Fitness — Archive — the Nouvelle nous

GRETCHEN TRIES STUFF EP 12: The one with intermittent fasting

"Never skip breakfast;" "Eat within the first hour of being awake;" "Eat many small meals throughout the day."

I've heard these statements a lot over the years so when my roommate mentioned she was going to try intermittent fasting, I was a little skeptical. The concept itself feels reminiscent of a starvation diet based on name alone. As someone who has spent years in thearpy for an eating disorder, the negative effects of a starvation diet have been drilled into me and I try to also stay away from anything that could temp me into old bad habits. But then a few days later, I suggested video popped up on my YouTube feed all about intermittent fasting—I preceded to spend the next hour doing research on the concept. Intrigued, I immediately jumped into my own 10 Day Intermittent Fasting Challenge.

Gretchen Tries StuffGretchApril 20, 2018diet, fasting, Fitness, health, weight lossComment

WHY I YOGA

Is yoga trendy right now? With the rise in popularity of mindfulness, mediation apps, and companies like Lululemon and Outdoor Voices, yoga can feel pretty mainstream. My roommate happens to be a licensed yoga instructor who favors the more traditional aspects and is often irritated by the common practice now days of removing the more spiritual aspects of yoga in favor of using it as a trendy workout. I tend to just nod in agreement, shuddering to think what she might say to me if she knew my past history with yoga and my utter dislike of the word "chakra."

LifestyleGretchApril 18, 2018Fitness, health, meditation, mental health, training, weight loss, working out, yogaComment

MENTAL HEALTH: BODY IMAGE ISSUES + SPORTS

I'm a pretty motivated runner and have been for the entirety of my adult life. Over the years, when discussing my love of running with friends who aren't as enamored with it, I'll often hear the statement: "I wish I was as motivated as you with running." While I know they mean well with this statement, in my head I'm thinking: "No, no you don't." Not because I don't think running is a good thing to enjoy, (it can be a great way to stay healthy and manage stress, and I think running is just overall fantastic) but because the drive that keeps me so motivated is often coming from that same voice that tries to tell me I need to run up and down the office stairs every day.

ConversationsGretchFebruary 7, 2018Eating Disorder, excessive exercise, Fitness, mental healthComment

HOW I STAY FIT {Fitness, Food, Resources & More}

Staying fit and healthy isn't always the easiest, especially if you travel, have a hectic schedule, or need to stay on a pretty tight budget. Here are some of my favorite resources and tips for eating healthy and squeezing in exercise on the go!

GRETCHEN TRIES STUFF EPISODE 8: The One Without Alcohol

So far this year I've done a month without sugar, a month with no trash, and I'm currently in a month-long challenge of not shopping (for the exception of groceries). But by far the longest project I've decided to take on has been 100 Days Sober....

I went sober for 100 days to learn more about what it's like to be an alcoholic. The experience grew into life lessons I'll value forever.

LIFE IN CHINA AND WHAT I LEARNED ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH

I never expected to move to China, but it became one of my most important experiences in life. Now that I've been back for a little over a year, I have the space to reflect on the whole thing.

Travel, Health Fitness, AsiaGretchSeptember 12, 2017asia, china, depression, Fitness, health, living abroad, mental health, running, travelComment