The Bare Basics: Kristie. 24 years old. Canadian. Currently a third year post-university working non-student. Living. Figuring out how to figure things out.
I love food. I love nutrition. I love to be healthy.
A few years back I was overweight, unhealthy and unhappy.
Exercise? Nope. Pizza and chips? Yep.
Then I finally got fed up. Fed up with being unhappy with myself and uncomfortable in my own skin. I wanted to change. I needed to change. So I DID change.
Slowly but surely I started to ditch the junk food and bring in the vegetables. I started to get off my butt and get moving.
Now, with three years and over 40lbs of weight loss behind me, I’m finally there. I’m comfortable with my eating habits, I’m comfortable with my exercise habits, and I’m comfortable with myself. It’s taken a long time to get here, much longer than I ever anticipated from the start, but weight loss is not an overnight transformation and I had to learn that all by myself through trial and error.
There were no crash diets, no miracle pills, no secrets. Just small switches, one by one, to slowly but surely uproot and transform my entire lifestyle.
Healthy foods, exercise, motivation
That’s how I did it. That’s how I continue to do it. I’ve been maintaining my “happy weight”, give or take a few pounds, for almost a year. Now I’m concentrating on toning, broadening my exercise horizons, optimizing the quality and nutrition of the foods I eat, and expanding my passion for healthy living.
Guidelines:
– I eat as healthy as I can, incorporating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and trying to keep processed foods to a minimum. Nothing is off limits. I like my sweets. I try to keep it balanced.
– I exercise most days, trying to incorporate both cardio and strength training. I tweak and vary my exercises from day to day to keep it interesting.
– I fit in little bits of extra movement wherever and whenever I can. The extras add up.
Food makes me happy. I love messing around in the kitchen, I love trying new things and I love to eat.
Photography makes me happy. I’m a visual person and love going snap crazy with my meals.
Exercise makes me happy. I love pounding out a great run with the music blasting and I never feel better than after finishing a great workout.
Healthy makes me happy.
——-You can also read My Weight Loss Story at That’s Fit
Lighter Portions 
I like your outlook. Youve just given me some extra motivation. Love your blog and keep up your healthy habits!
Nice blogging around. ;)
You and I sound a lot alike! I’m looking forward to reading more of your blog :)
I can relate with your biography. =) I live with my parents (because I live ridiculously close to the university), and you’re right, it makes healthy options that much easier.
Where do you go to University (if you don’t mind me asking)? I noticed you live in Canada, rock on!
Woo for Canada! Haha, I live in Ontario and I go to Laurier :)
Congratulations, that is awesome that you did it the RIGHT way, slow and steady :-) I did the same and it feels so great to know that you didn’t do anything drastic or unhealthy.
I love your food pictures. Very nice.
“Yeah, I opted out of the whole residence deal since I live right down the road from my university and it is MUCH cheaper this way.”
You’re not missing much. Nothing like hearing someone dribble a basketball down the hall at 2 a.m. when you have a test the next day.
“Nothing like hearing someone dribble a basketball down the hall at 2 a.m. when you have a test the next day.”
Lol, things like that happen all the time! my roommate and I developed a reputation for being scary when we were woken up in the middle of the night, so people who knew us took to making noise on the other side of the hall. :-) You are really not missing much with the food…not very tasty or healthy.
Good for you for sticking to healthy eating even in college. Dorm food or no, I know that that’s tough. But you’ll definitely be glad that you did!
I had no idea you were maintaining such a significant weight loss. That’s awesome!
This is a great blog! I’m glad I found it. Congratulations on your health!
Your not missing out on anything by not living in the residence hall. I did the dorm thing my freshman year and COULD NOT WAIT to get out of there! The breaking point was when the ENTIRE husker football team stormed our dorm floor at 3am drunk as hell…right before finals!!!
LAME!!!
hey! just wandered onto your “about me” page tonight, nice to “meet” someone so similar to myself! i’m about to encounter the healthy living struggles since i’m moving on campus this year, but i think i can do it (fingers crossed)! love the blog! :)
You live in Waterloo? Me too! FINALLY someone around here who agrees with healthy living :). Have you ever been to Raintree Cafe on King St.? Judging from your blog, I think you would love it!
M – I actually HAVE been to Raintree! And it was definitely great! I’ve only been once though and that was a while ago, so I definitely think I need to make another trip there sometime in the very near future.
i’ve actually never read this “about me”page before, for some reason – you are one inspiring girl! and join the club of say-at-home uni students :)
Another university student!! Sometimes I wish I could just live at home, life would be somewhat easier.
Thanks for sharing!
Stumbled on your blog awhile back and I have to say I definitely identify with your weight/food struggles. I enjoy your posts and foodie ideas a lot though!
Hey! I’m glad I’m not the only second-year student living at home! Woop Woop! I love your blog! I feel the same way. It’s difficult drive for me but I love that I save SO much money and an available kitchen, hello! haha I officially started my own foodie blog for my new year’s goal! No longer only a reader, now a blogger! Scary….I had to add you to my blog roll b/c I know I’ll continue to check in! Congrats on all your progress:)
great story, you’re an inspiration to us gals who “skinny” doesnt come easy for. keep it up!
I just found your blog and I’m loving it! Something weirdly addictive about reading other people’s eats. Like window shopping for food!
Congrats on the weight loss– you look great! I am also trying to lose a little weight and tone up…without “dieting”…it’s just mentally exhausting! I’m in med school so other than just eating healthy, I don’t want to deal with anything too complicated or restrictive. I love your outlook and food choices. Yay pumpkin! and oats! and salsa and other deliciousness! And you seem to have the same healthy eating philosophy– volume eating. I like to get the biggest calorie bang for my buck! I’ve been really obsessed with warm spinach salads lately…I just warm the whole (HUGE!) plate of salad in the microwave for 30-60 seconds and you barely need dressing! Just salt and garlic powder…yumyumyum!
xo
Emily
Hi – just found your blog on the Recommendation of Katie from Chocolate Covered Vegan – lovin it!
Hi there :) I love your blog. I can identify with your bio a lot. I grew up eating unhealthily, and during junior high and high school I put on a lot of weight. I was unhappy and lethargic, not just because of the weight but that didn’t help, so I decided that I was going to lose it. Unlike you, though, I made a bad decision and lost weight in a very unhealthy way. But I LOVE to cook, and keep a positive attitude. So yeah, fee free to check out my blog! I’d love to get to know you :)
Liz from Michigan.
i love your blog. you remind me a lot of myself – 22 year old who has been steadily shedding pounds throughout college. keeping a healthy lifestyle is really difficult but blogging makes it soo much better – keep it up! i will be reading!
I just found your blog, and was literally shocked to see that you go to Laurier as well! I’m living in residence, and I love it. I’ll definitely admit that the food here is not the greatest, but I’m able to eat fairly healthy by buying most of my groceries at the ValuMart on King:)
Keep posting!
Great bio! Sooo inspiring, <3 it!! Wait!!!! I’ll love it even more if ya post a (or more) pic of yaself!!! ;) Heheheh, do i sound weird?! Hope not!!! :D
I also decided to lose weight the healthy way by eating better and exercise. We seem to have very similar interests! I added you to my blogroll, cause I just love your site! :)
<3 Taylor
i love your blog! prettttyy prettty pictures!
I came across your blog and you’re so motivating! I love your pictures (great lighting!) and am hoping to be where you are soon. You’ve got a great attitude about food and healthy living! Way to go :)
Erin
Hi Kristie!
Thanks for stopping by! Wow, you are definitely inspirational having maintained your weight loss. That’s wonderful! It’s something I am still learning so I will have to look to your blog for tips and tricks :-)
Best,
Michelle
Awesome! Way to go! I’m finding so many wonderful blogs as I search for them. There are so many motivating stories that help me keep going and get excited about the blogging community! i look forward to reading more.
natalie
http://www.nono2yoyo.wordpress.com
glad I found your blog.. can’t wait to see more!! :)
Love your blog – so glad I found it, I’ll def be coming around a bunch!
Love your outlook. Love your blog!
We have a lot in common: http://www.nutritionnut.wordpress.com
Hey!!!
Just stumbled across your blog and I LOVE it!!! Great meal ideas, and I love your positive outlook! I look forward to reading more :)
Feel free to stop on by my blog and say hi! :)
-Lauren
http://www.Biochemista.com
Hi!
I’m so glad that I came across your blog! I don’t have my own (although I have aspriations to start one) but I am a vegetarian who enjoys reading veg/vegan/healthy eating food blogs. I stumbled across yours through someone’s blog roll and was happy to see someone the same age as me who cares about nutrition. And, to make things even better, I’m from Laurier as well! I wouldn’t be surprised if we’ve run into eachother before! (Literally, I go for runs around Waterloo quite often)
i love your blog.I love how you eat whatever you want. you don’t adhere to the vegan, raw or vegetarian lifestyle(not saying it’s bad to follow it).Most people follow it because it’s a new trend or “healthier”.
Your blog disproves that not all omnivores are dying from heart disease.
I love your food ideas! Healthy, delicious and nutritious.
Bless you=)
I love your blog! Although I was blessed with the so called “skinny genes” I have always been a bad eater, and finally got fed up with the way all that sugar and carbs were making me feel. I’m hoping to slowly bring in healthier food because when I eat better, I not only feel better physically, but mentally too!
http://www.fitatheart.wordpress.com
Hi there! I was browsing the web looking for someone that had similar stats as me starting out who was losing weight and came across your blog. I’ve been browsing for the past hour, and it’s really wonderful! I was curious, though, if you had any before pictures for comparison? Right now I’m 5’3 and started out around 160 for my heaviest. I’m now 136. I like before and after pictures, so I can see what I can hopefully look like if I keep going. If you don’t have any, though, or don’t want to post them, then that’s fine…no worries…still love the blog! Thanks!
Awesome blog, and we have a number of things in common which always makes it more enjoyable to read. :)
Kristie! Good Job!!
Im from Toronto, and just stumbled across your blog— its so inspiring! I have to say that its admirable!
Whats your height?
I like how you said that you love food and you try to maintain that relationship as healthy as possible.
Another Canadian EH? HA What part of Canada are you from?
Great job!!! You look great. Congratulations on your weight loss and your accomplishments. I was at the same place – miserable and overweight and my own weight loss motivated me so much that I decided to pursue a career in Clinical Nutrition :-).
I am glad that I stumbled upon your blog.
You’re gorgeous! I love your hair. I like your food philosophy that nothing is off limits. I’m trying to gain some balance with that myself!
Wow, I am so so happy to have found your blog, Kristie! Your entries are not only thoughtful and interesting, but you are such an inspiration/motivation to lead a life full of balance, love, and positivity! I’m loving what I’ve read so far. You manage to infuse each post with humor too, which I absolutely adore.
I can’t wait to read more!!
hey! thanks for coming by my blog! Your looks GREAT and cant wait to read more..
oh, and it’s great you changed your life at 22. So young to have it all figured out on the healthy eating front :)
i love your outlook! and all of your tasty creations.
healthy food, exercise and motivation are definitely the key essentials. i like the way you think, girl!
Hey, Kristie.
I gotta say Wendy’s is ONE place that gives me heartburn. And I don’t even get heartburn. So totally with you there…
Hey Kristie,
Thanks for stopping by my blog! It’s always great to discover fellow Canadian college food bloggers :-) You definitely have some delicious-looking eats on your blog, and a wonderful journey to share with the rest of us.
Cheers
xo Aletheia
Great attitude and perspective! Very motivating.
Love your blog! What a wonderful story! So glad you are so happy and have made some fabulous strides!!
oh my gosh, you look SO much like one of my friends from high school! (That’s a major compliment.) Ü
I love that your story is so realistic with no drastic measures. Great job!
Great blog, its an interesting read :)
I love your style of eating/cooking. What are you most conscious about? how many calories something has? how much protein? how much fat? where the ingredients come from?
SOOOO…I love you blog!!!:)
“Healthy makes me happy”
That so sums things up so perfectly! Love it!
Just found your blog, love it! :)
Hi!
I just ran across your blog. I am very inspired by your weight loss story and can’t wait to read more of your blog!
I just stumbled across your blog this morning! I love it!
It is great to find a new Canadian food/health blogger!
I adore this About Me. You are freakin’ awesome. You are welcome to visit me in Cali any time!
Just ran across your blog and I’m so glad I did! Love your outlook on life and health! Looking forward to reading more! :)
Where in Canada are you from? I’m in Vancouver;) Great blog!
Just found your blog! Very cool. I’m excited to read more :)
hi there!i total understand how u felt like b4 taking control of ur weight and over all well being! congratualtions!! i have always had a weight problem and been yo-yo dieting since … well.. all of my life! how did u start liking veggies? i’ve finally decided to take control for one last time and this time hoping to stick to it and not gain all the weight back.. so thank u for sharing ur story here and ur wonderful tips… keep posting!
I love your outlook. :) No crash diets, just healthy foods and all things in moderation! That is the way to go!
hi kristie.
since u have done it the right way,u can surely help me out.whats the right thing to eat b4 a workout?is exercising early in the morn on an empty stomach the right way to go about it?i need Heeeeelp coz all the conflicting advices r freaking me out;(by the way,i saw ur ss on thats fit.u r definitely one of the prettiest girls i have ever seen.love ur smile)-ishani
you’re gorgeous! and so inspiring. can’t wait for more!
I stumbled upon your blog today and glad I did- great posts and look forward to reading more in the future! :D
omg i love your blog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! a canadian :D
I luckily stumbled across your blog this afternoon and am glad I did! I was also overweight and am now a certified nutrition and love it!
Lisa H.