Last October, I started calorie counting. It helped me realize how many meat, cheese, and other animal-based products I consumed every day. I wasn't able to keep up the habitat, and eventually stopped counting the following January.
This summer, I moved away for the first time and started grocery shopping for myself. I was able to buy healthier food, and wasn't as tempted to buy many of the sugary treats my parents usually purchase. As a result, I lost quite a few pounds.
Since I have moved back with my parents, I've started to develop the same unhealthy eating habits. Today, I am committing to start calorie counting and buying my own groceries again. I envision a world in which every individual finds their own way towards becoming more sustainable, while also achieving personal goals (e.g. health and fitness). I also value honesty. Change starts with vulnerability and honesty. Through this commitment, I hope to motivate others to do the same.
@CoSphere
It's great to hear that you are being more aware and achieving goals for yourself, especially as a student we tend to neglect healthy lifestyle choices in turn for cheap alternatives. Reading your journey, I also relate especially when comparing between school verse summer diets. One thing I would suggest to continue your health journey and keeping it continuous, what has helped me is, instead of counting calories or restricting yourself to a strict diet, especially with abrupt changes right away, I'd slowly make adjustments to daily habits. For example, instead of using butter, use olive oil. Or instead of eat meat such as steak, only buy chicken. Then once you create these adjustments into habits it may be easier to continue in the long run.
A sustainable diet is great! And it is a truly hard to persist the habit with the people you live with.
I like that this connection between your own personal journey and sustainability within the context of your diet and experiences with eating habits!
I like your phrase that changes starts with vulnerability and honesty. We often only start changing when things are worst changes must be made. I would not hope that we make change as this way with our environment. It is very important we start changing form ourselves with little things, I will also start tracking my eating habit just to make little contribution.
I love the dedication! Good luck on your journey. Being able to do something even after small hiccups along the journey is awesome! Keep up the perseverance!
I have found the same struggle when I move back home during the summer. Being the only vegetarian is hard and my family does not seem willing to "convert". However, they are sustainable in their own ways, by being very handy and fixing items that are broken and growing their own fruits and vegetables. It's a great point you made that people can be sustainable in their own ways even if it looks different to what you are personally doing!
It's great to see that you are so dedicated to this movement and that you have already started to make a difference!
This makes a ton of sense to me. Left to my own devices, I find myself snacking out of pure boredom. I think more of the honesty and accountability you're describing could allow us to lead more fulfilling lives in and of themselves. Good luck with your goals :)
I think your individual decision to consume less rebounded and had positive externalities on the environment and on your self-confidence. I hope the calorie counting goes well this time around but please don't be too harsh on yourself for not being perfect. You're doing great!!