Life is Crazy

It's been way too long since I posted. But that's how life works sometimes and mine got really crazy. So here I am so many months later back on the right track. I am planning on posting everyday again. I have new, healthy recipes, new workouts and new mantras to try. I will also be doing this with my boyfriend Michael this time.
Here's a little background into Michael and what he's got going on. He is training to be an MMA fighter. So it's important for us to start getting our life on a healthy new track. One with a very healthy diet, exercise and good habits. We both have already stopped drinking. This does not need to happen for everyone, it just fit our life at the moment. Michael currently trains with Team Mean in Snohomish and goes to a gym to workout with his friend.
I am currently doing at home exercises and running. My hope is to hopefully soon incorporate swimming. It's one of my favorite exercises and I have seen the best results from just swimming laps. I hope that I can create a balanced, daily routine.
I know that there are so many reasons to choose to have a healthier life but honestly if I have learned anything over the past year, I have just been a happier individual when I am healthy. It brings me happiness to see that I am looking the way I want to look. Plus my body feels better, I have more energy and I become a much bigger "go getter".
So here's to taking control again. To making better choices. To living a healthier, more satisfying life.

The Cleanse

I know it's been awhile. I'm really needing to get back on this everyday. But anyway, on Monday I started a ten day cleanse. My dad and step-mom introduced me to this. They did this cleanse over the summer and it really worked for them. The thing that I like about this cleanse is that the cleanse part of this is the pills we take and other than that it teaches you to eat clean and healthy foods. And that you can live without a lot of the junk we think we have to have. I can basically eat any fruits, vegetables, lean meats, plain nuts, and brown rice I would like. I just have to eat them without any added salts and sugars. So it's teaching me how to cook in a more healthy way. Plus it cuts back proportions and has been teaching me to eat little and healthy snacks throughout the day.
I am currently on day 5 of the cleanse and when I weighed myself yesterday morning I had already lost 4 pounds. Besides this I am pleased to say I haven't been super hungry, just dealing with the cravings of bad food and caffeine. I haven't had coffee or an energy drink since Sunday. That is probably the roughest part for me because I've lived off of those for the last four years...it's how I got through college! But ultimately I think this taking away caffeine is good for me.
So tomorrow I'm going to write a breakdown of all of the foods I've eaten so far on the cleanse. I'm hoping that I will continue to lose weight but even if I don't I know that this is all good for me. It's hard but good for me. So here's to the rest of my time on this cleanse! I'm feeling optimistic about it! 

Day 1 vs Today

 So here it is. This is me just five months later. The same exact outfit, just a better camera. This is very surreal! I can't believe how far I have already come! WHAT?!?!?! Honestly, I wasn't 100% sure I'd be able to do this and I can tell you it's been a LONG process that isn't done yet. But seeing these images, side by side, makes me feel like this has all been worth it and it will continue to be worth it.
This might be one of the most exciting days I've had in such a long time! I feel rejuvenated! I feel ready to take on the world! I'm excited to do my ten day cleanse after thanksgiving. I'm excited to go running tonight! All of the soreness from the last couple of weeks is worth it. All of the changes in my diet, all of the work...it's all worth it!
I cannot wait to see where I am five months from now! I cannot wait to feel even better! I cannot wait!
If I've taken away anything from these last 5 months, it's that I need to start believing in myself and my abilities to stick to it, to get things done. I need to start believing that I am good enough and strong enough to make my life the way I want it to be. That I can look exactly how I want to look and that this all if for ME. This is not for anyone else but me.

So...here's to the next five months! I can't wait to see what they bring!

It WILL be worth it!

Okay. So I know this is late but it's up! These last couple of weeks have been crazy but I am trying to get back on track. I am SUPER sore today from yesterdays workout. I just finished a thirty minute run and then directly after did the insane abs workout from Insanity. It felt really good to do. And now I am writing this blog post! I call it a successful day.
I also ate pineapple today, which was super delicious! I'm realizing how much I love it! I'm also going to go grab some avocado because I am hungry and it sounds delicious! Besides...it's better than some other foods I could grab right now.
To be honest, for the past three-ish weeks I haven't felt that motivation I did when I first moved back to the west side. I've lost that drive that was propelling me forward in this get healthy track. But today...there was a hint of it for me. It's really not that hard to get off my butt and go for a run or do an extra workout even while I watch TV. If I can sit while watching TV, I can do an ab exercise while watching TV. So...I'm hoping that this bit of drive I found today will stick. I'm hoping that I can find that push to keep me going through the long, cold winter. I know that as the weather gets colder and the sun rises later, my desire to stay in bed will grow. But I just have to keep pushing. Like I've heard a thousand times, "No one said it would be easier, they just said it'd be worth it." So here's to pushing through the hard parts to the part where I get to see the results I'm longing for.
On a positive note...these pictures on this post vs the pictures on my first post...it's not bad. I feel like this progress so far is pretty darn good motivation!

Fat Days

So...I'm assuming you know exactly what I'm talking about. Fat days. They are not fun at all but we all have them. The days where no matter what we put on, how we do our hair or makeup we still feel fat. That is my day today. Plus, I have to post my pictures of myself that I was supposed to post yesterday. It's not my favorite but I have to keep going forward! I know that I will have these days periodically. They aren't fun and definitely make me feel defeated. But the only cure is to keep going with the hard work and dedication! So I will continue on this path I have chosen. Plus, I'll be seeing one of my biggest and strongest support groups later this week! One of my best friends moved to LA last year and she's back to visit!! All four of us are getting together to get some dinner and catch up! I am so insanely excited! They are just the breath of fresh air I need!!
Honestly, I think having supportive people in your life might be the biggest secret to success in anything. These people are here to help you through the tough times. To get you over those humps. They remind you why you are doing it and to keep pushing your towards your goal. I'm blessed and thankful to have my life full of people like that. So...even though this is a fat day, I know this week will be exactly what I need!

Post College Life

I really thought that post college life would allow for at least a little more free time. But so far it really hasn't. I wake up early to go exercise, then I come home and have thirty minutes to get completely ready for my day before I leave for work, where I sit in an hour and a half to two hours of traffic. Then I work, go home through about an hour of traffic, and get ready for rehearsal. Then I go to rehearsal, come home and go to bed, then repeat again the next day. Now, don't get me wrong I'm loving every minute of how busy I am but I definitely have been slacking on my blog because of it!
However, the benefit to being this busy is that I am too busy to snack too much. I find this probably one of the most helpful parts of trying to get healthy. Plus I've been packing fruit, veggies or other healthy snacks with me to eat at work or on my way home. So that has been quite great!
Work and the play keep me active during the day. So most of my week I'm not just sitting at home. I think my life style is really just helping me get to where I want to be.
The things I need to improve are finding the time to make sure I post on this blog everyday, making sure I eat three full meals a day, and getting enough sleep! Hopefully this week I can do all of these things! Also...I think I'm going to try to fit some yoga into my day too this week! Fingers crossed!

Pictures

I'm really happy with the fact that I've posted all of these pictures of me for all of these weeks. It's hard to see the change in your body from day to day. But looking back at the pictures from day one and seeing the pictures from today allows me to see some change. I weighed myself today and I haven't gone down in weight at all since last week but that's okay. It all takes time. I just have to keep going and stay motivated. I really pushed myself this morning. There will be ups and downs. There will be successes and failures. I will go forward and I will take steps backwards. But that is just part of the process; it's part of life.
Ultimately, I'm happy with what I'm doing. I'm happy with the fact that I am eating healthier and exercising. I just feel better. And that...that is what truly matters in the end.