The Road to Being Healthy

So something crazy happens once a girl gets engaged.

Not only do they start taking so many hand pictures, but they also decide their hand is the only thing that should be photographed at all.

Oh, just me? OK.

I love being engaged and I love my ring, but I didn't love the way my whole body appeared in my engagement video. Yes, we are our worst enemies, but if I am being honest with myself there was some weight there that I didn't realize had been added to my body. 

When I first moved to Seattle, I lost about 20 pounds and I was not trying to.

I think riding the bus often and walking around at work helped me lose some weight.

Then comes that phase where you meet someone, you start dating, they think you're perfect you think they're perfect, and slowly you both put on weight together because snuggling is so much more fun than going to the gym and getting all sweaty and gross looking.

And like many other girls who get engaged, I decided to start sweating for the wedding as soon as the ring was on the finger.  Now I'm not complaining about this urge to be more healthy because it is a great life choice for everyone. I just wanted you to know it took a ring being placed on my finger for me to take better care of myself. Negative kuddo points to me.

So this is what I am doing to be healthy and to look as best as possible on my wedding day:

1.) I bought a gym membership. 

I was all about working out at home and not paying a monthly fee for a gym, but I am not a runner and a girl can only walk so much. I needed some help in the cardio department and I really love the Elliptical. So I bought an Anytime Fitness membership that is only $38/month which I believe is quite reasonable for all the different cardio equipment and weights I can use.

2.) I made it my goal to work out 3 times a week.

Yes, I have not had some great weeks which look like 1 workout or zero workout weeks, but for the most part I work out at least 3 times a week.

3.) I try to walk 10,000 steps a day.

Thanks to my trusty fit bit I can keep track all day long to see how I am doing.

I give myself a break on the weekends and try not to beat myself up if I do not get my steps because I typically achieve my goal Monday-Friday.

4.) I try to switch up my routine by finding a new workout for the week.

Right now I am using a MyFitnessPal Workout. 

You can find my current challenge here; I'm on day 9 if you're curious.

5.) I tell myself it is more about how I feel than the actual weight.

Yes, I would love to lose some pounds, but most important is the way I feel.

Working out has give me more energy.

I can feel my legs getting stronger from workouts.

I run out of breath less often from any exercise.

And my skin has less breakouts.

If I lose the 10 lbs. I would like to lose, that would be really cool but for now I am just happy with the way I feel mentally, emotionally, and physically. 

What are you doing to be healthy?

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August Goals

Let's recap July 1st.

1.| Avoid Starbucks

Guys, I am just a sad person. What is my deal with Starbucks?!

I will give myself some kuddo's and pat myself on the back for using my espresso machine twice this month. Better than none!

2.| Read 4 Books

Success! Here is what I read:

All we're great and highly recommended!

3.| Do my Bartender course

Completed! I learned a lot and am ready to practice mixing some drinks!

4.| Spend time with my brother

He came and visited and I hope he fell in love with Seattle like me!

August Goals

1.| No Starbucks! 

I'm going to allow myself Starbucks on my trip to Washington D.C.

But I will make my espresso at home for this month.

2.| Stick to my 30 Day Strength Builder challenge!

I am on week two this week and so far I'm going strong.

3.|Get a head start on school work.

Just waiting on the syllabus to come out

4.| Save, Save, Save

I've got a Christmas plane ticket to save for and my wedding.

I'm going to do my best at avoiding my urge to new school year clothes shop.

Fingers crossed!

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Current Loves

I'm on Vacation this week! 

No I did not go any where because I'm going to Washington D.C. in a few weeks.

So this is a stay-cation and I'm living it up pretending to be a housewife.

I thought I would share with you a few of the things I am currently loving.

1.| My new bag from Target. 

I tried to talk myself out of this because it's more of a weekend tote bag, but I love Aztec prints and I just couldn't resist. 

You can find it here. And it's on sale!

2.| I'm always loving this guy, but I am currently practicing my wifely duties and cooking delicious meals that he wants to gulf down and I love that!

It also happens to be 1 year and 10 months we've been dating.

I know some people think it's silly to remember these dates, but it's fun to think about all that has happened since we started dating so I will continue to celebrate each month!

3.| I found this book at a garage sale and snagged it up. 

I cooked my first recipe from it last night and it is true that they only take 30 minutes and it's so much better than take-out. I highly suggest finding it. Plus the woman cooks with wine which I got to do for the first time last night and it was awesome!

4.| Eventrix.com is teaching me how to bar-tend and barista this week. 

And I got an awesome deal on groupon for the class. 

I will definitely look into more classes with them.

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Vulnerability

If there is one thing I have learned from the last two years of being in graduate school, living in Seattle, and forming a relationship with my soon-to-be-husband, it is that communication requires a lot of vulnerability.

I always thought I was really good at stating my needs, wants, and desires, but truth is I am not.

And I started to wonder why that was the other day.

Why do I feel scared when I'm about to tell my fiance how I really feel about something?

Why do I avoid stating my beliefs in class?

Why is it so easy for me to give advice to others but not accept my own?

And I pondered and realized because vulnerability is right around the corner about to pop out at me when I am in these moments. 

When I tell my fiance my feelings or my hurt I am being vulnerable.

When I speak my truth in class I am being vulnerable.

When I accept my own advice I am being vulnerable. 

And it is so scary.

Vulnerability is hard.

It requires you to stop hiding, to be transparent, and to be wholly you.

It asks you to step onto new terrain with someone or something and hope that you won't be left alone, that you will be understood and heard and known.

But there is beauty when your vulnerability is held and known.

When your fiance listens, responds, and allows your needs to be validated. Your wants allowed. And your desire accepted.

It is beautiful when you are able to share your truth and feel confident that your truth is yours to have and it does not matter if its not the same for another.

And it is beautiful when you can take your own advice and run with it to the end.

I'm not sure where you are in life but I hope you're engaging your vulnerability and that you are discovering people who push you to be vulnerable, who require it of you, and ask it of you.

Because I truly believe that your vulnerability is beautiful, it is welcomed, and it is desired.

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Blogger Friend Linkup #2

Today I get to invite my best friend fiance to share his input on me as a blogger and general life-ness.

1. If you have a specific ringtone for your blogger, what is it? If you don’t have one, what would it be if you did?

He doesn't have one but if he did it would be this song:

2. What is something the two of you enjoy doing together?

Going on dates and watching tv shows on Netflix.

(You gotta love all the detail he went into ;) )

3. What is your favorite post of hers that she has ever written?

The engagement post

4. How much time do you think your blogger puts into blogging each week?

1-2 Hours.

(If only this was the truth...).

Short and sweet, just like me.

Love you handsome, thanks for sharing!

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July Goals

First we have to start with a recap of June goals, right?

1. Avoid Starbucks/Caffeine

These two pictures pretty much sums it up.

Also my nanny family gave me a generous gift card to Starbucks so I'm blaming them.

2. Go to Zumba at least two times a week.

I would say I kind of did this, but I also bought a gym membership and began to utilize the gym more than zumba. So I'm giving myself an A+

3.Take Care of Myself

I say yes, but I need to work on the quality of food self care.

This last week has been pretty bad.

July Goals!

1. Avoid Starbuck's.

I am serious this time (just like every other time). 

I am going to try really hard at using my espresso machine again and not wasting my money away.

2. Read 4 book's.

Summer is my favorite because I get to read books I choose to read.

So far I'm three books in and have a whole bag of books to read!

Currently reading:

3. Do my Bartender course from Groupon.

I bought a groupon to teach me how to bar-tend and barista.

I've been dying to learn both of these skills and am ready to serve up some yummy drinks!

4. Spend time with my brother.

Whom is coming in a week to Seattle for the very first time.

I am so excited!

What are your goals?

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To My Brother

Today is my brother's 21st Birthday!

We are 3 years apart which means we still fight even though now we are both technically adults.

But I still love him all the same.

He sends the best snapchats that crack me up or make me wonder if he is still alive.

He is ridiculously funny to the point of bringing me to tears.

And though we are siblings, he is one of the best gifts God ever gave our family even if he was supposed to be a girl (Long story, ask him).

Happy Birthday baby brother.

Continue to pave your path, live life the way you want, and discover more of the wonderful qualities of you.

Love you!

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