Inspirational Quote

I found this amazing poem at http://tipprblog.com/2013/03/08/how-to-build-yourself-from-scratch/.  This blog offers a plethora of topics, I love the variety!  As I was reading this today I felt inspired, and decided to share it with readers.  Since my weight loss I’ve lost my sense of self, looking different has changed me more than I thought it would, but this poem seems to simplify a complex process.  Thank you to the writer.

How To Build Yourself from Scratch

A good foundation- two feet planted firmly on the ground

Adequate strength- to carry the weight of yourself and others (others are optional)

A mind of your own- a brain that will lead you away from the hive

Emotion- a determining factor of a healthy soul

 

It might not seem like much,

But when you add them all together,

You’ve built yourself

A modest home.

Super foods?

I hear a lot about Superheroes at the daycare, but never have I heard about super foods.  I finally checked my e-mail today (104 unread messages!) and looked through the newsletters and articles from sparkpeople.com and livestrong.com.  I found this article http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=307 which reports super foods  ”power your brain, and correctly and efficiently fuel your body…fight infection, enhance your immune system, and protect against diseases such as osteoporosis, heart disease, certain cancers, diabetes, and respiratory infections.”

WOW! What great reasons to make sure you’re eating a healthy and balanced diet, especially if you’re trying to lose weight!

None of this is news to me, changing my diet was how I lost weight, but lately I’ve been returning to old habits more and more.

What happened after I wrote this?  Why didn’t my motivation in January stick?

Well…because I’m human, and the cold windy weather and short days have taken a toll on my motivation to work out.  I wonder if changing my diet just this week will help me feel more energetic and really ready to stick to a workout routine at home or at the gym in the coming weeks. Eating healthy is a true lifestyle choice that takes commitment and some effort but it’s absolutely worth it!  I get picked on sometimes because of my eating choices but  those choices are ultimately the reason for my weight loss and overall health today.  

Time to try again.

Spring is a great time to start a new eating plan and workout routine, I started my weight loss in January 2011 but it really jump-started in May 2011. It was a little easier to challenge myself during runs when the weather was more mild; when the view went from dreary and dark to lively and bright I found myself looking forward to my early morning runs.  I believe that exercising is the best way to take time for yourself, and to take care of yourself – in addition to eating foods with the nutrients your body needs.

So I’m going to start again, today.  This is what works for me:

1.  No more stocking up on junk food. (The boyfriend might not like this one, but too bad lol)

2. Prepare salads to eat on the go or for lunch instead of buying fried or sweet snacks.

3.  Eat balanced meals all day with the goal of getting the right amount of servings for each food group (for more info on serving sizes http://nutrition.about.com/od/fruitsandvegetables/f/servingfruit.htm).

4.  On evenings I have the energy, time, and am just sitting around watching TV and eating – take at least 30 minutes to do some type of physical activity (strength training or cardio) – try to do this at least 3 times a week.

I’m not interested in losing weight anymore, but I do notice a change in my mood since I’ve stopped watching what I eat and how much exercise I get each week.  Let’s see if I feel any different after doing this for a couple weeks.  Is anyone else out there having a tough time sticking to a goal or resolution, how did you or will you re-motivate to start again?  

I once mistook a head of cabbage for a head of lettuce!

Until I was 25 years old I felt intimidated by the produce section in the grocery store.  There were so many different types of vegetables and I knew nothing about how to prepare them.  New York City is where I learned how delicious vegetables could be, what they were, and how to prepare them – broccoli rabe, brussels sprouts, kale, spinach, squash, peppers.

At the Happy Dog in Cleveland with Emily

My love for veggies didn’t come naturally, it took exposure and consistency.  Once I opened my mind to trying new types of vegetables and started to brave the produce section discovered I actually liked some vegetables, and could make most others taste good with the right recipe

(this book helped me along, thanks for the gift Emily).

Old habits die hard…but it’s time to get back on track

It’s January 2011, I’m 200lbs at 24 years old and although I’ve wanted to lose weight for so long I still haven’t done it.  It was on my 25th birthday that I promised myself I’d start to live a healthier lifestyle.  I woke up one morning inspired – I decided that I’d begin to track my weight starting today, and wrote down a goal of losing 2lbs per week by exercising and eating less (detailed account of my weight loss plan).  After 7 months of dedication I stepped on the scale to find my goal was in reach and I only had a few more pounds to go before the numbers ONE FOUR ZERO displayed above my feet.

A Whole New World

Weight loss changed my life completely.  My daily routine was significantly different – physical activity and meal planning took up time that I used to spend watching television or eating out.  My old diet of McDonalds, frozen pizzas, and comfort food was gone…now I ate salads for sides instead of potatoes or macaroni and cheese, I chose turkey meat over pork and beef, my portions were based on physical activity instead of boredom, and I stopped drinking coca cola with every meal.  Not everyone in my life was supportive of my new eating habits, I received criticism from others and found that many felt I would now be judgmental of their eating habits, but I’ve only changed because I found what works for me.  In November 2011 I decided to start a blog about my weight loss success and never ending journey to maintain my health.  Until now I haven’t deviated from my healthy eating habits, December 2012 has been my first bump in the road, what do they say about old habits?

Old Habits Die Hard

Homemade sweets, lots of time on my hands, and bad weather all combined to create a month of laziness.  I don’t regret enjoying a hiatus from my new habits to enjoy holiday treats and dinners, but it’s time to get back on track.  Boredom eating in front of the television is my weakness, past lessons have taught me the best way to fight this habit is not to stock up on the foods I tend to overindulge in.  So now that the sweets have all been consumed, it’s time to move forward – fruit instead of fudge!

A New Years Resolution 

Biking instead of couch potato-ing.

My resolution for 2013 is clear to me – maintain healthy habits.

My past has taught me that you have to start somewhere if you want to see any results.  Last night, as I sat there finishing off the last of the caramel popcorn, I decided it was time to put the sweets down and make a nutritious dinner.  I threw together a seasoned turkey burger (Italian seasonings) with vegetable rotini in tomato sauce with broccoli.  I continued the good habits by taking a bike ride at sunset from my house to the campground 4.6 miles away, and finished up my routine with a walk along the beach from the campground to the small island airport (2.6 miles).

Sunset walk.

This month I plan to resume walking or biking every day that the weather allows for it, and to take a 30 minute break from my evening television to complete a workout video at sparkpeople.com .  As far as food goes I’ll likely continue to indulge in some sweets and favorites, but I’ll be sure to include salads and vegetables in my daily meals and replace chocolate treats with fruits.

Now What?  Relationships and weight…

I keep revisiting the “Now What?” question – losing weight has only been the first step on a long road.  Maintaining my weight loss no matter what changes in life has become an ongoing challenge.  So now I begin to learn how to maintain my weight loss while in a relationship, how to resist pizza rolls and cookies, and instead make meals that I enjoy no matter what my partner chooses to eat.  I’m sure I’ll give in to the unhealthy options sometimes but as long as more often than not I stay true to healthy eating and exercise, I know I’ll continue to maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle.

Continuing the journey…

I’ll be taking it one day at a time like I always do, and I encourage all of my readers to do the same.

Remember – old habits may die hard but they’re only habits, replace them with new habits today and start your journey on the road to change.

2012 – A reflection…

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

The new Boeing 787 Dreamliner can carry about 250 passengers. This blog was viewed about 1,400 times in 2012. If it were a Dreamliner, it would take about 6 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

Taking a break from technology…

Since my move to the beautiful and isolated Ocracoke Island I’ve become less interested in technology.  My iPhone used to be an item I used frequently throughout the day, now I find myself taking bike rides to the beach to settle into seclusion, away from both physical and virtual social contact.

 

I’ve loved the abrupt change from living in a crowded city that required hours of commuting on a busy subway train daily to living in a small village where you don’t “commute” you spend less than 10 minutes riding a bike into the village and rarely come in contact with any people.  It’s nearly been 4 full months since my arrival and while my initial goal was to write more, I’m glad I took some time to simply “be” and enjoy a laid-back lifestyle after a hectic and difficult 2012.  Now that I’ve rested I’m ready to jump back into blogging, to be in touch with what so many of my fellow bloggers have been talking about these last couple of months, to comment and be a part of the community.  I’m excited to share with you all my island experiences from the beautiful images I capture of sunsets and the ever changing beach, to the comical stories of my reactions to large insects and biking accidents.  I hope readers will follow me into 2013 as I maintain my weight loss and learn more and more about the beauty of the island.

 

When Facebook gets personal…

Facebook has become a site for everyone and is now the way people announce every significant and insignificant event in their life. Facebook statuses have become ways of communicating all types of messages to our friends, even the message that you are no longer considered a friend. Unfriending or changing a relationship status are examples of when Facebook gets personal and even painful. Alerting a once intimate friend that you no longer want them in your physical or virtual life via cyberspace while simultaneously announcing it to everyone else on your friends list can be done with a simple click of a button.

Humans are emotional creatures who can sometimes act on impulse, so my question is; can we really handle being able to convey messages so quickly and easily? Should we say the whole truth and nothing but the truth or should we all agree to follow some type of Facebook etiquette?

Facebook has completely changed social interaction as we knew it, and it’s changing all of us individually too.  We all have a responsibility to speak up (publicly or privately) when people get out of hand.  Let’s not forget the Stanford County Prison experiment.  What type of social order should there be on Facebook, and what will you do to keep or destroy it? One friend recently took a stand (http://mysophisticatedlife.com/2012/10/18/stop-the-madness/) and urged friends to research information gathered from the internet and television ads before posting comments that are confrontational and misinformed.  Generalized blogging and personal messages seem to be the best way to tell a Facebook friend that they may have gone too far.  Let’s see what social norms, if any, develop and how users will deem certain actions taboo and others appropriate.

My last thought is this:  Is the public arena of Facebook the place for gossip, confrontation, arguments, and important announcements? Would taking the time to call/skype/visit a person be a more appropriate way to communicate serious news/discuss frustrations?

Working out when you can’t go ‘out’

Since my move from New York City I’ve been spending more time than ever at home, and I’m realizing that maintaining my weight loss will require a home workout routine.  Not only are there fewer places to go here in Ocracoke when compared to New York City, there are also fewer reasons to go out as the town is mostly vacant and many businesses close earlier for the cold weather season. 

This weekend it was impossible to even walk outside the front door as hurricane Sandy made her way up the east coast and flooded many of the roads here on Ocracoke Island.  My Sunday plan to jog went out the window as a full stream of water flowed down my street just outside the front door.  I decided to prevent boredom eating, cabin fever, and laziness and started to search for a way to workout at home.  A few months ago my best friend Sonia visited me in New York City just before I relocated to Ocracoke Island, she told me about a website called Sparkpeople.com, I signed up in August 2012 but rarely checked the e-mails sent to me by the site daily.  Today I decided to read some of the past newsletters and found a great 10-minute Pilates Workout, I clicked and found a plethora of free workout videos to try! 

So while I wait for the rivers to return to streets I’ll be at home, in my living room, working out to a video found on Sparkpeople.com. 

Learning how to read for fun

My favorite reading spot ~ sitting on a dock over the Pamlico Sound (the body of water west of Ocracoke Island in between the island and mainland).

Since my move to Ocracoke I’ve been working on reading a book called Lost in Translation by Jean Kwok.  On my last day in New York City I visited my good friends Lisa and Saul, who must have hundreds of books in their home that I’m sure have all been read.  While visiting I returned Crime and Punishment to Saul – I had the book for several months but never made the time to read it.  I’m hoping that the quiet nature of my new home and the increase in free time will push me to finish the 5 books I acquired at the village thrift store yesterday.

Do others out there have trouble starting or finishing a book?  Do you have any suggestions of ways to concentrate on reading or make time to read?  Are there people that used to dislike reading that have come to love it?

Stopping to smell the roses…

It’s been almost a month since I made the move from New York City to Ocracoke Island in North Carolina.  My perception of time has already changed so much, and I’m learning to just stop and smell the roses.

Took a break from writing my blog to check out this little guy who walked up to me while I sat outside and sipped my latte at the Ocracoke Coffee shop. (http://ocracokecoffee.com/)

Two years ago all I wanted was to live somewhere new where I could learn to be healthier, meet new people, and do things I had never done before and I can honestly say that’s exactly what I did with my time in New York City.  After two years I became a completely different person, physically and mentally.

Left photo taken June 2010 on my first day in NYC, right photo taken August 2012 days before I moved to Ocracoke Island, NC.

I was excited about the changes, and wouldn’t have been able to make them if I hadn’t lived in New York.  But living in a large city comes with a cost and I was beginning to wonder if it was worth it.  After weighing all of my options and being laid off, I decided to take a week to say goodbye to the city.   The timing was perfect – my best friend from Cleveland  requested a week off of work months ago, I expected I’d be working during her visit, but my new situation allowed me to become her full-time tour guide.

Sonia and I enjoying a late night snack while exploring the East Village, we came across this Cuban Bistro and enjoyed tapas and dessert before our ride back up to the Bronx.

We started uptown at Columbia University, and worked our way down through Times Square and Central Park.  We crossed the Hudson and the East River to see the Manhattan Skyline from New Jersey, Brooklyn, and Staten Island.  We walked through the West Village, East Village, Soho, Noho, and Nolita.  We ate in cafe’s, shopped at Bloomingdale’s and in Chinatown, we took ferries, the subway, and cabs, we saw weird and interesting performances in Union Square and Washington Square Park, and we almost got robbed by children.  It was an adventure to say the least.  After a week of fun I was ready to rest and take some time to slow down.

A photo taken during one of my many days exploring the city alone.

In the weeks before my friends visit so much had changed.  Days before a scheduled family vacation to Ocracoke Island in North Carolina my employer notified me that when I returned my position would no longer be my position- I was being laid off.  It was scary and freeing news as I was already considering leaving the city because of the cost of living, air/noise pollution, the rough commutes, and the overall stressful nature of life in the city.  While on vacation I started wonder what it would be like to slow down and enjoy my time instead of rushing through it.

From left to right ~ Aunt Robin, me, Jaden, Rainevan, Jacey ~ Vacation on Ocracoke Island 2012.

Ocracoke was the opposite of New York in so many ways but still similar.  Unlike New York the community in Ocracoke is close knit and small, yet each summer tourists from all over the world visit for vacation and the faces of the town constantly change as people come and go.  Looking for work was very different in Ocracoke than in Ohio or New York, and instead of applying to countless positions online, in Ocracoke you make contact with an employer directly and inquire about a position.  With the help of a friend I met on vacation I was able to find work, and a place to live.

The decision was final in September 2012 when I purchased a one-way ticket from Columbus Ohio to Ocracoke Island, NC.

Lounging on the beach in October 2012.

So just as I had done before I packed up and moved. I’ll miss my friends in New York, I’ll even miss some of the places, but after rushing for two years I’m looking forward to stopping to smell the roses more and stressing less.

Miss you friends! From left to right ~ Jon, me, Will, Dana ~ a night out in Brooklyn January 2012.