Disappointed, I must admit that lately this blog has been more of an online scrapbook instead of an actual blog.
Examples:
Here
And Here
Oh, and here.... Get my point?
I'm 100% guilty of uploading a thousand pictures to BlogSpot.com, writing a few lines as captions, and calling it a blog. Isn't a blog supposed to be where someone can write down all of their thoughts and ideas, then post it to the world wide web and have everyone chime in with their opinion? So many people do this all too well --- and by seeing this on a daily basis, it makes me feel like I'm totally slacking.
I have no problem admitting that I am a frequent blog reader. The ones I read are so damn funny. And I love the brainless entertainment I get out of it (sort of like reality TV, but better). But then after reading it, I sit here and think about my blog and the time I put into it and think............... WTF, Jaclyn?
I'm sorry my blog friends (if any of you exist.....?) I'm sorry for slacking on the stories about "Life with Fennels" Lately all you've been getting is something equivalent to logging onto Facebook, typing in my name, and going through my Facebook albums. And it is MUCH easier to upload pictures to Facebook (might I add), so I am totally confused as to why I've been doing this.
In my defense, we have had some very exciting things happen lately [that involve pictures]: home improvements, vacations, etc.
And fair warning: There will be more posts FULL of pictures. Just not all the time.
Now that I've got that out of the way, I want to share with you what's been on my mind lately.
Living a healthy lifestyle
Ah, so much easier said than done......... As most of you have witnessed, in May I was obsessed with trying to get physically healthy and active. I failed. Terribly.
Enjoy my horrible attempts of me trying to get healthy:
I've tried cooking with all fresh products, running, p90x, gluten free. You name it, I've tried it. And as embarrassed as I am to admit it.... we even tried ---- (gasp)................... A juice fast.
THE WORSE THING IN THE WORLD!
We watched "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead" -- a documentary on Netflix about an incredibly overweight and unhealthy man who did a 60 day juice fast and completely changed his life. Intrigued, Matt and I decided to give it a shot. My parents let us use their juicer and we committed to a FULL WEEK of just juicing. No food. No solids. Just juice.
Here are pictures to prove that we tried.
Our cart for one week
^ Matt knew he was getting into a shitty situation
^ I love this one because I clearly knew my Mom was taking a picture. Look how "happy" I am to know that would be drinking kale and carrots. What a fake.
^Yummmmmmmm (not)
So, we started on Day One and by five o clock -- I was in total bitch mode. Unhappy. Unpleasant. Hungry. And clearly going through withdrawals.
It was seriously like a movie where it shows someone withdrawing from a hardcore drug. My eyes were sensitive to light. I had a horrible migraine. And the second I got home from work, I laid on the couch and didn't move. I was miserable.
I imagine I looked something like this.
Needless to say, I quit on Day Two.
But I learned something very powerful during this one day juicing adventure.
I learned that I am completely -- 100% -- without a shadow of a doubt -- addicted to processed food.
"Food" that isn't even real food. The shit food that causes diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, cancer, death.... everyday around this country.
I was withdrawing because I was used to eating 100% shit, garbage, processed, nasty food.
Not kale.
How sad is that? How sad is it that someone like myself can be so addicted to such horrible food? How did this happen?
I am an educated, middle class woman in my upper 20s who is now just learning that the SHIT I've been putting in my body for the past 26 years is killing people around the world. And could eventually kill me.
I've read studies
I've seen documentaries.
If you want a crash course, then commit 12 minutes to better understand what you eat:
Warning: The next one is rough. Watch at your own risk.
I've learned in these documentaries that there is a protein in animal products that has been shown to cause cancer ("Forks Over Knives").
I've heard that Taco Bell is no longer allow to call it "meat" and can only refer to it as "protein" because its not real meat.
I've heard that K-F-C is no longer allowed to be called "Kentucky Fried Chicken" because its not real chicken.
I know the facts of Monsanto.
I know the facts of GMOs.
I know the benefits of an all organic, raw, Vegan diet.
And yet ---- I don't choose to follow it.
And after watching powerful documentaries, reading several studies, and knowing these facts....
I still choose to eat processed food. I still shop at Woodman's instead of Whole Foods and I still buy the normal GMO foods. I still crave Taco Bell (protein and all) and my favorite meal is the Royal Red Robin Burger that is basically a bacon and egg cheeseburger. (That SCREAMS NON-VEGAN)
Am I that set in my ways and that addicted to not make a change that could save my life?
And I know the difference of opinions, trust me. Matt has challenged every single documentary I've showed him regarding going Vegan or Vegetarian. Its truly a personal opinion, I get that. But from what I've seen and from what I've heard, I have reason to believe that there are benefits from avoiding animal products .
(......as much as I love bacon).
Ideally, I would snap my fingers and make myself an all organic, Raw, vegan. But how do I even begin? Do I have enough will power?
Admittedly, I was able to quit smoking (ew, I know) COLD TURKEY and I've never gone back, but yet, something as simple as basic food -- is so hard to change.
Why?
My next dilemma,
Exercise.
I wish (again) I could just snap my fingers and be a marathon runner.
*Sidenote: I understand being a marathon runner AND a vegan is not likely. (Holler Adrienne Testa!) But you get the point.
In high school, I had a drill sergeant for a coach that kept my ass in shape. I even rocked a mini six pack. In college, I managed to stay skinny because of my high metabolism. Before the wedding, I was so stressed that there was no way I'd gain weight. But since the wedding, I've put on a few pounds.......
And before you even think, "Jaclyn! Shutup! You are soooo [insert word synonymous with skinny here]", let me just share with you MY side of the story. I get it.
I'm petite. I'm short. I'm small boned. I've been blessed with a very high metabolism until my mid twenties. I am by no means fat. And I DO NOT have self image issues. BUT----
Since our wedding which was six months ago, I've gained 10% of my body weight.
Let that sink in.
TEN PERCENT. And No, I'm NOT PREGNANT.
Would you be okay gaining ten percent of your body weight in six months?
No.
And for those of you who think, "You needed it." Then all I have to say is.......
@&^#*&#*!!
I need to exercise so this doesn't happen again. A secret dream/goal of mine is to one day run a marathon-- even a half marathon -- but if you paid me $20 right now to run measly two miles, I'd really consider if I could do it.
How do I even start to train?
Speaking of, didn't I sign up for a 5k recently?
Oh yeah. The Color Me Rad.
"Sadly", Ryann (my dear friend) hurt her ankle the night before, so I had no choice but to walk it.
I'm pitiful.
It was still fun.
Ryann with her hurt ankle.
Addie and me (in the reflection)
Before (Ryann with her gimp ankle)
Getting warmed up for our walk.
After -- we are so colorful
Mark my words: I WILL LEARN HOW TO RUN LONG DISTANCE.
I understand that eating healthy and losing weight goes hand in hand, but I'd really love to be more active. I lived such an active lifestyle in my teens and really miss being in great shape.
Its the normal challenge of coming home from a full time job, making time to cook a healthy meal, then having enough time to work out after. How can I get that all in and still spend time with my husband?
I can't even imagine how women with young children do it.
Its the normal dilemma of spending so much money at Whole Foods for organic food verses spending less money at Woodman's for conventional pesticide/GMO filled food. But like the 11 year old boy said, "We can either pay the farmers or pay the hospitals"
Organic food is expensive, but so are medical bills.
Now all I need to do is swallow my pride and actually SHOP at the Co-op or at Whole Foods.....
Oh and convince Matt that its worth the one hundred dollar difference.....
Maybe one day I'll be so organic and raw Vegan crazy and so physically active that my darling husband won't know what to do with me. Can you imagine MATT as a Raw Vegan. Ha!
Even talking about this stuff drives him crazy sometimes......
Which is why I have you........ Thanks by the way.
My real reasoning:
Matt's real opinion:
Goodnight loves.
No comments:
Post a Comment