Changes

I've decided that part of my foul mood lately isn't just work, it's the fact that I am not being a healthy person. So, in light of that fact, I've decided to make some changes in my daily routine.

First change, exercise. It's so hit or miss with me. Reading back through this blog, you can see that I either go whole hog or no hog. Lately, it's been no hog citing school as the reason. Well, that's a stupid reason! I can get back on board with working out on my lunch breaks and my mom graciously donated her treadmill to my cause (well, the cause wasn't around then, but whatever...go with it). Since there's a treadmill now sitting in my living room, literally right in front of the TV, I really can't whine and moan about having to go to the gym after I have already come home and started to relax. I also don't have to worry about finding workout clothes based on if I am having a fat day or whether or not I have shaved. Jonthan can just deal with that ugliness! The general public, however, cannot. I was raised in Dallas, you know. With this treadmill, I am going to make an honest effort to become a runner. I used to run. In high school. I was also extremely fit and weighed about 100 pounds. So, I need to get a little closer to that than what I have been doing lately...which is nothing. I found an 8 week plan that is designed for people to go from doing absolutely nothing (actually, for people who have never run at all) to being able to run 30 minutes straight in 8 weeks. That starts Monday and until then, I am walking on the treadmill at least 30 minutes every day. No excuses. Last night went really well and before I knew it, I was done! I could watch what I wanted and I wasn't distracted by people possibly looking at me. So, maybe...just maybe...I can actually do this running thing after all. It's all about taking it slow. Something I am not good at but it's probably what has caused me to stop trying after a few times in the past. Patience, my friends. Patience.

Another change is overall eating habits. I need to stop it with the fast food and only eat things that I buy and then have to prepare myself. I love to cook, I just don't seem to have the time or energy anymore (which I'm sure all the fast food and no exercise has nothing to do with the lack of energy!). Even if it is only a Smart Dog, at least I prepared it myself! Also, smaller meals and more snacks. I always have a tendency to wait until I am starving, eat a giant meal, get way too full and bloated and then not eat the rest of the day only to become hungry again as I am falling asleep. Not a good cycle to be in.

Before we left for New York (I will post pics soon...promise!), I ran out of my Diet Dr Peppers. When we got back, I didn't bother to buy anymore. My dentist keeps getting onto me about drinking them and when I was flossing the other night, I swear it looked like my teeth were jacked up at the gum line. I know it's from my receeding gums that I need to have surgery on (again), but this little voice inside my head said it was from those dang soft drinks and the acid was eating away at my teeth. So, I haven't had a Diet DP since New York...Sunday, I think, was my last. The only time I really miss it is in the morning. I usually have one on my drive in and without it, I feel like I am screwing up my routine completely!

Because of this new goal of not drinking any Cokes (even the free and oh so tempting ones at work), I went to Teavana today so that I can get back into tea again. The last time I dropped a bunch of weight quickly, I was drinking a ton of green tea every day. No Cokes, no coffee, just tea and water. So, I got this tea maker and mug for work along with white, mate and rooibos teas. I used to drink the mate tea all the time before I got too lazy to continue to make it. It was great! Much better at energizing me than coffee. But, coffee was easier and free at work. Which is why I got the the tea maker. I figure I will probably drink at least 4 cups of tea per day. To prepare and clean, it's maybe 5 or 6 minutes out of my day total. If our receptionist can take two 15 minute smoke breaks in addition to her lunch break, then I can take a few minutes for a tea break. I tried the rooibos this afternoon and it was amazingly good! I probably won't try the white until tomorrow, but it smells fantastic.

I am really trying to follow through on this one. I tend to say I am going to do something, plan it death and then get tired of it before I really give it a chance. I feel that these are vital changes that need to be made to help me be in a better mood and therefore be a better employee, student, friend and family member.