Health

My Journey with a Personal Trainer

Anonymous Vegan December 13, 2024 0Comment

You know, it’s funny because I never thought I’d ever hire a personal trainer. I always assumed it was kind of unnecessary—like, who needs someone just standing there watching you exercise? But I ended up being really surprised, and now I actually find it hard to imagine going back to doing it all by myself. I guess what happened was I started noticing that, even though I’d been working out on my own for a while, my progress sort of stalled. I just wasn’t hitting new milestones, and some days it felt like I was just going through the motions.

So I decided to try working with a personal trainer. I’d been a bit skeptical, to be honest. But let me tell you, having that one-on-one coaching changed the entire game for me. It’s not just about someone telling you to do more reps; it’s more about having someone who knows what you need, how far to push, and when to back off. One of the unexpected benefits was how much more confident I became in the gym. I stopped feeling intimidated by certain exercises, and I learned the correct form that I’d definitely been missing before. My trainer was able to analyze how I moved, point out where I needed to make adjustments, and that kept me from developing bad habits that could lead to injuries down the road.

I also got some nutrition guidance, and that’s where I really appreciated having someone who respected my vegan lifestyle. Because, let’s be honest, sometimes you work with people who just don’t get it—they’ll try to push you toward animal-based products, and they don’t understand the ethical side of it. My trainer, on the other hand, helped me find ethical vegan protein powders that actually taste good. For a long time I thought all vegan protein powders were gritty or chalky, but I discovered some smooth blends that are sourced ethically, have full amino acid profiles, and don’t leave me feeling heavy or bloated. I realized I’d been missing out on a tool that could really help me reach my fitness goals while staying true to my values.

The cool thing is that the trainer I ended up working with wasn’t just some random person I found at a big commercial gym. I connected with Elite Wellness Training, and their approach was totally different than what I expected. You can find them here: personal trainer in boise. These guys really tailor your experience to what you need. It’s not cookie-cutter, it’s not one-size-fits-all. It’s like they actually take time to figure out what you want and what you stand for, then they build a plan that makes sense. I guess that’s one of the biggest benefits for me—having someone who acknowledges my personal ethics and still helps me push my boundaries physically.

Another thing that really surprised me was the accountability factor. Just knowing that I have someone who actually cares about how I’m progressing keeps me from skipping workouts. Before, I’d come home from work and say, “Eh, I’ll do it tomorrow.” But now, I know someone’s expecting me to show up and give it my best. That accountability and structure made a huge difference in my consistency and, ultimately, my results.

So, as someone who used to be skeptical, I can honestly say hiring a personal trainer was one of the best moves I’ve made for my health and fitness journey. It’s taught me to respect proper form, understand nutrition in a way that aligns with my values, and it’s given me that extra push I never knew I needed.

Why Plant-Based Doesn’t Always Mean Healthy

Anonymous Vegan November 30, 2024 0Comment

Today, I want to talk about something that grinds my gears every time I see it. You know when you’re at the grocery store, and there’s a bright, shiny label on some snack or frozen dinner that says “Plant-Based”? And everyone’s like, “Oh, it’s plant-based! That means it’s healthy!” Yeah, no. No, it doesn’t.

Look, just because something is plant-based doesn’t automatically make it good for you. I don’t care if it’s got a little green leaf on the package or some influencer on Instagram is raving about it. Here’s the thing: Oreos? Technically plant-based. French fries? Also plant-based. You see where I’m going with this?

A lot of these so-called “plant-based” foods are ultra-processed garbage. Like, let’s take a look at those vegan chicken nuggets. Sure, they’re not made from animals. Great. But they’re loaded with refined oils, starches, artificial flavors—stuff that isn’t doing your body any favors. You’re basically eating a chemistry experiment. But because it says “plant-based,” people assume it’s a free pass to eat the whole box. It’s like, no! It’s still junk food.

And I get it, you’re thinking, “But it’s better for the planet!” And yeah, that’s probably true. Producing a nugget made out of soy is better for the environment than producing one made out of a chicken. I’m not arguing with that. But let’s not confuse environmental benefits with personal health benefits, because they are not the same thing.

Then there’s the issue of these plant-based meat replacements being absolutely packed with sodium. Some of these burgers have more salt than a fast-food cheeseburger. If you’re eating this stuff every day, you’re setting yourself up for high blood pressure and all the fun that comes with it. But hey, at least it’s vegan, right?

And don’t even get me started on sugar. Plant-based desserts are a goldmine of hidden sugar. All these oat milk ice creams and vegan cookies? Sugar bombs. But because they don’t have eggs or dairy, they’re marketed as “healthier.” Let me tell you, your pancreas doesn’t care if the sugar came from cane or coconut or dates—it’s all the same in the end.

Now, let’s be fair. There are plant-based foods that are genuinely good for you. Whole fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds—that’s the stuff that should make up the bulk of a plant-based diet. But those things don’t come in shiny packages with “plant-based” plastered all over them. They’re not exciting or trendy, and no one’s getting rich off you buying a bag of lentils.

What bothers me the most is how companies exploit the term “plant-based” to make a quick buck. They know people are trying to eat healthier, so they slap the label on anything remotely vegan and charge twice as much. And people fall for it, because we’re conditioned to think plant-based equals healthy. It’s a marketing scam, plain and simple.

So, here’s my advice: if you’re eating plant-based for health reasons, stick to actual plants. The ones that grow out of the ground. If it comes in a box, a bag, or a wrapper, read the ingredients. If it looks more like a science experiment than food, maybe think twice. Don’t let the label fool you.