#metrofresh

I don't like to say "I'm out of shape" because, honestly, I don't even know what that means.  I mean, I know what the words mean. But, for me, out of shape is all there is. I've never known what it is to be in shape, so I really don't know what I'm missing.

I believe the proper term for my body type is "endomorphic". Which I'm pretty sure is just science talk for "prone to fatness".

That's me on the far right end there. Thankfully, I'm not quite that fat yet, but I'm well on my way. I love food. Not just food. BAD food. I love salty tater tots, and I love cheesy, greasy pizza, and I swear to god I could eat an entire family-sized bag of Doritos right now.

But, over the past few years, I've begun spending an inordinate amount of time and money eating at a local restaurant, MetroFresh. Owned and operated by Mitchell Anderson (the good-looking doctor from Doogie Howser), MetroFresh changes their menu every day, but always includes a selection of soups, sandwiches and salads. It is here that I've learned to enjoy a number of "health" foods that I had never before tried, nor even wanted to. Brussel sprouts, quinoa, wheat berries, & kale are just a few of the foods that I've added to my diet. The problem is, I've only added to my diet. I haven't removed much. So, even though I do enjoy a kale salad a few times a week, I enjoy sugary drinks perhaps twice as often. Even though I have been eating egg whites for breakfast lately, that hasn't stopped me from adding a side of gouda grits to that order. Sure I drink eight 8-ounce cups of water a day. But I also drink at least one grande iced double dirty chai every morning.

So, the obvious next step is to subtract some things. Overall caloric intake is important, sure, but more importantly, it's time I get rid of certain terrible dietary practices. I won't fool myself into thinking I can change all of my eating habits overnight. I've tried. It doesn't work for me. Instead, I'm going to make some incremental changes over time.

So, the question is: where do I start? I've tried (and been relatively successful) with a number of diets in the past. Some (like Atkins) are more controversial than others. Sure, they might "work", but at what cost? Human understanding of the science of food and exercise is constantly changing, so much so that it's a bit frustrating at times to even try and be healthy. However, of the various diets and programs I've followed, there are a few constants.

I'm going to start with one of the easiest-to-implement and most universally agreed upon dietary restrictions: sugary drinks. Starting today, I'm eliminating all sugary drinks from my diet. I will replace them with water, black coffee, and the occasional glass of almond milk (most likely mixed with protein powder).

Oh, how I stress over intro posts. This is my fifth rewrite, and I think I've finally figured it out. I'm just going to jump right in.

This blog is about starting things and not quitting. It's about my personal attempts to eat right and get in shape. More specifically, it's a diet and exercise log that I will use to track my progress and hold myself accountable over the next year or so. I will primarily be eating my meals at MetroFresh in Atlanta, GA. The menu changes everyday, the chef is a friend of mine, and the food is always local, fresh, healthy, and super-delicious.