Well, it's been a while

Looking at the date on my latest (if that word can be used in this context) post, I am filled with no small amount of shame. It's been over a year since I last shared any sign of life, let alone any evidence of having cooked for myself in 2013.

Well, quite a few things have happened in this past year and a half. Here's the SparkNotes version:

• After graduating from college and rejoining the company that I worked at as an intern in college, I started on a rocky road of adjusting to post-college-still-living-with-my-parents life. It was an incredibly difficult few months. I had been unable to score a "real" job and felt incredibly uncertain about my future. To deal with my lack of friends and general despondency, I turned to food and cooking--the things that made me happy. Unfortunately, this reliance on food for comfort led me to gain almost 15 pounds, and to weigh the most I ever had. 
• Determined to take my health into my hands and to become a healthier and more informed cook and consumer, I began on a strict routine of dieting, exercising, and educating myself about nutrition in June 2013. I learned a ton about food, nutrition, and my body. I started looking and feeling much healthier.
• I attended graduate school from Fall 2012 to Spring 2013--all the while, I continued cooking consciously, with attention to both caloric content and flavor. I continued to lose weight and lead a healthier lifestyle, even in the midst of an incredibly stressful period.
• After graduation, I started working full time. I don't always have time to work out, or even go on a walk, but I still try to cook as many meals as possible and to take my eating into my own hands. In the past 16 months, I have lost over 20 pounds and will (hopefully) continue to do so. With the holidays coming up, that might prove a challenge, but I feel and look better than ever before. And--above all--I am healthy and getting the proper nourishment. I've realized that it's not about being thin--it's about treating your body well and knowing what it needs to be its best.

I will continue to cook because, well, life wouldn't be much fun without it. And, in the weeks and the months ahead, I look forward to sharing my new lifestyle and favorite recipes with you all.

xx Madeleine