On a personal note…

Phew, guys! It’s been over a year (or even longer?) since I posted here with any regularity. I’m hoping I can ride this wave of motivation and start posting regularly again — not just about food (though still primarily about food, of course!), but everything that is going on in my life. To that end, I wanted to share a bit more about that than just “HI I’M BACK” like I did (I was just ironically very busy that week and had only enough brainpower to share what I wrote).

About a year ago, I began working out like a demon – to the tune of taking upwards of 9+ classes or workout sessions in a given 5 day period. I still don’t know what got into me, but oh my gosh, the strength gains I’ve made since then are incredible. The human body is amazing! Fitness has become a huge part of my life to the point where if I don’t work out one day, I not only miss it, but my energy levels become abysmal around 3 or 4 pm. It keeps me sane and focused and feeling good about myself, and I don’t think I’ll ever go back.

Related but only tangentially so, for over 15 years I’ve struggled with my weight. Accepting my body as it was, or trying to lose 10-20 lbs, it was always such a battle for me. I fought eating disorders that I’m still trying to become comfortable discussing openly, I ran 3x or more a week, I tried so, so hard to get to a place where I was happy with my body… but it never happened. Well, at the height of my eating disorder, I dropped down to an adult low of 128 lbs, but that wasn’t healthy and I still hated my body and what I had to do to get and stay there. But last year, after a month or two of steady working out, I decided that I would feel better if I fueled my workouts differently. I began logging my meals and calories on MyFitnessPal and figuring out my real calorie goals, and became very strict but not disordered, and began the process of losing weight. I can’t say I ever reached my goal weight, because the goal kept moving — as I gained strength and built muscle, I was very aware that I’d be physically smaller while weighing more. Eventually, I dropped the idea of a number target and settled on “feeling like the best possible version of me” —

Both of these things – packing my schedule with workouts and exercise classes coupled with eating as close to 1200 calories a day as possible — meant that I ate out much less, I had less time for friends or social activities or writing, and I was eating far less interesting (to the average Feisty Foodie fan) meals. While I became happier with my body and all that it’s capable of doing, I also missed writing here.

Then, something totally insane and crazy happened that left me with even less time to write.

I met someone.

Someone totally amazing, perfectly insane and insanely perfect as my life partner.

So we did what two totally insane and insanely perfect for each other people do when they meet.

We fell in love.

Then we got married.

Yup, the resident commitment-phobe went and got hitched. Now I spend most of my time in Jersey City (as evidenced by my Instagram showing off lots of yummy food in JC), but I’m still a Queens girl at heart of course.

All of this meant less time to write, more time… I hesitate to say nesting, but maybe honeymooning? As corny as it sounds, we’re super in love and super happy and excited to spend tons of time together and just make googly eyes at each other and just… you know?

BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE. 

At the end of last year, I made the leap from working in the legal industry for roughly 20 years (on and off, give or take), and took a job in finance. What?? Totally different from anything I’ve ever done! Totally different from anything I know!

… and then I was laid off (mostly for economic reasons, I can’t really say – partially because I don’t know and partially because of the NDA I signed).

So now I have more time to write, while I look for a new job. Any leads would be most appreciated!!!

It’s been a rollercoaster of a year, and I look forward to seeing what’s next.

But in the meantime — onwards and upwards with more food & etc. posts here!!

Thanks always for being faithful and supportive readers, guys. I truly appreciate each and every one of you.

xoxo
ever yours in food and beyond,
Yvo