Going out

Last night a friend had a birthday party and we went to a local bar/club. For starters, I am not really a club person, but also I was trying to be good and avoid alcohol. At first I was concerned I wouldn't make it and would end up drinking way way too much. Another friend who came was not going to drink so it ended up being perfect. I felt like I had support while drinking water! I also had just as much fun staying sober and dancing singing with friends then drinking. Oh, and I woke up feeling okay and not hungover and nausea.

Even though going out can be a problem in sticking to eating right I realized in the long run it really does not matter on the fun scale if I am drinking or not. That is the important part after all.

L.

when you cheat

I am just curious, when you cheat on your eating right and workout plan, what makes you cheat? Is it going out to eat with friends, bad day at work, stress in the home, too busy to schedule your workout, or all of the above? For me lately it is work. I was all ready to do right yesterday, packed my lunch and everything, and then I ate frozen yogurt, pizza, and wine yesterday after work. It is not okay to do that! Also, I felt physically sick the rest of the night and this morning. So I ate right for breakfast, eggs, turkey bacon, and spinach.

(Side note, I returned some clothes to Maurice's this week because the more I thought about it the more I realized I did not need those clothes.)

L.

Saving money

I am slowly learning the importance of saving money. I have always been an impulsive buyer. It drove my mom nuts. I don't know if it is the thrill of spending or just loving having something new but man spending and shopping became a craze for me. Obviously, at almost thirty, I still struggle with budgeting. Today I searched different tools for budgeting online. I still have found that Dave Ramsey's is the best. It seriously covers every area of living. I know I have been working on budgeting and using envelops. For me another step I had to figure out is how to divide it all. When I do my monthly budget I realized that I was still having money issues. Why? Because I did not think about the fact that I don't get my monthly amount at one time, I get paid twice a month. Therefore, now I have to divide each category or decide which ones get the money out of which paycheck. Next month I may just do the budget for one paycheck not both. It isn't the way most people do a budget but it may be easier for me.

I have to make my mind turn to future planning and saving not the here and now. When I am stressed I can't see past right now. I have three weddings next year, one may even be mine, and I have about 40 bucks saved. It is sad. One issue I have with saving for things for the next year is I keep thinking, "What's the point? It isn't going to be that much money saved in a year at this budget." Then I go blow like 100 on clothes I don't need and rarely wear like a smart person. (Sarcasm btw.)

So, I have some brain thinking to turn around! All three areas that I have been trying to work on with this blog are future oriented, fitness, budgeting, and eating healthy. They all also revolve around proper planning. Planning the budget, planning workout time, and meal prep. Still working on it all.

L.

that ah ha! moment

I follow different fitness people on instagram and bloglovin. Many of them have workout plans for 12 weeks that you can buy. I decided this morning that I do really need to start doing morning workouts at home, about 20-30 minutes. I know going to the gym in the mornings is difficult for me, mainly because I am lazy and don't want to de ice my car. However, I then went to my tls website and realized that I in fact have already paid for a 12 week workout plan! It pays to be attentive guys. I realized I can download it all too. Geez I literally was about to spend 50 or more dollars on plans and I had mine just sitting there for less then 25 dollars. Here's your sign.

I guess it is evident this is my year of learning, and relearning. One of the videos for the week to watch was about grain sensitivity and do you have it. I have it. Last night I cheated, no surprise there, and had a few french fries. I felt bloated, had ingestion, felt so full I hurt, and I got really sleepy at 8 pm.

I keep reminding myself lately that it isn't motivation I need, it's discipline. Life will always be there, some stress of some sort will always happen. The difference is with discipline I won't let whatever the stress is change my devotion to myself.  That is my biggest struggle. I have the knowledge, I even have the past experience of knowing what works for me weight loss wise, but I am not disciplined enough to do it consistently. This may be a new goal for me, finding the discipline and keeping it no matter the obstacles.

L.

Comfort zones

I'm pretty certain I mentioned before that I am a social worker. In the social work field there are a lot of areas to go into. I didn't realize that when I first started on this journey called getting a degree. I was very fortunate to have my first "big girl" job be one that I loved! I mean loved. I worked there for almost five years. Unfortunately, the job was state funded by a grant and had a major cut. We were going to lose a whole position. For many reasons and with lots of praying I decided to volunteer to be the person laid off. It was a very difficult decision and slightly scary but I did feel content with the decision. I had another job within a month. It was similar to my first job but not as much as I originally thought. It made me grow in ways I did not see coming, I had to be assertive to adults who looked at me and thought I was a child. True story, three different high schools asked me what class I was in or why I wasn't on my way to class! I had to be assertive with children in ways that I never thought I would or could do. By nature I am not a leader or a very assertive person. It was a lot of stress and a lot of extra work in general. I loved the population group I worked with but other then that everything else was wrong for me.

The biggest positive from the second job is it allowed me to really see that I want a job like my first one, not because it is my comfort zone, but because it is what I love. Sometimes being called out of your comfort zone doesn't mean forever sometimes I think it is a way to really show you that your comfort zone is only a comfort because it is where you are supposed to be.

In the same way food can be a comfort zone. I have been straying lately in my healthy eating but each time I eat something  I shouldn't I don't beat myself up but I do crave healthy foods. It is evident that as I continue this journey my body is showing and telling me what it really needs. I just need to listen more and be more cautious. These healthy foods are now my comfort zone instead of sweet tea, donuts, and chips.


L.

Updates!

It has been a while! My life has been crazy busy. Here is an update on my goals-

1. I did do some clothing shopping. I am most definitely a shop a holic and stopping cold turkey has been HARD. I bought a long cream sweater, something I have been on the hunt for, a fur vest, and a camel blazer with lace elbow patches. I figured for trying to stop cold turkey only having 3 new items isn't that bad.

2. Following the TLS slim program. I have been ahem following this plan for the month of January. Again not going to lie I have had some failures. I have also grown and realized a lot about myself. For starters, I love to cook but I have a hard time setting aside cook and food prep time. I also have not been drinking water like I am supposed to be. On Sunday I started to really focus on water and I was like a camel. I could not stop drinking water Sunday or yesterday. Obviously my body was telling me something.

3. Working out in the morning. It happened. For about a week. I guess some people can change and become a morning person but I cannot. So I am trying to just workout in the evenings but if I wake up and feel like it I do some yoga or stretching.

All in all I know I have areas to work on but I think the best thing about goals is that they can change. I just want to be a better me however that happens.

L.