Living a healthy lifestyle

You never know the important of a healthy body until you get it back after losing it.  It's a little different than "you don't know what you've got until it's gone" because when you lose this you've usually changed lifestyles so much that you will never even notice that you've lost it.  Only when you gain it back again do you understand what it really means to be healthy - and you will never want to go back.

I've been slyly and slowly changing my life decisions to be more healthy biased over the last 2 months.  At first I started drinking less beer, then I started eating less pizza and french fries, then I moved on to eating less in general.  Finally I've arrived at the stage that I eat fruit daily and eat a fairly balanced diet - although I'm not going to exaggerate: it's not super healthy.  

I also signed up for a gym just over a month ago (which would be obvious from a previous post).  I've been going 3-4x a week.  Results came really slowly at first but now they are very obvious.  My energy levels are extremely high, I'm happier and feel more positive about things in general (well, there still are problem areas), and my stomach has flattened quite a bit.  I still have a ways to go, but I think within a couple of weeks I'll be ready to get back to practicing break dancing and be slimmed down to a decent figure. 

I've always been quite spoiled when it comes to having a "healthy" body - at least in terms of body shape.  Growing up I did a lot of sports, so from the outside I was always fit and never thought twice about my health.  Growing up has taught me a lot about the importance of a healthy lifestyle - which I took for granted for the last two years.   As I've gotten older (and not even that old I'm only 22!) I noticed that my stomach started to grow and my chest sink back a bit.   My face started to plump up as well.  2 years straight of nearly no exercise and limitless eating can really take it's toll.  

A healthy lifestyle is no longer as simple as going outside to play with my friends.  I can't eat what I've eaten growing up anymore - I have to start eating different things.  I had a really unhealthy diet growing up and rarely drank water.  My parents were too busy to pay attention to healthy eating, and so I didn't mind it much either.  Now it's become a real chore to change my habits and my taste buds.  

It's worth it.   A healthy body leads to a healthy mind - I've always firmly believed in this saying and don't plan on forgetting it again.  On the other hand, I don't plan on becoming "ultra healthy" with any special diets - vegan, raw, whatever.  While sometimes I complain about society's evils, I do love being a part of the ant farm and don't plan on isolating myself due to dietary concerns and super health choices.  I'll still go to pizza with my friends on a Friday night and down 2 pints of Qingdao, but I won't order pizza at the drop of a dime on my own because I'm too lazy to look for a healthy alternative.  I want to strike a balance between healthy eating and exercise and social compromise to get the best of both worlds.  

I'm over the tallest hurdle now - the rest are just bumps in the road.   Healthy habits and a healthy mind here I come.