Leaving the Dark Side to Become A Health Nut

I recently found myself having a very serious conversation with a friend about the pros and cons of disposable, plastic, and stainless-steel straws. I was thinking of investing in special straws for my morning smoothies, one of the most nutritious (and delicious) ways to start the day. Then we started talking about protein powders, the smoothie recipe book I bought, BlenderBall containers, and isn’t spinach in smoothies great?

“This is weird,” I said to her, suddenly self-conscious that everyone around us was listening to our conversation. “I sound like some kind of health nut. I am getting way too serious about smoothies. When did I turn into this person?”

She assured me there was no reason to feel awkward. She has seen me very gradually change bits and pieces of my lifestyle to become healthier. It’s not like I woke up one day and was suddenly this smoothie psycho. I’ve taken baby steps. And it’s those steps that have led me here.

I think one reason a lot of people have trouble sticking to a health and fitness plan is that it seems way too overwhelming. If you eat zero fruits and vegetables a day, eating five seems like a lot. If you never walk, taking 10,000 steps a day seems impossible. But you could eat one banana today. You could walk 10 minutes. And that’s really how you start.

If you told me a few months ago that I’d be investing in special powders and straws, I would have scoffed—I am a normal, functioning adult! But once I started making a few changes, I made a few more. And then a few more after that. And then this smoothie thing started to become serious.

Don’t get me wrong, there will still be bacon and pancakes in my future. But there definitely will be less of those and more of my new favorite: peanut butter, banana, almond milk, spinach, and protein powder blended together in a smoothie. There’s just one last thing I need: the perfect straw!

About Betsy: Betsy is no fitness guru but she’s working on it! As the winner of the West Loop Athletic Club’s Summer Solstice Shape-Up Challenge, she spent three months working out with personal trainer Jenna Morris. Now she’s continuing her fitness journey on her own and is training for the Chicago Marathon in the fall. Betsy’s weaknesses are the snacks lurking around every corner at her office and weekend Bloody Mary brunches.