Healthy Living in Connecticut Blog

1. Why’d I Wait So Long? This was the question a plastic surgeon asked me during my consultation for an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck). This question resonated in my mind.

For the past 5 years, I had been trying everything to tighten my abs to no avail. I was stubborn, thinking every doctor was wrong. Any consultation or doctor appointment I had, the doctor would always state the same thing...

“This is just skin. You have very little fat in there. Once skin stretches, it doesn’t bounce back. You were 350 pounds... there’s no way you wouldn’t be left with loose skin.”

As many people who have been following my journey know, I have a lot of loose skin around my abdominal section. I try to ignore it and go about my business each day but it does bother me.

I work so hard to achieve a healthy looking body, trying hard to become a bodybuilder but the sagging skin serves as a constant reminder of my obese days.

I never knew I loved running until after I lost the weight. In fact, I didn't know I was good at any sports. Now, I enjoy the strength training and cardio daily.

I kind of put running on hold for a while as I didn't want to lose too much weight and concentrate on building muscle. I still did some cardio, but wasn't doing any running until a few months ago, when I started running on the treadmill and running in the streets of New York.

I should listen to my own advice. As someone who got my certificate in personal training, I should know better. But the other day, I had a reminder of how important proper form is... I got back pain. Thankfully, it has since healed but it served as a good learning experience, but a painful one too.

I was actually doing upward rows, not the deadlift that so many people seem to injure their backs with. I was trying to hurry and I also was going a bit too heavy. Instead of slowing down and taking some weight off, I pushed myself and because it was too heavy, threw off my form. The result? I felt my muscle in my back pull. I knew it wasn't good but I felt alright the rest of the day. It wasn't until the next day that I noticed the pain.

There is no shortage of protein when eating completely raw. I find that aside from the energy I have, I'm able to workout just as hard as I have been, maybe even a little better!

The protein myths are still out there. Somebody asked me today about the protein, especially after being raw. Come on, where do you think animals get their protein from? Yes, when someone is plant based, they have to constantly defend or educate others on healthy eating.