How Do You Feel About Health #12 (Yahjaira Vasquez)

What do you do for a living (school/job)?
I am a bartender and currently enrolled for school towards a business marketing degree.

Do you think about your health?
I think about my health every day. I am constantly trying to improve it.

How do you feel about the way that you eat?
I am proud of the way I eat. I’ve been a vegetarian over a year now and am currently trying to shift my diet to a vegan diet. I’d like to cut out the dairy because it’s really not that healthy for you, and our bodies are not meant to digest these kinds of products. Not to mention all the toxins that are placed in them by our food industry. I would just like to make my diet as clean as possible for better health in the long run. It’s not easy, but at some point I’ll get the hang of it.

How active were you when you were younger and what activities did you do for exercise? Did you have P.E.?
I’ve played basketball almost all my life, since I was eight, therefore basketball was always my source of exercise when I was younger. I did have P.E in elementary, but not in middle school or high school. But the summer after I finished middle school I began to play AAU basketball and training became a lot more intense and I would do lots of cardio and strength training, this is when I really got into strength training.
 
What is your dream in life? Are you working towards that dream?
My dream in life is to have financial freedom. To have my own businesses and not have to check in with anyone, be my own boss. I want to be able to provide for my family and build an empire. This is why I changed my direction with my degree to business marketing, so I can learn business, but also learn ways to better market myself. It’s been a long ways coming, but I finally feel I am headed in the right direction. And of course, I would like to make a family of my own with someone who has the same visions and values as myself, but this will come a little later down the line.
 
How stressful is your life right now?
Hmm… Well, I would say it’s been pretty stressful because I am not happy with the way my life has been going, I envisioned myself to be in a different space at this point in my life. But I will say this, I’m learning to trust the process and accept that I cannot control every situation. Everything happens for a reason and I may not know and understand that reason right now, but eventually it will all come together and make sense. All I have to do is trust the process and keep my head up, continue to push forward despite the setbacks.
 
How do you cope with your stress?
How I deal with stress depends on the amount of stress I’m in. Sometimes having a clear picture of a situation like bills or just a busy month helps alleviate the stress I am feeling. So when I have those kinds of stressors, sitting down with my planner and jotting everything down, spacing them out properly throughout the month and creating a plan really helps me destress. The gym is a big help as well. Just getting on the treadmill and running or lifting heavy weights and really focusing in on my workout helps clear my mind. Sometimes I sit and meditate with some incense on the floor in my room. And then there are somedays where my stress feels so heavy I sleep, which isn’t the best option, but I am human and sometimes I need a break.

Do you know how to exercise properly?
I would say I do. I’ve been properly training for over a decade. I’ve had many coaches and trainers who have helped me get to the point in fitness that I am at now. I’ve learned a lot and picked up a lot of things over the years.

Do you know how to eat healthy?
I do. I’ve done a lot of research on my own. But I must say, knowing is a lot easier than doing. While I try to eat healthy for the most part, I do love my sweets!

What changes do you want to see in the health industry?
I would like to see a more mindful health industry. The health industry does a lot of bad things to expand a dollar, and it all comes at the expense of our health. The health industry does the opposite of what they are actually supposed to do which is sad. I hope that everyone does their research on the foods they eat and develops a proper diet for the sake of their children and future generations. I truly do believe that all of the health issues people face is due in part to the poor diets they choose. Food can really heal all. But, I feel like this generation has lots of resources and are becoming more aware of the fraudulent health industry, so I’m interested to see how this sense of awareness pressures the health industry to change.

​Do you think being healthy will ever be at the forefront in society?
​Like I said, I feel like people are becoming more aware of health now. I think people are seeing that all it takes are little changes to lead a healthier lifestyle that can expand their lifespan drastically. So many people are becoming obese and sick at younger ages, and I believe this epidemic is starting to shift people’s mindsets. I will not say health is at the forefront now, but I can see it being a major topic with the next few years.

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