Hello everyone - My Goals

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Hello! My name is Angela. I am a vegetarian and, although it sounds like I would sound like I am very healthy, I am not at my peak. I have a sensitivity to gluten (the protein in wheat) and I have been eating processed food and sugar lately.

I wish to get back to my healthy self and surpass my previous health. At one point, I was 117 lbs (5' tall) and I felt great. I exercised nearly every day - whatever amount I could muster (cardio/aerobic), and I made sure to constantly snack throughout the day on healthy things like cut up pieces of fruit and dried fruit, veggies, and nuts. I would usually drink coconut water. Back then I cut out all processed foods and I ditched the sugar and white starches.

Back then I felt like I wasn't even trying because I had made up my mind to be healthy for my health. I have a tendency to faint and get "foggy" brained. I didn't want that or the side effects of the gluten sensitivity. (Not to mention I am lactose intolerant!) I cut out all dairy as well except for eggs - I ate eggs every morning whether or not I wanted them. I did this all while being in a relationship with someone who was not very health conscious, although I loved him. I was not happy and I was doing everything I could to try to make it work.

Since then, my life has changed drastically - I am in a new loving relationship with a terrific and healthy, athletic man. I am trying to find my motivation and I am noticing that my sugar addiction has returned. It's not rational - I eat it when I am not hungry just because it is there. Sometimes I eat it 'til it's gone, just so that I won't eat it in the future. It makes no sense and I want to rid myself of it. It used to be so easy to just say no.

What used to keep me from eating poorly was that I have a hyper sensitive immune system which can be triggered into passing out with any stress on my emotional or physical self. I was trying to get rid of it by eating healthier, but at the time it must have been mostly emotional. Now that the emotional trigger seems to be gone (my doctor and a nurse have since confirmed for me what I have), then I need to find my serious motivation.

This year, my new job has propelled me into this downward eating spiral again. Free nutrient-free food has come into the break room too many times and it is very tempting when I haven't eaten breakfast and it isn't lunch time.

To start fresh in the New Year, intend on doing a 21 day cleanse with the help of the book, Crazy Sexy Diet. (It is not really a diet. It is a lifestyle change ).

Later in the year I would love to get a vitamix blender and a dehydrator for the home. I would say one of the toughest things this year for me has been a change in my occupation - I get paid hundreds of dollars less than I used to and the first thing I cut back on tends to be food. I don't eat enough of the good stuff anymore.

My goal would really be to fit back into the clothes I used to wear with ease. I bought all new clothes before the end of my last serious relationship because I was losing weight without meaning to. I want the ease of that mindset to come back.

I am also going to be a part of a wellness program at work which will require me to exercise at least 30 minutes 3 times per week. Right now, I might work out once or twice a week and that is not going to cut it anymore. My boyfriend is running some serious races next year and I want to be able to keep up with him - not to run the same races, but to put health at as much of a priority as he does, if not more. (He's a meat eater and I am not).

So to sum it up, to bring in the New Year and show how happy I am on the inside reflected on the outside, I am going to:

-Kick the sugar habit (It is a horribly addicting drug which doesn't taste good at all to me when I am eating healthily)
-Fit into my healthy clothes & my swimsuits without focusing on weight
-Ditch processed food
-Be fit enough to run around with my boyfriend without catching my breath before him

I plan on doing this by:

-Making sure that I wake up early enough to eat a healthy breakfast
-Drinking more water (and adding lemon to it like I was doing for a while - especially for my tea in the morning)
-Shooting for eating when I am hungry - every 2 hours, small meals/snacks and snacking lightly in between
-Eating 2 cups of vegetables at every meal
-Juicing and making smoothies regularly (I am aiming for juice in the morning, smoothie in the afternoon or vice-versa)
-Aerobic activity most days of the week - preferably 5 days out of the week. I am aiming for 7 because our bodies are meant to move everyday (I have a desk job)
-Being more mindful by keeping a log of my activity and my meals - I am going to attempt to do that by using this website, but I may also get a physical journal. I believe that it is better to keep my eye on the prize this way.
-Meditation through visualization of a happy body and keeping myself inspired by how I feel when I am treating my body like a temple.

My ideal waistline is 28" at least. I've been there before and I kept losing it. I was not a twig because I am short. I am sure that if I replaced what I had with muscle, that would be my ideal fit self. My ultimate goal is to be at my current ideal self by the end of March. I want to be my best, healthiest self ever by then because that is my anniversary and my boyfriend and I started dating with health as the focus (5Ks and activities). He inspires me to be more healthy.