Keeping it Up in The New Year

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First and foremost, welcome to 2019! I'm glad you're here!

​I've done a lot of reflecting in the past two weeks and have given myself time to consider different nuances and possibilities for this year. I have had time to look back on how 2018 went for me and how I could have made things better and also had time to think about what I need to do more of in 2019. I hope you have too. As a person that is highly motivated by setting goals and breaking boundaries, I'm always in competition with myself to do more and to do better, so this year won't be any different. My first goal for the year is to maintain my health journey from 2018. Without a healthy lifestyle, nothing else really matters.

For the past six months, I have been living in Haiti, the "poor" and "desolate" country that changed my life in so many ways. I have been back in the states now for two weeks and I have seen first hand how easy it is to break positive habits and get sucked back into the negativity that is America. Everybody thought that I would get sick, moving to Haiti, but for me, it's the other way around. 

Going to Haiti, I went from low level activity and high processed foods to higher temperatures, more water, natural and organic foods and constant movement. I walked a lot, trained physically every day and had a limit on how much food I could eat... not because anybody limited me, but because there was less food available. I got used to eating at certain times, eating less in general, and even though the meals in Haiti were high in starch, my level of exercise forced me to lose weight without me even realizing it. The weight just kind of fell off.

I lost a little over 30 pounds in six months and I was really proud of myself. I've never considered myself "big," but after losing 30 pounds in the right places, it's obvious to me that I had become bigger than I thought or could see. I never hated my body, but I've learned to really love and appreciate it.

For me, the problem lies in this: I'VE BEEN HOME FOR TWO WEEKS AND HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING TO MAINTAIN MY GOALS! It's just not the same being in America. I gave myself this two weeks to enjoy all the things I missed, to celebrate the holidays with my family and to indulge, but that shouldn't mean gorging or pigging out on pizza and wings, or drinking a ton of alcohol. I've already gone without all of it, so I'm disappointed that it was so easy to get hooked on the same things I struggled to let go. I've been eating pork, drinking less water, and my skin is breaking out. Yes, the air is different and the weather is colder so I spend more time inside, but NO. I don't have time for my own excuses! It's still the first week of January and I committed myself to changing my lifestyle, so I need to stay consistent.

This morning, I decided to start making a series of meals that are super filling, extremely tasteful, light in unnatural bs and generally pretty good for you (within reason). Tomorrow, I will get back on my exercise regimen (follow it on my "Gains" story on Instagram). I will be more excited about my life and continue to stay motivated the same way that I have been. Two weeks was a cute break, but I promised to keep pushing on and encouraging you all to do the same. Reclaim your time. Reaffirm yourself, your life and your love, all 2019! Crush those goals. Set higher expectations. You deserve all the best! We have to all keep it up in the new year!

Happy and Healthy Living,
Née :-*

Make a Mess to Make Your Mark