LITS Wellness profiles are a way for LITS employees to share their wellness activities with colleagues and create a knowledgebase and environment of support. If you’re interesting in contributing your wellness story to the LITS Wellness Committee blog, please fill out this form!
Today’s LITS Wellness profile was completed by Amelia Frances, the Coordinator for the Computing Center at Cox Hall. Read on to learn about Amelia’s wellness life!
Describe yourself however you like. Some ideas: where you work in LITS and in what capacity, how long have you been at Emory, pets, hobbies, fun facts, etc.
I’m the Computing Center at Cox Hall Coordinator and have been working at Emory for almost a year and a half. I also attended Emory for my undergraduate degree. Outside of work, I spend most of my time crafting, mostly textiles like embroidery, weaving, and cross stitch. I have one cat named Callie. I don’t watch much TV, but I’ve watched Breaking Bad six times straight through.
What do you do (e.g., cook most of your meals, go for walks, meditate) to stay healthy and well and why?
I cook most of my dinners, and I keep breakfast and lunch simple. Shopping at Your Dekalb Farmer’s Market encourages me to make healthy choices since they have so much affordable produce to choose from. Every day I walk at least 30 minutes and do yoga before bed. I do this because I realize how much better it makes me feel. When I eat out a lot or eat processed food, I notice I feel more sluggish throughout the day, and my mood suffers.
How did you get started with developing healthy habits or starting activities that contribute to your well-being?
Amelia made this ramen with General Tso’s style seitan and reports that it was “so tasty.”
I really only started two years ago. Growing up, fast food and soda were dinnertime staples in my household. My breakfast used to be a gas station Fudge Round and a Pepsi Max. Because of this, I hated vegetables (minus potatoes of course – gotta have those french fries). But after talking to some friends a couple of years ago, I was convinced to become vegetarian. For about a month my meals were pasta, potatoes, and frozen meat substitutes, but I constantly felt tired and knew I needed a change. I decided I’d try a new vegetable every week with one rule: I couldn’t say I didn’t like something unless I’d tried it 3 times, 3 different ways. Some foods were easy (I liked Brussels sprouts right away!), but some foods took more time. Overall, my biggest lesson has been that seasoning really makes a difference!
What has most inspired you to pursue wellness?
Heart disease and diabetes are really common in my family – I’ve lost my grandfather, two great uncles, one great aunt, one uncle, and a cousin to related causes. I realized that I needed to make major life changes while I’m still young because an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. I’ve seen how challenging the battle against disease can be firsthand and didn’t want to continue that pattern onward.
What do you hope to gain from your wellness activities?
I hope to be able to live a long and full life. I know that we only have one body, and I want to nourish mine and treat it with the respect it deserves. I hope to have energy throughout my life to live the active lifestyle I want.
The information provided in this blog post reflects one person’s personal story of wellness. The views and opinions in this article are those of the authors and are not necessarily reflective of all LITS Wellness Committee members. This content is also not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.