Thinking Out Loud: Eating

Since I've started running five weeks ago, I've started taking a lot more thought as to what I'm putting into my body, and how it will help me become a better runner. All of the sudden I'm more aware of the amount of sugar I'm consuming (which is astronomical. Everything has sugar it seems!) more aware of the amount of processed foods I'm eating, the protein I'm consuming, water intake...etc.

It takes a lot of the fun out of fast food eating and limits the amount of stuff I can just "go buy" as well.
Looking down the snack aisle at Wal-Mart was a bit depressing EVERYTHING was full of sugar, and don't get me started on my beloved juices. Apparently it does not make a great deterrent for soda.. sugar wise at least.

Since leaving for our trip to AK I've been off my game food wise and boy can I feel it. For three days straight I had nothing but fast food and junk picked up from Wal-mart. My soda intake was ridiculous. I'll admit that. Since I've been home, things haven't improved. I had a huge project to complete at work, and some other schedule changes to life, not to mention I was out of groceries and so you can guess what I turned too.

The thought of it sounded so good at first, but after consuming two pieces, I felt sick.

Nooo! Not my pizza.

The amount of grease was overwhelming.

It was at that point I knew I need to get to the store and gets some fruits and veggies into my system.
I was actually craving something naturally sweet. Craving something GREEN.

What? Who am I? 

Back in Shape

"I want you whipped into shape 

When I say jump, say "How high?" 

You'll know you're doing it right 

When you start to cry 

If you don't look like you should 

You've got to whip it, whip it, whip it good 

I'm sorry, ladies, no escape 

Til you're whipped into shape!"

- Whipped into Shape 

[Legally Blonde the Musical]

 Guys, I'm about to do something I've never done before.

Now I've always been classified as "skinny". However, I will be the first to tell you skinny does not equal in shape. High Metabolism? A lack in the food department? Yep. But Not "fit". I liked to think I was, and for a while I worked jobs were I had to be very active, so I could do..a bit more than your average couch potato. I used to walk 9 flights of stairs.. for fun! If I needed to get anywhere on campus, this girl would opt to walk faster than ride.

However, since I "dropped out" of school, in December I have embraced the title of couch potato. The only reason I haven't picked up major weight (I've put on a few more pounds than I have in the last couple of years combined), is due to my eating habits, which are spotty at best.

Seriously people? Eating is expensive! Not to mention time consuming! 

It wasn't until I was walking up the TWO FLIGHTS of stairs to our parking garage, that I suddenly realized I was.. winded? I literally stopped walking as I tried to catch my breath. Honestly!? What in the world has happened too me?
At that point, I knew I had to do something, I just didn't know what.

Sometime over the last couple of weeks or so, I? mentioned the couch-to-5k to Rebekah as something I'd thought about doing, when another friend urged us on, we decided we'd do this thing together. I'd wanted to do it earlier in the year, but once again, it was one of those things I pushed off to do.... later.

However, doing this with a friend, we are accountable to each other.. which is good for me..

Last night we both "officially" started the training program. We'd both "tested" it out the week before, but this was the week we'd set for our official start date. I, personally, was proud of us for actually starting and not pushing it off.

So our plan is to run the Butterfly Fund 5k to benefit East Tennessee Children's Hospital on August 21st. I'm excited!

Week 1 Day 1 - Stats
Last night I did 1.93 miles in 15:38 minutes a mile.
I actually felt pretty good, and wasn't gasping for breath as I'd been the first time I attempted this.
However more concerning (for me) was the calories I burned during that... 403. I can't burn that much? I barely consumed that much food yesterday, so obviously I'm going to have to do something about that.

Once I pay my bills.

....

#grownupproblems

February Focus

I had this big long depressing post written up about how long and horrid this week has been, but I only managed to depress myself further, so I scrapped that and decided to make some goals for myself this month.. 

1. Survive Photojournalism Class. Ok.To say this class makes me nervous is a HUGE understatement...mainly because we have to work, hard, and fast. One week turn around on most assignments and on top of that a Photo Story/Essay that's due in six weeks. Only school can make a week the shortest amount of time ever. 
2. Continue shooting daily - I did miss one day this week, because well my motivation took a vacation. But I'm pleased that I've kept it up this long.
3. Purchase a car!!!!!! - as I alluded to in previous post, I am in need of a car. Like...NOW. Like as in I don't have a car to drive anymore...and let me tell you this. When I grow up, and get married I WILL NOT (please God?) have more than 4 kids. Driving a 15-Passenger van  (especially at 21) is NOT cool...but what's sad, is that is the ride is so.much.smoother than my dad's car. (sorry dad) So I'm scraping together every little bit of money I can so I can purchase a vehicle. Right now I'm looking at the 2000-2002 Acura TL or the 2003-2005 Mazda6.  I'm going to have to finance this car, so I have to get something I can afford on my meager salary. PRAY!! 
4. Start raising my fifth guide dog puppy - 3 weeks 4 days.....
5. Drink more water, watch calorie intake: Completely failed on that last month, what can I say. Stress. This month will get back on the band wagon, logging what I eat, so I can start moving towards something a little healthier. 
6. Redo Hair. So in case you were wondering...that is all my real hair, and it takes about 3 hours to get flatten into shape. I normally will do it this way in the winter, due to less heat which equals less sweating, which means my hair stays flatter longer. get it? But its starting to fuzzzzzz so I need to make some time pre-puppy to get that taken care of. :-/ 

Other smaller goals include: Being on time for things, being prepared ahead of time, trying to get my homework done before the last minute, continuing to not procrastinate about things that scare me...... #gulps. 

Not a long list but challenging enough I supposed.
How about you? What are some of your goals for this month?