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Five and a half years ago, in the thick of the pandemic, when everyone was panicking at the weight they were gaining as a result of all of the sourdough baking, stress eating and quarantining. I was losing weight at a rapid speed, which generally would be a dream come true. I’d definitely packed on extra pounds on top of an already chubby frame but I know easy come, easy go especially with weight loss. But I was in the midst of a slow train crash of a break up that only I seemed to be in denial of, so I couldn’t eat. I would rotate between a Costco slice of cheese pizza and two to three scoops of Nutella (the only food I could stomach) to try to get calories in day to day.

Once the cord was cut and the breakup happened, I was sad sure. But my body had weirdly mourned for months already and once there was actual finality to it. I really bounced back in what could be record speed. The only way I could explain to to my friend who was in the trenches of her own romantic turmoil and was mystified at how well I seemed to be doing was that I really really tried to make it work, so once it was over, after the initial shock and sadness an overwhelming sense of relief took over and it just really became the main emotion (or feeling?) I could feel and I just didn’t feel sad or longed for the relationship or the person.

Anyways, with a sense of relief, and with a job that required me to taste a large variety of food as one of my tasks ( I was a vendor manager for an online grocery/delivery *toxic, but honestly best job ever*). My appetite came back with a vengeance and I lost and gained about 20 pounds in a short period of time.

I found myself unemployed from that fun job in early 2021, (again super toxic work environment) and I needed to focus on just not feeling like crap all the time. In the past I’d been a creature of extremes. I either don’t work out, or I’m devoted to CrossFit. Or I’m either counting every macro or eating as much take out as humanly possible. I felt physically and mentally incapable of jumping into anything intensely. So I tried to think the the most baby steps possible.

Its such a vicious cycle when you don’t move your body, its hard to start and be motivated and when you’re eating fast food, your palate feels grossed out of veggies and nutrients that you are likely very much starved for. At least that’s my experience, and the older I get the more I realize most of my experience are more widely shared than I (or we collectively)think. We tend to think we are so unique and alone in something until we hear others stories and we all have more similarities than not. Which is a great way to see the world and feel less isolated.

Anyways, I decided I needed to take some steps towards my health and I know that means movement and nutrition. So I would negotiate with myself to drive to a nearby beach and just walk however short of a walk but at least get outside. Even if my drive is longer than the walk, I was not putting pressure on myself to goal based on length or speed, literally just go outside. Which I’m sure others will resonate that, this is the hardest part.

And for nutrition, the idea of a salad or vegetables sounded awful so I googled ‘most nutrient dense vegetables‘ and spinach was one of them, we’re bombarded with the need of ANTIOXIDENTs and especially during Covid time ginger was publicized as a super food. So I decided to incorporate smoothies to my day. Spinach, frozen berries and ginger.

Neither things are revolutionary, but I truly had to plan and work myself into making this a slow routine. And it really helped me get out of a rut. And I’d love to say that was the gateway to a linear progression of a life devoted to health and fitness, life doesn’t work that way. But its basically the starting point I always go back to when life has gotten in the way of focusing on my health. I’d been in a really great routine of working out (CrossFit, its the only type of exercise I can stick to because I NEED someone to guide and motivate me through a workout), and eating much healthier for about a year, until last July. And suddenly its January again, and its time to give my trusted jumpstart a go.

So if this resonates with anyone, and you feel like its daunting and overwhelming to do ALL of the things to prioritize your health. I’m definitely not a medical professional and this is not medical advise, but the babiest of steps can really help jump start even the slightest changes in the right direction.

Here’s what I did to prep:

• Walking more: I’ve tried various walking apps, but they usually have a length/ time component. So for this, I really looked to the Health app on my iPhone to keep me motivated of my progress as small as it was, because it was definitely an improvement from being on the couch all day.
• Adding greens to daily diet:
  • Two large handfuls of spinach,
  • a cup of frozen berries,
  • about an inch of ginger ( more or less depending if you enjoy the taste)
    • Add all to a blender, add water to the max capacity of your blender. And blend.
  • This generally makes enough for a 6 or so large cups
• I drink them first thing, and it doesn’t upset my stomach. But if that’s a concern just committing to drinking one glass a day should be absolutely fine, the goal is just to get dense nutrients in.

Are there any tiny steps you’ve taken to direct yourself towards improvement?