First College Football Saturday of the Season

Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVE my Fightin' Texas Aggies Football, but it really does get in the way of eating like I should. Regardless, I am committed, and I'm not going to let the rest of the semester's Saturday games get in the way! Speaking of the Fightin' Texas Aggies, this may be a good time to give you a little more background about myself and my healthy lifestyle journey.

I started my college career at Texas A&M University's main campus in College Station. My freshman year was difficult. I was overweight and VERY unhappy, and that miserable attitude was taking over every aspect of my life, even affecting my relationships. I had my "ah-ha" moment during winter break of my freshman year. I was at the mall shopping with my mom and size 2 twin sister, and was very upset that I couldn't wear the same cute clothes that she was purchasing. Finally after three painful hours I went home with one ugly grey sweatshirt from GAP. Sitting in my room thinking about how I had felt that day, about how miserable I was, I knew thing needed to change.

My first workout took place when I returned to school. I picked an elliptical that overlooked the climbing wall in the gym, and used that as my entertainment. Those thirty minutes I spent on the machine weren't anything particularly difficult, but it was the most painful thirty minutes I have ever spent working out. I distinctly remember telling myself, "Just ten more minutes. Just nine more minutes. Just eight more minutes." And eventually, I finished those thirty minutes and never looked back.

My sophomore year I was dedicated to my workouts and to be conscious of what I was putting in my body. You could ask any of my friends that year, I spent hours at the gym, and almost never gave in to fast food temptations. An average day involved run/walking two miles, a twenty minute ab workout, and a 1,500 meter swim. This combined with an average two hours of walking around campus a day meant by the end of the year, I found myself in the best shape of my life.

My junior year I moved to Texas A&M's Galveston campus, and things began to head back in the wrong direction. A smaller campus and more responsibilities meant working out moved from the top of my list. During my three years in Galveston I have had many ups in downs, in both my weight and my stress level. And now I'm here, beginning a new chapter in my life. I know that if I want to be a successful masters student I need to be happy and healthy.

Breakfast: homemade breakfast tacos with egg, turkey bacon, potato and That Green Sauce; sliced banana and peaches; coffee with chocolate mootopia

Lunch: one hot dog with bun; raw carrots and green beans; pasta and veggie salad; homemade chocolate football shaped cookie

Dinner: 1/4 hatch pepper hamburger on a whole wheat bun with onion, power greens, pickles and tomato; roasted sweet potatoes and green beans

Workout: didn't happen today, as expected...I had to cheer for my Fightin' Texas Aggies!

I'm Making Myself Shine

Day One

I say 'Day One', but that is really a lie. This is a journey I have been on for almost five years - finding myself through a healthy lifestyle. Regardless of that, today is Day One because today I am recognizing that I strayed from my path, and I need to get back on. Here is a picture of Day One.

This seems like the right time because I am starting a new chapter in my life - being an unemployed graduate student. Hopefully that first part will change, I am currently looking for a job. But I have two more years of this grad school thing. Two years to find myself, because apparently the five years I spent getting my bachelor's degree wasn't enough. And I know from past experience that the times I was happiest in my life, and the times where I felt most secure in the path I have chosen were when I was living a healthy lifestyle.

My goal in this blog is to keep myself on track. I want to post every day, and be very honest about what I did that day, what I ate, and how I felt. If nothing else, it can give me some stability during this crazy time in my life. I also want to use it as a way to track my progress. Hopefully, in the future I will be able to look back on this post and the picture above as a distant memory. Hopefully, someone will come across this blog and become inspired...or at least pity me, and read what I have to say.

So, today is Day One - things can only go up from here!

Breakfast: Egg Sandwich - Bagel Thin with one & a half eggs, two strips turkey bacon, That Green Sauce, and 2/3 Less Fat American Cheese; one medium banana; two cups coffee with chocolate Mootopia

Workout: 30 minutes on the elliptical; 30 minutes walking on the treadmill

Lunch: 1 cup watermelon; 1/2 cup diced peaches; baked cod; 1 cup broccoli; 1/2 cup quick cook 5 grains; brownie (8x8 pan cut into 16 pieces)

*Tip for brownies - Make them homemade (way better and healthier!), cut 8x8 pan into 16 pieces, wrap each piece in plastic wrap, and store in a plastic bag in the freezer. Then take one individually wrapped brownie out to thaw while you are cooking dinner, or eat straight from the freezer (they are great cold). Caroline and I found this is a great way to keep us from snarfing the whole pan as soon as the brownies come out of the oven.*

Dinner: TBD...maybe turkey chili and homemade cornbread?