Building my healthy identity:

A three-year health journey retrospective

About this time three years ago, I started my health journey. Looking back at the things that stand out are my changes to nutrition, fitness, and sleep. I still eat pizza, burritos, ice cream, chips, pretzels, and candy, but I strive to limit my intake and default to healthy options. The changes which have contributed the most are (1) being mindful about nutrition (2) scheduling workouts with my wife and healthy meals in advance, and (3) getting to bed early to give myself an 8-hour sleep opportunity.

Across nutrition, fitness, sleep, and stress, I have built the following healthy identity.

Nutrition Identity — I mostly eat vegetables, fruits, and non-processed foods. I am mindful of the food I eat and plan out what I am going to eat in the morning when I am not hungry. Monday through Friday, I skip breakfast and delay lunch until the afternoon, making sure that I eat something dense and healthy from a default set of healthy options. For dinner, I eat something quick and straightforward from the grocery store or meet my wife at one of our favorite vegan/vegetarian options. On days that I lift weights, I make a leafy green smoothie with pea protein. I still eat cheese as part of pizza or Mexican.