Over the past few years my family has become more and more health conscious. We've read blogs, and research, and books, and articles! We've tried many, MANY different ways of eating. Paleo. Maximized Living. And have occasionally dabbled in vegan eating. All of the above mentioned forms of "diet" are, in my book, always a good way to go if you're eating fast food, drinking soda, and purchasing boxed, processed foods from the grocery store. They'll ALL provide you better quality health, and therefore a higher quality of life! Who doesn't want that?!?
A quick side track to explain the reasoning behind my constant quest for better health. On December 12, 2008 I watched my dad die from cancer. Technically it was septic shock that took him, but without the cancer he wouldn't have taken the chemo pills that sent his body into the downward spiral that killed him. So cancer won again. I DO NOT want to die anywhere near the age of 57 from health related issues if I have the power to take charge now. And I do. So I've been searching for what will be best for me. And what makes me feel my best.
Eating Maximized Living, above all the others, far and away was the BEST I've ever felt in my life. The main difference that I can see is that you completely sugar detox. You can't even have rice or bananas at first!! (grains turn to sugar as soon as they hit your mouth, so those are out! And even fruit sugar is technically still sugar {although MUCH better for your body!!!} and you can't have most fruits when you start that program.) The only reason we stopped eating that way can be summed up in one word: Pregnancy. I got pregnant and the hormones and sour stomach took over and sugary sweets were all I could ingest without vomitting, so I ate them. And off the wagon I fell.
But now, it's been 15 months since I was pregant. I've lost 20 pounds. I still eat sugar. And I don't feel as lively and energetic as I want to. I'm broken out all of the time. I'm having actual migraines, and that's totally new to my life! I'm having panic attacks and fairly extreme anxiety from time to time during the months. I can't fall asleep without help from something. Wine, benedryl, etc. It's time to take the reins back into my own hands! And that's exactly what I plan to do.
We've watched just enough documentaries to feel ready and able to make the steps to becoming vegan. My favorite sources of inspiration are The Kind Life, Alicia Silverstone's personal lifestyle. Vegucated, a documentary we watched on Netflix, and of course Forks Over Knives, another Netflix documentary. I also follow all of these on facebook and get daily inspiration by reading their posts. If you want to know why I chose to become vegan, watch and read those. They cite research that I find compelling. Also, being vegan completely goes alongside my intense desire to promote saving the planet! Or at least stopping the damage now. Eating meat is horrible on the environment. Horrible. Disgustingly so. And I already feel better as a human being knowing that I don't "just recycle". I'm taking even more steps to reduce my carbon footprint. For me. For my kids! (Who will indeed have to fix all of our selfish decisions in the future... sorry kids.)
Now on to my fitness goals! One of my friends on facebook posted this AMAZING link the other day. Arthur's Inspirational Transformation. If THIS man can change his life and his fate, any of us can! My husband ordered the DVD's and we just started this morning. My husband has a horrible back due to a terrible accident from being thrown from horse when he was 11. He almost died. Since then he hasn't helped his back, or body. He played in numerous bands, one of which was a metal band where the thrashing around couldn't have helped. So this program will be perfect for him. I'm excited to see what results our determination will provide!
Another fitness goal of mine, besides getting this yoga thing down, is to get my knees and body in shape enough to do a color run! I REALLY want to! But first I want to strengthen my joints. Did you know that when you're pregnant (as I've been 3 times) the hormones that relax your ligaments so your stomach can expand to hold a baby not only affect the ligaments in your hip and tummy area, but ALL joints and ligaments?!! I can feel this horrible after affect, and I must strengthen myself before I dare run much. But it is a goal. Color Run!!
So there you have it! Get fit with yoga. Start jogging soon. Eat clean and healthy vegan. I'm empowering this mommy of three to be healthier!
Here's my pic from today. What will be in a few months my "before" picture! And I'm going to say it, I'm NOT embarassed of how I look. I've had three kids. I don't work out yet. And frankly, I have zero desire to look like a model. That's honest. I like curves. I personally find curves on women attractive. Not that naturally string bean women are unattractive, but we all have our gravitations, don't we? So I'm not out to be a certain size, see a certain number on the scale, etc. I just want to feel good.
So there I am! Not too bad! My last "before pictures" I weighed 20 pounds more. So these I feel pretty good about!
That will conclude my post for today. I do really want to blog and post and share about the kids birthdays, but that is going to take me some time! Zoey's Super Party was yesterday! It. Was. Awesome. I'll share a quick picture or two, a sneak peek! Have a great Sunday!
