February: Eliminate Dairy

So, first thing I wanted to say is.... I am officially coffee free! So as far as I am concerned... it looks like this focus by month resolution guideline has been working for me! I am really excited because I am no longer getting the 2pm slump or the withdrawal headaches when I don't have time to grab coffee in the morning. And I have to say... no headaches=happier more productive Shannon. So yay!

Next, Beginning in a VERY VERY short time.. it looks like I am going to have to give up dairy. My doctor has told me before that I am lactose intolerant.. and I just couldn't handle it. I mean... no cheese!? I am ok with no milk.. i do not drink it already (and sadly I am allergic to soy milk too)... But. Cheese is a totally different story. I LOVE cheese. It makes me so sad to know that I am not going to be able to eat it anymore. I do have to say... I WILL occasionally eat pizza. I just cannot give it up forever. It is just going to be only once a month at the most. I think this whole process will help me to realize that i feel much better without it.. and IF I feel a ton better.. maybe I will give it up completely. But I do not want to be unrealistic and say that I will never ever eat cheese ever again. But I am going to try to limit it to the smallest amount possible.

Also, I wanted to give a little update... I am realizing that as I feel better.. there is a chance I will add next month's goal into this month as well. If i am feeling better all the time.. I am going to try to do the working out thing starting this month too.. then I will just have to move everything up a month. BUT... we will see!

Wish me luck!

i shouldn't make promises...

I can't keep...

I promised I would blog everyday last week and it just didn't happen. I will give you a little background. First of all, it was the final week of my internship, so it has been SO crazy at work, thinking about every little thing I need to get done... BUT.. it has all been worth it because I GOT THE JOB! :) They hired me on to start full time after I graduate in December.

BUT ALSO,

I also started two new classes so it has been rough managing all my time. BUT I need to start thinking about how much I love this little blog and how much better it makes me feel every time I write on it or get to read other incredible blogs!

So... I thought I would share a little bit about what has been going on with me... Besides my internship...

I also just started two new incredible hobbies/sports.

First off: I started taking a "Learn to Row Crew" Class about 2 weeks ago. It is a class where we learn the basics of rowing, both sculling and sweep rowing and get to go out on the water at 5:45 2 times a week and just let all our worries flow away and just focus on the sport. It is an amazing work out both physically and mentally. It is the ULTIMATE team sport. You cannot be a successful rower... unless you are in a single boat... without team work. If one person is throwing the boat off balance you will never meet your destination and maybe might even flip over into the water. It has been an AMAZING experience. It is also nice to get a feel for what my little sister, Katie of Currently Obsessed With, does on a daily basis at school. She is the Coxswain for the Santa Clara University mens rowing team. And after these two weeks, I have an even greater respect for her sport and all the effort and brain power that goes into it.

And Second, Erik and I also started a marathon training course, where we meet every Saturday to do a group run and throughout the week we do smaller workouts to prepare.

So all in all, I am so tired!

But... I am back to blogger. :)

Happy Saturday everyone!

Health

Recently, I have been having a lot of health issues and have had to go to the doctor a few times, and while I am not going to elaborate past that on here.. bascially I have been feeling horrible. My doctor asked me to start keeping a food jounral to see if anything can be alleviated by cutting out any particular food or drink. So I have been doing this for about a week and I have realized that I eat very poorly. I used to be a vegetarian.. well almost, I have always eaten fish. But I stopped doing that about a year ago when Erik and I first moved in together because I didn't want to have to make tw different dinners. But, Erik is great, and told me he doesn't mind eating mostly vegetarian again. So, I am thinking I might need to go back to that. (I will REALLY miss buffalo wings... for some reason they are pretty much the only meat food I love). 

So, here I go. Also, I have been looking into cutting my caffeine intake because I am not sure it makes me feel good and also cutting down on gluten. So, here is an experiment that I am willing to try. First things first, I need to figure out a plan for grocery shopping where I don't just buy everything I think looks good, but instead go in there with my weekly plans set out. And, I need to start eating a better breakfast, exercising, doing yoga, cutting down on alcohol, and setting up a sleep schedule. All of this will come easier once I start work again and have a set time to arrive at work. But I need to start now so that the transition is easier. 

So. Wish. Me. Luck. 

How cool does this look???

While this is nothing like I have been doing... See, I have been riding the exercise bike while watching Grey's Anatomy reruns or reading my book. 

But it still turns my legs to jello. I used to be really into working out, or at least I was into competitive sports, and therefore training. But after a couple years of not really worrying about anything but school, work, and having a good time. My exercise regimen went out the window. 

But... Yesterday I biked 8.3 miles, and today I biked 13. 24 miles. 

So. Yay me!

Running

I used to run, exercise, try to stay healthy.
And then I started getting lazy and as many people know. Once you stop exercising for a while, it is really hard to start again. Also, I am the type of person who psychs myself out instead of just working out. I always think about how cold it is and about how last time I felt short of breath.. So. I got a Nike plus to count my miles to help me feel motivated by actually knowing how much I get done. And I signed up for dailymile, where you can talk with others about your workouts, or even just see that other people are doing it. So can I! 


So here goes. Starting tomorrow I will do exercise besides yoga.
I will go running.. and I put a mile counter on my blog, so I am embarass myself into working out more.. I mean, you guys would judge me if I quit.. right? :)


Wish me luck! 
Is anyone else starting new exercise plans?

GOOOOOOOOO

DUUUUUCCKKKKKS! Way to beat USC!

Exercise

I do not understand why I cannot ever be excited about working out. I always feel so good when I am working out and after I am done but I can never convince myself of that at the beginning. I only like to exercise when I am in a way tricked into it, such as going on a run with someone and chatting the whole time or playing a sport or taking a class. I only like it when it is disguised as something more fun, something less boring. But, I am trying so hard to convince myself to do it more often. My little sister is so good at convincing herself to work out and tries so hard to convince me and it never works unless we plan to do something fun afterwards. But, working out makes you happy because of all the endorphins, therefore it is something I need to embrace in order to meet my goal of being happy and healthy and alive.

Listening to "We're So Starving" by Panic At the Disco.
:)