Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes

I've made some (more) changes to the blog.
1. As most of you probably know, I started a health & fitness blog in February of 2012. Honestly, I loved it. I loved having one place for all of my health related thoughts and endeavors to go. However, I couldn't find the balance between both blogs; one was always neglected and it was, for some reason, stressful. Even though I'm not a huge blog with a billion followers I really really enjoy blogging; and I love that there are some people out there that read what I have to say. I want to continue to write about my health, but its not the only thing going on in my life. As I started to make some progress, I found that my health was directly affecting all other aspects of my life. When I was working out consistently, I was doing better in school and was happier at home. I was more productive and tried harder to make my nonfitness goals a reality as well. So, I'm going to try merging the two; after all, this is a lifestyle blog....which means I can write about whatever I want. I loved all of the guest posts that happened there, so you'll now find them here. Also, if you're interested in my inspirations, I've also moved them here.
2. If you noticed, I've also stopped posting about 12 [in] 2012....but I haven't stopped working towards my goals. I realized about 4 months into the year that I was progressing and improving...and the goals that I had set at the beginning of the year weren't as applicable as I'd thought. I decided to make weekly goals instead, so my progress can evolve at its own pace. I am mostly telling you this so you won't think I'm a loser and have totally given up.

Here's to finding balance in my life!

12[in]2012 Recap: February

Well hello! I cannot believe that February has already come and gone. How is it that a month can drag by and also fly by at the same time? If you remember February was Fitness month. I was successful in becoming more aware of my health and was unsuccessful in meeting my original goals.

-I did well with my soda fast- not perfect- I definitely drank less soda and more water.
-I failed in the exercise area....I probably went less than 5 times last month. Boo.
-I have definitely become more conscious and I have started a food journal and a weight log.

My intervention regarding my suguaraholism came late in the month, but I've already made some big changes. I've been making dinner; real, planned out, healthily balanced meals. I've been working on my diet-one meal at a time. I started a blog to track my progress on this new journey.

Fitness does not end in February, this was just my start for the year. I think that I will always need improvement in this area....a perma-goal!

Now, I'd like to introduce to you....March!

 And this goal couldn't be more timely. This last month I have noticed that productivity and being healthy go hand in hand. Sitting on my butt and watching Netflix all day definitely takes a toll on my eating habits and then causes me stress because I don't get anything done. I think that getting into a routine will help all areas of my life....especially with my new jobs and finals fast approaching.

Happy March!

Dinner

I made a real dinner tonight! Read about my success here.

I'm still trying to get the other blog off the ground, Walk With Me... may be slightly neglected for awhile. Hope you understand! :)

Pardon the excessive posting...

...but I simply cannot wait to introduce you to my latest brainchild.

(See the new tab?)

And I have all you readers (and especially you commenters) to thank! I really think this new project will be the key to my progression towards wellness. Please, take a look around and tell me what you think- I value your opinion you know. 

P.S. I have gone the entire day without watching a single second of TV...I got so much done!

A Mini Lesson on Logic

I am currently in "Math For the Real World" (aka Math 108...I know, impressive) and we are learning about logic. I am going to use my new knowledge to illustrate my next point (look at me, using math in "real life").
Consider the following:

If I watch TV, then I loose motivation and productivity.

If I loose motivation and be productivity, I eat junk food.

Therefore, if I watch TV then I eat junk food.

This argument is both valid and sound.

Clearly, cutting out TV would definitely be a step in the right direction. I know that it is not very realistic for me to stop watching cold turkey, and I also don't think watching some TV is bad. Its all about portion control (::constant theme here::). Today, I will not watch any TV shows or movies, just to see what it is like; what I can get done. Then, I will go from there- maybe limiting myself to my 3 favorite TV shows (Biggest Loser, New Girl, and Modern Family). Or, maybe I will only watch TV on the weekends, or after all my homework is done. 

Any way you slice it TV and junk food are most definitely related (in my case). In all honesty, I just need someone to hold me accountable here. 

24 hours of a TV-less existence starts now!

Intervention

So, this weekend in Utah I experienced the interventionee end of an intervention.

Premise: I went to Nordstrom to try on jeans, and after one pair I was in tears and refusing to try on anything else- I refer to this event as "the dressing room meltdown." To be honest, this was not a great way to start off my weekend.
Mom&Dad are currently on the Weight Watchers program and are showing results thus far.
Also, I have this "being married makes you fat theory." And I've tried, a few times, to develop a health and fitness plan; all of which fizzle out and fail. Frustrating.

I was whining about not being able to afford WW, and because of this I was doomed to stay fat and unhealthy- might as well resort to the Moo-Moo now.
Of course, Mom&Dad responded with, "You don't have to be on Weight Watchers to be healthy." (Of course, again) I rolled my eyes and came back with some excuse like "It's too hard" and "I don't know how." [Side note: this season of The Biggest Loser is themed "No Excuses." haha]
Well, I (basically) asked for it. In an instant there was a stack of recipes, Weight Watchers printouts, the Change One diet guide, and a simplistic "how-to" cook book. Then came the string of questions I didn't want to answer;
What do you eat on a typical day? Grapefruit, Ramen, and Cereal
How often do you exercise? On a good week? Once, maybe twice
How much sleep are you getting? Average: 8.5 hours
Yikes! No wonder I feel like crap ("crap" meaning exhausted, cranky, and unmotivated)! I was getting enough sleep, but was always tired. Saying those things out loud to my parents was painful, but also eye-opening. I had become so lazy in regards to my health. I was justifying my bad habits with a grapefruit. Literally.
Mom&Dad offered to help me the next day with a monthly dinner meal plan and I went to bed overwhelmed and a little disheartened- there was so much to change.

The Plan:
Mom sat down with me on Sunday night and we planned the next 28 days of meals; based off of things I already knew how to cook. We have Soup Night, Breakfast-for-Dinner Night, Pasta Night, Potato Night, Leftover Night, Out-to-Eat Night, and Sunday Dinner. We made a grocery list and I was prepared for my next trip to the grocery store- I was going to go grocery shopping with a purpose, not just buying things because they were cheap or yummy. 

The Intervention:
It was Monday afternoon and we were getting ready to leave. Mom&Dad were offering their last words of advice and encouragement. I made a sarcastic comment (something to the effect of "Ok. Intervention. Check." *insert sarcastic air check mark*). Then, Mom said "I am only saying half of what I want to say. You have a sugar addiction." Of course, I laughed. Addiction? That's too strong of a word. Then, Chris jumps in.
"Its true!" He unzips my backpack and pulls out a handful of strawberry flavored frooties. Then another. And another. ....And another. Ok. I admit. Kind of ridiculous. Then, he brings up the whole bag of chocolate I ate over last weekend.

I might as well go to a Sugaraholics Anonymous meeting.

"Hi, I'm Melissa and I'm a Sugaraholic." 

"Hi, Melissa."

Basically, I can go on and on about all the stuff that I have eaten in the past that I shouldn't have. I could make you uncomfortable with more and more "too personal" information regarding my weight and jeans issues. But, I won't. I wanted to share all of this so that I can own up to it. I shouldn't be confused when I gain weight the way I eat. I shouldn't feel like I'm a victim of "bad genes" and a slow metabolism. This is my fault and its up to me to fix it.

That sounded way more dramatic than I intended. Haha. I am happy with my epiphany and I am so grateful for my loving family who were willing to intervene between me and my unhealthy habits.

If you are in the same chocolate-frootie boat as me, I'd love to hear from you. Or, if you're not and you have some amazing trick for curving your sugar cravings I'd love to hear those too.

746 words later, I think that's all I have to say. :) Thanks for hanging in there with me.