Sporadically Sandra

So, over the holidays I was super lazy when it comes to exercise. I did some jumping jacks, and some squats but no real cardio, nothing challenging. Now that it is January, it's time to get back in the swing of things. I've picked Couch to 5k back up, unfortunately my two and a half month break has done a great deal of damage to my stamina.

I started back on week 3 and after working on that for a couple of weeks I was ready to move to week 4. Until... I started running. Four minutes and then six and then four of running, sure there is some walking in between but that is FOURTEEN minutes of running. HOLY COW. I am NOT fit enough for that much running.

So, I start the first four minute run and I am doing GREAT. Four minutes? Pft.. that's nothing. That's only one minute longer than the three minutes I was doing before. Oh, now it is time to walk. Wow, those two minute sort of flew, but it's telling me to run again...

The entire six minutes I play this ridiculous mind game with myself "Thirty more seconds and if you want to quit you can"... And then, I hit the point of having ONE MINUTE LEFT and I want to die. I'm suffering, it's bad.

But, I can do ANYTHING for a minute. It's what I learned in week 1, actually, (of the original program, not the one they renamed "Ease into") where you have to run one minute and walk for 90 seconds. I learned, hey, I can run for a whole minute. WTF how did that happen? Good job legs.

And amazingly, this applies to all parts of my life "Ugh, I don't want to empty the dishwasher." Stop being a brat, I can do anything for one minute. "Bleh, I don't want to get up and get something from the car." It won't take longer than a minute!

So, when I'm jogging and I'm exhausted, if I can make it to the last minute, well then, I got this because I can do ANYTHING for one minute.

And, so can YOU.

So, I changed to the new blogger design, or whatever. I hate it. I think the original design was much easier on the eyes and is easier to use. I want to know what focus group approved of this. No, seriously.

I've rediscovered my love for running. I was up to doing pretty freaking well and then the holidays hit and I got VERY sidetracked. But over the last few weeks I've been getting back into running with the C25K program (or Ease into, I guess they changed the name?). After my first run, it was back. I was so happy. I do adore running and after every run, even if I don't want to do it to begin with, makes me happy.

Pinterest is a dangerous, yet amazing, website. I created a board to keep track of everything I've actually done because of that website. And I have to say, my house and style are both cuter because of Pinterest, and my exercise routines have been more varied.

It's funny how every time I go to church after not having been for a while, it's so evident WHY I was meant to be there. Two weeks in a row, we've managed to make it to church (even though last week was only Sunday School) and it was just so revitalizing for my soul.

Girl Scout cookies come in, in a few weeks. Woot!

So, if you have a blog meant to promote healthy living

And to draw people in who might need HELP in that department.

Then you should probably moderate your comments at least a tad. (especially when you don't have THAT many)

So "fat bitches" aren't offended.

Because that is seriously constructive, or not.

That is enough to get me to unfollow you on both facebook and your blog (if I can figure out how!)

There are more effective and better ways to reach those who YOU Feel need your expertise, but being a know it all, rude jerk, isn't the way.

#seriouslydisgusted

So, I did something amazing. I actually did not one, but TWO things I have pinned on pinterest.

The first one was a cake stand I made to hold my dish cloths and dish soap, inspiration found here

I got the cake stand and plate at Target and used some craft glue I already had.
I also decided to hang a file folder holder on the cabinet door in my bathroom, under the sink to hold my hair dryer. I've been searching for the PERFECT solution since I don't want to have to wrap up the cord every morning to put it up (not gonna happen), but it also won't fit in the drawers and it looks crappy always leaving it out. No picture, because it still isn't fully done. Letting the command strips fully bond with their surfaces before I use it, but this gives you an idea of what I did:

http://pinterest.com/pin/283726845243897298/

Quite a few people I know have this misconception that to eat healthy you must cut out everything delicious. And, I wouldn't actually care, except if you ask them what they are eating, they sigh, look kind of down and out and with a sigh reply "Oh, just this *bland diet food*. I'm trying to watch my weight."

Well, guess what. Eating healthy can be delicious, versatile, comforting and an adventure for the taste buds. I love eating unhealthy food (clearly) but I also make sure that every "healthy" thing I eat is just as delicious. I eat lots of lean meats, low fat dairies, fresh fruits and vegetables. I get, at a minimum, 6 fruit & vegetable servings a day, 2 dairies, 2-3 servings of lean protein. I drink at least 6 glasses of water a day because I truly love it. And most days, some sort of chocolate enters my body.

All it takes is some creativity and some patience. I've slowly built up a stash of "healthy" and delicious recipes so that I always have recipes I like on the back burner. In addition, I have a healthy stash of blogs that post ridiculously delicious (and sinfully decadent) tasting recipes.

This is a *mostly* accurate picture of what I eat each day. Of course, my breakfast did not taste good (new recipe, boo) so today I had a few extra points for an evening snack.  I also forgot to take a picture of my afternoon snack: romaine lettuce with red onion and Hot Bacon Honey Mustard Dressing (delicious).

Meals pictured: Morning Snack 1 - Cheese Stick, Morning Snack 2 - Banana, Lunch - Santa Fe Chicken Burrito Bowl, Dinner - Bubble Up Enchilada Casserole & Sugar Snap Peas, Evening Snack/Dessert - Dark Hot Chocolate, Nuts & Bolts (Family recipe chex mix), a piece of fudge and peppermint marshmallows.

So, don't let "healthy" food get you down, because if you aren't enjoying it, you aren't doing it right!

So, it's January 1st, 2012. It's a brand new year which means I have to do last years taxes, my vacation time has been refilled and it's time for me to figure out what I want to make of 2012.

Resolutions, goals, whatever you want to call them, I enjoy making them every year. I enjoy trying to better myself It annoys me when people get so negative on how stupid it is to make a resolution because no one ever succeeds, because it's such a negative viewpoint. Sure, I might mess or give up, but that doesn't mean even just trying to be better, isn't positive in its own right.

My goals for this year:

I want to be more fit then I ever have. Which, granted, won't be too hard since I've never really focused much of overall fitness even when I used to dance (great legs, weak arms). But I truly want to work on my overall fitness. I want to run, do yoga, strength train, jump rope, play, if it is movement I want to do it.

I want to get a handle of this whole food thing. I swing from being such a great eater to eating like total crap with no real happy medium. I really want to learn how to enjoy my food without having to over indulge in. I want to have a healthy relationship with food and not an obsessive one.

I want to do a better job of housekeeping. I want my house to be able to be company ready in 15 minutes or less. I don't have children to clean up after, so I don't have any real excuses. I feel like having a clean, organized and neat home will really help focus my life to be more organized in all areas.

I want to focus more on sticking to the budget. Although Joseph and I always get our bills paid, and always pay extra on whatever we might owe, after that, it can be sort of a mess. I really want to get true control over all of our money and not just what we use to pay bills.

4 Goals, that's what I want for this year. Those are the ways I want to better myself. I don't have to do it all myself, in fact the last two are things that Joseph has to help with and have a say with, but he also influences the first two because, well, I'm married to him and his attitude motivates me. I'm sure I will mess up, want to give up, and fall so under the bar, but that doesn't mean I won't better myself through the next year. I'm not looking to be perfect, I'm not looking to make a complete 180 from who I am now. I simply want to find a balance, a happy medium. I want to even out these areas of my life.