Day 1 of Operation: Life Purge

by Weez on August 1, 2011

It’s August 1st, and the start of my new life. Actually, it’s my old life being fixed up. Wait, no. My current life transitioning into the life I want. Yeah, that’s pretty close to what I mean. So today starts:

Operation: Life Purge.

“What the heck is that?” you might ask? It’s basically me getting rid of the things in my life that I don’t need/want or have no use for. The two biggest items on this list that I’m starting out with are HOUSE and SELF. And since I haven’t hashed out a specific plan yet, this is where I am starting.

HOUSE:
Minimalizing everything. Yeah, that’s basically the short and long of it.

SELF:
Minimalize myself. Eat less/better and exercise more. Live by the motto “Do. Or do not. There is no try.”

Eventually I want to expand this out into other parts of my life, which may or may not including getting rid of my tv and “purging” myself of some of those fears that have been holding me back. But Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither will my new self. Improved self. Real self. It’s the “me” that’s been hiding all these years.

Today’s goals:

  1. Clean the oven. I can’t cook anything when, every time I try, it fills the house with smoke. (Plus, I’ve already started by covering the inside with baking soda so I have to clean it out to do anything else.)
  2. Spring-clean the kitchen. Go through all the cabinets and get rid of anything expired or unusable. Also, toss everything I don’t want to be tempted to eat. If I don’t have it in my house, I can’t eat it.
  3. Make work lunches for the week. I’ll be less likely to order out if I already have something tasty to eat. Planned menu: Sweet and Sour tofu with veggies over rice.

It’s now 9:42am. Let the day begin continue!

Holding on to motivation

by Weez on July 13, 2011

Wednesday’s “3 Daily Goals”

  1. BODY: Eat a vegetable with dinner (seems simple, but not something I usually do!)
  2. HOME: Clean the kitchen.
  3. ACTIVITY: Do another morning workout!

• • • • •

(Another adjustment: I going to start with my daily goals. That way they won’t get lost… and *hopefully* I won’t forget!)

I did it! I got up and exercised yesterday morning! I am so proud of myself since there was a small part of my that thought “hey, it wouldn’t be so bad to hit the snooze button, right?” But I don’t need to worry about that because I EXERCISED! And it feels GOOD!

Oh how I wish I could bottle this feeling of accomplishment and endorphins so I can remember that is feels amazing to finish a workout. It would make STARTING each workout so much easier! But since I know I can’t (see, that whole adapting and accepting thing coming into play here), I just need to remind myself that this is something I want to do, and it will be worth it. And the biggest challenge: Just to START. That’s truly the hardest part. Once I’m going, it’s a little easier to keep going…

Keeping with the daily goals…

by Weez on July 12, 2011

To stay on track with my daily goals, here’s my list for today (created yesterday). And if all goes well, I will be waking up when this publishes at 5am.

• • • • •

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Today’s “3 Daily Goals”

  1. BODY: Bring carrots to work for a snack. – [✔]
  2. HOME: Clean out the junk drawer.
  3. ACTIVITY: Morning workout on the elliptical. – [✔]

• • • • •

Adapting

by Weez on July 11, 2011

“Enjoying success requires the ability to adapt. Only by being open to change will you have a true opportunity to get the most from your talent.”
~ Nolan Ryan

Over the last few years, but especially the last few months, I’ve begun to truly understand the value in being able to adapt. For me, this means a certain level of acceptance for change, and the willingness (and sometimes even eagerness) to improve myself with this change. In nature, the species that haven’t found a way to adapt haven’t done so well, and the same goes for humans. Adapt or get left behind.

I used to spend so much time being mad about things I didn’t have any control over. A client interaction or work conflict. The economic downturn and all that comes with that. Even summer humidity! But no matter how mad I got, it didn’t change anything except turning my sour mood into a downright rotten mood. And the thing about being mad at things I didn’t have control over, was that it can quickly become a habit. One person comments on the humidity and it had the possibility of ruining my whole day. Lamesauce, I know!

Adapting is kind of the opposite of getting mad about these things. It’s about recognizing the situation for what it is, seeing the effects it has on my life, and moving forward. Yeah, sometimes I liked the way things USED to be, but looking for the good is most changes makes the process a LOT easier. I mean, if I have to change anyways, why not make it easier on myself, right?

This week I started a new work schedule, and it’s one I am so happy about. The catch is that I need to get up earlier, and it’s presented a bit of a challenge. I had a hard time getting out of bed this morning, and I didn’t have time for my morning workout. The consequence of that was a sluggish day (and possibly the reason I have a headache right now). Tomorrow, I will not miss my workout (you heard it hear first, people). I just need to adapt my body to getting up earlier, and then the routine and habit will take over. And it’s a lot easier to do this if I’m not mad every morning my alarm goes off, even if I still want to hit the snooze button a few times.

Here’s to ADAPTING!

• • • • •

Monday, July 11, 2011

Today’s “3 Daily Goals”

  1. BODY: Eat two vegetables today (not including my green smoothie) – [✔]
  2. HOME: Clean off the top of the cabinet next to the back door (it’s piled with junk for the last few months!) – [✔]
  3. ACTIVITY: DUST! (cat and dog hair get EVERYWHERE!) – [✔]

• • • • •

One final note that fits in the theme of adapting: I’ve realized that I need to make my 3 daily goals list the day before so I give myself time to actually do them. Plus it gives an added motivation instead of just sitting on the couch. BONUS!

Downsizing… In more ways than one.

by Weez on July 10, 2011

I’ve been struggling to come up with a direction or voice for this blog. Though I keep coming back to having it be about losing weight (something I desperately need to do and take seriously and be committed to), but there are so many weight-loss blogs out there. Plus, it just doesn’t feel like “me” for some reason. I did find one blog that I have just fallen in love with, because it feels like me (or, at least, the “me” I wish to eventually be) called Trading Pounds. Even though it’s not a vegan blog, there is so much great information that I find myself going back to it and reading previous posts and all the links included. I guess it’s just clicking with me or something. Maybe it’s the blog I would have created in an alternate universe of sorts.

But back to my dilemma: where to take THIS blog. This forces me to take a look at my life and see what I am interested in now. Not any of those fleeting interests like couponing (argh, major disappointment since most are for processed foods and junk) or running (something I’m not quite ready for *yet*).

Over the last few years and getting stronger, I’ve been very interested in minimalism. The act of purposefully reducing what I have to streamline my life. Now I know that people have different ideas of what minimalism is, and I’m not trying to jump on anyone’s bandwagon and say I totally agree or disagree with any view. This would just be my own journey.

So what does this mean for this blog? I’m not sure yet, since this post is more about throwing the idea out there and seeing what sticks. It’s also about asking questions like:

  1. How do I apply minimalism to weight-loss?
  2. Is it about eating simple, whole foods?
  3. Do I buy a camera to document my reducing/reusing/recycling?
  4. Where do I begin?
  5. What do I call my blog? (something I have struggled with since I started this however long ago…)

One thing I’ve learned from the Trading Pounds site is to start slow and begin habits. It sounds so simple, but have you ever tried to start an actual habit? It’s a huge undertaking if it’s not your default setting*. Can I change my default to being more active? I have no idea, but why not give it a try?

First order of business: START. Just start somewhere and if it doesn’t work, try something else. If it works, then keep expanding ideas until I find a natural rhythm. But remember to not get to comfortable. My comfort zone is my default, and it’s the opposite environment that I want to be in if I want to change. That is why I love this quote:

“If we’re growing, we’re always going to be out of our comfort zone.”
~ John Maxwell

So I’m going to begin with 3 more daily goals, but each will have a specific purpose this time around. BODY will be one thing I will do today that will improve my physical well being (at the moment, I will be focusing on food and nutrition since this is where I am lacking the most). HOME will be one thing I will do to minimize the amount of “stuff” I have, taking steps towards a more minimalism environment. ACTIVITY will be one thing I will do today to get my body moving, which can be anything from taking a walk to cleaning the bathroom to weeding the garden to playing fetch with Doc to vacuuming or doing dishes to working out on the elliptical machine. I just need to be moving my body (ie. not sitting on the couch or in front of this computer).

• • • • •

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Today’s “3 Daily Goals”

  1. BODY: Find a recipe for this week’s work lunches that includes 2 vegetables, and purchase the ingredients during grocery shopping today. Make recipe today.- [✔]
  2. HOME: Clean out organizer in kitchen that is doing everything BUT organizing. Keep only the items that you have or will use. Toss or donate everything else.- [✔]
  3. ACTIVITY: Clean bathroom. This includes those ick-y shower shelves and washing the curtain and rugs. (oh, and that weird mildewy corner next to the tub, what IS that?) – [✔]

• • • • •

 

* My theory is that most people have a natural default setting for life. Some people are go-go-go busy-busy-busy people who always need to be doing something. Other people (like me) are more bursts-of-busy and longer periods of lazy-non-active. Some people naturally love to read, or write, or be in nature. I consider the default the place we go when we aren’t trying or paying attention.

Tiny steps… Like, really tiny.

by Weez on July 7, 2011

Just to be honest, yesterday I didn’t get to my 3 Daily Goals. My boyfriend came over and we hung out and watched Buffy and just relaxed, which was wonderful and exactly what I needed.

Today was a struggle. It started out with a few eye-opening tidbits pointed out by a friend. Sometimes the truth is hard to take, but when it comes from someone I trust and who has my best interests at heart, I really try to see the value in what they are saying. So I have plans for a few tiny changed in my life that, I hope, will make my days less of a struggle. I then had to go to a meeting with a person who, for lack of a better word, is a [edited for vulgar language and obscenities not appropriate for our regular viewing audience]. But I survived and that’s all that matters at this point. Then I had to some estimates which, imo, were pointless. But gotta keep certain people happy for the time being. (hehe)

On a side note, I like that it’s summer. I like just throwing on some shorts and a tank top and going outside. Though maybe the tank top wasn’t the best idea with cutting those trees as my bra filled with the little dead flowers, leaves, and it now looks like a few (alive at the time, dead now) ants. Woops! I think my boyfriend would say they died happy. ;)

• • • • •

Today’s “3 Daily Goals” (because I already did them)

  1. Cut down the over-fence-creeping trees from my neighbor’s yard (which makes cutting the grass a pain since I have to go around them all the time)
  2. Cut the grass
  3. Play fetch with Doc (he is getting sooo good at “drop it”!!)

• • • • •

I am on fire today!

by Weez on July 6, 2011

Today (so far, at least) has been a good day. At work, I’m solving problems left and right, it just feels so good to solve problems.

Oh, and did I mention I completed my 3 Daily Goals from yesterday? Because I did! I didn’t think I’d make it to the fans, but I put it on here so I felt like I *had* to get it done. I didn’t want to come back and say I failed! haha

• • • • •

Today’s “3 Daily Goals”

  1. Clean shelves in the shower (because they are ick-y!)
  2. Clean shower (yes, this is a separate task from the shelves)
  3. Wash shower curtain and rugs in bathroom

• • • • •

3 Daily Goals

by Weez on July 5, 2011

I’m struggling… in life. Just in general. I feel lost. I feel stuck. I feel voiceless (like that nightmare where I’m screaming for help or something and no sound is coming out, and people are walking by and they can’t see me or hear me, and I’m fading). I’m not trying to be a downer, that’s just how I’m feeling lately (for a while). If I’m at least honest with myself, I’m hoping the next step will be change for the better. Or just a change for the same that will then lead to a change for the better. So as a catalyst for this change, I’m aiming for a “3 Daily Goals” list to help me get things done. I was going to originally say one, but that doesn’t give the opportunity to expand. Then I thought five, but soon realized I’m not that ambitious (yet). So… three. Three daily goals to just start, do, finish.

• • • • •

Today’s “3 Daily Goals”

  1. Clean the osolating fans in my house (they are filled with dust that erupts every time I turn them on).
  2. Make a lunch for tomorrow (because I ate my last frozen dinner today and have no plans to go to the store).
  3. Make muffins (or some other snack for tomorrow, cause I get hungry and then I get a headache and then a stomach ache. I just want to be a little proactive, that’s all.).

• • • • •

A little motivation…

by Weez on June 24, 2011

People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.
~ Zig Ziglar

Just a little something to brighten and lighten your day. If you can find a little something to motivate you everyday, you will make progress. Don’t give up!

Gloom and doom…

by Weez on June 23, 2011

This is not my place to complain. With that said, today sucked. It’s been raining here for days and I just feel blllaaahhhhhhh. Translated, that means I want to wake up and immediately take a nap. Then wake up and go to bed. The vicious cycle of “I should exercise to get more energy, but I have no energy to exercise” is swirling around my brain for the last 4 days. I started my exercise routine in the morning for 3 days last week, and I was rockin’ it. Then I missed a day, then another, and now I’m back to sleeping in and being groggy all day.

Note to self: STOP COMPLAINING AND MAKE A CHANGE. DO SOMETHING! ANYTHING!

*changing*