Selfish Much?

In preperation for starting school again, I've had to do many things. One of those things is to prepare mentally. I need to prepare myself for what is to come. 

I especially need to prioritize my time, stress, and emotion output. I try so hard to make everyone happy all the time. Disappointing people is the worst. I want to be supportive and caring for all those that I love all the time. Unfortunately, this results in me being very stressed and spread way too thin. Especially when you consider the ammount of stress and emotion I deal with on a daily basis just at work. 

For that reason I have decided that I'm going to be an incredibly selfish person for a while. Weeeeeeeeell, selfish might not be the best discription... But basically I'm going to avoid situations that stress me out or drain me emotionally. I'm going to become the queen of "no" and boundaries. I'm not going to put myself in a stressful situation for the happiness of others or to avoid the stress of others. 

That may not be a popular approach, but that is the approach I'm taking. I figure that those who matter most will understand and will understand my decision making. 

I'm also avoiding all planning. If things work out last minute, than things work out last minute. That's just life! 

Next Up On The Pursuit of Healthiness...

So, I haven't been thankful for a few days.... Don't worry, I'll do that next! For now I have something that I want to talk about more.

I have decided that I am a professional dieter. I have tried just about everything. As I get older and wiser, the things I've tried are based on a little more science and are supported by people that I see in real life. I don't just try things to try things. I try things that I hope will help me.

I have decided that pretty much ANY system can work for pretty much ANYONE, if the person is able to follow it as prescribed. The trick is for people to find what works BEST for them in their life style.

In the last year I've used Advocare and Eat to Perform. I love both of these systems for different reasons, and they both have significantly impacted my performance and my success. As I begin school, however, I don't know that I can continue to maintain either program. I know that I need to continue to eat well and I need to continue work out. If I don't do these two things... I will not be successful and I'll be a hot mess. I know myself well enough to know this. The biggest issue is that I am not going to have a ton of time to food prep and/or eat. I will be working 40 hours a week, and will be attending school for at least 6 hours on Saturdays this semester. I will also be taking 2 online classes, and I'll need to do homework and study. &&& I'm a stress eater. I know that this is the recipe for success, and if I'm not on top of things then I will end up back where I was a year and a half ago.

I've been getting some serious anxiety regarding this.

I am super stoked, however, because I think I found my answer! Isogenix! My friend is doing it, and she is doing fantastic.

Essentially, the Isogenix will cover 2 meals a day worth of shakes/supplements &&& all I have to do is make sure I have enough food for a few snacks and dinner. This is seriously going to make my life so much easier! I also know that there have been some crazy success from it. My package should be here soon, and I finally feel like I'm going to survive my master's program without adding 400 extra pounds to my body!

I still think that Advocare and Eat to Perform are wonderful systems though.

1. I think that Advocare 24 Day Challenge is the perfect kick starter for ANYONE who wants to push themselves to eat better, and get a good jump start. That challenge gave me the opportunity to completely learn how to eat better. I will forever been grateful for that.

2. Eat to Perform has given me so many PR's and has improved my performance so much. I love that it's all based on the food that you put in your body. I would love to go back on this system, but I just know that I will not be able to eat the amount of food I need to eat while I'm going to school. It just won't happen, and I'll freak out and fall into a slump.

I'm hopeful that Isogenix will give me an opportunity make sure that I am maintain healthy habits while I'm going to school. I'm also hoping that I can do some leaning up in the process. I am going to do a 30 day challenge soon, and I'm super excited! I'm hoping for some super results! Don't worry... I'll keep you updated!

In the mean time... I hope you all are searching for the system/diet/program that will work for you! Cheers to a healthier and fitter world!

Body Fail!

Look, 2 days in a row!

Woo!!!

I'm thankful for...

1. Nice Vet Techs! Fiona was a champ with her nail clipping today. I think it helped that I held her. I think I might ask to do that with OC next time. See if it helps.

2. Learning to stay calm, and take things with stride. I know I was thankful for this yesterday? a few days ago?... but seriously. It is so awesome. I feel super in control of my emotions.

3. For the fact that student loans are available so I can pursue my dreams. Granted, I think that I shouldn't have to pay the money back... BUT regardless... I'm glad I'm able to go to school!

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So, this is an interesting experience. BUT today my body failed before my mind! I know, this sounds odd. Why the hell would I want my body to fail? The truth is, I like seeing how far my mind can take me. I love being mental strong just as much as I love being physically strong. Typically in a work out, I always freak out before I push myself to my performance ability. Especially it's hot. I've been working on endurance, however, so I've had to start doing 2 WODs on Tuesday and Thursday. Today my first WOD was good. I felt good. I moved quickly. I was mentally able to push myself. Then came the second WOD, and I was a little dehydrated. My calves were starting to cramp. Mentally I was ready to go. I wanted to kill that WOD... Physically... It just wasn't happening. Because I'm not an idiot, I made sure to scale back and take it relatively easy during the 2nd WOD. Not because I was freaking out, but because my body needed it. It was so frustrating that my body wasn't cooperating, but I was so excited that I had finally gotten to a point where my mind didn't stunt my ability. Boom! Put that in the "mental strength" record book!

This one time...

I said I was going to blog everyday. Then didn't... whoops!

However, I'm going to be thankful for 12 things (That covers Friday-Monday) today! The whole having one awesome story thing, is hard for me. I have a lot of things wonderful that happen everyday... I had a lot of awesomeness in my life this weekend. I just don't know if I can put it into words how freaking awesome it was.

I'm Thankful For...
1. My Crossfit family, and people that partake in awful team WODs along side me. Especially those who take their time to do some cheering in the end.

2. Friends who make me laugh until my abs hurt.

3. Friends who like to get their grooooooooooooooooooove on!

4. Friends who love Sushi just like me!

5. Old friends who have become new again and who come to hang out with me and my crazy Crossfitting friends. (Even though we may have reverted into complete Crossfit mode... whoops!)

6. Friends who drive, so I don't have to. &&& That I have friends with similar interests in being responsible when drinking.

7. Breakfast at Buffalo! (Yup, I did that with friends toooooooooooooooooooooooo)

8. Swimming, island making, and spending time outside. (Yup, more friends!)

9. People who make my friends happy and treat them right. That's an awesome thing to see, gives me hope for the same kinda magic in the future, &&& I don't have vote people off the island... which is great! (Voting people off the island is not fun.)

10. Waking up to sweet little puppies who love to cuddle.

11. My ability to stay calm in a situation that normally would have stressed me out. Turns out I'm getting older, wiser, and happier.

12. Baked Potatoes. Need I say more?

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This weekend was pretty freakin' fun to say the least. I seriously have not laughed so long in a long time. I don't know how you can go wrong with a 4th of July party filled with laughing, booze, bacon filled guac, sparklers, and dancing! Or a Saturday after the 4th filled with sushi, and lady bonding. OR a Sunday after the 4th filled with more friends, laughing, and swimming. I felt so refreshed this morning. Which is so odd considering how much going I had goin' on this weekend. Perhaps my Ted Talk was right... If you are happy with your life you'll be happy with your job.

Cheers to being Positive Polly.

3 + 1

I was listening to this Ted Talk yesterday, and loved it. I love Ted Talks in General. If you ever need a pick me up or a new perspective or a little more info about something, you just need to find a nice solid Ted Talk to watch. I haven't watched a bad one yet!

This one is all about how you shouldn't base your happiness on success, and instead should base it just on being happy and being where you are in life. Which is such an interesting concept.... Just be happy and the world gets better!

He recommended a few things, but 2 of which I will be sharing with my blog.

1. To write down a positive story that happened in the last 24 hours.

2. To write down 3 things you are thankful for daily for 21 days.

I'm going to attempt to do that daily on here. No promises it will actually happen daily, but we'll give it a shot. Here it goes!

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Today I'm thankful for the fact that my brother cleaned my garage, that I work out at a place that I want to go to even when I'm not working out, and that my tattoo doesn't hurt too bad and turned out so good!

So, here's where this is going to get tricky. The good thing that happened in the last 24 hours isn't something I'm ready to share with the world yet. In fact at this point only 5 other people know about it, one being my brother and another being my mom. I will say that I had a nice evening of walking around, enjoying the canyon, eating Subway, and chowin' on some Kiwi Loco.