A legendERI proposal...

Now that I've decided to take the step forward and reorganize my life, where on earth do I start? I guess it can start kind of how I started my first blog. I'll just jump right in and see where it all ends up. I'm going to try to keep true to my idea of mind, body, and soul, so if you notice me straying on one more than another after a while, check me on it!

Although I am feeling super ready to get going, I'll focus on one principle per post. Today, let's go with the body. Here's where I am, and maybe this scenario sounds familiar to you. When I was in high school, I was super active and never thought much about my weight. Don't get me wrong, I didn't flaunt my body around (much - you know how roaring teenage hormones are...) but I knew I wasn't in a bad place. But after years of college and binge eating and skipping meals and McDonald's Monopoly - What? You've gotta get the large fries then! I just look down and realize I'm not what I used to be. Yes I go up stairs and get out of breath a little, and no, I'm not proud of it. Most days I prefer sweats because they don't make me face the jeans that are just too tight and uncomfortable all day long. But you know what gets me the most?!? I'm a dance teacher for crying out loud! I teach kids that look up to me and follow everything I do. I should be a positive role model showing them how creating great physical habits now can translate into a long, healthy life.

It's so easy to say, "I should be," but what happens now? Now on to my legendary proposal as alluded by my title today.

The first thing that I'm going to do this year to improve myself is help my body. I guess you could look at it this way. Our bodies are cars, and when we put high quality fuel into it, we get higher mileage and less build up in our engines, or something like that. This week, I'm turning around my eating. I made meal plans that are healthy, homemade, and easy. I'm not that great of a cook (Bless my boyfriend's soul for putting up with it), so I found recipes that have only a few ingredients or can be put in a crock pot and forgotten about. Premixed packets are amazing time savers, like the absolutely delicious McCormick Slow Cookers Hearty Beef StewI made yesterday! I really found some great recipes in this Martha Stewart Everyday Food: Great Food Fastcook book, too. But the bottom line is, if we don't stick to it, nothing is gonna happen!!! Let's work together and get rid of all the processed foods, fast foods, and junk foods that we turn to so easily.  How about a homemade meal and time with those we love, instead? Yup, I think this is a great first change in the makeover of my life.  Who's with me?!?

Oh, and check out this website that I found. It's called My Fitness Pal (http://www.myfitnesspal.com/) and you can log food that you ate and exercise you did (that'll be next week's big change) to basically keep yourself in check. What I like about it is the little ticker that I got at the bottom of this screen. As I update my food intake and weigh-ins, my ticker will show the progress right on the website!  My personal goal is to lose thirty pounds.  Not by a certain time frame, but eventually.  How did I decide on thirty pounds you ask?  Well, after looking at my BMI  > the Body Mass Index (http://www.bmi-calculator.net/), I was ranked in the high end of overweight, almost obese!  If I lose thirty pounds, I'll be back in the healhy range and not just look better, but feel better, and more importantly, function better!  You should get an account at My Fitness Pal, too!  Keep me posted on your progress, and include your ticker in the comments so we can accomplish our goals together!  And for you tech-savvy, phone freaks, they have an app so you can update on the go.  Don't worry, I'm one of those phone freaks, too.

So, what do you say?  Let's make these changes now and stick with them! Improve my body - CHECK!