Turnaround

Hi all! I know it's been awhile; I completely skipped blogging in July for some reason. But I'm back, so those (1) of you who keep up with this, thanks for your patience!

Here's the major news since we last convened: I have completely cut out meat and am now a vegetarian. I am not vegan, nor do I wish to be, but I'm doing what I can for the environment, the animals, and my health. (Don't do nothing because you can't do everything, right?)

The transition hasn't been that difficult. It's only been about a month, so far, but I've really been surprised by how little effort it takes to construct meals around things other than meat. I've simply introduced a lot more veggies and fruits, nuts, legumes, grains and pastas into my diet. The trick is making sure to get more veggies & fruits, and not simply living on carbs. It can be tricky when eating in restaurants, depending on the restaurant, but ethnic places are pretty easy. It's the all-American "steakhouse" that poses a challenge. My solution has typically been to order one of those giant chicken salads without the chicken & bacon. The restaurant where I work in the summer has several varieties of the chicken salad, and they're all full of mixed greens & veggies and can be had without any meat without sacrificing flavor or fullness.

Anybody who knows me will be shocked to hear that I also continue to work out almost every day! The workout schedule started in April and in the beginning was horrible and achy and painful. Now, however, I've grown accustomed to my workouts and they don't make me feel achy so much as powerful. I've gained quite a bit of muscle, and my tummy has tightened back up again. Yay! Vanity and health!

In another astonishing blow to those who think they know me, I have been flossing every single day since around mid-June when I visited the dentist. Even though I hadn't been in 4 years, I didn't have any cavities or other major problems, and I figured I should thank my lucky stars and maybe start taking better care of my teeth, since they are apparently doing all they can to take care of me.

So that's the turnaround; I've adopted a healthier lifestyle. I'm really hoping I can stick with it long-term. Wish me luck!