Continuing Healthy Eating...

So there are some knowledge gaps in my mind of what it means to be physically "healthy" and how to get there. For the longest time, I have spent most of my energies on intellectual and mental development. I am open to learning and hope to read books, articles, etc. on better eating. The focus right now is on physical health, but there are other aspects that could use a bit of attending to: spiritual, financial, and mental (e.g. focusing on relaxing more!). However, the physical is the most concrete and it shows visible and measurable benefits so I'm starting there.

In my teens, I spent a great deal of time reading classic nutrition books. My favorite was Dick Gregory's Natural Diet for Folks Who Eat: Cookin' With Mother Nature! I read this book about five times in high school. I loved his writing style and his advice about eating natural food. It's basically a raw food diet but he goes into why it's important and how nutrition even affects your inner peace which can affect eventually world peace. I love that this book was written in the mid-70's as that era and the ideas of that era resonate with me. 

FITNESS

I need to lose about 10 body fat percentage points. You can't tell by looking at me that my body fat percent is somewhere, somehow, in the ballpark of 30%. A fat-burning diet and exercise regime is needed! I met with a physical trainer at the gym today to talk about setting some goals and a timeline for doing so. She said 4-8 months would be reasonable to reach the 20% body fat goal.

COOKING

Tonight for dinner, we are making Jamaican Beans and Rice! http://www.generationyfoodie.com/2012/08/jamaicann-red-beans-and-rice.html 
I didn't get real ginger but visited the spice aisle instead, but the other ingredients look yummy!

I also want to experiment with more beans and rice recipes that have spice and flavor. There are so many creative recipes online! Also, we're having broccoli slaw with carrots and snap peas plus vinaigrette.

So, at least we know we are eating real food, nearly all of the time since we started this healthy-living regime on January 5. I also have only been to corporate-coffee-chain four times since January 5. That so much better than my 1-2 daily visits previously! There has also been no typical dessert fare other than fruit smoothies.

Tomorrow, we will try to make a low-fat salmon dip and eat it with whole wheat bread and a bunch of veggies. 

I got a new haircut today and I really like the symmetry.

Layered bob haircut