Thoughts

Another day at the gym today. I really wish I had more motivation to actually want to go. Once I am there though, I feel really good. I was a beast at the treadmill today. I love that I can jog for (well it seems long to me) for over seven minutes because there was a time where I couldn't run for a whole minute without being winded. Which brings me to my next point. Sometimes I get envious of what I used to look like in high school. I wasn't super slim but I don't necessarily think I was big. I particularly get envious of my junior year because that was when I slimmed down. I had gone to a camp for six weeks over the summer and told myself that I was going to eat just my regular meal, eat fruit for dessert and skip the sugary snacks. I also walked everywhere as I didn't have a car (or my license for that matter) but it really worked out for me. I felt so good and not to mention for the first time (ever) I felt attractive because I actually was starting to take
care of myself. I am not sure how many pounds I lost. Honestly, I didn't have a goal in mind I just mainly wanted to look better.

The point to all this is that even with those simple steps, I was able to to lose weight and feel pretty good. You don't need a special diet to restrict you from every sweet thing imaginable you just to have motivation and portion control. Sadly, that all ended when I hit college BUT lets move on...

Another point I wanted to make that yes, I was somewhat thinner in high school but my senior year I was unhealthy. In just these last couple years I am probably the healthiest I have ever been just solely on the fact that I am more conscious (or trying to be) of what I put in my body. All I ate in high school was crap apart from my mom's home cooked meals and I really wish I would have thought to at least exercise.

So this is me when I was 17 or 18. I want to say I was about in the 140s, probably like 145. As you can see I still have a bum (I will never get rid of that, unfortunately HA) but I can see that my face was slimmer as well as my stomach area. Am I right on this? or am I just seeing things? I do think I look slimmer though. I want to get back down to that. In due time. I am giving myself until March. Actually, my coworker/friend Rashell both gave each other until March to lose 10 lbs. Now, in 2011 I lost 27 lbs in three months but its not a race, I want to be done my goal weight by March and KEEP. IT OFF. for good.




Well, I think i'm going to end this.
To all, Happy New Year
Hope this year is full of success and happiness :)

Day # 2

The temptation is real! Yesterday I went grocery shopping with Craig and it was tough because everything looked SO GOOD! (I also went to grocery shopping, hungry worst. mistake ever.) but I did not cave. I had chili and tangerines for my supper. It was a strange combo but it eased my cravings. I went to the gym also but the only setback I had was that I did not wake up early to do it. I had set my alarm for 8am but did not complete that goal as I woke up at 9 and didn't get my butt moving until around 11am. I still want that to be my goal because I still find myself lazing around and I HATE that but yet I still keep doing it. Today I almost ALMOST told myself not to go to the gym or rather, I went to the mechanics for 1pm and didn't get out until about 4ish? I told myself that I would go home and than go to the gym afterwards even though I already had my gym stuff with me. But than I talked myself out of it because I figured that once I got home than I would want to stay home so I went to the gym right after the mechanics and I am glad I did.

What I have realized also, is that I am only at the gym for one hour. ONE HOUR. There is no reason why I can't go. There are times where I am so motivated to go to the gym but the one time I make an excuse not to go the gym than I go on a hiatus because than I keep making excuses for myself. It is really frustrating to get to a point where I feel good inside and out but then I somehow give up, it happens without me realizing it until I get on the scale. Right now I am 159.6. The last time I had checked the scale which was not too long ago I was 155ish. I hate how its so easy to gain weight back but I love the challenge it gives me. I just hate losing the same weight over again. I somehow can't seem to get past 155. I don't know what it is. I seem to give up at 155 lbs. 'Tis strange but I will try TRY TRY TRY to finally get past that weight. UGH, I will be ecstatic.

Also...

I find that some people get so weird about someone who owns their own camera taking pictures of themselves. I don't get it. Its not a big deal. I honestly like taking pictures of myself (when I look decent) as well as I like taking pictures of other people (when they are not creeped out, its okay if you are) and nature (nature has no choice) so its not like I just take a gazillion pictures of myself BUT even if I do who cares...that is all.

The Day Before

I kind of had different visions of what I wished the sky looked like tonight. I really wish the fog hadn't decided to block how pink the sky was. There will be other times where I will have the opportunity to take better pictures. This one is not my favorite but I decided to post anyway. I am wondering if I should start putting watermarks on my images-not that I care if anyone uses them but I just thought it would be a nice touch. I will have to think more about it-not that its really a big decision or anything.

Tomorrow starts the day of a better me! I start back at the gym tomorrow. I have a schedule set in my phone and everything. I want to get a head start to this resolution business. Speaking of resolutions, I plan to be more motivated with my time especially on my days off. I wake up early but than I find that I don't really accomplish anything throughout the day and I have realized it really bothers me. I want to start going to the gym early enough in the morning so that afterwards I feel like I can take on the day so I have set my alarm for 8am and plan on going to the gym for 9am. During my work days I usually get out at 2 so instead of going home right after where I literally want to do nothing I will take my gym clothes with me to work. I have so many ideas on way to be better for my health, body and mind but it's just the question of being able to execute it. I will try with the first day and take each day one step at a time-hopefully blogging regularly about my accomplishments and struggles. I want to be able to learn a thing or two about what I am writing so hopefully it will help me for the future.

Have a good night. Until tomorrow!

P.S I continue to write and post images on this blog for a good week or so to see how I feel in continuing with this and if I decide that I will definitely use this for inspiration that I will start telling people about it just so I am not the only eyes reading what I have already typed up. It would be nice to see other people being interested in what I have to say but I want to make sure I can keep up with this. I don't want to promise I will post on a regular basis if my heart isn't in it so consider this a trial version. I will take it one day at a time-so far this is kinda fun!

What is next??

I am feeling very inspired lately and I am loving this feeling! It makes me excited to start new things. First off, this blog. Ahh, I have had this blog for about two years and I did feel inspired at one point to even start this blog but that died quickly. It was originally supposed to be a kind of fashion/photo inspired blog but that quickly died. But recently I discovered a blog of someone I know of and she has inspired me (she doesn't know it) to start this up again-round two! Her blog is so...I want to say feisty or maybe to the point or maybe very real. Actually, all of the above. I love reading her entries which primarily have to do with body image/health and weight loss. Which brings me to my next topic of discussion. Which is: weight loss.

 I have been inspired by my friend from high school who has lost a bunch of weight by eating right and exercising. I want to do the same! I want to lose at least fifteen pounds to be at my goal weight. I get so motivated to go to the gym but the one time, the ONE time I make an excuse not to go, I never go again. When I do go to the gym I felt/feel so much better. The last excuse I made to not go to gym was because pandora took up too much data on my phone so I wasn't able to listen to music. Sure, it does suck but oh my garsh, Rachel, get over it. Not only do I want to lose fifteen pounds I want to maintain that I want to continue to go the gym and have that drive to be healthy and make better choices with what I put into my body. 

I also have a goal. My friend/coworker are working together to lose weight. We are planning on having weekly weigh ins and motivating each other to continue to do well. I think that is just what I need to get back on track. So! Sunday will be gym time for the first time in almost two months. I want to document my progress and document how I am feeling that day or what I struggle with just to give me that extra oompf.

With this blog as well, I don't really just want to just be typing away at the keyboard with every entry, I want to display my soft spot for picture taking-no, i'm not a photographer but I really, really am enjoying this hobby of mine and I feel posting pictures on this blog makes for better quality rather than posting on Face Book. I also want to somehow mail some of my photos to people by maybe asking them to pick a topic for me to photograph but that is for a future thought. 

So what exactly is this blog about?

Basically things that I am passionate about. As of right now I want it to be for weight loss and whatever pictures I decide to post. I don't really want to mark this blog to be a certain way. I just want to post whatever for now. I also don't want to put restrictions on my blog because I want to make sure I can keep up with this-time will only tell. 

Well, I have written all I can think of to write so I will end this entry for now.

(Wow, what a lousy way to say bye)

...Bye

Ice Storm 2013

As dangerous as this or any ice storm is, it is quite beautiful to gaze at outside of my window. I nearly killed myself trying to take a few decent pictures before the ice melted off and i'm happy with how they came out. This picture kind of reminds me of either spider legs or the movie Frozen-polar opposites, I know. I actually didn't even notice until I edited the picture how there is a single leaf trapped in between some branches. I could continue this post with a metaphor but would rather not. It would come off silly but also pretty cheesy so I will just leave this post with one other thought. I really hate winter because winter brings cold, sickness and bitterness however, I often find myself wishing I had my camera while I drive down back roads because of how photogenic winter is. Like this evening for example. The sky was a bright pink and the clouds were dark mixed in with the dusting of snow made the evening photo worthy. I immediately felt regret that I left my camera at home but promised myself I will take my camera with me more often so I don't miss opportunities like I did tonight.