Balance

Balance could possible be the most important thing in our lives, though it often gets overlooked. Everyone has heard the old cliche about too much of a good thing can be a bad thing or however it goes.... It's true. If you eat ridiculously healthy 100% of the time that could even be a bad thing. If only for the simple fact that you need to let your hair down now and then. The secret to success and happiness in life is balance.

I consider myself a pretty balanced person. I have experienced a large number of social settings throughout my life and have adopted bits and pieces from many of them. I see both sides of the political spectrum. I can understand someone who is devoutly religious and someone who is an atheist. I can see how materialism can so easily sweep us away in this day and age, and I can see how amazing it might feel to be a minimalist. On all these different types of spectrum's, there isn't someone who is right and someone who is wrong. It's just different people with different ideas, and had you been born somewhere else or to another family, you very well might be the person on the other side of where you stand now. If you believe that you are a unique human being and that your character or your spirit is something that you were born with, you are wrong. Human beings are shaped by their surroundings. Whether it's culture, parents, friends, location, or a past trauma, you are who you are based upon your experiences. If we can understand this, then maybe we can understand that we are all actually the exact same. People are all the same, they have just been shaped differently than you.

Balance needs to be a part of every persons life. It's even okay it it's extreme on both ends of the spectrum. Myself for example, I might spend my entire week being super disciplined. I'll go to bed early and wake early so I can hit the gym. I'll get all of my work and school completed. I will do yoga and meditate, trying to ensure that my spirit and my mental health are taken care of. Then, after all these things have been completed from Monday through Friday, I might party like a rock star on the weekend. Some people will judge me throughout the week, saying I'm boring or maybe I'm a weird hippy. Some people will judge me on the weekend and say I'm a lush or me and my friends are bad influences. Neither of these judgments bother me, because I know exactly where I need to be, because I maintain good balance. If any of the things I do start to get out of hand I real it in and re-evaluate myself. Besides, my personal happiness doesn't come from anyone else, it comes from within. What others think of my is important, but it's not that important. I don't need to fit into the stereotypical mold of what I'm supposed to be, because that wouldn't make me happy and I would feel unbalanced.

At the end of the day, this is something that each person needs to figure out on their own. We all have a sweet spot in which to operate in. That sweet spot will ensure maximum efficiency in our lives. No one can tell you what you need in life, so just never stop looking until you find it.

Cheers.

Plant based

I feel like vegetarianism (in all it's different aspects) and veganism are things that are growing fairly rapidly. It's for sure one of many things that is really great about the whole Netflix documentary thing that has become so big. People are really starting to analyze the way they live their lives, and we are choosing to make better decisions for ourselves and our families, instead of just going along with society like a mindless robot....

I haven't eaten meat in about a month. I seemed to continually run across documentaries, health articles, or pod casts boasting the benefits of a plant based diet. I decided to give it a try, tip toeing at first before I went all the way in. Right now I'm a vegetarian, or specifically, something like a Lacto-vegetarian (eats dairy) and Ovo-vegetarian (eats eggs). Eventually I want to go strict vegan, but it's a process and learning how to pack my food for an entire day at work can be hard at times.

Since deciding to adopt this lifestyle, I have experienced a monumental shift in my way of life and how I view things. Strictly speaking about my physical body, I have lost fat and maintained my muscle. I used to have some issues with my stomach, specifically bouts of stomach pain and constipation (sorry if that's TMI). Those issues cleared up almost immediately. I have high energy levels, a good mood, and I notice no negative impact at this time. These are the small things that this lifestyle change did for me. Voluntarily choosing to change the way I live opened a door for me that I never knew was closed. I know this might sound kind of cheesy, but I started to really reflect on the way I lived. I have since adopted a form of minimalism, I strive to live a very intentional life and I am truthful and I attempt to leave a positive impact on those I come across.

Now, are all these lifestyle changes directly attributed to eating plants? No, of course not. It was the act of doing something intentionally that caused this damn to open up. So many of us are just going through our lives like our parents did.... this is how it's always been. Hold up. Stop thinking like that. We are human beings, capable of anything! The human spirit is a beautiful thing, but it has to be nurtured and allowed to blossom. Feed your spirit, and it will most certainly return the favor.

Anyways! Back on topic. When people ask me why I stopped eating meat, here are my reasons.

1. From the knowledge that I currently have, and am striving to attain more of, it seems to me that it can be a very healthy diet.
2. I am of the opinion that big agriculture is really bad for the environment. Environmental conservation is very important to me, so this is a way for me to help.
3. I am living a life of non-violence and compassion. If I can get all of my nutrition in a manner in which nothing has to die, why wouldn't I?

Those are my reasons. Additionally, food is still super delicious! Not too long ago I made some vegan burritos and they were amazing!

Whole grain brown rice
Pinto beans
Garlic, onion, tomatoes, and jalapeno roasted in olive oil
Fresh Avocado
Siracha! Everyone loves Siracha!

So, that's that. I'm not going to criticize anyone who eats meat or tell people how to live their life. You won't see me on the corner with a meat is murder sign. I'm just saying, think about it. Cows and piggies are alive! They don't have to die just so we can have a crappy burger :-(

Fitness

Fitness, just like diet, is a constant struggle. Even for elite athletes, it never ends. You are never finished. It's a lifestyle. Do I want to be fit or not? If the answer is yes, then it's time to get to work.

For anyone just starting out on their road to fitness, there are many ways to get started, and it all depends on what your goals are. The most important thing is to begin! You can't say tomorrow or next week, start right now. With that, you don't need to rush out and hire a personal trainer and buy a new gym membership. These are options for everyone but not requirements. I always tell people, and practice this myself, find hobbies that keep you active. Many of us don't necessarily want to grind away in the gym for hours and hours. We just want to maybe lose a couple pounds, tone up, or gain a little lean muscle. Most of this can be accomplished without ever going to the gym and with no difficult work out programs. Hiking, biking, walking with a friend or partner, swimming, sports.... there are so many things that you can do to increase your fitness level, and you can have a great time while doing it! Additionally there are tons of groups out there for these types of things so you might even meet some cool new people in the process!

I like to stay active as much as possible. For me it's all about having a routine. I wake up early almost every week day and hit the gym or get a run in. It's tough at first, but once I got used to it I couldn't live without it. It's my favorite time of the day. It's the one time of the day where nothing matters except myself, and we all need that. Then on the weekends or in some evenings I enjoy active hobbies like I mentioned above.

For me fitness isn't about being overly vain or impressing anyone. It's about quality of life and staying healthy. I have a pretty rugged career and I see what happens to folks who don't take care of their bodies. By their 40's they are broken down and wore out. I don't want this for myself. I want to run through the woods and climb trees and use my body the way it was meant to be used, as my vehicle through life. If you don't take care of your vehicle it will break down and leave you stranded. No one wants that.

All it takes is that first step. Or if you have already started, push yourself harder. The only one stopping you is YOU! Your not going to get the body you want by hoping for it. If you can't make it to the gym today that's okay. Take a few minutes after reading this knock out a couple crunches or push ups or whatever! That's what I did ;-)

Grab what is yours. It's waiting!

Diet

Diet..... this one is tough for a lot of people. Ask anyone who is really strong, really fit, etc. and they will usually tell you that working out is the easy part. Diet is a much more difficult process. Hours of meal prep every weekend, this or that is so bad for you, how many grams of protein do I need, how many calories should I be taking in..... Argh! So many things to think about and it gets so overwhelming!

I chose to simplify things for myself, and it's my recommendation to anyone else who wants to be more healthy. Additionally, this really goes for anything life, not just eating better. Start small. Take baby steps. Maybe at first you just take away something like drinking soda. A couple weeks later maybe you try and limit fast foods to only once or twice a week. Things like this are very beneficial and have a huge impact. As it stands right now, I try and keep my daily consumption of added sugar as low as possible, and I avoid processed foods as much as I can. These are the things I have done so far. In the future I may take a crack at going vegetarian/vegan and keep my diet super clean, but I'm not there yet. If I tried to go from how I was a few months ago to being a strict vegan overnight it would fail miserably I'm sure. These things are tough and need to be approached gently.

I will tell you that any change you make is a step in the right direction. Since I have limited my sugar and processed food intake, and just generally trying to make good diet decisions daily, I feel better already. I have more energy, I'm in a better mood, I'm more motivated to stay busy, I'm more motivated in the gym. I just generally feel good, and that in turn fuels a desire to push things even farther. Lately I've become so interested in the diet and the way our bodies intake food that I've even contemplated completely changing my degree path and focusing on health and nutrition. We shall see though, remember, one step at a time.

Back tracking real quick to the sugar thing. The American Heart Association recommends daily intake of sugar not exceed 37.5 grams for men and 25 grams for woman, sorry ladies.... One 12 oz can of Mountain Dew has 46 grams of sugar. 46 grams in one can! So if you drink one soda you are over your daily limit. How many people do you know that drink soda, sweet sea, sugar filled coffees, energy drinks, etc. all day long? A lot of people do. These drinks do nothing for you and in my opinion should be the first thing to go in any new health plan. If you need the caffeine boost now and then, black tea or black coffee is great! Yes it might not taste like dessert but your pallet quickly adapts to changes and before you know it black coffee/tea will taste A-OK! Maybe try purchasing a higher quality brew to help with the transition.

In closing, take baby steps with your health and fitness goals. Don't try and become super strict about it overnight. Ease into this new lifestyle a small piece at a time. And ditch the sugar filled, nutritionally empty junk!