I'm getting my gym back!

I woke up this morning with a mission: to get my gym membership, one way or another (finally).

Here's the short of this long story. I've been working at a university for almost 5 years now. I was taking classes and working part-time. Now that I finished my bachelor degree in Sociology (in December 2011), I was hoping to get a full time job on campus with benefits. That way I can do my graduate classes fo FREE! That's right, FO FREE. This is why I wanted to get a full-time job on campus in the first place.

Anyways, it's been almost a year and a half, and no luck getting a full time job in the same position. I love my job, and I love helping the professors. The department has been trying to hire me for full time every since I graduated, but the higher ups are not budging (yet). So what the department had to do was keep me as a part time 20 hours a week employee, and they are paying me overtime of 20 hours. So I am working full time, with lower pay and none of the benefits. It's been frustrating at times, but I hope things will change by next month.

This lack of a full time position has stopped me from getting the benefits that I want need right now, especially a lower fee for using the gym monthly. So this morning, I woke up with the determination to get my gym membership back! If I can get a staff I.D. (since I am working full time), I can pay less monthly to use the gym. If I can't, I am still an alumni, and I have to pay $10 more than staff.

Either way, I am getting my gym back! It's been so difficult trying to exercise on my own. I have been eating better, but I need that extra time on a machine. With the gym on campus I get free classes, access to the pool and SHOWERS (thank you God for showers)! I worked out at another gym that had no showers. I felt so awkward going to work a sweaty. NEVER AGAIN.

 It makes me sad when I can't fit into my fat pants anymore. These extra pounds have got to go! NOW!

Eating Healthy...again

So it's back to the eating again. I've been trying different things over the years, like different exercises and diets. I just have to be more consistent with what I am doing.

I made a smoothie for breakfast today, similar to the greenie morning smoothie. I added strawberries and blueberries to the mix. It was more of a purple then a greenie. I wish I added another banana though, because I'm so hungry right now! At least it's time for lunch. I didn't bring food today, but I'm going to get the biggest salad I can find with everything on it!

I'm using the my fitness pal app on my phone again, to keep track of the things I eat...even if I shouldn't have eaten them (like the small handful of reece's pieces I threw in my mouth a few minutes ago!)

BAD!

But it's a daily process. And I can't put myself down for it. I've been walking more every day, and that makes me feel better.

Recipe: Greenie morning smoothie

This year I started incorporating more fruits and vegetables in my diet. I try to make a green yummy drink every morning to start my day. It's very simple to make. All you need is:

• Orange juice (1 cup or more, depending on how many people you are serving)
• One handful of spinach (more to make it super green!)
• Bananas ( I usually put 1 or 2 whole bananas)
• 1 cup or water (optional)

You can add additional fruits or veggies, like kale, cucumber or tomato. You can also add nutritional yeast or protein powder. As long as you have enough orange juice (or any of your favorite juice) and water, you will not taste the spinach. You will only taste the juice, I promise you! Blend these yummies together and you get a great green breakfast drink!

The best thing about this greenie is that you can drink as much of it as you want, until you get full!

Let me know if you try this out or what you mix to make a morning smoothie. :)

Lunch Workouts

I have been trying to make time to exercise in my lunch hour. I used to bring a lunch with me, but now most days I don't have much time (I am working on time management).

This time I made a big effort. Yesterday I made my usual green smoothie (I'll post a recipe of my favorite greenie). I made sure to bring my snacks. I brought my backpack with my exercise clothes. So when lunchtime came, I changed my clothes and walked to my car. I usually park my car 1/2 of a mile away from my office. I couldn't afford parking by my office building. Anyways, it's still good exercise.

I thought I had time to get gas and a good lunch. So I walked the half mile to my car. A new gas station opened up by my work, and the gas prices are cheap. I drove my car there, my gas on almost empty. As I opened the gas tank door, I realized I left my debit card in my wallet...in the office. I also forgot my license, which was also in my wallet.
I went back in my car and drove back to work. I couldn't get the lunch I wanted. But I did get something to eat. Thanks to the Starbucks app, I put more money on my account and bought a sandwich. I'm trying not to eat breads and pastas, but I can work on that tomorrow.

I can't wait to wake up tomorrow morning! I am doing 100 squats a day. I can do them in the morning before I take a shower. It is said to tone your middle and your lower body, and that is what I need right now. Boy, did my legs feel like jello on day 1! Tomorrow will be hard. I know I will be sore. But I will do it.