Day 6.

I know it would make sense for me to begin this blog with a post entitled "Day 1" but that would not be accurate and therefore I begin with "Day 6." 

Over the past couple of years, I have put on a few extra pounds but not enough to matter all that much to me until this summer. In June my boyfriend and I took a road trip across the country and for the entire month ate out at least once every single day. As you can imagine, this was not something that my figure appreciated and once I got home I determined that I was gaining too much weight and needed to get back in shape. 

Well, time passed and as I continued to eat whatever I wanted and rarely exercised, the pounds continued to creep on. I was reminded many times by my fitness-obsessed, kinesiology majoring sister that I was gaining weight and I needed to be healthy. (I know it was only out of love...)

Finally, in December, it really hit me that I needed to do something because while I still wouldn't have slapped the label of "Fat"on myself, I was definitely overweight for what a person of my height should be. I determined to take action. 

I decided the holidays wouldn't be the best time to start as I was constantly surrounded by delicious food and to not partake would just simply be scrooge-ish of me. I was home for the holidays and made the decision that the best time to begin my new way of life would be when I returned back to Lynchburg, where I currently reside. 

So, this past Monday, January 11, I began living fit. 

Over the weekend I had made sure to stock up on healthy food so that I could start eating a healthy diet once the week started. Here is a summary of my meals Monday and Tuesday:

Monday: Breakfast - One lowfat vanilla latte, a bowl of Cascadian Farms Organic cinnamon raisin granola cereal and a glass of orange juice. Lunch - A sandwich with oven roasted chicken breast, white american cheese and baby spinach leaves on whole wheat bread with 1/3 of a glass of Simply Rasberry Lemonade and a clementine. Dinner - sushi grade salmon and rice, veggie stir fry and teriyaki chicken.

Tuesday: Breakfast - One vanilla latte. (Should have had more, but I only ate breakfast twice this week. Trying to get in the habit of eating it every day.) Lunch - Oven roasted turkey breast, white american cheese, avocado and grilled onions on whole wheat, grilled. 10 bbq chips from trader joes and water. Dinner - Talapia basted with a little extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice and cilantro, boiled sweet peas and carrots and corn off-the-cob with the tiniest bit of butter for flavor. 

I don't want to go on and on about the food I ate all week, but that gives you a general idea. My goal is to eat healthy and low-fat and stop eating as soon as I am full instead of waiting until I am stuffed. 

On Monday, Luke and I went to the YMCA to start our 1-week trial membership that I got in the mail. I have been exercising for 30 minutes every day on the this elliptical-type machine (I'll get a name for it this week). I love this machine. I burn between 330-380 calories on it each day. Then I have been doing leg and ab workouts with nautilus machines to try and burn fat in those areas and strengthen and tone my muscles.

The first day at the gym I weighed in at 165 lbs. That is more than I have ever weighed in my life and I am determined to get at least back down in the 140s. It is not only important to me to be thin because it looks good, but also for my health. I want to be in shape so I can hike with my friends and keep there pace and enjoy life without constantly getting winded.

So, here I go - Living my life as I see fit.