap after lap around the restaurant. That alone was great exercise but I also decided to incorporate a bit more at home. I grew up watching my mom try every exercise video known to man so I was familiar with some of the “moves”. I would typically do a short routine in the morning, about 15 minutes or so of crunches, lunges and other basic strength moves.
So, what happened? The weight came off. Little by little my pant size continued to get smaller. I remember going into work one day, overjoyed by the fact that I had just bought a size 3 pair of pants. I continued down that path, tracking my calories, logging miles at the restaurant, and following a moderate exercise routine. Now when I commit to doing something I do it. And I may tend to become a bit obsessive. Some days I was eating less than 1,200 calories a day. It got to the point where calories dominated my life, I was logging every crumb into the MyFitness app. Telling myself it was “bad” to eat anything over that.
One day I finally decided I was done counting calories. Letting something engross my life like that is no way to live. I did it for years, but in actuality it’s not sustainable in the long run. I began reading and doing research on better ways to maintain my weight without logging every meal into an app. What I discovered was at the time referred to as “clean eating”. I turned my focus to the quality of food I was putting into my body instead of the quantity.
As the years passed I’ve tried different diets and workout plans, always looking for new ways to stay thin. But in the end I always turned back to the simplest solution – paying attention to the quality of food that I put into my body.
Am I perfect? Of course not. Who is? But I do my best. I try not to get caught up in the hype, the marketing schemes, and the hottest dieting trends. Do I still have work to do? Always. Health and wellness is a lifetime journey. And I invite you to join me as we try to live our best lives.
Living Our Best Lives 