World According to Shia

When planning to pack my lunch, I turn to my trustworthy friend Google to find some ideas - only to be put off by the complicated looking bento boxed lunches. Sure this all looks great and I would love someone to pack me one of those healthy and perfect looking lunches, but let's face reality ~ I'm the one packing it and chances of it coming any close to one of those is slim to none.    Of course, p acking your lunch is healthier for you than fast food options but it is also cheaper than buying lunch everyday. So packing is a double winner in my book. So how can I get this rolling?     First, set a goal of how many days a week you want to pack your lunch. I set my goal for 4 days a week with Fridays open to have lunch with friends since there is always someone wanting to meet up for a chat and a bite to eat. Last week was my first successful week - I packed Monday - Thursday and had a great lunch on Friday with a group of friends. Also, since I hadn'...

1) Get your head in the game! Weight loss doesn't happen without dedication.  You have to have the mindset to get it done.  I've said in the past that motivation for me is like a light switch ... when it's on it is ON.  Even though motivation is one of the key things you need ~ you also need patience, understanding, time, and willpower.  You have to make a commitment to yourself and stick with it. 2) Track your progress! Tracking keeps you honest to yourself.  Without tracking you can sabotage yourself into overeating.  For example, tell me EVERYTHING you ate on Friday off the top of your head, not so easy right?  Also, there are tons of apps out there that you can quickly track or you can do it the old fashion way of writing it down.  Find what works for you and do it daily.  Also, as a rule I normally track my whole day in the morning.  Breakfast, Lunch, Snack & Dinner.  This also keeps me in track.  I can b...

You were once great work out buddies.... you took me though countless miles of walking and running. You helped me train for the first 5k I ran...you   recently helped me train to walk the River Run.   I think about the time when we first met... I felt like I was running on pillows  and your breathable fabric was great for hot summer days. But now you have turned mean...you are uncomfortable. You give me foot pains, shin splint and sore ankles. I now feel like I am wearing bricks tied to my ankles. I'm sorry you grew mean as you got older... it has been over 2 years since we met.... BUT SILVER LINING.... at least you still look pretty damn good for your age! I can't wait for my new work out buddies to get here! Aren't they AWESOME?? Asics Noosa Tri 7 So realistically when do you replace your running shoes? So I did a little googling and found several articles that state you shouldn't keep shoes any longer th...

In an article in Shape magazine last month ~ I read that Walnuts can help with weight loss and that you should eat some after working out.  So I have incorporated them into my lunch.  This month Shape had an article about foods that improve your moods and walnuts made the list.  Apparently they help promote your brain to make more serotonin.  Once I read that I was convinced that my new zen like state of mind at work is working because of the walnuts. I did a little googling (of course) and found out that walnuts also help reduce headaches, help with bone health, prevent gall stones, stimulates production of melatonin (for better sleep), the omega 3 promote brain cell health for better concentration and lowers hyperactivity.   The list goes on and on for walnuts and you don't have to eat a huge amount of them.  You can eat one handful a day to gain all of the benefits. I have had a better mood and even less headaches since I have b...

So I have been thinking about motivation a lot lately.  Right now I feel EXTREMELY motivated in my current weight loss goal but I feel like often motivation in general is like a light switch for me...when it is on it's ON and when it's off it might as well be glued in the OFF position.  So what gets me motivated?  I let things get to the breaking point then I give myself a jolt and get it all fixed. This time I want to break that cycle.  I want to keep that light switch on for good! What keeps me motivated?  I honestly feel like no matter what you need motivation to do...once you start doing it and make progress the ball just keeps rolling until you stop it.   Eliminate negative thoughts.  Stop saying you can't...you can!   Besides...have you even tried? Make what you are doing your biggest goal.  If you truly care or  want something bad enough you will make it happen. There is no shame in celebrating small mil...

So don't we all seem to always have a million things going on?  Well last year around this time I gave a little update (click HERE ) as to what was swirling around in my mad brain of mine so I thought there is no time like the present to do this again...perhaps it will get me back on track of some things I have let slip (ahem blogging...lol). 1) Writing ~ With great strides come great pauses...I guess.  I feel like writing has totally tanked for me lately. But instead of focusing on the pause...I'll tell you about the strides.  So first, I now have 134 followers!  I still can't believe I hit 100!  I thank all of you that read and comment.  It truly means a lot to me.  Also, I have written one article and it was published online.  I was pick of the day over on Bloggers.com and I've gained about the same amount of followers over there.  Also, with my blog, I feel like I have made great friendships! 2) Exercise More ~ Imagine there w...

Self image is how you see yourself. Self image includes: how you perceive your appearance - which can be different that how others view your appearance. how you perceive your personality  how you perceive what kind of person you are how you perceive others like you how you perceive your status Is self image and self esteem the same thing?  No.  Self esteem is how you feel about yourself.  Self image is how you see yourself and how you believe others see you.  They are closely related but not the same thing.  If you have a poor self image it can also make your self esteem low. Self image is all about your perception.  How you perceive yourself is important because it affects behavior, thinking and relationships. Your perception of yourself may differ from how others  actually see you.  Your perception of you is influenced by inner thoughts  and beliefs.  You can have a distorted...

We all know that it is called beauty rest.... but do we really get enough of it? Here are a few tips I read recently and have tried to implement for better sleep... 1) UNPLUG! ~ Apparently, electronics such as laptops, ipads and smartphones emit a blue hue that mimics daylight which stops your body from producing the sleep hormone melatonin.  So for healthy z's unplug an hour before you go to sleep.   2) Less caffeine ~ sounds like a no brainer ... right?   Did you know that caffeine can stay in your system for 12 hours...so when you have it at 3pm it interferes with sleep.  Who knew it lasted that long? 3) Make your bed ~ a messy room and bed can make you feel stressed and restless. 4) Get up on weekends ~ Sleeping in on the weekends can throw off your sleep cycle and cause insomnia.  If you want to sleep in ... aim for just one hour past your weekday wake up time. 5) Scents...

So I rarely drink anymore.  It's even become a joke around the office that it is against my religion.  Which seems odd because if someone says they don't drink don't you automatically think...recovering alcoholic?  Well neither are in my case, I just feel like I have outgrown drinking.  It seems like something I did when I was in that appropriate time of my life which now seems extremely stupid. So anyways, last Saturday I helped a friend move and she gave me a bottle of champagne that she was just going to toss out.  So Saturday night, Paul and I popped open the bubbly.  He immediately gasped and commented on how horrible it was and I thought...eh...not too bad.  Needless to say, I drank the entire bottle minus a couple of sips from Paul.  Sunday morning, I woke up and felt fine.  I was shocked.  I thought for sure I would be sick from drinking that much and not being used to it.  Hangovers are the worst and definit...

So, I have been tired all week and the dreary weather is definitely not helping.  I've literally felt like I was in a haze all week.  It also doesn't help that I've cut out a lot of caffenine this week, too.  But seriously, if I am tired and being unproductive from being tired (not blogging enough!!) something needs to be done so here are some things I am going to change. Get ready for bed before bed.  I normally take showers at night before I go to bed and then I can't go to sleep right away.  The shower essentially wakes me up.  So from now on I am going to shower after dinner so when I wind down for the evening I don't rush around getting ready for the morning. I need a bedtime.  Look growing up we all hated having a bedtime but seriously we need one.  We need to get X amount of sleep a night to function the next day.  I need to start going to bed sooner.  I wonder what my "bedtime" should be...I'm pretty sure ...

So you know me I’m always on some healthy kick. Well I read that Vitamin c can help you lose weight. Apparently it acts like a fat blocker and studies have showed that people who kept their usual routine but added 500 mg of Vitamin C lost weight. I have vitamin C at home and at work so I don’t forget to take it. I’ll keep you posted with my results.  I also recently read that you can lose weight by drinking (2) 8 oz glasses of water right before you eat a meal. Common sense folks…the water takes up space in your stomach and you get fuller faster. Also, snacking can be cured with water. A lot of people confuse thirst for hunger. Also the more water you drink the less likely you are to drink soda, juice, Starbucks, etc. Water also fights fight bloating – even if you feel full from drinking the water within an hour or so you’llbe less puffy because the water flushes out salt and toxins.

So back in November I wrote a post about all the things on my internal to do list.  Well the only way anything is ever going to get checked off is if I keep on it.  So here is an update. Writing - I feel like recently I totally have stepped it up with my blog.  I just love the updated format.  I love my new quotes and I love love LOVE the link within feature.  Taller has had this on her blog for awhile however I never bothered putting it on mine because my posts don't always contain pictures so I didn't think it would work. But it does!!!  I love it!  Often I look at it and I am like wow that was a cool post.  So I hope it helps you enjoy my blog even more.  As for writing, my biggest dream is to be a freelance writer.  I've been doing some research on how to get published and I am going to start testing the waters.  I have a great topic in mind and I am going to start doing my research and write a kick ass article and try to get ...

So I would think that if people I know were asked to describe me that they would say that I am the most motivated goal oriented person that they know. However, even I have a mental "to-do list" that I feel guilty about not doing. Things on that list: Writing - I need to write MORE !  If only I could just plug a USB port into my brain and transfer all of it to the blog. Exercise more - Taller and I run/walk almost every weekday at lunch - but I feel like I need to do MORE! Work LESS - NO MORE OVERTIME!  JUST GO HOME LIKE EVERYONE ELSE DOES! Weekend woes - I feel like I need more motivation on the weekends - because I'm on "mileage restriction" ( click to see blog post ) I feel like now I am turning into a sloth on the weekends.  I watch TOO MUCH TV! Get a hobby - I don't think I have ever been able to answer the question "what are your hobbies?"  Any suggestions?  No....NO SCRAPBOOKING!!! Save MORE money - The "J" Fund ( click to s...

Kashi Go Lean Toasted Berry Crumble So all you see on TV at the moment are these commercials that this cereal has as much protein as an egg and will keep you fuller longer.  Well folks, I bought some and honestly one day in and I am a believer.  First off let me say that I HATE HATE HATE cereal.  I just feel like it is a waste of calories and you get such a tiny amount for the serving size listed on the box for nutrition facts.  But I thought I would give this one a try since it states it has all this protein perhaps just eating at 3/4 cup of cereal will work.  And it DID!  Plus it was mighty tasty.  I got the one pictured above and it had cranberries and blueberries in it.  It was awesome.  I am totally adding this to my healthy new lifestyle...now if it would only go on sale...it was like $4.00 or so for the box...hello PRICEY!