Cravings...bad, bad cravings.

I'm getting closer and closer to my lunch break, and I'm having some serious cravings for seriously unhealthy food. Like cake. That's the major craving. I'm not sure where that craving came from, but because I haven't gone grocery shopping I didn't pack my own lunch. And now I'm worried that I won't be able to fight the craving..

But really, it isn't about "fighting" the craving, is it? It's about distracting the craving with a healthier option that will still satisfy my craving. So what could I get at lunch that will be a healthy alternative to cake? I don't know yet, but I'm hoping I figure it out before the craving takes over.

In other news, I need to eat better breakfasts, otherwise I will have these serious lunch issues every day. Also, GO GROCERY SHOPPING! (<- I'm yelling at myself.) The healthiest lunch I can have is one I make for myself. A nice sandwich or salad, carrot sticks, yogurt, apple, and a granola bar is my go-to meal :)

Stay healthy!

RacheyEdna

Project Healthy Me

I've got a new goal with this blog. I wanted it to be about my writing, but I guess we can all see how well that worked. Now I want a place to write about my journey into becoming a better, healthier, newer version of me. So here goes: the launching of Project Healthy Me.

I'm going to celebrate small successes today. Because right now, that's all I've got going for me. I was doing so well a year ago, working out and eating well, but stuff happened. I'm in a new city and I've stopped focusing on my physical health.

I'm going to be honest. I'm nervous. I'm scared about it. I know it doesn't make sense, because I'd be working on becoming a healthier and happier me, but there something comfortable about the way I look now. Mostly because I'm used to it. But lucky for me, I've seen what CAN happen, if I can just stay motivated and work hard.

Almost exactly a year ago, I was the smallest I've been since I was in high school. And it was pretty awesome. I was really starting to like the way I looked, and was excited about where my health was heading. And then life events happened, and routines changed (which I do not deal with well [:) and I lost momentum. I stopped working out. I stopped eating smart, and I lost all my progress. But now I don't want to be like this anymore. So I'm trying to get back on track, and hopefully this blog will force me to stay honest about it :)

Back to small successes. I'm going to forget that I ate mac and cheese for lunch, and that I had chicken nuggets and potato smiles for supper. What I'm proud of, is that I made the choice to NOT pick up a bag of chips. And these chips are my favorite. Salt and vinegar kettle cooked chips found only, as far as I can tell, at the Hess station on the corner (about 1.5 minute walk away, verrry tempting). While walking home from work (another success?) I had a serious internal debate. I stopped where my two (sometimes three) paths home diverged. Straight = walk by Hess station and buy chips, inevitably. Turn, avoid Hess station, and DO NOT purchase chips.

I chose to turn and avoid the chips. So yay for me! It's not a big deal, but it's still a big deal :) Even if I'm the only one who feels this way, I feel PROUD of myself, and it feels great. I hope I can keep it up.

The chicken nuggets and potato smiles are another story, but the evils in your home are harder to fight than the ones outside ;) Like I say, it's all about baby steps. Because even if you can barely tell that you are moving, you're still moving. And that's what counts.

Stay healthy!
RacheyEdna

Sadly Ironic

A friend of mind posted this on his facebook profile. It's funny in a sad way.

I'm nervous about what this spill means for our world. It has reached Florida. If it makes it around Florida it will head straight up the East Coast and could possibly makes its way over to Europe. And then I don't know what will happen. Bad things, for sure. Let's hope BP can get this fixed sooner rather than later. Until then, the only thing to do is to laugh. So enjoy the irony.

Writing Sample: Flash Fiction

Pirate Hunter

Nick grasped the handle of his sword and extended the blade to Cap’n Bloodbeard’s throat.

“Release my men or I’ll release your head from your shoulders!”

Cap’n Bloodbeard sneered and shot a stream of phlegm onto Nick’s boots, cocking his head to the side. The sword blade flashed in the ocean sunlight and a tiny trickle of blood slid down the pirate’s neck. Cap’n Bloodbeard scrunched his good eye and swore.

After a moment the pirate captain waved to his first mate, who proceeded to untie a throng of men at the back of the main deck. The men grabbed their weapons and disarmed the pirate crew. One by one the pirates were forced to walk the plank at gunpoint, until only Cap’n Blooodbeard remained.

In a grand sweep of his arm, Nick cut a golden chain from the pirate captain’s neck, before running him off the gangplank. A golden cross hung from the chain in Nick’s hands, glinting in the salty air. Nick grinned as he strutted to the helm.

“The Royal Family will be glad to have their ancestral cross returned to them, and before the grand crowning too! Perhaps they will pay us even more this time for our daring deeds.”
The men cheered as Nick steered toward home.

***

Daddy shut the book and gazed at his sleeping son. He patted the boy’s head and kissed his cheek before putting the storybook back on the shelf. He looked back at the tiny figure in the bed and whispered “Good night Nick, the Pirate Hunter” before turning off the light.

Sample Article: Weight Loss

Weight Loss: Take the First Step

Losing weight is a challenge for many women, but for those considered obese it can seem impossible. There are thousands of diets, medications, and exercise programs out there that promote fast weight loss. However, the focus should be on healthy weight loss. In fact, the best way to begin is to consider your health first. The weight loss will simply become an added bonus.

The first step for losing weight should be exactly that: a step. Being active is the healthiest way to lose weight. However, extreme workouts and physically straining exercises are not the best choice. Keep the focus on increasing your mobility in reasonable proportions to your current physical activity. If you find your movement throughout the day to be limited, start off easy and keep these tips in mind:

1) Go out of your way. By simply parking farther away from the store entrance you give yourself a slight increase in movement. It may not seem like a big change, but if you continue to do this every time you go to the store you will begin to notice differences in yourself. Other options are using the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator and taking the long route when walking from point A to point B (or even using the bathroom on a different floor of the office).

2) Schedule walking time. If you make it a habit to to walk for half an hour every day, then you will become healthier even faster. Simply grab your mp3 player or a friend and walk around town, do laps at the school track, or head to the park and tackle a walking path. Your walk doesn’t need to be an intense hike up the side of a mountain, nor does it even need to be brisk and heart-pumping (at first). Eventually you will want to work your way up to some heavy breathing and a pounding heart, but if you start off easy you will be less likely to feel overwhelmed and give up.

3) Challenge yourself. Once you feel comfortable with your new mobility it’s time to up the ante. Walk for a longer amount of time, or walk at a faster pace for one song. Time yourself as you walk from your car to the store’s entrance, and the next time you need groceries you can try to beat your time. These are little changes that make exercising fun and more profitable. Once you’ve worked your way up to a new level of movement, reward yourself. You’ve earned it.

Movement is the key to healthy living. Staying active will make you feel better and help you live longer. As always, check with your physician before beginning any new physical activities or changing your eating habits. Remember to drink plenty of water, have fun, and be safe. All it takes is that first step to change your life. Take it.

First Posting: Hi!

I graduated in May of 2009 with degrees in English and German, moved to Los Angeles with my sister and her family in June 2009, and have been homeschooling my five-year-old nephew since then. Somewhere along the way I lost sight of my passion for writing. This blog is for me to work on my writing skills, to post my personal thoughts and observations, and for whatever else I want to use it for. Enjoy.