Welcome and thank you for visiting Healthy Chow.  I started my blog in July of 2009, but I’ve been trying to lead a more ‘healthy’ life for the past 10 years.  And, I’ve been a ‘Chow’ for a few decades.  I’ve always loved to eat and even ate more than my share while in utero with my twin sister (she came out over 1 pound lighter)! From then on, I was always told to try everything once (ok, maybe I had to try it twice sometimes), three squares daily were a must and I pretty much became president of the clean plate club (I’m slowly trying to give up that title!).

How did I get here?

I used to think being healthy meant being thin or skinny or being able to still fit into the clothes I wore in high school.  Actually, I think it was in high school where I began my first diet.  Luckily, that diet ended quickly and soon I was off to college.  College was a series of high carb, high sugar, fast food meals that were selected based merely on cost and taste.  In other words, if it was cheap, tasted good and was going to fill me up, then that was what I was going to eat (cue a half a box of white pasta with jarred tomato sauce and tons of cheese, 3-4x a week!).

Shortly after my college days ended, my cube life began.  Working a full-time desk job and a part-time retail job while still trying to maintain a social life left me little time for exercise and even less time to put some thought into my meals.  I was tired, overstressed, overweight and underpaid (yeah, that part-time job did help my wardrobe though).  It was time for a change.  I joined a gym and began doing some cardio.  I never really enjoyed it and I never really felt as if I was a part of the gym.  I just did it because I knew I should be doing some sort of exercise and also so I could continue my less-than-stellar eating habits.

10 pounds lost but what was gained?

Fast forward to 2006 when my husband, Patrick, and I decided to elope.  While we weren’t having the traditional ‘wedding’, I still wanted to look good and naturally, wanted to lose a few pounds.  The first thing that came to mind?  A commonly known diet product that is constantly advertised and sold at grocery, drug and convenience stores (I’m not mentioning the name because I’m not trying to give them a bad rap).  By sticking to this diet and consuming about 1200 calories a day coupled with a short bout with food poisoning, I was able to lose 10 pounds in about 3 months.  I felt great!  And, it was just in time for my wedding day.

For the next couple of years after my weight loss, I stuck to my 1200 calorie a day diet (on average, some days it was much less), practiced power yoga 3-4x a week and managed to keep those 10 pounds off.  However, something still didn’t feel right.  While I looked ‘thinner’ on the outside, I still didn’t feel ‘healthy’.  And, just how much longer could I continue my life consuming solely protein bars, diet shakes and entrees that came frozen out of a box?  It was time to do some re-evaluating and time to grow-up.  Yay!

Spreading my wings

In the summer of 2008, I decided to make a departure from my cube life.  I wasn’t sure exactly what I was going to do but my spiritual and mental health needed some attention and cubeland wasn’t going to pay them any.  So off I went to find a happy and healthier me!

The first thing on my list of finding a healthier me, was to cook.  Yes, I’m one of those people who never really cooked and never had any interest in knowing my way around a kitchen.  But, after stumbling upon and reading hundreds of food/healthy lifestyle blogs, doing some soul searching and finally listening to what was being taught in yoga versus just going through the poses, I realized that most of the change I needed was already there.  I just had to allow it to come into my life.

It was as if all the things that were lacking or missing in my life, were sitting right in front of me.  I just had to take hold of them.  I knew that starving and depriving myself of the things I liked and loved to eat wasn’t healthy.  I knew that eating overly processed and chemical laden foods weren’t the smartest things to put into my body, but I never wanted to explore the alternatives.  Cooking my own food not only helped me see exactly what I was putting into my body but it also gave me a sense of accomplishment.  Plus, Patrick loves to eat as well and having me make him a home cooked meal was like winning the lottery.  No joke.

What’s next on the horizon?

Now I know that my body (and mind) functions more soundly when I give it what it deserves – clean(er) and whole foods – with the occasional treats and indulgences.  I need to accept the fact that being ‘perfect’ doesn’t necessarily mean being ‘healthy’.  Nobody is perfect and not everyone’s definition of healthy is the same.  I just have to listen to my body (and mind) and give it the love and attention it deserves.

I’m not a registered dietitian, a raw foodist, a vegan expert or even a vegetarian.  I like carbs, my sweet
tooth often cries baked goods and I’ve never met a french fry I didn’t like.  I’m just your every day
gal trying to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle through food and exercise with a sound mind and body.

I hope you enjoy reading my blog and can learn with me as I make my venture towards a Healthy Chow!

Namasté,
Nicole