TILT: Getting healthy, Completing Goals, and Lots-o-Videos!

Its Thursday?  Already???  I love short weeks because the weekend comes by so much quicker!  So, here's what's good:

• The Roommate "Get Healthy" Pact -  I mentioned this pact a couple of weeks ago, but I will go into a little bit more detail now!  The last couple of weeks, my roommate and I have started to become healthy.  As former RAs, we got used to eating dining hall food (and then going out to eat because we were dissatisfied with the food), staying up late, being stressed out 24/7, and eating our feelings.  This is very unhealthy.  We needed a change!  So, we are eating very healthy (lots of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, lots and lots of water) and it is working out great!  I had already gotten down to my Pre-RA weight before this, but now I am lighter!  We both are very successful so far!
• Baking - Oh goodness I love baking.  And since we are being healthier, it is a struggle to remind myself I can't bake since we can't eat any of it. BUT I can bake for other people!  What I am saying: if you want some dinosaur shaped sugar cookies, I can totally make them for you!
• Graduation Bucket List - I have compiled a list of things I need to do in Springfield before I graduate.  The list initially consisted of three things, but it has now expanded to about 10 things!  Tonight, I am going to cross off my first item on the list!  If anyone thinks of something that I need to do before I graduate, let me know!

THIS IS ADORABLE

Little things:
The Jerk * "Oh God!  I've heard about this...Cat juggling!!!" * Fall weather (cardigans and hats!!!) * Getting excited about pumpkin spice everything! * Waking up laughing (seriously, it happens all the time!) * Going to Art Walk for the first time in forever! * Visiting Kentwood * Laughing like a fool on the shuttle when I receive a hilarious text * Finally getting a coffee table for our living room * Star Wars Labor Day Marathon (enjoyed at friends' houses since we don't have cable) * Schweddy Balls Ice Cream?! * Being productive at Barnes and Noble * Exquisite hair days * She & Him is releasing a Christmas Album!!!




Two of my favorite things: Disneyland and Star Wars:


If you haven't seen The Jerk, go see it now!



This video shares all of my feelings I have over this topic:


This song is always stuck in my head

Goal Check In!

Can you believe it? February is almost over!  I am definitely dumbfounded at how quickly this month has flown by!  So, I think its time to discuss my goals and how I've been doing with accomplishing the goals.

Rus Anson

Lets start with the goals that fell short:

• I have fallen off the p90x wagon.  This is about the time last semester that I fell off, too.  Its getting to that time where mid-semester projects are due and mid-terms follow shortly after that.  
• My eating habits haven't been the best this month.  Valentine's day quickly followed my birthday, so Matt and I did a lot of celebrating (candy, delicious cooked meals, cupcakes, etc).  Also, I am a stress eater, so when the working out went out the window because of school work, my intake of food increased.  Uh oh.

Here are some successes:

• Although I have stopped p90x, I have already lost 1 1/2 inches along my waist, an inch on each thigh, two inches around my bust, and an inch around my hips.  I think that is something to celebrate :)
• Yes, February has been filled with candy eating, but I have also tried to eat healthy. I try to stock my fridge with salad, fruit, and other veggies for lunch and dinner.  I eat granola when I am between classes and drink Instant Breakfast every morning for breakfast (duh).  I am still fiddling with my caloric intake.  One of the residents that live in my building is a nutritionist and a trainer, so we talk a lot about food and exercise.  Through him, I am readjusting my diet.
• My morning routine goal is actually pretty successful.  I wake up every morning between 7:00 and 9:00.  I only sleep in on the weekends (this weekend was a doozy, let me tell you), but I've been trying to wakeup at a consistent time.  I have not increased my time wasting activities, unfortunately.  That is another thing I need to take care of.
• Finding a place to live: This is about to be taken care of.  My future roommate Kyla and I have been apartment hunting, and that was our big task over the weekend.  We looked at a TON of apartments.  We still have a couple more that we want to look at, but we found two that we REALLY like for a decent price.  
• Funding a place to live: This semester, I have been trying to be more responsible with my money and trying to stop senseless spending.  I have put aside a bit of money for the apartment, and I am beginning to feel more comfortable about getting a place.
• Finding a job: Oh, its going :)  My mom and I had a great conversation about it tonight, and I feel very optimistic about what I am going after.
• Graduate School: I am actually looking at more details of the Graduate Schools that I want to go to.  This weekend I plan on narrowing down my choices to four so I can do things to apply for them (like take the GRE and write those admission essays!).

I feel fairly optimistic and rejuvenated to complete these goals.  Nothing but the best is in my future!  All aboard the success train!

Reevaluating Goals; Acknowledging Accomplishments

I'm fixing things that don't work.

So it begins...More and more seems to pile onto my plate over the last few days.  I worked a ton this weekend, tried to do homework, attempted to update the resume, and keep my room tidy.  Unfortunately, my health matters have already taken a back seat.  I am already slipping into bad habits of health eating and just being listless.  I made the mistake of weighing myself early in the game; whenever I see results, I think "oh wow, if this already happened, I guess I can eat a little bit more/exercise less/etc" which is a terrible habit.  For now, I resolve not to weigh or measure myself until the first phase is over.  Also, I need to start saying "No" more.  I like being social, which gets in the way of being productive (and usually becomes counterproductive, especially when going out means going for a meal).

My morning routine bit is an upward battle on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.  So far, I have not missed any class which is an accomplishment since I am an avid class skipper.  But, my productivity in the morning on those days are non existent.  However, Tuesdays and Thursdays, I get a ton done!  I get up early, respond to any pressing email, tidy up the room, exercise, and tie up any loose ends before I head to class.  I generally feel more energetic and enthusiastic about my day when I am productive early, and the productivity continues on.

My creativity has been active as well.  I have been making things on the side when I have free time or need a break from craziness.  This weekend, during my crazy work schedule, I knitted myself a headband/earwarmer.  Some of my shifts were from 4am-8am, so I needed something that did not take a lot of brain power AND keep me awake.  I took THIS pattern and made my own! Voila!

I feel like a flapper when I wear it!

I've been getting my internship squared away.  I've filled out the necessary paper work, I just need to rework that resume and do an interview!  I'm really excited about the future.  Also, my future roommate and I looked at apartments yesterday!  When we walked into the leasing office, we were helped right away and got a quick tour.  I forget that I'm an adult now, and that I am taken more seriously.  It just kinda surprised me that we got helped so quickly and enthusiastically.  Day by day, I feel more like a grown-up.

Workin on my Fitness

Today was the first day of my new lifestyle routine.  This routine consists of p90x, changing the way I eat, and making wiser food choices.

P90X is a workout that I have done before.  Last semester I did the p90x Lean routine, and I saw great results, but my free time dwindled exponentially around midterms, so my priorities changed.  My activity levels went down to a minimum, and stress eating increased.  I knew I wanted to start again this semester, and I wanted to do the p90x Classic routine instead (with a slight modification: Replace YogaX with CardioX or Core).

Before I actually started working out, I made sure to do few prep things that I chose to ignore the last time I tried the program.  I know it sounds a little silly, but I took before pictures (which I will not be posting because frankly, I am too ashamed with whats going on in them).  I recorded my starting weight and measured certain parts of my body (chest, waist, hips, arms, thighs).  I also sat down and wrote down the eating plan I will use during this time period.  I have chose to record everything I eat, and eat between 1500 to 1800 calories a day.  I will be eating things I have prepared myself; I will not be eating things that are processed or deep fried.  I have also limited my eating out habits (once a week, only on date nights), which will save my waist and my wallet (oh goodness, that sounded cheesy).  My DVDs came with a Excel Spreadsheet that recorded all of this information as well as has a calendar for how long each phase will last and when my final day is (April 17th).  

For me, the first two weeks are the hardest.  I usually feel really silly doing some of the work outs (wacky jacks?! pot stirrer?!  Even the names are silly!), but after a while I get used to them and feel less silly. Another hurdle is the soreness.  Its impossible to do anything when my soreness constantly reminds me that I have to be this sore for 90 days straight.  I need to keep myself motivated.  Sometimes its something small and ridiculous, like making fun of what Tony Horton says, or the style choices some of the women make (the girl in the Chest&Back video is wearing PAJAMA JEANS!) I'm not going to lie, I tend to yell at my television, too.  When I need to, I try to imagine what my end results will look like.  I think about how much better I feel when I am working out and eating better.  And now that I am recording my results, I can look back and see the improvements that I am making. 

One day down, 89 to go.  I can't wait to see my first results after 30 days!

New Beginnings...

I am embarking on a blog journey, which is inspired by my friend Celia's blog.

Ever since I could write, I have journaled in some form. Writing helps organize my thoughts and make plans.  So, I have taken to the web to write about the goals I have set for myself this year, the progress I will make, and the results (be it positive or negative).

The biggest goal for me is to become healthier.  As a college student that works in Residential Life, I have fallen into the funk of eating unhealthy in the dining facilites and spending money on Taco Bell.  My body has been feeling terrible.  The increase in eating grease laden food and the decrease in overall physical activity has caused me to gain 8 pounds over the last semester (after initially losing it and gaining it again).  I plan on losing 15 pounds over the semester by preparing my own food, not eating in the dining halls, only eating out once a week (during Date Night), and by starting p90x.  I attempted p90x last semester, and I benefited from it, but it fell to the wayside during midterms and finals.  I only got about halfway through Phase II.  This time, I will conquer p90x!

Another goal I have set for myself is to change my morning routine.  My mornings are wasted by repeatedly hitting the snooze button and then panicing when class starts in 10 minutes.  I want my mornings to be productive;  I want to spend time in the morning waking up calmly.  I want my routine to consist of writing (since I tend to have the best ideas in the morning) and reading for fun. I want to record my life. This means I need to be prepared for the day the night before.  Hopefully, this will curb procrastination, allow me to be fully alert for class, and decrease time wasting activities.  

My last goal is the biggest goal.  This semester, I need to: Find a place to live, figure out how to fund place to live, apply to graduate school, study and take the GRE, figure out how to pay for graduate school, and chose the graduate school I want to attend.  This is the scariest goal for me since there is a lot of uncertainty.  Do I want to live back home?  Do I want to go out of state?  How will this effect my relationships?  Where do I want to live after grad school?  What should I do about my boyfriend and me?  What will make me happiest in the long run?  I need to take things step by step.  I have narrowed down my choices to about seven schools.  I have a plan of action, but I still feel extremely lost.

Anyhow, those are the goals that I have set for myself.  I have a feeling that 2011 will be a fantastic year, and that I will be successful in whatever I embark on.