I have been wanting to write this blog for a while now but just didn't have the time. I would recommend to anyone that is coming into the Peace Corps to have a hobby in mind before they hit their location of service.
I decided that I wanted to improve my health and joining the Peace Corps was not only an excuse to help people using what I was trained to do but a reason to start a new chapter in life and make a life change!
I have successfully lost 55lbs and I think I am 3 dress sizes. People ask what I did? Well I did a few simple things and added to them as time passed.
1- watching what I eat, reduce not take away things that are not good for me such as, carbs (pasta, potato's, white rice, sugar, and soda). These are the main things that food nutritionists and dieters talk about. But I DID NOT just follow everything that people say to do and cut it out I did RESEARCH on WHY!!!! That has been the best thing for me to find the answer and the reasoning behind the answer.
2- Starts a food log. I have kept track of everything that comes in and out, when I slept, when I work out ,how I am feeling (over slept, tiered, mad, thirsty) and so on. I also marked underneath in red if it was something bad that I was eating and blue if it was good. Eventually I became a where of what was going in and all of the lines for the most part became blue!!! So I stopped underlining. I did not take away everything that I love just used moderation. Hell yes I still have fried chicken and French fries and every now and then I have a Coke. BUT I do notice how I feel after I consume what ever it is.
example (might be to much info for some ) I only got 6hr of sleep and I had chicken and chips, before I went to bed. The next morning I was so constipated and sleepy and cranky. You really can get in touch with your body and understand why you feel certain ways. its kind of incredible if you ask me.
I also write down recipes, and what the nutrition's say that make cense and have evidence behind them. Good proteins, good carbs, good sugars, snacks, workouts that are good. Anything you can add to your log. I decorated mine, added calendars, challenges, what the muscle's look like, what my plate should look like, I added quotes and reflections as well. Make it fun make it something you want t fill out every day.
3- Switched to whole wheat and cut out one meal of crabs a day. They make everything in whole wheat its just hard to get a hold of down here. I cant find brown rice to save my life. I also have been making recipes healthier switching out white flower with whole wheat and honey instead of sugar. it makes for a fun evening of cooking.
4- What you cook, you know what's going into your body. Their is not that many places to eat out in Grenada but we do have KFC, Subway and the chicken and chips truck. Mostly everything you eat that's considered a junk is fried, or a carb! You cant escape it some times. So I started cooking more and changing things like I mentioned in number 3. It makes me feel better that I know what I am eating. I also started besides more whole what eating more fruits and veggies, low fat yogurt, counting calories, sugar, sodium and asking questions when I go out. Do you have a calorie pamphlet? Most places will say no!! Is their a website I can go to? Again most places will say no but I ask any ways.
5- Walk everywhere and pick harder ruts to walk. If its longer has a hill and stairs then I will walk that way. I don't take the bus everywhere I WALK!!! That has made all of the difference in the world. Also working out.. You can YouTube HITT work out and get a million and one results. You need Cardio, Circuit Tanning, HITT , and Waits to tone. Also Netflix has some work out videos that you can follow. People cant say they don't have time anymore to get in shape because the HITT workouts are 10min in some cases.
6- I have hit my Plato and needed an extra boost. I joined the gym. Some days I got for 3hrs at a time. Spinning class, dance fit, waits, step aerobics, yoga,!!!!! You name it we have it. Its fun and I am making some new friends. I know some people are saying three hours no way. Well YES WAY!!!!! I do two one our classes and then work in the gym on waits with a personal trainer friend that I have. Its been amazing and I can already see the differences in my body.
I can tell that it has become a life change because my wardrobe is mostly work out cloths and I would rather look good for the gym than work at this point.. Every one has noticed a change in me. I am happier, I have more self confidence I feel good about myself and it has been a long time since I have felt that way about myself. I just have some tummy left to lose and about 20lb more.
So point being if you have a hobby that you think you want to start be ready and bring what you need because most things will be expensive and hard to find. I hope I didn't bore people to much but also of people wanted to know the secret well their it is. This is what I chose to help me change myself for the better get rid of stress and feel heather!!!!!
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