Day 623: A New Day One

Lunch time post! If I don't do this entry this very second, I'll never do it, and I'll just have another thing to regret for the day. We can't have that, now can we?

I haven't blogged since freaking October 5th of last year. Three months. I wasn't much more or less busier than I was when I first started this blog in 2012 either. Sure, it was colder, and the sun went down earlier, and the holidays happened, but what was my REAL excuse? Nothing.

So I've decided to start over again, but not because it's a new year or because I made any resolutions or anything like that. It's just time to finish what I started on April 25th of 2012. It's time to be a healthier and happier person again!

The most I've ever weighed (to my knowledge) was 160 pounds when I lived in College Station. I never intend to get that heavy or be that unhappy ever again. My highest weight during this journey was 150 pounds on April 25th, 2012 when I started. The lowest weight I reached was 133.4 pounds, and that was wayyyy back at week 30 on November 22, 2012. I'm currently back at 141.2 pounds as of last night.

See it. Accept it. Move on, and try again.

Thankfully, I haven't been completely idle over the past few months, but I've been stuck at around 140 pounds since October, which is probably a big part of why I stopped blogging for so long. I would run on the treadmill three nights one week, then skip about two weeks, then go back. I even biked to Subway a couple of times at the end of last year during my lunch hour. The pre-tinier pants blog Melanie would have never done that.

I know I made both horrible and terrific eating decisions between October, my trip with Nick to Burbank, the holidays, and now, but everything I've done has been so inconsistent, and I know that's the biggest reason why I gained.

Free cookies & hot chocolate from
Walt Disney Animation Studios' screening of Frozen
in Burbank, CA

Christmas w/ my parents & Nick
after a big sushi dinner

At the very indulgent & fun annual
Whitlow Christmas party

On the bright side, at least I was able to maintain instead of gain more over the holidays, right? I do still feel very sluggish and awful from eating all the things I've had since the holiday season began in November, though, and I'm pretty relieved that the holidays are done. The only thing I miss is getting to sleep in until 8:30 or 9 every day during the two weeks I had off of work.

My latest favorite healthier eats as of late are sauteed spinach, turkey chili, or roasted Brussels sprouts. It's been very cold for Southeast Texas lately, so eating cold salads just has not been very appealing. If anyone has any ideal/easy/inexpensive warm weather healthier dishes, please feel free to share them!

Brussels sprouts tossed with olive oil, balsamic vinegar,
kosher salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
Bake them at 425°F (218°C) for 25 minutes!

Crock pot turkey chili!
Click this LINK for the recipe.
I don't really like beans, so I didn't add any,
but it was still delicious!

I also got a Keurig on Cyber Monday, so I've
been enjoying lots of green tea. Anyone have any
suggestions to where I can get good, affordable
loose green tea leaves so I don't have to spend
$$$ on K Cup green tea???

I have less than one month until my 30th birthday, and I want my 30's to be the best decade of my life so far. I feel like I'm doing a mediocre job of living my last days as a 20-something, so I must do something to change that! I have a feeling that I've got lots of big changes in store for me this year. Here's hoping that the majority of them are for the better!

Today is a new day one. Let's go.