Carbs be gone!

Recently I have decided to start taking better care of my body. Not only do I want a hot-bikini body ready for summer, I also want to be healthy and be able to do more. For me, this has included eating healthier and exercising more. This is extremely hard.

Right now I work for a company called Noodles & Company. Yikes ! The name itself explains my biggest problem. NOODLES. Noodles equal CARBS and unused carbs equals a whole lot of sugar turning into fat. If this is such a problem it would make sense to just stop eating the food altogether right? well lets be realistic. I work days (long days) and if I work an 8 hr shift I am going to want to eat some food. I know there are alternative routes, but it is easier to eat work food. 

Also carbs are my WEAKNESS! I love pasta and pizza, garlic bread and rolls....it is hard to say no to delicious bread sticks or creamy soups and pastas... it is hard to completely cut them out of my diet. So here is what I am going to try, if  don't see ANY results then I will try something else, (dieting is testing theories and practices that work best for you). I am going Gluten Free, I am matching my carb intake with my vegetable intake. I am using low-carb noodles, breads, etc. 

I think giving up carbs has always been the toughest part of dieting. I feel like I am starving all the time and pretty soon I give up and before I know it I am eating an entire pizza to make up for lost time. What can I say I am a carbs girl. I think if I allow myself to keep carbs in my diet, just modify how many and when and where I eat them, I will be able to continue to lose weight and eat healthier! It may not seem like much, but it is by all the small and simple steps we take we are able to realistically reach our goals. 

Wish me luck!! 

Also, if you have any great recipes or additional advice, please share! I will be posting recipes I find and love later! 

Financial Bondage

We live in a world were time is money and money is everything. There is a saying that we live in the pursuit of happiness, today that essential means we live in the pursuit of money which we hope will bring us happiness and comfort. While this is not necessarily a bad thing, money dictates to much of our lives and if we are not careful we can become ensnared by it and end up in bondage. 

That is were I am in life, a financial bondage. During my first year of college I had not learned how to financially balance my life, in fact, I was not very good at financing at all. Because of this, i had to defer for a year and move back home with my parents. I am working as a waitress to pay of my school debt and ultimately build a savings plan. 

Although I am eternally grateful to my parents for allowing me to come back home, I am anxious to get back out on my own and continue my education. In order to do this I must escape my financial bondage. 

But how am I going to do this? 

Now that I am no longer on my own I will not need to buy groceries or toilet paper (which is not at all fun to spend money on) and other such items. This means my paychecks can go straight to savings and paying off school. 

Am I the only one who struggles with the "I didn't have to pay for so-and-so, therefor I can buy me so-and-so" principle? That is my first goal, monitor my spending. Sometimes it is okay to spoil myself a little, but every penny spent on fun/unnecessary things is a penny I don't have to get a new computer, my a car or move away from home. It all comes down to self control and sacrifice; giving up what I want now for something I need later. 

My next step is to have a financial plan. It is pretty simple but every time I get paid, half my paycheck goes into savings, no questions asked. After that I will pay my tithing. Every paycheck I am going to set aside 10$ to buy a laptop in the spring. after that I will but the rest of my pay check towards paying off my debt. 

Ex. 

Paycheck : $458.22 

-

Savings: $229.11 

tithing: $45.82 

School=183.82 

I know  many will think, this is hard and it will take so long to reach my goals. You are right. But it is worth it. Just like getting a college degree, it is a long process that is going to take time as well as dedication and determination, but it will be worth it in the long run. 

I can do this, I will do this. I will escape my financial bond! Now who is with me? 

The Best Miracles

I know it is Halloween and I should be dedicating my post today towards the holiday, but I am not, instead I am going to be dedicating my post else where.

On Wednesday, a miracle occurred, my beautiful sister gave birth to a beautiful healthy little girl. That is right, I am now officially an aunt! Miss Emmaline was born October 29th at 8:06 p.m. at a healthy 8 pounds 9 ounces and she was 20 inches long. And she is perfect in every way.

When my beautiful niece was placed into my arms, I wanted to cry. She was absolutely perfect, I didn't know anything could be that perfect. Her tiny fingers curled around her daddy's fingers throughout the night as we all saw this angel, her mouth yawned and she slept perfectly still.

This little princess is a miracle. It took my sister and her husband some time to get her here and it was a difficult road, but they will both tell you that after first looking at her, it was absolutely worth it.

I am thrilled to be an aunt, I am thrilled for my sister and her husband and the journey they have just began. I am thrilled to watch this little girl grow up. I am thrilled to love her and I am thrilled that one day I will give her a cousin who will be just as perfect and be my own miracle.

Welcome to the world Miss Emm, We love you!

Independently dependent

There comes a certain time in everyone's life were they must grow up and live away from home. As scary as this is, it opens many opportunities to grow independent and learn to take care or yourself. However, things don't always go according to plan and your independence is short lived. Before you know it you are moving back home. 

This can be an awkward stage- after living on your own, you are a custom to a certain amount of independence, you have your own schedule,you are use to making your own decisions and planning your schedule to whatever is most convenient to you.  

After living on my own for a year, I developed a strong sense of independence. However, things did not work out as planned and I had to move back home for the time being. With this transition I became independently dependent. 

Now why would I say this? I am still an adult, I still make my own decisions, and that is true, but my independence has nearly vanished. Anyone who has had to move back home can agree that your independence starts to dwindle. 

I am still an adult and I am still expected to act like an adult, but now there are rules and restrictions. I cannot eat when ever I want or whatever I want because it is not technically my food, I am allowed to go out, unless I am needed at home so one of the younger kids can have someone here when they get home, I can do what I choose as long is follows what my parents deem to be important, etc. 

It is even the little things. When I lived on my own, if I did not want to go out and socialize, I didn't have to. Now it is not an option, I will make friends and I will enjoy it because that is the rule, however I do get to choose my own friends (-ish). ;)

Don't get me wrong, I am eternally grateful my parents allowed me to come home during this time, I simply cannot express my gratitude, but being parented by my younger brothers and sisters is not my ideal idea of independence. 

So Right now I am independently dependent. And it is okay. At times it is nice not having to pay rents or buy groceries, but it is a challenge. My respect goes out to all those who have survived these awkward phase as well as my sympathy. But my gratitude goes out to my parents who let their poor 19 year old daughter come home and be independently dependent. 

Time to Get Motivated!!

Motivation! Such a complicated verb. The days we have motivation, at least to me, are the most satisfying. However, there are days were I have absolutely no motivation. No matter how much I try, I just can not get motivated. What do I do on the days were I lack motivation? I just start. No, it is not easy, and yes I have to take myself into it, but what else is there to do?

This is what I thought at least. However, that is not the case. I have recently learned a few tools to help motivate you when you need it. These tools have really helped me and I have decided to share this information with others and hopefully it will benefit you in the same way!!

Tools of Motivation!!!

Tool #1: Plan Ahead 

               It helps to plan ahead. Every night before I went to sleep I would make a quick list of tasks that I needed to accomplish as well as any goals I have for the following day. I keep a planner and write down important goals and tasks that need to get accomplished. It may seem silly but scheduling time to accomplish your tasks, help to motivate you to complete them. I like to highlight my tasks when they are completed.   

Tool #2: Sleep

             Sleep can greatly affect your motivation. Although you may be getting the right amount of hours, if you are doing it at the wrong time, your motivation can be killed. On my semester of track, I got into the horrible habit of staying up till nearly 4 or 5 in the morning and sleeping till 1 in the afternoon. I was getting PLENTY of sleep, however I always felt tired and I had absolutely no motivation. Since I have gotten into a better sleeping pattern (go to bed around 11-midnight and walk up at 8:30) I find that my motivation has greatly improved. 

Tool #3: Be Positive 

              When you wake up in the morning, wake up happy. I know that this is not exactly easy, in fact it is quite hard. But with time it can become easier. When you wake up in a soar mood, take ten minutes to mentally list all the reasons you are glad it is a new day. List things that make you proud to be you, list things that are beautiful about that particular day; you will be surprised how your attitude affects your motivation. 

Tool #4: Reward Yourself 

              We often hear about this term rewarding yourself and 90%  of the time individuals reward themselves with food. This is not necessarily a bad idea, but for those of us who are watching our figures or trying to lose weight, it can be pointless. I am an avid reader so I like to reward myself with pages. For example, if I do a load of laundry I can read five pages then or later. Perhaps you like t.v you can do the same thing, for every task you complete you can watch 5 minutes of television or take 5 minutes or relaxation this will motivate you to accomplish your tasks. 

Tool #5: Try Again 

             As humans we are prone to make mistakes. It may take time for you to get in the habit of getting the right amount of sleep, being positive and rewarding yourself, but you can do it. You may fail at first, you may even fail a couple of times, but you can do it, YOU CAN DO IT!! When you fail, try again, strive to have motivation tomorrow. 

I really hope this helps everyone as much as it has helped me! 

Health- Plus!

             Has there ever been a time in the entirety of human existence when an individual (especially women) have looked at themselves and been entirely satisfied? Everyone has their own insecurities and their own quarks that they would like to change about themselves, it is just how we as individuals are. Why is it then that we make plans to change our self appearance and we rarely take action in those plans? Most of us have started our own diets or fitness programs only to give up or never begin. Why do we do this??? 

             

             Why do I do this? Well I have decided enough is enough! I am going to take action! I am going to be pro-active, I am going to make the changes I want to make to myself! I can do hard things! 

             

             But then, naturally, the question arises 'How am I going to do this'? And that is where are planning begins and our motivation to actions is lost. I decided, not to plan...excessively. Planning is required, but as soon as I make a plan I am going to carry it through; If I say I want to bike at least 6  miles a day, I am going to bike to work, that way I bike my goal mileage. If I say I want to eat fruits and vegetables, I am going to stalk up on veggies and deplete my stash of junk food. 

             

          Can it be that simple? YES! It is all about taking action! Life is busy, extremely busy, so why waste all our time planning, why not act! We can do this, we can all do this! Act! Let us be Proactive. Wither we want to lose weight, grow healthier/longer hair, eat more vegetables, or absolutely anything else, do it! Plan on doing and then do it, don't look at all the different ways or plans that you can chose from, pick one and then do it!!!  

        I want to become healthier, lose weight and just be in better physical-condition. Not just health, Health-Plus!What do you want to change or work on? Well you can do it, we can do it together. Here is to us!  

Goodbye's and Hello's

      The only consistency in life is change. At least it is for me, change is the the only thing I can really depend on. The only anchor that is steadfast.
                                                               
                                                                            I hate it.

       Every four months or so life changes, whether it is a new apartment, new roommates or new classes, it is inevitable, change is going to happen in its most true and consistent form. However, changes itself brings forth two consistencies, those being Goodbye's and Hello's.

      Naturally, I am not one who is particularly fond of Goodbye's, but who is? I know goodbye's are unavoidable, necessary even, but every time change comes and knocks on my door, I am forced to say goodbyes I am not ready to say. At times it seems good bye is all I say.

     But because of these Goodbyes I get to say Hello. Although these goodbye's may close doors for me, they also allow other ones to open, and when they do I am greeting with the warmth of Hello's. Hello to new opportunities, new experiences, hello to new teachers and friends, hello to more growing and progressing, HELLO! I, like most everyone else, Prefer the hello's in life much better then the goodbye's.

     So as I come to another point in my life where I must once again say goodbye, I will, with a heavy heart. But then I will look forward to all the hello's that will be open to me. With the promise of new hello's I will strive to appreciate change more, even perhaps treasure goodbye's.

     Although these goodbye's are hard, I can feel blessed to have known such people, such experiences and opportunities that make saying goodbye truly hard. And I would rather have known them and say goodbye, then to never have known them. They were once Hello's. And if those hello's turned out so good, I anticipate to see what the next hello's will bring.