BEHIND THE BODY

Diet • Fitness • Lifestyle for Women 40+

Six years ago this month, I decided to try going vegan for 30 days.

It was a random goal, kind of like my own version of a sober October, and it was mostly about my appearance. I wanted to see if I could lose a few pounds by cutting out animal products.

I've set a lot of goals like that over the years. Usually, I'd feel motivated for about a week or two and then lose momentum.

But this time was different. During those 30 days, I watched a few documentaries and learned about animal agriculture and welfare. I discovered a lot about how animals are treated and how food impacts my health, and it really moved me to my core.

That random 30-day challenge turned into six years without meat and with very few other animal products. It felt easy because I understood exactly why I was making the change.

A few years later, I started eating fish again. Still, I kept my commitment to not eating meat.

I'm not here to tell you to go vegan or vegetarian, and I don't judge anyone who eats meat. I’m sharing this because weight loss and fitness follow a similar pattern.

You might want to look better, fit into a certain size, or reach a specific number on the scale. If your goal is only about appearance or numbers, it’s easy to lose focus because it doesn’t truly matter to you deep down.

Life will challenge your goals. Stress, busy days, kids’ activities, work, and travel can all get in the way. During those times, it’s easy to think, "I’ll do it later. It’s not that important."

A large survey supports this idea. Over 80% of people who tried going vegetarian or vegan eventually went back, and a third lasted three months or less. Those who stuck with it often had reasons beyond themselves, like caring about animals or the environment.

I think this concept applies to most goals. When you truly understand why you want something, and it matters to you deep down, it becomes much harder to slip back into old habits.

My Suggestion For You

Before you set your next goal, ask yourself these four questions. Take a moment to think about each one.

1. What does this goal mean to me?
2. What does it mean for my future?
3. How would it change my life?
4. Who am I once I've done it?

Here’s how I would answer these questions about my health: I see myself as strong and healthy, and my blood work is always good when I visit the doctor. When I became vegan, my answer was even simpler: I love animals and have compassion for them more than I like eating meat.

If your answers are just about a size or a number, that’s okay. It just means your goal might need a deeper reason for those times when you’re busy, traveling, tired, or short on time, because that’s when you’ll need it most.

What I'm Loving This Week

I love sharing my favorite hair or skin finds, and this week it's a hair gloss I found on TikTok.

I have so much gray peeking through at my crown, and I can't stand it. 👵🏻 I dye my roots at home because I do it so often and it’s just easier.

I saw someone on TikTok say this gloss made her hair look healthy and shiny, and the comments backed her up. I decided to try it, and now I’m hooked. It’s a semi-permanent gloss you use in the shower. While it doesn’t cover grays like permanent dye, it blended the ones at my crown and part, giving me a few extra weeks before I needed to color my roots again.

My hair has never looked this shiny before. It costs about $15 on Amazon. Unlike many products I try just once, this one is going to stay in my routine.

I use Kristin Ess Signature Hair Gloss in Chocolate Cosmo, which is a dark golden brown. Choose the shade that best matches your hair.

Because You Didn't Ask...

One of the main reasons I live in San Diego is the great weather year-round. So why is it October and 100° here?! 🥵

Most houses here don’t even have air conditioning since it almost never gets this hot. We have AC, but it still feels like we might catch on fire. We keep breaking heat records, and there’s no end in sight. Wish us luck.

I hope you’re enjoying crisp air, fall leaves, and maybe some pumpkin spice wherever you are. Hit reply and tell me: is fall perfect where you live, or are you getting weird weather too?

Great chat! Let's do it again next Tuesday.

Xx,

Andrea