Mindful Meals

"Everything you see I owe to spaghetti." -Sophia Loren

30 Days of Workouts was not the success I had hoped for, but it wasn't a complete failure, either. Between a week-long business trip and an awful illness (both at the same time), it was difficult to workout as much as I needed. However, a few fun, three to four minute dancercise videos from the Fitness Marshall kept me moving and motivated until the end! My favorite are the workouts choreographed to Brittney Spears songs because Marshall becomes sassier, if that's even possible.

I am continuing with working out daily and have increased the length and intensity of the exercise sessions as my body heals. I feel more confident on the elliptical (though huffing and puffing at resistance level 2 is still an issue) and realized that the other patrons could not care less about my lack of muscles or endurance. Working out at the gym and at home have become less of a chore and more of a necessity. I mean, not really, but I am getting to the point where exercise feels more of a normal activity than torture.

Have you ever sat down in front of a TV with your dinner plate, and realized two hours later that you've already inhales seconds AND more dessert than you ought to have? This happens to me all of the time. One of the biggest culprits of overeating is being distracted, and I am finished with consuming excessive food without even enjoying it.

At first, I wanted to simply cut out TV during my mealtime hours, but the problem is that I have a habit of snacking while binge watching sitcoms. I am double binging on TV and food. Ugh. I never feel great after a TV and snacking session, anyway, so it is time I cut it out of my life. Instead I will limit my TV time to one hour a day. This is still a lot of TV, but it's a vast improvement from my current, daily, five+ hour relationship with Netflix.

Here are the conditions:
-One hour of TV a day OR one movie a day.
-YouTube, TED, and other short videos do not count, but should be enjoyed in moderation.
-TV time cannot carryover to another day.
-No meals/snacking during TV time and YouTube/TED videos. Not even healthy snacking. (I just polished half a jar of leftover homemade Quickles while watching an episode of Endevour - oops.)

This project may prove difficult because there are other people who can influence my ability to stick to it. My family and friends are avid fans of the moving picture box, so when I have visitors or am staying with family, I need to suggest new activities.

What did people do before TVs? In Pioneer Camp, we churned butter and sawed logs, but those activities are useless thanks to modern day advances, like 24 hour grocery stores and central heating. Knitting scarves seems silly when you live in the American South. It is much faster to read alone than out loud to others. This is tough.

This much needed and long overdue lifestyle change will challenge me to find new ways to pass time.  Who knows, I might even pick up a second 30 Challenge this time around!

30 Days of Workouts - Setbacks

“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.” - Robert F. Kennedy

And have I failed. I've only worked out three times in the last two weeks. My gym offers yoga classes twice a week, of which I showed my face for a grand total of two classes, and I spent one Saturday wandering five miles along a nearby river. It's a start, but I am no where close to meeting my 30 day challenge.

There's only one way to turn this failure into a success: growing up and putting the most important part of life - health - first by heading to the gym.

Focusing on health is incredibly difficult, especially between long work days that last several hours past the typical 9 to 5 and the allure of wrapping up in a cozy blanket on a cold winter night.  But there's nothing quite like looking back at the past two weeks and knowing how much stronger I could be had I stuck with my challenge. In another two weeks, I don't want to look back on this day feel the same disappointment.

That being said, it's time to adjust the terms of this particular challenge. A key to creating and sticking to goals is making them attainable and as specific as possible. Going to the gym everyday with a crazy work schedule, which includes week-long overnight business trips, is tricky. So, on days that I cannot, I will allow myself to substitute other activities, like yoga or walking outside. This way there is no excuse for a day off. Any movement is better than none, and so long as I take it slow and steady, burnout shouldn't be an issue.

I'll check in in another two weeks, and when I write next I will share better results. I promise!

Big City Girl Living in a Small Town World

"Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter." -Mark Twain

Nowadays, birthdays are more about reviewing the past year and less about excitedly welcoming the next (and opening a pile of presents). Today is mine, and as I look back on my last year as a member of the early twenties, I realize I've wasted away an entire portion of my life.

I was born and raised in a city with over 13 million people where there was always something to do, but soon after graduating from college, I relocated to an incredibly small town for a job. There really isn't much for a yuppie here outside of work. You have to make your own fun. So, every day after work I binge watch TV, and I've been doing this since I moved to my new home a year and a half ago. It frustrates me that I spent half of year 22 and all of 23 in front of a screen, and I'm unwilling to do that with 24.

Mid-twenties means growing up. Eating leafy greens. Waking up more than ten minutes before you have leave for work. Owning socks that match. Using your time wisely.

Starting today, I am trying new hobbies for 30 days each. This month, I'm going to the gym every day. I hope that through this blog I keep myself accountable, and I look forward to seeing how I've grown by this time next year. Wish me luck!