Have you ever been in a wedding? Not me, not yet anyway. I am very happy to be sharing in the special day of two of my best friends in less than one year. I am not, however, happy to be spotlighted in so many special pictures that will be in their photo albums FOREVER. So, something needs to change; mainly, me.
I'm not in the best shape of my life by any means. I don't think I have EVER been in the best shape of my life. I just never worked out much, except maybe for a year or two in college. Sports and group activities in general were not my thing in my primary school days; I was shy and felt out of my comfort zone doing group things with people I didn't know. In high school I did walk and ride my bike a lot, besides I was a vegetarian bordering on anorexia, so I was pretty thin. My first couple years of college I actually lost a couple pounds and worked out somewhat regularly. And then... 21 happened. Of course, it wasn't just being 21. After all, I did drink a fair amount before I was legal. But at the same time I became of age I also got a job at a pizza place and being hungover most days there, I didn't make the best meal choices.
So now I am on a quest, a quest to look damn hot on my friends' wedding days. I've got some beautiful friends to stand next to and I would like to be able to hold my own in the pictures. But where to begin?
Yesterday I started a food journal. Writing everything you eat down is supposed to help you realize the kinds of food choices you are making. I find that writing everything down forces me to make BETTER food choices. Who wants to admit they ate half a bag of Oreo's? (not that I have done that... recently) Luckily, circumstances are making it a bit easier to make healthy food decisions; I'm broke, therefore eating out is not so much of an option. Eating out can be super detrimental to eating well. When I calculate calories to stuff I am making at home, I am always shocked at how quickly they add up. I can only imagine what happens when I leave it up to some kid working the grill at an AppleBee's or something.
Eating well is only one part, albeit a hard part. The other part is exercising. I like exercising, when I am motivated. Today I went for my first power walk! I felt kind of like an old lady, but given my lack of working out in the past three or four months and the fact that I am still getting over the congestion of a cold, I didn't want to push myself so hard that I won't do it again tomorrow. I felt good when I got home, more energized and happy to have gotten out and get some fresh air. Since I only work part time, I find myself in the house a lot, presumably to do my never ending homework. Even when I have plenty inside to keep me busy, it gets kind of depressing sitting around while everyone else is running around at work or doing errands and what not. So, hopefully walking will turn into jogging and I'll add some distance every day. My wonderful boyfriend also has some weights he will bring home so that I can work that into my work out routine.
Finally, the alcohol thing. I like to drink. Who doesn't? The bad thing is that drinking is LOADED with empty calories. I mean, I would be ashamed to admit how many calories I have drank in one night at a bar or a friend's house. Plus, when I drink, I smoke and I am also trying to quit smoking. It seems that booze is a detriment to my two goals of slimming down and giving up the nicotine lifestyle, so I have to abstain. I have been saying that for the past couple weeks with limited success. Maybe, as with my food journal, now that I have written it down I will make it come true.
So here is a question: am I taking on too much trying to change my eating habits, add exercise, abstain from alcohol and nix out cigarettes from my life? Sure these are all good things, but am I going to burn myself out and revert back quicker than if I tackled one thing at a time? I've always been a kind of all-or-nothing person, but that clearly hasn't gotten me to a point that I am happy with. Feel free to share opinion or advice.
"The greatest wealth is health" ~ Virgil
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