Becoming That Girl...check!

Well, I feel like it's been forever since I last posted.  My first week back has been hectic and crazy and tiring...everything that I expected it to be.

It was sooooo good to see my co-workers.  I work with an awesome group of people that make it truly fun to go to work.  Yesterday, I got to meet my class for the year (21 SUPER cute kindergartners!) and celebrated with happy hour with the friends/co-workers and pizza with the fiance.

Yesterday, I discovered sin-less margaritas.  Only 2 (or 5) calories for the mix (I read conflicting reports).  They were actually quite tasty...kinda strong...not that sweet...but pretty good.  I wanna find out how many calories they are total...but for now, I'll be ordering those whenever possible.

This week, I was thinking about my blog title...Becoming That Girl...and I realized that I really feel like I have done it.  Through reading the blogs of all these fascinating, healthy women, I have transformed the way that I eat...think about eating...exercise...and live.  The past two months have taught me so much.  Everything finally clicked...and I can see this as a life long thing.  I feel like I have really become that person that I set out to be...

Whole Foods Shopping...check!

I find myself at Harry's (which is really Whole Foods) at least once or twice a week.  AND I have made TJ's a regular part of my shopping trips as well.  I have actually learned to love going to the grocery store...something that I loathed before.  I like looking at all of the different foods...and making mental notes of what I want to try.  I even like making my grocery list and weekly meal plan!

Conscious eating...check!

I enjoy all the different healthy foods that I am eating...and I really can't imagine eating any other way.  I'm an ingredients checker these days (I used to only be a calorie checker).  I truly try to stay away from products with tons of wierdo ingredients that are unpronounceable and have a lot of x's and y's in them.  I'm eating foods that I never thought I would ever eat (it still baffles me that I eat cottage cheese...and like it!!)  And I'm cooking!!!  I enjoy looking for healthy recipes.  I like knowing the ingredients in my foods and adding extra veggies to recipes that I find!  I can finally eat a plate of cooked vegetables and be satisfied (though salads are still not my #1 favorite...I don't see a raw food diet in my future).

10K running...almost check!

I am in week 10 of Couch to 10K.  I NEVER thought that I would make it this far.  This morning, I got up...did my 5 minute warm up...ran for 20 minutes at 5.6 mph...walked one minute and ran another 20 minutes at the same speed.  I NEVER...and I mean, NEVER thought at the beginning of the summer that I would be doing that.  And doing it without being overly winded...without wanting to quit the whole time.  Doing it and feeling good!!!  I ran a little over 4.25 miles!!

I think that I am dedicated to this running thing.  It's a challenge...something that I feel determined to conquer.  After I finish this program (in another three weeks), my goal is to take it outside.  I think that I still have a little mental block against outdoor running...something that I must overcome.  I can't wait until it cools off a bit...I think that will help.

I'm also working on my speed.  Each time I try to run a little bit faster...and it's working.  I remember the day that I was dying at 5.5 mph. 

Another goal is our little 5K a month goal.  My friend at work and I have pledged to do a 5K a month starting in September.  Oh!  And I will also be doing a 5K with my fiance...it may be in October.  I think that he needs a little more time to get in shape...but he's definitely headed in the right direction (he's been doing the exercise bike and will be starting P90X soon!!!  Very exciting!)

Yoga loving...check, check, check!!!

Yoga is back in my life and I am loving it.  It's so funny, I just started doing yoga again a week or so again and I have done it almost every day.  My goal is to do it at least 3-4 times per week and hit up hot yoga twice a month!  I've been reading my yoga journal and falling back in love with the practice!  Yoga wakes up my body in the morning and I barely care that I have to get up at 4:45 am to do it.  It's truly awesome and I just want my practice to get better and better.

My next step in terms of yoga is meditation.  I need to hone my focus and meditate regularly.  That will be my new goal for the next couple of months.  Regular meditation.

Pescatarian...check!

It think this one goes with the conscious eating category.   I love my veggies and grains...and I also love my fish and seafood.  I think that I've been eating fish about one or two times per week.  I don't really think about it.  I'm know that I never think about meat these days.  I don't crave chicken or beef...and I never even think about pork.  A pescatarian lifestyle definitely works for me!


I'm happy that I was able to set my mind to something and attain it.  I don't even have that weird superstitious thing that I usually would have...thinking that I was jinxing myself by acknowledging all of these things.  Things seems to have just clicked. 

With that being said...I don't know how much I'll be blogging these days.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE reading all about healthy foods and fitness from the "professionals!!!"  I love reading about Kath and Caitlin...and Tina, Faith, Diana, Emily, Elaine, and Lisa.  And I REALLY love that some of them have even reached out to me...especially Maria and Allie!!!  And I love that Roni and Angela (and Allie too) have changed my diet by providing yummy and nutritious things for me to make and eat!!!  I never even knew this world existed...and it has truly changed my life!!!  I think that these women are doing amazing things...and I'm not sure if they truly know how many people they are affecting and how many lives they are touching.  It's almost like having a group of "friends" that you are able to talk to about health and fitness...something that I do not currently have.  I kinda wish that there was some way to thank them all!

The biggest lessons that I've learned from the blog world are:

1)  Don't restrict yourself.  It's okay to have a little pizza here...or a little Chinese food there.  Splurge a little.
2)  Push yourself physically (I have Emily and Caitlin to thank for this one).  It's gonna hurt...it's gonna feel uncomfortable.  That means it's working.
3)  Try new things...foods, workouts, etc.
4)  Uber-healthy food can be good!
5)  I can do it too!  Though these women are super special...there is nothing extraordinary about them.  Most of them have had some kind of struggles with weight and/or body image at some time in their lives.  They are normal people with spouses and jobs and lives that keep them busy.  If they can do it and be happy, so can I!!

So, I say all of that to say that I want to leave the blogging to the professionals.  I may update once or twice a week...more like once...and just for my benefit to put in new recipes and keep track of where my head is at.  But my schedule will not allow me to keep this up.  And if I was to be a blogger...I mean, a real blogger, I would want to do it right.  I would want to have a nice camera...and the pretty pictures and the fun weg layouts and all of that.  I'm just not there yet...and I would rather spend my time reading everyone else's fabulous blogs!:) 

I'm so happy with where I am.  I'm don't have it all together, but I am super happy that I am headed down the right path.  And this blog has been a huge part of my journey!!:)