Nat's Notes

       I'm the first to say that grocery shopping is overwhelming. When I walk into the vast store, I have no clue where to start. For the longest time, I would go in there without a plan. It was a big mistake. This would lead to me only buying snacks and maybe a random vegetable or two just to make the shopping cart look "balanced."      Once I got home and unloaded my so-called "groceries," I would stare at the pantry and fridge and wonder what I should eat that wasn't chips or ice cream. I would look at the sad little bell pepper I bought and feel bad that it wasn't going to a home that would eat it. I decided that's when I needed to change my strategy. Next time, I would walk into a grocery store with a plan.      Some things I incorporated into my shopping trip were first a list that I planned ahead of time. I would look up recipes on Pinterest, TikTok, Instagram, and Google and figure out the most realistic meal that I can make. I ...

       Exercising is extremely important for both your physical and mental health. Although many people workout to change their physical appearance and improve their physical health, the majority don't realize that it's also helping their mental health. I remember feeling upset with my body and overall quality of life, and when I decided to start moving my body and trying different workouts, programs, and activities, I started to feel clarity, and my mood improved rapidly. Healthdirect, a government-funded website that provides information and advice about health, provides a simple explanation as to why your mental health improves with exercise, "Exercise causes your brain to release 'feel good' chemicals like endorphins and serotonin that helps improve your mood." Once you improve your mental health, reaching all your health and wellness goals will be easier.      I learned that I loved working out in the morning, so the first thing that I do when I w...

 To start off this blog, it's important to talk about how I overcame a sedentary lifestyle and became more active and healthy in my daily routines and how you can, too. It takes a lot of willpower and motivation to change your whole lifestyle. First, it takes a goal. You need to take a step back and look at what you need or want to change about your current routine or lifestyle. Personally, I felt lazy, dehydrated, unmotivated, and overall unhealthy from all the bad foods I've been eating. I had to write down everything I needed to change and set a realistic goal for myself. My first goal was that I wanted to drink 55 oz. of water a day. It's good to set a small goal first. In doing that, I bought myself a new water bottle and stopped buying sugary drinks. My next goal was to incorporate physical activity into my day. Again, I started out with a small goal of only doing physical activity for 25-30 minutes a day, 4x a week. Some things I would do during these 25-30 minutes a...