How will I Quest for Health?

So I mentioned that I'm a graduate student. I'm getting my PhD in Community Nutrition at Cornell and I love it. A lot of times when people hear I'm studying nutrition they ask me for advice...technically I might know a bit more than the average person about what foods are good for your health and which to avoid or moderate, but that's mainly because I like reading about food and health. My actual research is about the emotional and social connections we have with others concerning food (and in many cases, with food itself) and how that influences our ability to make eating behavior changes that we desire to make. Because to me, you can know what the best course of action is, and still not take it if you value or prioritize other things.

But all of my research, both anecdotal, academic, and spiritual suggest that food is an important piece of any quest for health.

Academically, it's widely accepted that foods and components of many foods (like certain vitamins, minerals,  antioxidants, as well as fiber, etc.) can help prevent many chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease and type II diabetes.

Much anecdotal and less formal research suggests that eating a plant-based, whole foods diet can not only prevent disease, but reverse many common chronic diseases like those mentioned earlier (see Forks Over Knives, or books: The Hallelujah Diet, Green for Life, Diet for a New America, Skinny Bitches, http://www.gabrielcousens.com/, etc.). Some of these researchers suggest a diet comprised mainly of raw plant foods is most effective at reversing disease. Raw food being food not heated above a certain temperature in the 110's (degrees Farenheit), some books say 112, others 115 or 118- simulating temperatures at which you might bake something in the sun (without the use of mirrors or foil).

The Gospel of the Essene as well as Genesis 1:29 points to a whole foods plant based diet for Adam and Eve in their heyday- though later instructions allow for meat prepared certain ways.

At any rate- my quest for health will involve re-vamping my diet to include more whole and raw plant foods, as well as a good introspective look at my thoughts surrounding food and eating healthfully. So this blog will be about my quest for health. I'll post pictures weekly chronicling my journey.

Why Quest for Health?

I'm a 24 year old, African American woman. I weigh 176 pounds, but then again, I am 5'9" - but my body fat percentage is about 29. I just got married in July of 2011, which was one of the most stressful, hectic, yet enjoyable moments of my life- at that point I weighed a smooth 160 pounds. Over the next two months, I encountered the next most mentally stressful and important moment of my graduate career to date - taking (and passing!) my A exam. Which involved hours and hours of endless studying, at least 7 all-nighters to complete a 25 page proposal, two written exams, and prepare for a 3 hour oral exam- doing what most people prepare for in 4 months or so, in 1.5 months because of the wedding. Anyway, I passed. But I didn't emerge unscathed.

I gained 10 pounds in that month and a half, contracted a re-occurring yeast infection, and had my previously dormant ringworm resurface. I had been eating whatever I wanted, and sleeping whenever I could, and I guess it caught up to me.

So after the exam, I vowed to get back on a healthier sleeping and eating schedule as well as begin to workout. And I did. For all of September and October I have gone to the gym at least 5 times a week, combining lifting weights and cardio workouts, and 95% of my meals have been homemade with 100% being vegetarian, and many vegan as well.

Sadly, what has normally worked for me in the past- hasn't. I didn't gain weight over this time, but I didn't lose any weight or inches either. Shut the front door! This sucks. But I have a few thoughts as to why I'm not seeing that scale budge just yet.

1. I'm living with my beloved husband who is 6' 3" and weighs the same amount as me- he is trying to put on weight. So when we eat together, I'm tempted to eat as much as him, or at least return for seconds when he does- that's got to stop. Now.
2. Also I'm lifting weights, so I assume I'm putting on a little muscle weight- which is fine, I'm not obsessed with the number on the scale, I am really concerned with feeling more comfortable with my body and in my clothes.
3. Lastly, I'm sick. Something about my immune system or body chemistry must be impaired. Because I'm growing fungus like I'm a dead tree (ringworm and yeast are both fungal infections, I also have a toenail fungus). So what can I do to not only she some excess fat and feel better about my appearance, but actually improve my health and feel like I'm supposed to feel at 24? I don't want to turn 25 feeling like I'm 50. I can't do it.