Inspirational Friends
Recently, I was fortunate enough to photograph a friend (pictured here) who started an inspirational blog called @SkinnyBoyVeganGains on Instagram. Since he adopted a vegan lifestyle a few years ago, his health has transformed both mentally and physically. In 2018 he added bodybuilding to his list of accomplishments with several top placements in his first year of competitions, including Overall Champion at the 2019 INBF River City Classic Bodybuilding Championships Open Men's Physique title! I could see the benefits while photographing his stunning form in its, shall we say, natural state. Check out pics from the shoot @PR3Creativity on Instagram
After the shoot we decided to do lunch, vegan of course, near Jack London Square in Oakland at Eternal, and @SkinnyBoyVeganGains shared more about his intention in blogging and some of the reactions he has received. After a health scare, he knew he had to make a drastic change in his lifestyle and eating habits, he found support in other vegans and bodybuilders, and he wanted to share (not preach) his experiences because he knew other people may not have much support around them. We both are dedicated to sharing our experiences and open to learning from the experiences of others. I learned from him that day as we sat and truly enjoyed a meal together at Eternal. I have eaten a vegan meal many times before, but not with someone who dug into it with such gusto. I admit, my own attitude probably tainted my experience of vegan food in the past, but on that Sunday afternoon we were hungry, and we GRUBBED, laughing with each other, and I left feeling very satisfied. I joined my friend for a meal, and friends make everything better. Why not changing how I eat?
Although I have always tried to stay under the threshold of 195 lbs, and keep my waist under 34 inches, at a height of 5'8, my doctor tells me it is best I keep closer to 165 lbs
(I think 175-180 lbs feels best for me). In either case, a smaller waist is certainly welcome.
I am guilty of often trying to shoulder things alone, especially something I perceive as a matter of discipline. Why does it take me so long to learn I respond well to social support with regard to changing behavior? It was true when I stopped drinking (friends attended outpatient groups with me, and I can not overstate the value of the social support Alcoholics Anonymous meetings provide ). It was true when I returned to school to complete a BA degree (my dear friend Reggie practically held my hand during orientation). And shifting my eating habits will likely be no different. I am not saying I am a new vegan, but I can see a path which leads to cleaner eating, a path which includes my friends. Friends are the ultimate inspiration. I began this journey by sharing goals with friends at work, and others who I spend the most time with. Friends can motivate and hold me accountable, not with judgments, but with encouragement and bearing witness.
I hope you too find friends to support anything that you want to add to your life, half the battle is telling them about what you want and claiming it openly. I claim, a healthier version of myself and incorporating healthier meals into my day-to-day is goal one.
Your post about inspirational friends hit home for me because it reminded me of a time last summer when I was struggling with a big career decision. I was torn between staying in a stable job and pursuing a risky but exciting startup idea. My old college roommate, Maya, showed up out of the blue, and over coffee she didn’t offer any grand advice—she simply listened, asked thoughtful questions, and shared a story about how she had once quit a secure position to follow her passion, even though she was terrified https://www.justice.qld.gov.au/initiatives/liquor-gaming That honest vulnerability sparked something in me; I realized that the fear was normal and that having someone who believes in you can turn uncertainty into action. Within…
Your post brought me back to a rainy afternoon two years ago when I felt completely stuck in my career. I was scrolling through my phone, half‑heartedly scrolling past inspirational quotes, when my friend Maya called out of the blue. She didn’t ask how I was doing; she simply said, “Let’s grab coffee and talk about the crazy idea you had for that app.” Over steaming mugs, she listened without judgment, asked probing questions, and reminded me of the excitement I felt when I first sketched the concept https://www.austrac.gov.au/business/core-guidance/latest-guidance-updates Her belief turned my vague notion into a concrete plan, and within months I’d launched a beta that actually attracted users. It wasn’t a grand gesture—just a few minutes of her…
Reading this reminded me of the summer I spent abroad in a small coastal town where I barely knew anyone. I was nervous about navigating a new language and culture, but a group of locals invited me to their weekly beach clean‑up. They didn’t just show me how to pick up trash; they shared stories about their families, taught me a few phrases, and laughed with me when I mangled their idioms https://dth.nt.gov.au/boards-and-committees/racing-commission Their encouragement turned what could have been an isolating experience into one of the most enriching months of my life. I still keep in touch with a few of them, and every time I feel stuck, I remember how their simple belief in me sparked confidence I…