Beginning: Take 2

Here's the scoop kids. For the past month I've been a new person. Okay, not new, but more of my old lost self with a new perspective. I'm a month (and 2 days) away from being 30 and I, almost suddenly, feel 30 times more aware and in control. It's weird because the things that i thought were bogging me down- being away from home, not having a career goal- are still here. I'm poor. Evan had to pay my last car payment, among other bills. And, that was hard. It's still hard, but i'm dealing with it. Coming back from a visit to NC was hard. But, I'm dealing with that too. The hardest thing has to be trying to be okay with being rejected from all the jobs I've applied for so far. Not because I absolutely had to have them, but because I still do need a plan. Especially if I'm going to keep up what I've been doing. I'm getting way off the original subject I wanted to write about.

So why am I a new person? I think I've figured out a secret. Even though it has been around and in my face my whole life. Some switch got turned on to allow this secret to wiggle into the decision making part of my brain. Diet and Exercise. Don't those sound like dirty words? They always have to me. I think because diet has such a negative connotation. You hear it and automatically think "fat." Maybe you don't, but I do. The truth (light bulb on) is that everyone is on a diet....just some aren't the most healthy. 

New Discovered Love - In the past 2 years, I've discovered that I LOVE reading about food. I love it! After reading Skinny Bitch....seriously seconds after reading the last page...I made a drastic decision. I was and still am a vegetarian. That's all it took. Last month, the same sort of thing happened to me. I mean I've been reading about all these cleansing diets...master cleanse especially....juice diets, fasting...all that. I think on my very first trip to the Baytown Library, I came home with one of the best books I've ever read- In Defense of Food: An Eaters Manifesto Then, I found a book called Detox at the library.  I didn't follow either book exactly, but I did decide to stop eating processed foods. I did cheat a little, but for three weeks, I only ate about 5 foods that were processed. And guess what? I felt great...and as an added bonus, I fit into a pair of pants that I had never been able to wear but just couldn't take back. I had so much energy, I couldn't sit still. I was doing a little yoga everyday and running/walking 2 miles everyday. So....diet and exercise does actually work. 

Here's the thing though. Once you fall of...it's hard to get back on. I did pretty well on my visit home. I mean, I knew I would have to eat processed foods with my family. And, I also wanted to visit my favorite restaurants. But, no biggie. That's another thing all those dieticians are always saying. Don't deprive yourself. Well, I didn't! I've been back home for three days and I've been lazy and have been craving junk food like crazy. I gave in, but today I'm back on it. 

The biggest leap - I've decided to train for a half marathon. One of Evan's friends is planning to run the half marathon in January in Houston. So, I looked it up. And, with a snap of a finger, I've decided to train for it. I even got a book. (The library is my silent BFF). I have 27 weeks to train for 13.1 miles. And today is Day One. Here we go.