Where I Run

     When starting a running regimen, it's very important to choose a place that suits you. If you're like me and you need scenery, I would recommend a wooded area. If you are all about convenience, you could just run near your house. If you live close to an outdoor track, that could be a nice place as well. I run in a park called Wintergarden near where I live. It's beautiful and it keeps the run pretty interesting.

     One of the best things about Wintergarden is that it has a soft trail, so it's less impact on my knees than an asphalt trail or track. It's also a pretty popular park so there are people waling through with their dogs. I am a dog lover so seeing them is the highlight of my run.

   
   One issue with running through a wooded area is MOSQUITOS!!! Today was the first time Kim and I ran after using bug spray and it was glorious. Normally, we would leave with about six mosquito bites each.

      Kim and I aren't experienced runners or anything, we started a few weeks ago and we're using the Couch to 5K app. If you are just beginning, I would definitely recommend it. 

Learning to Code

     When I was younger, my oldest brother used to play a "game" that consisted of him writing code all day. He refused to teach me how to do it (because I was 7), but I've always wanted to know how. It's something that I have added to my list of improvements because I've always been extremely jealous of the genius kids that design video games, websites, and apps. I have always been blessed with the ability to pick things up easily so I think I should at least have HTML mastered within the month. I understand that CCS will take a little longer but I am going to be persistent about this. I am not trying to design an app, website, or video game, I would just like to get a basic understanding of one of the fundamental parts of technology that I utilize on a daily basis. 

     I have begun using Code Academy, which is a free service that teaches the basics of writing code. I like the format so far, but I would like to try out some other programs as well. I will continue with this until I am proficient and have the ability to create a decent web page.

Religious Ramblings

I have also recently come to the realization that I can be extremely boring at times. I think it's because I chose the other extreme. I'll explain. After going overboard with partying and drinking my freshman and sophomore years of college, I completely swore off alcohol and fun. I don't equate drinking with having fun at all, but for some reason I decided a year ago that in order to be a good christian, I needed to swear off my friends, Family Guy, South Park, and being tolerant. After reading a few books I see that I have been an extremely hypocritical Christian. I am quick to judge others for their wrongdoings, but I don't even read the bible. I do lot's of bad stuff, and I haven't properly accepted the fact that my behavior isn't what makes me a Christian, it's the fact that Jesus is my savior. It's difficult when I see a lot of judgement. Iv'e been in the the church my entire life and some of the most crooked people I've ever met throw their hands up in worship on Sunday. I am one of these people and I am not judging (Yes I am but not on purpose) but I really don't think it's fair to say that Caitlyn Jenner is a terrible person for being transgender but Pastors and Deacons are allowed to cheat on their wives.  And for the record, I'm sure Caitlyn Jenner is a delight. I won't lie, some times I get confused and frustrated with God. I am told to be the light of the world but that can be a tall order. I am 20 years old and a part of me wants to be out making mistakes and stumbling the way the average 20 years old does. I can't help but feel like I'm missing out. A perfect example of this is Beach Reach. I went to PCB this past spring break with my church. Instead of playing beer pong on the beach with wasted shirtless white boys, I was passing out flyers about free van rides and pancakes being offered by our christian organization. As bad as it sounds, I was envious the entire time. I wanted nothing more than to be in the middle of it all (the partying), but I also loved the work I was doing. I couldn't help but feel like I was making a difference in these peoples lives. I do not regret going to Beach Reach at all. I think it was extremely important for me to see what was going on and feel the jealously I felt. I believe it was a Kairos moment and God was showing me that I needed to focus on him. It's something that I'll continue to struggle with but I'm working on it.

   

Working Out Fails, Money Saving,... and other ramblings.

     It's only been a two weeks and I've already fallen off the wagon. I haven't gone running in 4 days so I basically haven't gotten any exercise at all. It also doesn't help that I no longer have access to the campus gym, since I am not enrolled in summer classes. I have been doing extremely well with sticking to my calorie goals though. I am continuing to use MyFitnessPal and log all of my meals and snacks and i haven't gone over my limit. My lifestyle is still too sedentary. I have watched 3 seasons of Bones in the last week which shows that I spend far too much time in my room. I begin working soon which should help a lot.

     Another part of my Glow Up is expanding my mind. I am completely sure that I want to be a Clinical Psychologist and I am continuously seeking out literature and lectures on the subject. I have renewed my subscription to Oyster so hopefully I can continue my planned reading regimen. For the remainder of the summer I have set a goal of reading two books per week. I know that isn't possible when I am watching 10 episodes of Bones a day so that has to slow down tremendously.

     I get assigned my first work hours tomorrow and hopefully they schedule enough. I set a very large goal for how much I want to save this summer. Next year, I want to travel Europe with my cousin and since she is a real adult with a real job, saving will be much easier for her. I, on the other hand, must make sacrifices. I had a huge summer shopping list and now I am left evaluating the items to see which are actual necessities. Some things are non-negotiable however, like the copper flash lens Ray Ban Aviators. I need them and they will be my gift to myself once I have reached my first summer saving goal of $500. I have also recently come to the realization that I can not afford a puppy. Though I don't need one, I really want one but a dog does not seem practical at this time. Maybe upon being admitted to grad school I'll be ready for the commitment of a pet. For now, I'm not sure if I'll have the time or the funds.

   

Weight Loss and Eating Healthy

       I have been struggling with my weight since middle school. In the past, I've gone on weight loss kicks where I would go the gym twice, sometimes three times a day, but I never changed my unhealthy eating. I would burn almost 1500 calories a day on doing cardio alone, but I'd only lose one or two pounds a week, so eventually I'd give up. No one ever stressed the idea of healthy eating to me, so I assumed weight loss was all about working out. I subscribed to a YouTuber who chronicled her entire weight loss journey. She'd lived an unhealthy lifestyle and began by cutting out fast food. Her body changed drastically with that simple change. She then began eating healthier and in every video, she weighed less.
       I recently decided to take control of my life by way of eating healthier. Social Networking has been a huge help so far. Instagram, Pinterest, and Tumblr have been instrumental in my journey so far. Something else that has been helping a lot is the MyFitnessPal app. I log everything I eat and drink and I have a set calorie goal for every day. I continuously remind myself that I am not on a diet, I am making a lifestyle change. I have set plenty of goals for myself, my main goal is to lose 50 pounds before my 21st birthday. This will be a challenge, but I know I can do it.

Decluttering (Getting rid of toxic friendships)

Today I had the privilege of starting an amazing book about Decluttering your life. This book was written from a Christian perspective and it was extremely enlightening. What I found the most surprising was the emphasis on ridding yourself of negative friendships. The chapter about toxic relationships was extremely interesting. It got me thinking, are there people I'm wasting time on? Are there people who deserve my time and complete devotion who aren't getting it because I am wasting time trying to hold on to old relationships?  This is caused me to take inventory of my life. I realize that I treasure everyone, some of them more than they may deserve. Don't get me wrong, I love my close friends, but there are so many associates of mine that may be taking more than I should give. It was an extremely interesting thought and I'm very convicted by it. I think it's necessary for me to thin the herd a little. Points from this book may be continually mentioned throughout the blog in other posts, but this was what affected me the most today.