I can't believe it's already June! At this time last year my sister and I were just getting acclimated to our apartment in the city center of Florence, Italy where we would be spending the month. I definitely miss that city and would love to go back some day.
One of the many things I learned about life during my time there, is how EASY it can be to be healthy. Immersing myself in a culture where you have a market with fresh produce and meats just blocks from your home and where having a car is too much of a hassle so you just walk everywhere you need to go was incredible.
In the month I spent in Italy, I gorged myself on delicious, carb-heavy meals and every flavor of gelato imaginable (and some unimaginable... like Viagra flavored. Yes. I tried it), yet when I got back to the states and stepped on my scale for the first time in a month, I found that I had lost 10 lbs. All that walking was amazing and preparing meals made from fresh ingredients gave my body all the fuel and nutrition it needed to support my activity level and lose some flab... and I wasn't even TRYING to be healthy. No diets, no hitting the gym, just living in that type of culture is healthy.
When I got back home I remember thinking, "I could just keep those habits now that I'm home. No big deal." But it was a big deal. There's almost no way to get away without driving in southern California. The distance between myself and the nearest grocery store is a few miles, not to mention home to work is about 15 miles. And as for eating... holy temptations, Batman! It's absolutely possible to eat healthy here, but everywhere you look there are tasty, high calorie, low nutrition foods that call your name. I quickly gave up my "live-like-I'm-in-Italy" idea.
I will get into the details of my fitness and health journey at another time, but for now I will say this. I quickly gained all my weight lost in Italy back and then some. The smallest, and perhaps most important change I've made since finally finding the spark I needed to turn things around is actively trying to walk more. I do wear an activity tracker that counts my steps and every day I compete with myself to be better. When I have to use the restroom at work, I take the longest way there and back to my desk. I never used to take my breaks, but now I always do, and use that time to walk a few laps in the parking structure of my building (those slopes are great for an extra oomph). I've realized that every little step I take to living healthier is a step in the right direction and is something to CELEBRATE.
In Italy, or at home, I will make an effort every day to be a little bit healthier.
Just be healthy
Forget the scale, forget measurements, just be the healthiest version of you! Whatever that may be.
No comments:
Post a Comment