1) Pilates - I joined a small studio few weeks ago, and have been going twice a week. Earlier this year, I went to a Pelvic PT for many sessions after I realized I had an issue that was severely limiting my ability in terms of certain types of movements, lifts, yoga poses, and long (greater than 10 mile) runs. The PT helped me a bit, more with what not to do and how to prevent worsening my injury, but it hasn't solved the problem. So in lieu of joining the big gym that I used to love pre-Covid, I started Pilates. I am LOVING it - immensely. The movements are so subtle, so small, I don't break a sweat or even raise my heart rate, but I come back sore every single time. Its helping me tone, lengthen and stretch my muscles - again, the changes are subtle but will add up over time. I also love the instructor - she is gentle, supportive, and brings really good energy.
Have you tried Pilates? Do you like it, love it, or hate it?
2) Plant based diet (and the dreaded protein question) - If you didn't already know, I've been on a plant based diet for more than 3 years now. I grew up vegetarian, and dairy was a big part of my meals, especially snacks. My brother-in-law turned vegan first - he is a huge activist, and to be fair, he didn't push us into it but shared what he had learnt about the suffering of animals and the brutal realities of the meat and dairy industry, especially in the US. As I read more books, watched documentaries, visited farms - I was convinced that a plant based way of eating is the way to go. I don't like to use the term "vegan" because it always brings out negative vibes.....and I am not 100% vegan yet - my car still has leather seats for example. We try to focus on whole food plant based (wfpb) - ideally would be zero oil, no processed junk, minimal salt, no processed sugar, and I'd say we are 80-85% complaint. I've always had issues digesting dairy, which I didn't realize when I was consuming it, but now that I'm off it, I can see how much better my gut feels. I love fruits and vegetables and don't find this way of eating difficult. But the moment someone finds out you are plant based, they jump on the dreaded protein question - so where do you get your protein? I fail to understand America's obsession with protein. Actually, even my Indian vegetarian friends are brainwashed into thinking that giving up dairy will cause imbalances in their diet, and they will suddenly become protein deficient, and lose all their muscle. Some of my friends are Jain, who don't eat root vegetables like potatoes and onions, don't eat leafy greens on certain days of the month, but happily consume dairy without pausing to think how much suffering the animals have to endure and how many animals are killed in the process. Even eggs - if you learn about the egg industry, you will find out that male chicks are either ground up alive or gassed to death because they are worthless. Egg laying hens are sent to slaughterhouses at the end of their reproductive cycle. I don't know how you can argue about the circle of life, blah blah blah in this day and age, when the world's population can easily thrive off of plants. And no one talks about Fiber - way more important for the gut microbiome than protein, carbs and fats.
If you want recommendations on books, movies, podcasts on plant based diet, please let me know, I will be happy to share what I know.
3) Covid - California re-opened today. No social distancing, no masks, indoor dining open, theme parks and concerts back on...a huge step forward towards normalcy. I'm on the fence about this whole thing - our state is doing amazing with the numbers, but a large population is still unvaccinated. Kids under 12 are not eligible to receive vaccines yet. The delta variant is here but is not the dominant strain yet - so we don't know how things will look like in near future. But businesses have been suffering for months, schools have been closed in-person for a long time, and people have been cooped up for so long, that some sort of relief is necessary.
I also have mixed feelings about the whole post-covid socialization and large indoor gatherings/festivities. I know of friends who continued to socialize and did not respect social distancing rules/protocols throughout the pandemic - they didn't care that they could have potentially infected someone who was immuno-compromised by their actions, and caused long term issues or even death. So selfish and callous. I know people who didn't spend a single weekend with just themselves in their own home - they have such a strong need to socialize that they are uncomfortable with their own company. Do I just ignore/forget these behaviors and move on as if all is okay and nothing happened? How can I trust these people to do the right thing next time something like this happens?
So far, we still don't do indoor meetups with friends. We do socialize outdoors, with or without masks depending on who we are with, and kids are enrolled in team sports as well. We do travel and take all the necessary precautions of wearing masks, washing hands, wiping surfaces, and maintaining distance when out n about. I have anxiety thinking about large indoor gatherings. I don't miss them as much. I've grown fond of 1:1 meetups and meaningful conversations, over small talk n gossip. Quality over quantity any day!!
4) Last musing of the day: Books - what have you been reading lately? My reading habits have been poor - I'm reading like 3-4 books at a time...and taking SO long to finish them. I switch between kindle and paperbacks....I have books on my bedside table and a different book in the living room....so I'm always switching back n forth. I also read a few books that the kids were reading in order to help them with correcting their school work (the whole virtual learning was a big fiasco in terms of writing growth). I'm glad I'm still reading a lot, but I wish I can bring the focus and discipline of finishing books cover to cover back. Today was a good day. I finished half of this book - "Live your life", one of the first memoirs about someone who passed away after a long COVID battle in the hospital, written by his wife. I've been following her Instagram and could relate to a lot of it; the book was surprisingly not depressing....I found it uplifting and inspiring.
https://www.amazon.com/Live-Your-Life-Loving-Cordero/dp/0063078252
That's it for today!!
