If you follow me on Instagram, you already know my new year’s resolution.
I’ve started a journey to eat as clean as possible (90% clean, 10% traditional), build muscle, and lean out my body.
The past 15 years (maybe more) I’ve hovered at more or less 112-pounds when stepping on the scale. Certainly a weight many women might “dream” of being. The problem is, the majority of that 112-pound frame is fat. I have very little muscle, which is most likely because for the past 15 years I’ve sat at a computer doing web and graphic design. Sure, I’ve had brief moments of athleticism — field hockey in eighth grade, the rowing team in college, then personal trainer sessions my senior year of college to work off a month eating my way through Europe the previous summer, my recent interest in running. But those have all come in waves; there’s never been a steady flow where I’ve challenged my body.
So, after randomly stumbling across a bikini competitor on the popular page of Instagram last summer, discovering she was about my height and weight when she started, and how far she came in 4 months, I decided I wanted to do something about the pooch around my midsection.
How can I feel “fat” when my weight and height combination registers as “underweight” on a BMI chart? It’s pretty easy when there’s a thick padding of fat around my entire body.
I’ve definitely received some comments saying “WHY are you dieting?!?! You’re sooo skinny already!” Well, thank you? I guess? The problem is, it’s easy to look good in clothing, but I want to look good in a bikini. There’s a reason why there are 341 million search results for the phrase “look good naked.” I want to be STRONG, not skinny.
This is a prime example of what I’m talking about:
And about that neutral word which has a negative connotation – diet. The definition of the word “diet” is “the foods eaten, as by a particular person or group.” EVERYONE has a diet. Mine is one that I strive to be filled with whole foods and minimally processed foods.
In fact, that’s what the basis of this entire blog was born out of. When I bought this domain name and started building this site four years ago, I wanted to show people that cooking is easy. That you don’t need to buy fancy ingredients (whether processed or expensive or both) to make a healthful meal. I even started (but didn’t finish, ah, the life of an Aries) an article in 2010 titled “What are overprocessed foods?”
But I also love baked goods to death, so those recipes were bound to be posted here 🙂
And for the record, I’m eating way more than I normally did. 5-6 balanced meals a day, every 3 hours. My meals consist of 3-4 ounces of protein with complex carbs and veggies. I’m rarely hungry.
I’m excited to share with you the meals I’ve been coming up with! The best way to see what I’m up to more frequently (and to get quick recipes) is to follow me on Instagram.
And for my friends that are annoyed by all my health/fitness posts: unfollow me. I don’t want to bug you and won’t be offended.
In closing, I think this video is hilarious 🙂