Happy New Year :)

As I probably won't be posting tomorrow, I wanted to take a second to wish you a Happy New Year! I also wanted to play along with felicia's post about the new year and what it has in store for me :)


One of my favorite moments was either just hanging with my hubby, the dog, and friends or the new move. Now, don't get me wrong - it's been one of the most stressful moments (with moving in between christmas and new years), but the new place will be much better. We can at least listen to the tv and not have people complain!
I don’t make new year’s resolutions because I feel like it sets it up for failure and makes it bigger than it needs to be. I do have goals though, like making myself healthier, being a good instructor, working on my procrastination and getting things done ahead of time, managing our money better, etc.

Overall, I had some dramatic events. Pooch was severely allergic to something still unknown, surgery for me and the pooch, hubby sick, multiple family members either sick or having new illnesses, my big project at school only was finished with 3 hours to spare, etc. But, I had some good things happen and good times too. I have gotten more support than I have ever had by y’all, we have some good friends that we get to spend time with, everyone is still here and relatively healthy and happy, we’re still together, I did finish my big project :)
All in all it was an ok year. I hope that the next year will be even better. At the very least, I know that I have some good support with my family and with y'all!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ok, if y'all don't read Mark Salinas's blog, go read the things to stop doing in 2009. They all apply, but number 3 is the one I need the most work on. I need to stop putting myself down and being so harsh on myself. How can I possibly sucseed if I keep doing it!

Happy Holidays!

I probably won't be back posting until after the new year, especially about fitness stuff. We are visiting the in laws, then when we get back we have to move across town. But, I will be popping in to all of your blogs and trying to encourage - or spout useless thoughts ;)

Happy Holidays! I hope everyone is happy, healthy and safe this holiday season!

Donations made by MizFit

Hey guys. I know most of you already know about MizFit, but if you don't please go comment on this post. She is donating $.10 for every comment to SafePlace, a domestic violence shelter. Many different people are matching the donation, so go there now! Every person they help is one that had the courage to try to change their life and save themselves!

Free days or no free days, that is the question

The part that I hate about "diets" is that when you deny yourself things that you *think* you want, then you think about it all the time and set yourself up for failure. If you don't "allow" yourself your vices, once in a while, then when you do "fall" you fall hard and don't get back up.


When starting to eat healthier, I think it's important to schedule times that you "allow" yourself your vices. My love affair with french fries can't end so abruptly. Some people can break relationships off cold turkey, but this is one where I think I'll need more time.

But, since I already started with the relashionship analogy, why not go there. If a boyfriend/girlfriend was terrible for you, made you feel like crap, and was just all around abusive most people would end that relationship pronto! I wouldn't think twice, especially when it's physical abuse. Hey, emotional abuse too. Yet, we continue our abusive relationship with "bad" foods. Me? I let them treat my body and my mental health (especially emotional) in the poorest mannor and stick with it time and time again.

The problem is that when it's all you know - and you've tried to change your lifestyle only to be drawn back time and time again, how do you make a permanent change without any hint of the life you knew? I had a boyfriend similar to this - it was unhealthy (not as extreme as above), but without something drastic I just couldn't quit going back to him. We were on and off again for about 5.5 years (well, together for the first @ 3-4.5 and on/off for the last 1.5-2). It's been the same thing with the "bad" foods.

To some of you this seems melodramatic. To some of you I'm a stupid, silly girl who is too much in her head. Well, the in my head is true! But, for some of us this food thing is this complicated. It's not just fuel for your body. It's a comfort, it's a hug when you need it, it's a boost when you're down, it's a "friend" when you're bored. Yet, it's the cause of mood swings, extra weight, heart disease, etc. It's the most unhealthy relationship most of us will have - and the hardest to break. But, the reason we're all here is because we want to change. I would like to see food as fuel. I'd like to it would be nice to suceed in being healthier instead of whining about it all the time. And, I don't want to be the typical American, who only changes when something drastic happens. I just don't know how to kick this love affair with a clean slate all at once.

I still feel like, towards the end of this break up, I will need the option for the food equivalent of a booty call until I can kick it and be done with some of these bad relationships. I will give myself a day each week to have a vice or two. For example, holidays, anniversaries and birthdays are free days...it just won't work for me right now unless I have provisions. I will chose whichever foods I feel like having with no guilt and no thoughts of cheating. If I want cake, I will have cake. If I want carrot sticks and apples instead, then that's what I'll have! Furthermore, for now, I plan on Saturdays being my regularly scheduled "free" day. Saturdays are my date days with my husband, so I can't guarantee I'll eat well on those days. Besides, I think it'll be easier to calm the crazy food thoughts (I gotta have it and I gotta have it now!) if I can say: yes, but Saturday is your day for that so wait. But, I'm not setting it up so that I feel I need to do it. It's an if I want this is the day to do it. Just until I can get back on my feet to be more intuitive about it!

DASH Diet

I know, I know...I told you that I wouldn't focus on food till next week, and here I go talking about some diet!

But, I got so inspired reading Tom's post about the DASH diet today (official "diet" website here) that I just had to comment on my blog too. It's a diet that was created to lower hypertension naturally. The main idea is to eat fruits, veggies, low fat dairy, and lean meats. I will promptly start trying this out when I get more funds (aka after the big move at the end of this month to our new duplex and after Xmas is over!). But, I was thinking about a few things.

1. it's what we all know we should be doing (I have said several times that this is what I wanted to do, just without the diet rules and catchy name). This concept is not new - we've been told this our enire lives! Ok, most of us have...it's just that a lot of us never listen to well educated (or intelligent) folks and ignore the "shoulds".

2. I don't follow this stuff without rules. Why is that we need the rules?! Without it, I justify and don't keep myself accountable. Which worries me for sticking to it if I "break" them. Somehow I need to reconsile the need for rules yet not being broken down when I have something I shouldn't. Maybe assigning days where I have something different, like Atkins does. However, a food diary will just piss me off, er, maybe I should say that I will not continue a food diary and therefore it defeats the whole darn purpose!

3. How can I possibly eat all that food? Just like our gov't recommendations (this looks awefully familiar if you remember your pyramid!), they recommed from 6-12 grains, 4-6 fruits, 4-6 veggies, 2-4 dairy, 1.5-2.5 lean meats, and 2-4 fats and sweets...along with 3-6 nuts/week). It seems like a lot of food! Can you imagine eating all of that? Do you think it's about right, for those of you that are intuitive eaters? I suppose it's not American sized portions - it's "normal" portions. So, one of my sized apples probably counts as 2 (at least 1.5) fruits. Plus, if I'm not eating all the "bad" meats or junk food (what do you mean chips aren't health food? French fries also? Blasphemy!) then I should have room for it!

I don't think any "diet" is a long term solution, but until I get into the swing of things I will be followin the DASH diet (still keeping my You, on a diet knowledge in mind). The biggest thing that I need from this diet is to be reminded (behaviorally and metabolism wise) what it's like to eat "normal" portions with healthy foods.
What do y'all think? Fancy spin off of what we already know and love, or if not love at least have known that we "should" do (here's that dang should word again)? Who cares, as long as it gets me eating like a person should if they want to be healthy? Both?

Update and awards

I'm doing ok. thanks for all the support! Somehow this week is turning around and things are falling into place for my and the hubby. Kinda nice for a change!

I decided earlier this week that there will always be bad things that can happen, but that doesn't mean I can sit around and mope! So, I started working out again. I didn't want to tell y'all because I didn't want to be the girl who cried exercise :) But, I was a little excited to get off my butt and work! With the break coming up (break for a grad student, hah! But, no formal obligations), I can take some time to get back on track.
Food, now that we'll discuss next week!!

Last, but not least, I have another award :) Fat 2 FAbulous Miz White gave me this one!


I'm learning that sometimes good things happen just when you need them. I don't always feel fabulous (but thanks for saying it anyway Felicia, it helps :), but I know if anything I'm always going to be real about things!

Rules for this one, you say? Well, here they are:

• Put the logo on your blog
• Place a link from the person from whom you recieved the award
• NOminate 7 or more & put the links for their blog!

I apreciate all of you, more than you know! So, I'm going to be a pain in the 'ol butt and nominate y'all :) My regulars are all guys and gals that I apreciate so much for how real you are and how supportive y'all are. So, if you're on my blogroll you're nominated! (yes, that means most of you are nominated again, or get 2 in one week like Felicia:)

Awards and give aways

Give Away: nmburleson was great enough to point those of us that read her blog to a great give away! It's for a vitamix mixer, and Bender has the awesome job of giving one to a lucky poster. Go there - so worth it :) Although, with 145 people and 3 chances to win, it's slim, but I'd still recommend trying!

Ok, so to more fun stuff! Felicia gave me an award! How great is that? Here it is:

She is so sweet. If you haven't checked her blog out, go do it now! She really has come so far - we could all learn a little from her! She's very real about everything - which I appreciate more than she probably knows :)

The Fabulous Award Rules:

1. You have to pass it on to 5 fabulous blogs.2. You have to list 5 of your fabulous addictions.3. Make sure you include the person that gave you the award and link it back to them.

My 5 fabulous addictions:1. Hanging out with the hubby and the doggie :) My two most favorite beings ever 2. Painting. I've just started (creative painting), but it's so soothing! 3. My computer - Stealing from Felicia here, but really...I couldn't live without it...work or personal wise. 4. My planner - sad, but I'd be lost without it. 5. my purse. it holds everything :)

I can't decide who to pass this one to! I think y'all are great. But, I won't punk out this time. So, 1. Fitness Fig 2. NMBurleson with Embracing the weight loss journey 3. Fat 2 Fabulous (come one - Fabulous is in her blog name :) 4. DaDiva Street (I hope you're enjoying your time off on your cruise!) 5. Last, but certainly not least, The Happy Runner :)

Lucky Girl!

I know I've been fairly mia. I just get tired of being concerned and complaining about non-body changing issues. *sigh* So, I will probably be mia again this next week. I need to figure things out for me, you know? Get my head on straight again and see the good. It's not like I'm not appreciative for what I've been given...I live a more privilaged life than most...it's just hard when there is a lot of negative events. The past few years have been trying.

Something good that has happend? I won a gift card to Cathe's site from Fitness Fig! How cool is that?! Now I just have to decide what to get! What a good problem to have...beats the paper writing and grading I'm doing right now for finals! Most of her video's are advanced...I'm DEFINATELY not there. But, I found a step/circuit training video that I think I'm going to get. I'm excited that I get to try one of her workouts, given that I've been reading about them for a while on FF's blog:) Now that I think about it, I should just ask FF what to get!

I also entered a give away for a work out at grounded fitness for a workout video. If that's your sort of thing, go check it out!

HYC from the Drama Magnet

I'm good. I think. Just stressed...who isn't these days though? I'm just a magnet for drama. Really, if there was a competition for it or an award I'd so win. But, I have my family and most of us are still in good health. It's all I can ask for!

I know y'all are die yard treadmill fans, but my joints, hip and back just ache afterwards. Kind of like walking longer distances. That's why I like eliptical machines - they're awesome! But, it's a moot point now as I don't think we will be able to afford it with recent events (yes, since I posted yesterday). But, good news? I think we may move closer to my school so that I can bike to it instead of the necessary drive. I guess I could bike now, but only if I want to risk life and limb crossing the highway/freeway...no thanks!

I gained over Thanksgiving. Too much grazing, not enough working out. It all passes by so fast, and then I was back here and "bad" tired again! So, while finishing up my classes and grading exams the next 8 days, I am going to make it my mission to be good tired. Spending time with my hubby, playing with the dog or friends. Just enjoying life. I still need to work, but I need to continue working on me as well. It's too easy to get caught in the sorrows that happen, but I'm just figuring out that if I let it get to me every time something happens I'm going to be a wreck in no time!
(btw, lovin' the good/bad tired - makes my HYC list so much shorter :)