Loving Life

Today I choose life.

As I was putting on make-up the other day, a post-it caught my eye in the mirror.  It was one of my mantras I had posted when I quit smoking, it said “Life is about choices.  Today I choose life.”  I used to look at that every morning and often said it out loud.  It brought me comfort during those tough times because I knew that smoking was choosing death.

So I got to thinking about smoking and addiction.  It’s such a strange addiction.  For those who haven’t smoked, it’s no wonder you often don’t understand how hard it is for smokers to quit.  It’s gross, it stinks, and makes no sense.  However, when your in the throws of addiction, you don’t know how you will live your life without smoking.    Life without smoking seems scary.  Hard.  Less enjoyable.  I used to hear former smokers say they actually enjoyed life much more without smoking.  What?  I didn’t believe them until almost 7-8 months after I quit.  How could life be better without smoking?  I liked smoking.  Right?!?

No, I liked the comfort I believed smoking gave me.  I liked smoking a cigarette because it took me out of nicotine withdrawal.  My life revolved around smoking.  The only time I wasn’t thinking of smoking a cigarette was for 5 minutes after I was done smoking.  If I went more than 2 hours without a cigarette, I began to get agitated and irritable because the withdrawal was kicking in.  The only thing to cure that state of mind?  Smoke a cigarette.  That is one of the reasons smokers fear quitting, because they believe that life will be a perpetual state of withdrawal.  While there is a period of time where life completely sucks, a long period of time actually, it does get so much better. 

Life on the other side is beautiful.  I do think of smoking still, but not in the same way.   I can honestly say that “they” were right – life is so much better without smoking.  I can sit at dinner with a friend now and spend 2 hours talking without thinking of my next smoke.  I can enjoy entire weddings without having to run outside every hour to get my fix.  I’m more present in my life.  This has brought some pain because I used to hide behind my addiction.   I’ve had to learn to deal with my emotions for the first time as an adult, without smoking.  There have been painful times but life is so much richer.  I’m grateful that I no longer need a post-it to remind me to choose life. I am now choosing life, every day I continue to be smoke free.

 

Road Warrior

Every time I stay in a hotel by myself it reminds me of the life on the road. Although I’m fortunate that I didn’t travel that often, it was often enough to make me realize I didn’t want to be a road warrior. It’s not this sexy life that people think it is.

Most of the time, the pace was so fast and filled, there was little time to think about your life. Days were long and mentally exhausting. Although I had the opportunity to experience a variety of nice restaurants across multiple cuisines, I ate a lot, drank a lot of wine, and smoked a lot of cigarettes, on top of working 60 – 70 hours weeks. That is not the recipe for a healthy life style.

Less than a year of consulting, I knew that it wasn’t for me. For over 2 years, almost every night, I went to sleep and thought of getting an internal job at the firm. I knew that it meant working from home, which was exactly what I wanted. I wanted to be healthy, cook my food, stop traveling, have a life, and build relationships. I visualized what my life would be like. I visualized accepting the job, telling my friends, working at Starbucks during the day. I would say to myself every night, “I’m going to get that job”. Well, 2 years later, 3 disappointments, and 1 success, I got what I wanted. Things are so much more than I could have imagined and I love my life now. And as I sit here at the hotel bar, listening to the road warriors speak of the city and the hotel, I smile with gratitude of the life I have made for myself.

What I’m eating

I love watching the food network and reading cookbooks and magazines.  I could read them for hours and it allows me to escape.  But when it comes to preparing meals for myself and planning for the week, I need something less daunting then the pages of a Ina Garten cookbook.  I need quick tips and ideas, usually from friends or family that are also trying to eat healthy.  I’m going to try and return the favor when I can and share what I learn.

Here is what I’ve been eating for breakfast lately:

• Quick cooking steel cut oatmeal from Trader Joe’s.  I use a variety of mixtures, but my favorite is unsweetened applesauce and frozen berries. 
• Omelet's:  I add a mixture of veggies:  tomatoes, spinach, onion, peppers.  Then I top the omelet with sliced avocado.  I know, sounds a bit weird, right?  It’s SO good!

Lunch:

• Chicken sausage and veggies.  The veggies are usually steamed broccoli or roasted brussel sprouts.   
• Mixed greens with canned tuna and veggies (tomatoes and peppers).  I use the juice of a lemon, sea salt and olive oil.  It’s delish!
  

Dinner:

• Baked salmon (with veggies, dill, and small pat of butter), quinoa, and a veg (usually asparagus)
• Chicken of some kind, green veg, and lentils.  Love lentils lately.
  

Snacks:

• Raw almonds
• Edamame
• Apple

What are some of your favorite meals?

Cleanse

I am on a mission for the month of March.  I’m a week late in starting, but don’t hold it against me.

I’m going to cleanse my soul this month.  No more wine.  No more fast food.  No more caffeine.  This month is about starting something new and embracing a new way of living. 

Does that mean I’m no longer fun and boring?  I hope not. :)

What is means …more music and more joy.  Along with starting my new journey with nutrition school, I want to cleanse my soul with getting organized.  I’m going to spend quality time organizing my life, making goals, thinking big, and making plans. 

I’m going to dance more.  Sing loudly.  Clean out my closets and feel my soul lift with joy; without the influence of sugar, caffeine, and alcohol. 

Let’s see how it goes. :)

Going Green

Today is the first day of my “Biggest Loser” Challenge that I am participating in through H2Q fitness.  While I have lost 10lbs prior to this challenge, I am hoping to loose 8lbs in this 30 day challenge.  One of the things that helped me to loose the first 10lbs were increasing the amount of greens I eat.  I’m going to try and think of new ways to eat my greens so I don’t get bored.

My favorite way to “eat” my greens is to drink them in a shake.  I use a Vitamix machine, but I’m sure you can try this in a blender, just make sure to chop the fruit and veggies.

• 1 bunch of fresh kale
• 1 handful of baby spinach
• Between 1 – 3 mint leaves
• 1/4 cup frozen pineapple
• 1/4 cup frozen mango
• 1 cup water

You can play with the ingredients, but this combination of fruit and veggies removes the bitterness of the greens and it is so good! 

 

A new me

 

For those who know me, you know that I haven’t been healthy most of my life.  Sure, I went through periods in my life where I ate well.  Sometimes I exercised.  But for a large part of my life, I didn’t eat healthy, didn’t exercise regularly, and I was a smoker.   When I decided to quit smoking, I decided to start to love myself and this amazing life we are given.  I am in the early stages of my journey but I’d like to take you with me to help keep me accountable.  And maybe even share some of the knowledge I’ve gained and pick up some from you.