I've realized that my blog entry from last week seemed rather depressing (although I didn't mean for it to come off that way) so I thought that this week I'd talk about something very positive. Yes, something has been positively effected by France thus far and here it is-- My health.
First of all, what does "healthy" really mean? I used to always consider myself a healthy person because I mean, I don't have diabetes or cancer and I haven't had a heart attack (despite the numerous times that I've SWORN I was having one). However, looking back on how I used to feel everyday and comparing it to how I now feel everyday, I don't consider the "me" in the states to be very healthy. Some things I used to complain about everyday in the states are...basically everything listed in the Pepto Bismol song, plus extreme fatigue and headaches. In the past month I rarely have encountered these things. I will now explain how France has improved my health in three ways:
1) My Diet
Like stated above, I basically suffered from every gastrointestinal problem in the states. I used to think that was normal but it's definitely not. I have come to this realization with the help of my changed diet. You see, the food here is real food. The produce is locally grown. I feel like every dairy product I've bought has been organic (and I wasn't looking for organic). Your breads are baked fresh everyday and even when you want something sweet, you're still being healthier than in the states because they use REAL sugar here. The greatest part is that I don't even have to search for healthier options here because they are all healthy (in comparison to anything in the states). The reasoning behind this wonderful thing is that all GMO's are banned in France...actually the entire European union has banned GMO's. What is a GMO? A genetically modified organism, i.e: crops that are changed to enhance taste and quality...like the Flavr Savr tomato. Although they might taste good, they're not the best for you and in the US, cattle is fed with genetically modified produce which is passed to you through milk and beef. Even if you think you're escaping them, you're not. Therefore, I feel 100% healthier and I have the food here to thank for it.
2) My Physical Fitness
If you're a regular reader of my blog (LOL those don't exist) you'd know from earlier posts that I really had no intention of becoming "physically fit." I hate working out, and that is still very true today. However, I was basically forced into becoming active when I moved here because I have to walk everywhere, uphill. I walk at least three miles a day, probably more. I climbed a freaking mountain the other day AND participated in a 5K. No, I didn't run the whole thing because I'm not immortal but I did run a lot more of it than I could have prior. I remember the first week here, the walk up the hill to my dorm was like a living hell...but now it's nothing. I can feel my legs getting toner too, which is a super plus.
3) My Tolerance to Weather
Okay, this one isn't exactly health...unless you consider it mental health...but at home I could not last more than 20 minutes outside if it was over 75 degrees. I would be laying out by the pool with my friends and a few minutes later I would disappear into the air conditioning. I was always the biggest baby about heat but now living in the South of France where it's 80 degrees in October and no AC, I have become accustomed to it. Obviously I still don't prefer it to be hot outside, but at least now I can handle it. Plus I drink a lot more water here because if I didn't I'd get dehydrated, fast.
Yes, sometimes I miss late night Taco Bell and early morning Mcgriddles. I'm still human. Nonetheless, I'm a little afraid to go back to eating the way I did at home when I return and becoming once again a couch potato. I'm happy with the way I feel in France...like my body actually likes me. So thank you Aix-en-Provence for repairing my out of shape, fat-saturated body. Vive la France!
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