LUCY, you gots some 'splainin' to do!

I greatly detest my inability to stick to a plan. I was playing around on the internets when I "remembered" i had a neglected blog. Shame on me. SHAME!

I could blame the fact that in Feburary (despite not mentioning it) we found out that I was expecting. [sidenote: I have the most AWESOME baby boy that has graced the face of the earth!!]

I could blame the fact that I ultimately decided not to persue a career in medicine and now I face the perils of not knowing what career best suits me.

I could blame the fact that my world made a very SHARP and abrupt turn and I'm just now getting myself back together.

I could blame a lot of things.

But I won't.

I'll just say that I am a slacker. =)

But I'll continue to try to change.

And y'all can continue to try to support me.

Does this post mean I'm back? ...Who knows? ...Maybe. One could only dream. Somewhere my psyche is saying yes, but I won't get my 0.00000001 folllower(s) excited for nothing.


Love, peace, and hair grease
 Gayle

10 Things Grown Women Shouldn't Do

I found this article to be very funny and very honest. SO....I decided to share. Feel free to apply to your life. For the full read to include here elaborations [mine are here in orange] check out the original post here.

#1 Stop comparing yourself to other women.

 I think we all are guilty of this at some point in life. Which is fine. It's natural to do a little scientific analysis of your surrounds and "rank" where you compare. As social animals, this is something we do best. HOWEVER, when you begin to make major life decisions or (worse yet) belittle yourself, you need to evaluate some things. You will never be "her". That's why you are you. So instead of trying to be a better "her", be a better you. Since no one else can be you, you're winning already!!

#2 Stop thinking of comebacks way after the fact.

 What's the point? It's not like you can use them since the argument is OVER. Besides, holding grudges (which basically what you're doing) benefits NO ONE, and actually takes away from you since you're spending time worrying about things that don't matter.   

#3 Stop denying yourself the pleasure of your company.

As an only child, I can attest to the awesomeness of being alone. And I know those of you with more crowded environments feel the same. Sometimes we need to turn off all the distractions and just sit in our own heads. Or read. Or (my personal fav) sleep. Just take some time out for yourself to be by yourself. You'll thank you later.

#4 Stop making excuses for why something won’t work.

Either it is, or it isn't. No matter which, it still has to be dealt with. So if an outcome isn't in your favor, develop a solution to fix it, change plans, or just leave it alone. 'Cause you know what they say about excuses...

#5 Stop putting yourself so far down the list that you have to flip the paper over to find your name. 

This goes back to #3...kinda. We are often so bogged down in LIFE that we don't realize we're overwhelmed until we wake up in a hospital bed with an IV drip. Take the time to treat yourself. It's an important part of preparing for success. You wouldn't expect your car to run without gas, so why would you? 

 #6 Stop getting overly frustrated when you are faced with things you can control – and the things you can’t.

Take everything one step at a time. And if you have to, 1/2 step at a time. Frustrations (and the resulting lack of action) will only decrease your progress exponentially. 

 #7 Stop holding grudges from more than three months ago.

#2!!! 

#8 Stop taking your health for granted.


TOP 3 THREATS TO WOMEN'S HEALTH:
     1) Heart Disease
     2) Cancer
     3) Stroke

These are very much preventable. ....just saying.

 #9 Stop being afraid to be you.

  And make sure you're being the YOU that you are when no one is around. You cannot expect anyone to like you if you don't like yourself. You can't like yourself if the person you parade around isn't the real you. We are all misfits but that's what makes us all wonderful in our own way. Think of this way: if we were all the same, the world would be BEYOND boring. Do you want that world? So let the real you out!!

#10 Stop being scared.

There is nothing wrong with being afraid/fearful of something, but you have to overcome it. There is so much life has to offer and #1 we only have one life to live, #2 reminiscing with regrets SUCKS, and #3 you can never reach your full potential if you're afraid to step out of your comfort zone.  


XOXO
Gayle 

Just a little motivation

Don’t get held down by one dream. Dreams are flexible, they adapt to different circumstances. Dreams are something that you control, that you can build. If one dream looks impossible, twist it sideways and see what you come up with. There is a way around any roadblock – whether you have to go around it, over it or even under it.

 

Tara Jefferson

Quilled Paper Anatomical Cross Sections!!

I have heard of Lisa Nilsson and her awesome quilled paper work, but nothing could prepare me for this!! My right and left brains are adequately satisfied.

 I am in geek art HEAVEN!!!

[Source]

XOXO
Gayle

My sincerest apologies to my beloved

OH BLOG!
How I have neglected thee!
There is so much same upon my bosom!!
I must return to you!
(...eventually)

So yeah, I've been absent. Very absent. Someone might have even put out an APB. If the did, the internet police surely moves slowly. lol But anyway, I'm just doing school and trying to get myself together. I will return to the blog (and my workout plan). ....eventually. lol

But on a good note, I have found a natural guru that I am determine to emulate (somewhat) to the best of my abilities. And once I gather the gumption to e-mail her, I'll get started on my path to healthier living by holistic means. (yeah, I alter my health goals quite often, but I think I may work to keep at this)

If you have a minute, check her out!

[Source]

XOXO
Gayle

And yet ANOTHER reason the love the Japanese...

I will be trying this ASAP!

XO
Gayle

Eye of the Tiger [Day 2]

Today was... interesting.

Pre-class excitement had me up around 6am, so I decided to listen to music and work on organizing my massive collection. I intended to do this until about 830ish, shower, and go on the hunt for a cheap printer ink cartridge so I could print notes before Endo & GI Physiology.

Let's just say things did not go as planned.

I ran all over North(ish) Jackson and actually found an ink refill kit for $10 (SCORE!). But did not get back home until like 10am.

Class starts at 11am.

It takes me like 10-15 minutes to get there.

It was raining.

I didn't leave home until about 10:40 (I had a lot to print). I was really bugging until I turn on the radio and "Eye of the Tiger" is on. Someone out there in radioland knew I was in a rush and decided to give me a touch of motivation. Whoever you are, sir or madame, I thank you so much. Especially since rocking out to the song prevented me from super-speeding and getting pulled over by a state trooper. =)

So I get to school and am really lost because of all the random parking lots and new buildings.

I walk in class around 11:10 =/ and couldn't super-focus because i was still bugged out about all the morning's happenings. lol


I did not, I repeat, DID NOT want to work out by any means today. But I did (hooray!). [40 mins cardio]
Did not eat properly today =( Actually barely ate at all.


Let's all hope tomorrow will be better make sure tomorrow is better.

(Source)

XOXO
Gayle

I didn't really state any goals in the first post about this here challenge. I guess it's because I really don't have specific goals. I don't have a definite target weight. I would like to be under 200lbs but I'm not too sure what I'll desire after then. I actually LIKE the way I look. Yes, I wish my tummy was a bit tighter and thighs less thunder-y, but overall I like what I see in the mirror. So the less than 200lb goal is more for BMI purposes than anything. (even though I have a big issue with the whole BMI calculation to begin with...)

In my head 180 sounds good, but if my curves start to go by the way-side, I'm going to have to build muscle to replace the fat or the bf will not be happy. lol

Honestly, I just want to feel healthier. I'm frustrated I've let myself gain so much weight to begin with. And even though I don't want to go back to the 2006 (high school senior) 145lb me, I do want to move about without getting winded. [Yes, this happened to me and that's when I realized it was time to change]

And as far as nutrition goes, I hate when I am denied anything...ESPECIALLY FOOD! And I know that I KNOW what I should and should not eat so restricting my diet will only further tempt unhealthy eating. I know this sounds weird to the fitness gurus out there, but I know how my brain works.

So yes, no target weight. No diet restrictions. And YES I WILL loose weight. =)

But in the mean time, I need to get some before pics up...arg. =/


XOXO
Gayle

Real Women Sweat/Day 1

I've decided to do a 90-day fitness challenge. 

[That looks really icky when it's typed out and such. lol]

I'm FAR to picky (and stubborn) to do any that I found on the internet (after googling 30+ minutes), so I've decided to create my own. My main goal is to increase my daily activity rather than focus on nutrition. I am a pretty healthy eater, but I still weigh A LOT so it's the lack of activity that's killing me.

And since I have a history of all the "deadly" illnesses in my family, I need to get of my butt and get to getting before it's too late.

My challenge is quite simple. I hope it works.

RULES:

1. Workout at least 30 minutes 6 days a week. (rest day is Sunday)
2. Stretch every morning and every night.
3. Do "Hurry Up and Wait" workout (via skimble) twice a week [muscle endurance]
4. Eat 3 meals and at least 2 snacks a day. 
5. Drink at least 3L of water a day.
6. Take vitamins daily. [women's multi-vitamin, hair/skin/nails vitamin, vitamin d supplement, biotin]
7. One "cheat" meal allowed a week.
8. Weigh in every Sunday.

So technically this challenge started today. Today is the rest day so no gym. Tomorrow the fun shall begin. First day of class and first day (technically second) on the road to the healthier me!!

DAY 1

rest day

current weight: 228.8

XOXO
Gayle

I just wanted to take this time to say I start school Monday and I'm really freakin! I graduated in 2010 and I'm hoping it won't take me long to get back in my educational groove. ...because I'll be in graduate school and most likely will have the quizzes my syllabi mentioned NEXT week just so we know they mean business. Arg. Ugh.

This is how things once were. Study study study...

OF COURSE with the inevitable distraction.

I suppose there is no better time than the present for me to get off my butt and open a book. Wish me luck!

XOXO
Gayle

Saw a horse this weekend...

Thought you guys would like to know.