I’m BACK!

It’s been over a year since my last post, and it feels like it’s been that long since I’ve really taken care of myself like I used to; when I first started this blog.

To my California friends who may read this, I bet you didn’t even know that I had a blog that people actually read! (It’s been that long since I’ve written). The cool thing about it is that, after looking back at some posts where I talk about California, I haven’t realized how important the people I’ve met are yet, i.e. the people at the church that I found the second day here have become my second family and are the people I get most excited to see.

Maybe you don’t care about anything I’ve been doing the past year and are disappointed that I didn’t keep up with the rigorous routine I was pushing myself to do, (I did love it… and in all honesty I’m a little disappointed in myself too), but there was more going on in my life than there was at any point in Michigan. I’m basically starting over now and have been a little depressed about it the past month or so, however, I’ve finally had a revelation that it’s OK. I’m not a failure, I’ve achieved so much in this past year. It’s all about balance and I wasn’t able to have it when I first moved here and got into some pretty nasty bad habits. This next part is the part you skip if you don’t want to read about what I’ve been doing since moving to California…

Since moving to California…

When I first moved here my only plan of action was to get a job. So I looked for one, day in and day out. After month I was led to an internship at a studio and began working for free, so I got a weekend job at a coffee shop. I was doing alright with both jobs but wasn’t getting much time to myself. I got good news about 2 weeks into my internship that the company had decided to hire me. Great! But now what to do with the coffee shop job? I ended up working nights at the studio and days at the coffee shop. Needless to say, I had no time to myself.  (I was babysitting a couple of days a week too…) I didn’t really have a chance to eat healthy nor did I have a chance to exercise… the coffee shop kept me moving though, so I wasn’t too worried.  In December I got promoted at the studio and started working days and had to quit the other jobs. At this point the bad habits of eating at restaurants and not going to the gym had set in and I was on my way to gaining weight. Unfortunately I didn’t stop it until now. I kept working at the studio on different shows until about a month and a half ago. Then I had some time off. Though I wasn’t really looking for another job, I just needed a breather. In this time I realized how much damage I had been doing to my body and got really depressed about it. I would lay around at home wondering what I was going to do next. I prayed one day that God would show what to do and where the next move would be. I wanted to do something that I enjoyed. That same day I got an email from an old co-worker asking me if I was available and that I would be perfect for the show he was working on. I got an interview and was hired 2 days later. God has really answered my prayers and it was definitely what I needed to be pushed in the right direction and now we’re up to the beginning of this week.

So now…

At the beginning of this week I started getting up early so that I could use the gym that I had been giving money to since I had gotten my first real paycheck last year. I’m not a morning person. In fact, I’m FAR from it. My mom would be the first one to tell you that. I’ve NEVER been one either. I was never the 5 year old waking up at  7 AM to watch cartoons. My mom pretty much had to force me to get up. Long story short (or shorter… ) I succeeded in waking up early 5 days in a row and getting into the gym.

I’m ready to get back to where I was a little over a year ago. I still want to run and actually miss it so much. I see others running at the gym and wish I could be right back where I was, running 5K’s. Unfortunately it’ll be a little while before I’m really running how I was since it’s been so long.

All in all, I’m happy. The life I have here in California (even though I miss my family and friends in MI) is much more fruitful than it ever came close to being in Michigan. I’m happier and thankfully don’t regret any decisions I’ve made over the past year. I thank God for all of it and now it’s time to get back to healthy.

I’M BACK!!

“Walk Until Your Feet Bleed…Then Keep Walking”

I saw a man on the news the other day– he had walked across the country.  It took him a year.  How awesome would something like that be?? And he did it all for ALS (AKA Lou Gehrig’s disease).  I want to accomplish something like this.

I went for a 8 or 9 mile walk the other day and that felt long– (Though I was walking really fast  and jogged– I bet I wouldn’t walk that fast if I was doing 3000 miles…)  Anyone want to do that with me?? (I think I could do it in less time than a year, but maybe I’m being naive)

Anyway, walking across the United States is on my bucket list.

Oh and my foot was pretty bloody after my jog yesterday, it was only 2 miles but it makes my blog title relevant.

 

Addition: I wanted to add to this post something that I realized most people wouldn’t know and why this man walking across the country for ALS is a dear subject to me.  I have a cousin with ALS whom I love dearly.  I don’t get to see her nearly as often as I would like but she’s so strong and so loving.  She makes me smile and laugh, but it pains me to see her to go through what she is with this disease.  So this post is for her and her family.  I admire this man and this cause.

Grandma told me to go for a Walk.

Hey remember me?? Yeah, it has been a while.  The move was a bit stressful, but I’ve definitely adapted very quickly.  The first couple of days were rough, but you never know how strong you are until you leave everything you know.

I have it good. I live 2 miles from the beach (so you know that’s where I walk), I found a church, I see more friends here than I did in Michigan, I have lots of family and anything I could possibly think of is within walking distance.  That doesn’t change the fact that I miss Michigan and the people in it.  It is a bit cloudy today and I almost prayed for rain just for the familiarity of cold, stormy Michigan.  But I didn’t. I still prefer the sun.

In the first few days I walked a lot.  I walked about 10 miles in one day (the day that I found a church right on the beach!).  So that felt wonderful.  Lately I’ve been spending 8 hours a day in Barnes and Noble (the downfall of not having wireless internet at home) because of my determination to get a job. (My friend Veronica is reading a book that said to “Make unemployment your job”… so I have been).  I get so anxious to send resumes in and work on my reel that I leave as soon as I wake up.  By the time I get home it’s dinner time and then it’s dark– not an ideal time for going for a walk in a city.  SO I’ve been stressed, my back has started to hurt and so on.  My grandma told me to go for a walk and I listened.  I jogged a lot of the way, only about 2 miles, but sometimes all I need is that push to remind myself how absolutely wonderful I feel after working out.  My back doesn’t hurt, my legs have that awesome sore feeling that I adore and my stress level has definitely decreased.  (Watching Modern Family while I work on things helps as well..).

If you’re looking for a way to relieve stress make time for a workout, even if it’s a half hour.  It feels so great.  And listen to your elders, they really do know best because Grandma was right, it was just what I needed. Yay endorphins!

Back to my website, reel, resumes and cover letters. Please keep me in your prayers for getting a job.  I pray every day for it, and wonder what God has planned for me but sometimes there’s just no need to know– everything will be ok.

 

P.S. I haven’t weighed myself since I left Michigan… not so good, but my clothes are baggy, so that’s a good sign. Like I said before, my grandparents eat like birds.

Long Day, Short Post

Went for a walk this morning. Drove through Joplin disaster. Made it to Tulsa.  Waited some tornados out. Watching Modern Family.

It has been an exhausting day, otherwise I would write more.  Eating hasn’t been so good today, but I’ve been pumping myself with sugar so that I don’t pass out… type O negative blood was much needed for the tornado victims so I donated. I was praying that I could because usually I can’t (being anemic).  My iron was just high enough to give.  Which makes me happy about my diet!!

Long day tomorrow, early wake up.  We’re headed to Albuquerque, New Mexico.

My Grandparents Eat like Birds

I’m moving to California tomorrow.

I’m moving in with my grandparents who I’ve rarely talked to in the last 20 years.  This should be interesting right? In fact, I talked to them on the phone yesterday for the first time in probably 15 years.  That’s really no exaggeration.  They asked me if a roll-away bed or an air mattress would be better.  They asked me what I ate and if I was a vegetarian.  I told them what I’ve been eating and they said “Oh! Well you’ll fit in here nicely!”

I’m sure I’ll have no problem losing weight living with them, they honestly eat like birds, but really so do I.  I feel like I eat a lot but my stomach has become tiny.  My stepdad says that I hardly eat anything.  That’s not exactly true, I eat all day, they’re just small meals packed with protein, carbs and healthy fats. I drink so much water that it actually becomes hard to get all of my dietary needs in (I get so full!)

I’m excited to go workout on the beach, to eat as healthy as I can and just enjoy the sunshine.  I’m happy to be doing this for myself.  To find myself.

On a side note I worked out today for the first time in 6 days.  I just didn’t get the time, ugh.  It would have been a great workout if I hadn’t eaten breakfast so close to it.  My stomach starting aching and I had to stop running after 10 minutes, but then continued intervals.  I still did a 5k under 40 minutes, so that’s something to be proud of.

Please pray for me! Pray for the people in Missouri whose towns were just destroyed by tornadoes (and that this doesn’t happen while I’m there and that if there’s some way for me to help, to guide me).

Luckily I like birds and am happy to eat like one.