#anti-consumption

And lost almost 40 lbs by my highschool graduation, 195 lbs. (18) ⬇️

I had started running everyday by then, kept it up for a few years and eventually got to my lowest weight of 150 lbs. (21,22,23) ⬇️

I was motivated to do more, to be better, I wanted to feel like I could build and destroy buildings lmao. I started lifting heavy. And surprisingly I actually got smaller despite the scale going up to 160 lbs then 165 lbs (age 24-25)⬇️

Eventually got up to 170lbs at 25 years old, August 2021 (never stop deadlifting.)⬇️

I maintained this weight for a while until I lost my fitness routines due to a not great relationship, senior year of undergrad, two major deaths, and lack of self love. Fast forward to last year ended up at 188 lbs at 29 years old. ⬇️🙃😭 (September-October 2024)

Anyway. I'm doing my best to slowly lose fat while battling so many health issues at the moment, keeping my strength and muscle mass, and not falling for consumerist temptations. (Anything opposite of sustainable living, eco-friendly, positive mental health, slow paced lifestyle is a no for me 🙅🏻‍♀️.)

I should have made this post last year. But I am so proud of my younger self, and should remind myself to keep that pride. No weight loss surgery. NO medication. No aids or "stacks" or rec drugs. No Frankenstein foods. No worshipping expensive protein bars from shitty influencers as my daily meal. 🙃 Just focusing on principles and determination (because trust me--I had to start over multiple times due autoimmune flares.)

“‘God,’ said one of the Shaker Elders, “is the Great Artist and Master Builder; the Gospel is the means... We must labor in union with them to cast all rubbish out of and from around the building, and to labor to bring everything both outward and inward, more and more into order.’

“...The Shakers were meticulous workers, with a passion for order, cleanliness, simplicity, practicality, and economy of means.

“...an Elder said, ‘the divine man has no right to waste money upon what you would call beauty in his house or daily life, while there are people living in misery.’”

A thing that is mindful — simple, honest, purposeful, effective and efficient, well-designed, well-made and well-maintained — is beautiful enough.

There is no need for any more than this.

Thomas Merton on Shaker communities