Page 25 - South Mississippi Living - January, 2020

COAST NOTES
PAGE
story by Kristen Anzuini photo courtesy of WXXV
START THE NEW YEAR OFF RIGHT
with WXXV’s Kristen Anzuini
As we head into the new year, weight loss might be on your list of resolutions. For me, getting healthy was one of my biggest priorities of 2019. Like many people, I have struggled with body image most of my life, but it wasn’t until recent years
that it became
more of an issue.
I was diagnosed with a thyroid disorder at the age of 22 and I started packing on the pounds quickly.
I knew I was gaining weight, but refused to
step on the scale.
I would just buy bigger clothes and avoid the real issue at hand.
I had just
graduated college
and started my
first job in a new
state and I was
stressed. I often turned to food as a source of comfort. I let this continue for more than a year because if I didn’t address it, it wasn’t true, right? Wrong.
Finally, when I stepped on a scale I was shocked to see how much weight I had actually
gained. Right then and there I decided it was time for a major change. I consulted a nutrition coach on the right foods I should be eating and how much. It turns out some of the things I thought were healthy actually weren’t at all.
I learned I needed to choose meals with a high protein content and a low amount of calories, which because I am
a vegetarian I wasn’t always getting. I have also focused on portion control. It’s shocking to see the difference in what a restaurant will serve you versus what you actually need to fuel your body!
Now when I am having a bad day,
instead of getting a sugary treat at my favorite coffee shop I find a healthy way to relive stress like take a walk with my husband and our cat Loki (yes, you read that right – our cat loves walks). It feels so good to be in control of what I eat and not let food control my life.
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living | www.smliving.net January 2020 | 25