Vision Statement

purpose of this blog:

• To help me stay accountable
• To remind myself of what works & what doesn't
• To keep track of highs and lows
• To record progress & changes
• To post random things that I find and like

this is my virtual "diary."

• I write in first person
• Most posts = random streams of consciousness
• Other posts = random Pinterest, YouTube, and blogging finds
• A handful of posts = random lists (I love lists!)
• Punctuation & spelling don't matter ...ain't nobody got time for that!
• I talk to myself; When I say "you," I really mean "I" (i.e. "you did it!" = "I did it!")

this blog is NOT:

• About comments, page views, or sponsors
• Written for an audience
• Perfect... nor do I want it to be

although this is my "diary," I will NOT:

• Make it ugly... I'm super OCD about making sure that paper journals look pretty, an electronic one is no exception to the rule
• Write like an 8-year-old ...or in IM-speak (I H8 wh3n ppl type lyk di$)
• Share my deepest darkest secrets
• Draw a bazillion tiny hearts around my crush's name
• ...Or practice my "Mrs. Brad Pitt" signature

and although this is a blog, I will NOT:

• Ask for advice, comments, concerns, and/or any other form of input
• ... same goes for offering advice, comments, and/or any other form of input
• Be super boring ...at least not intentionally
• Be super funny ...I try, I fail, shit gets awkward real fast

This is something that I needed to put in writing.  I don't want to lose sight of why I started this blog.  A couple of times, I've caught myself writing as if I were talking to viewers.  I need to shake that mentality.  This is MY place for MY thoughts.  No one else knows about this blog, and for now, it is going to stay that way.

Gratitude Journal 5/30

today I am grateful for...

1. Opportunity
2. Freedom
3. Computers... seriously, what did people do before the internet!?

DietBet: Social Dieting

take a chance, make it happen.

I don't particularly like gambling.  Partly because I don't really understand it, but mostly because I have the luck of Jeanne Rogers (I think I've broken one too many mirrors in my day).  Naturally when I first heard about DietBet, a social dieting site that allows you to bet against others, I was a little skeptical. BUT as I read more about it on the Blogilates page, my competitive side started to take over.

in it to win it.

This isn't your stereotypical betting.  Greedy casinos don't manipulate the games; I don't have to research the training schedule of a million horses or keep up with every sports team in order to play the odds; it doesn't matter if my birthday numbers aren't randomly picked from a hat; and no one needs to find out that I can't keep a poker face to save my life... This is a billion times better than other types of betting because I have the power to control the outcome!

How could I resist!?  Once my mind was made up, there was no turning back.  I signed up for the Blogilates June DietBet and threw my $25 into the pot, which is now over $40,000! I already want to lose weight, so this is just added motivation.  First weigh in is June 1st.  I must spend these next couple of days formulating a P.O.A... Competition looks fierce.

a video is worth a bazillion words.

I'm absolutely terrible at explaining things.  To avoid butchering the concept of social dieting, I'll let the video and screen shots below do the talking.

To-Do List 5/28

one step at a time.

Ugh, life has been chaotic lately! I move OUT of my current apartment tomorrow, move IN to my new apartment on Saturday, and start my summer class on Tuesday. My three priorities for today:

1. Pack my car (move out)
2. Make a budget
3. Make a shopping list and meal plan for next week

TGIF

Gratitude Journal 5/23

SOURCE: Ivana Cunja

today I am grateful for...

1. The cafe at my work, for having vegan chili on the day I forgot my lunch
2. FINALLY waking up early and getting my ass to the gym.  Sorry, I just had to say it again
3. Good people. In lieu of recent tragedies, they are a reminder that there is far more good than evil in the world

Music Makes Me Happy

dirty little secret

I've discovered the secret to waking up early and getting my ass to gym! The best part?  It's pretty simple.  All it takes isssss ...MUSIC! Last night I put together a great playlist of recently downloaded songs, and this morning I went to the gym for the first time in months.  See the correlation?  I'm sure there are other factors that contributed, but music was the straw that broke the camel's back (in a good way).  Maybe I was subconsciously so excited to hear the new songs that instead of pressing the snooze button, I put on my sneakers and got ready to go.  I know it sounds crazy, but it's the only logical explanation.  I've been trying so hard to get to the gym for the past two weeks and today I finally did.  What did I do different?  Had a new playlist ready to go.

current playlist

I'm only going to listen to songs from my iTunes while I'm at the gym; that way they stay new and exciting (unlike those songs that they play over and over and over on the radio -- gag).  So next time I am in a gym-slump, I will just download some kickass music, create a kickass playlist, and hit the gym for a kickass workout.  So simple!  Here's what I was jamming out to during my 30-minute treadmill sesh...

bet ya can't listen to this without getting out of your seat to dance along ...I dare ya!

Overly Excited Morning Post

SOURCE: Molly Jacques Illustration

I feel good...

You'll never guess where I just came from!!! ...or maybe I should say you'll never BELIEVE where I just came from! ...I'll give you a hint.  It starts with G and it sounds a lot like like "Jim."  That's right!!!! I FINALLY DID IT! I successfully completed a morning workout.  After two weeks of snoozing my 5:30 alarm, I finally dragged my ass out of bed and made it to the gym.  And man, does it feel good!

na na na na na na na

Okay so it took me two full weeks of trying super hard to get to the gym.  This morning something just clicked.  In the past I've tried different techniques, but last night was the first night that I combined all techniques.  Here's how it played out...

• Slept in my gym clothes (including sports bra)
• Drank water before bed so I wouldn't be dehydrated in the morning
• Put my alarm on the other side of the room.
• Created a new playlist of fun music and added it to my phone (this also charged my phone)
• Picked out an outfit for work the night before
• Pre-packed my gym bag with water, a sweat towel, deodorant, extra headphones and a mini umbrella
• Put a sweatshirt and headband on top of my gym bag along with a pair of socks, sneakers, and baggy sweatpants
• Made sure my keys were by the door
• Created a plan of attack before bed.  Which machine did I want to use? How long? What program?
• Read over the reasons that I want to lose weight
• When I wake up, I usually crawl back into my cozy bed because the air is too cold.  Not today! Instead, I put on my sneakers, sweatpants & sweatshirt to stay warm.
• Chugged a glass of water, brushed my teeth, and made a quick smoothie to drink on the drive (light chocolate soy milk, 1/2 a frozen banana & a tbsp. of PB)
• Woke up at 5:30 ...got to the gym at 6 ...got back to my apartment at 7.  This left plenty of time to shower and get ready for work

...and I knew that I would

I did a fit test; one of those pre-programmed ones on the treadmill.  Basically you enter your age, weight, and sex.  Then the treadmill keeps you at a steady 3.6 speed for 12 minutes, increasing the incline from 0 to 12 along the way.  If your heart rate stays over 150 for more than one minute, the test terminates. Unfortunately, my fit test terminated at 11:26 so I don't know what kind of results are given at the end... Or come to think of it, maybe those were the results??  Anyway, after that I decided to see how long it would take me to run a mile.  Sheesh! I didn't realize how totally out of shape I am.  I couldn't go more than half a mile before stopping to walk (...and I was really pushing myself).  In the end, I completed 1 mile in 11 minutes and 58 seconds.

...so good! so good! I've got youuuuu

Summer BodyWise Schedule

note to self:

print this out and put it on the fridge!

My Last Days: Meet Zach Sobiech

Since everyone and their mom seems to be sharing this video on Facebook, I decided to jump on the bandwagon... oh the power of social media.  Confession: I haven't had a chance to watch it yet because the dumb internet is so friggen slow in my apartment!  I'm posting it here as a reminder to watch it as soon as I get into work tomorrow.

Gratitude Journal 5/21

SOURCE: Miss Capricho

today I am grateful for...

1. Hair straighteners... the perfect cure for my perpetual case of "frizzies"
2. Contacts... because I'd hate not being able to see anything while taking a shower
3. Curtains... protecting against public indecency one window at a time!

Gratitude Journal 5/20

SOURCE: Katie Evans

today I am grateful for...

1. Beautiful weather, which can only mean one thing: SUMMER'S ALMOST HERE!
2. Having my own desk & computer at work ...and unlimited access to the supply closet ;)
3. My family and their patience as I learn how to drive stick

Week #1 Vegan Report

SOURCE: Inslee

yo ho yo ho, a vegan's life for me.

I HAVE OFFICIALLY BEEN VEGAN FOR SEVEN DAYS!!!  Truth be told, I don't really miss my weekly take-out rotation (D.P. Dough, Husky Pizza, Yukon Jacks, and Dominos) or my morning Dunkin runs (large caramel swirl iced coffee with cream & sugar and a double chocolate doughnut please).  Don't get me wrong, going vegan cold turkey (#punny) was a huge deal; hence why I'm not freaking out about calories yet.  My body can be a bit stubborn so the last thing I want to do is make a billion and one changes before it's ready! Baby steps ;)

seven days without meat makes one weak.

I want have to start incorporating exercise into my routine.  The only problem?  With my new 9-to-5 job and reduced protein intake, my energy levels have gone down faster than the Titanic.  On top of that, I haven't worked out since Spring Break; That's a whole two months of being completely sedentary!  I managed to sneak in a quick walk on my lunch break today.  Might try to make it a regular thing... at least until frizzy-hair weather gets here.

weekly progress report:

In other news, Monday means weigh-in day!  I am excited to announce that this morning I was exactly 175.0 pounds.  That means I've lost 3.3 pounds since last Monday. The best part? The only change I've made is going vegan; no restricting; no planning; no feeling guilty.  I also took measurements; lost a couple inches overall.  I didn't have time to snap a progress pic; will do first thing tomorrow morning!

#MorningWorkoutProblems

source: Caitlin McGuley

alarm clock woes.

I can't believe how difficult it is to wake up early and go to the gym! Last night I did just about everything humanly possible to make a morning sweat sesh not only possible, but relatively easy.  I laid out my clothes, packed my bag, put my water bottle in the fridge, and charged my iPhone (already pre-loaded with the perfect cardio playlist).  I even went to bed at 10!  I can't tell you the last time I went to bed in the p.m.'s.  However despite my valiant efforts, when 5:30 rolled around, I rolled over and went back to sleep.  Ugh!

oh well, tomorrow's a new day.

What's Wrong with What We Eat?

This TED talk by Mark Bittman definitely makes me feel good about my decision to go vegan.  It has only been three days, but I'm still going strong.  No animal byproducts shall pass these lips!

The Silent Killer

doctor, doctor give me the news.

I had an appointment with my pediatrician yesterday and I got some scary news!  ....Yes I still see a pediatrician, and yes the fact that I need to start seeing a "real doctor" soon freaks me out... but that's not the news I'm talking about here.  What started as a routine checkup took a turn for the worst when my doctor informed me I have *dun dun dunnn* HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.  Eeek, I'm only 21! I can't have hight blood pressure yet. 

ignorance is bliss.

I have a family history of high BP, but I honestly didn't think it was a big deal -- that is, until I did some research.  I consulted WebMD.  In hindsight this probably wasn't the smartest idea since WebMD tends to makes even the commonest of colds sound like the deadliest of cancers.  Anyway, I looked and now there's no unreading what I read.  They called high blood pressure the "silent killer." Killer? KILLER!? I should've just stopped there because next they discussed how internal organs are slowly damaged (often without any symptoms at all) and before you know it, BAM heart attack!  Talk about a wakeup call!

yeah, i workout.

In the end my doctor just told me to exercise more.  Seeing as I don't do much exercise outside of walking from my bedroom to the kitchen, the "more" part should be fairly easy.  On the bright side, I now have a lifetime's worth of reasons to hit the gym.

follow-up appointment in one month.  stay posted.

Oh! Why Hello There

here i am.

With a college degree successfully under my belt, it is time to start a new chapter -- yay!  I've decided to take control of my life, and finally become the person I've always dreamed of becoming.  I know it won't be easy; I know it won't be a straightforward; and I know it won't be immediate... Hell, I don't even know if it will be worth it!  However, I do know that it is something I want, and it is something I am ready to work my ass off for.  I can do this. I will do this.

note to self:

This blog is going to be my digital diary.  I am using it for purely personal purposes.  My posts will have little rhyme or reason.  I will not write to entertain, satisfy, or persuade an audience.  I will not filter my thoughts in fear of criticism.  I will not edit my writing style in an attempt to sound more sophisticated and/or witty.  I will not stress over content.  I will not spend hours rewording, formatting, and proof-reading.  I will not pretend to be an expert on matters in which I have little knowledge or authority.  For once in my life I am making this ALL ABOUT ME, and it feels fucking awesome!