cp005e

31 years old : Female : Rochester, NY

"Fit to see the world"

About Me

I'm a transplanted Midwesterner who came east for college and never left. I've been a vegetarian since I was 13. My weight has gone up and down a lot since high school, but mostly up. I have a huge sweet tooth and got into a lot of bad habits in college and after - particularly eating when I was tired, bored, or unhappy.

The most extreme thing I ever did was a couple of juice fasts - one for about 3 weeks, and another for 2 weeks. I was thinking of it as a 'cleanse' as well as a weight loss tool, and I felt just fine at the time and lost about 20-30 pounds. However, I have since decided that THIS WAS A VERY BAD IDEA!!!! Of course I gained the weight back (and then some). A few months after the fast, my hair started falling out like crazy (not balding, but definitely thinner). It did start growing back a few months later. Also, a couple years later, I was diagnosed with gallstones (after several months of very painful attacks) and had to have my gallbladder removed. I now believe that the yo-yo dieting and fasting probably contributed to the gallbladder problems and hair loss. What I am doing now is really changing my lifestyle - for the rest of my life! I know that the weight loss may be slower than some of the quick fixes I used in the past, but I also know that this is not a DIET. These are habits that I am building now so that I can be healthy for a long time to come.

Exercise has rarely been a habit for me - until lately! - I've tended towards the read a book/watch a movie/play a video game ways of filling my free time. And hanging out with my awesome hubby, of course. But now he is with me in committing to healthy eating (which is so wonderful for me - especially since he does most of the cooking!) and regular exercise. We love to travel and just got back from a big trip - to Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands!

Why I Want To Get In Shape

To make my 30s to be healthier than my 20s.

To not dread going shopping for clothes because nothing ever fits.

To be able to walk around the Incan ruins at high elevation without getting too out of breath.

My Inspirations