My Blob Story

As some of you may have read from my other blogs, Reviewer's Choice! and Babbling Blog, I have started two new blogs, one of them being the former.  With this blog it is my intention to inform people on proper nutrition and exercise forms, while trying to lend encouragement through my story I am embarking on.  It's not about being "skinnie," it's about being healthy and extending your life, being the best you available, and until you realize that no change will ever occur.  

So to begin - my weight fluctuates regularly between 125 lbs and 128 lbs; I would like to get down to 113, although I would be content with 115lbs - 118 lbs.  I'm not made to be a super twig, never have been and I accept that I will always be curvy.  I love that about me, because I know I can work it.  However, I would like to feel healthier and feel as strong and confident as I was a few years ago.

So here is my blob story - how I gained weight.  Ever since then I feel like there is a WW battle in my head as to what I should eat, when I should eat, if I should work out, etc....It not only is super obnoxious but it gets annoying.  So back in 2009 I was in probably the best shape of my life.  I was in Belize for two months doing archaeology.  I lost a ton of weight, gained a ton of muscle and felt like I could take over for Atlas any day.  Then I went back to school.  I think I would have been fine, except for I came home to a refrigerator full of Ben & Jerry's ice cream.  I don't know if you all know this, but Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream has a variety of flavors, and some of them can be quite delicious (and uber high in calories, somewhere like 300 per serving).  I don't particularly like ice cream, but there were some flavors like Cherry Garcia that I really like to eat.  And of course this is one of the flavors that my roomie got for free every day he worked at the B&J Factory--and of course he wanted them!  Who wouldn't?

Ultimately I ended up making the worst decisions for myself I possibly could.  I got really stressed with school - I think I was taking like 18 credits including learning Attic Greek - and didn't have time (or $) to go grocery shopping.  So I ate more and more ice cream, eventually apexing at 1 pint a day...I believe I gained around 50 lbs in like four months...kind of crazy.  I tried to go work out at the school gym, but I hated it because I couldn't do what I was used to being able to do; I was really depressed and just didn't ever want to go out.  I was pretty miserable.

Fast forward.  That spring I started to lose weight.  I was backpacking around the world, and slowly I started to notice my pants felt a little less tight.  I have never had pants feel as tight as those Columbia pants.  After getting back from our global trot I committed myself, like a hound on a scent, to go to the gym.  I dropped 10 lbs in 1 month and was consistently losing at least 2 lbs a week.  Now, this wasn't easy.  In fact it was at a pretty exhausting price.  I was working for an archaeology company (8-11 hours of arduous labor) then forcing myself to go to the gym for an hour of cardio afterwards.   Then I plateaued at 130lbs.  Luckily for me, I got a free session with a personal trainer at Gold's Gym (back when I went to a gym).  He was unhelpful because he gave me poor nutrition advice.  Luckily for me, I am nutrition savvy (to an extent) and knew that his information was stupid.  However, his workout tips were helpful, and I found classes at the gym that I really liked and kept me going back.  So even though it was winter, I got back down to 120lbs and was incredibly excited.

Fast Forward.  After moving to Portland, I kept up my workout routine, but couldn't shed those last pounds that I was trying to lose, so I kind of just gave up--hence the weight gain.  It's not much, but it's enough to notice that my pants, dresses and shirts are just that much more uncomfortable and more revealing in an unflattering way.  Plus, as evident from the last few weeks,  I've lost a lot of muscle that I had only a few months ago.  (Use it or lose it, I suppose!)  But thanks to archaeology (and groupons), I've finally rekindled my focus and am ready to have more consistency with workouts, instead of working out once or twice here and there.  I've got a one month gym membership from groupon, and according to the gym's website, they give out free nutritional advice and help you track your stuff.  So, as I am constantly looking on the web for helpful tips, I will be posting what I learn here.  It may be with some infrequency, and if you would like to read some seriously helpful things I've already posted, you can read about running or my Exercising Fun Facts in my Babbling Blog.