Soooooooo I'm REALLY bad at bothering to blog in a timely manner these days. In my defense, I don't think I've ever spent so much time doing homework and studying in my life--especially not on this regular of a basis. Legit.

Anyway. I biked approximately 3 miles on Sunday night because I finally remembered to bring my bike back to Grand Forks with me. That felt pretty good. At least until yesterday morning, when I went to bike to class and FELT IT the whoooooooole way. Not in a bad way, though. Not really.  I think I'm going to do it again tonight.

I might have done it last night, too, except that I went over to a friend's apartment Sunday night and ended up staying there til like, 6.15 a.m. So I was up til at LEAST 6.30, and was up again by 9.30. I was fricking tired yesterday. I took like a 3 hour nap after classes (at least) and then went to bed super early (for me) and got up at 7 to do my homework instead of staying up late. And........ I'm glad I did it that way.

Today I feel okay. Kinda weird? But alright.


Either way, I think I'm going to work out later. I might bike (the long way) over to the Wellness Center and then work out for awhile. Maybe. I might just bike. It's hard to say. I'm super fickle that way. Go figure.

Updaaaaaate

Kay. So last Wednesday  I went on a run. Ran 18 blocks, thank you. Aaaaaat like. 10:30. 11:30 at night. Whichever it was. I forget. Anyway. It went well. I enjoyed it.

I also got roped into playing volleyball on an intramural team. So on Thursday we practiced for like, an hour and a half and then we played and then I went to the wellness center and biked 2.5 miles. IN TEN MINUTES.
Be proud of me, you bastards.

Okay, not really. I'm sorry. You don't have to be proud of me at all. I probably don't really deserve it.

I didn't do jack shit over the weekend. And I don't even feel bad about it. So there.
Oh... I guess I did do something... but uh... it doesn't count.
Never mind.

And TODAY!!! Today I ran 2.7 miles. RAN. I didn't jog it. I ran it. And NOW you should be proud of me because that's ridiculous. 2.7! It kinda hurt but I enjoyed it. And now I stink. Like... really bad. hahahah. I need to go shower SO BAD.

I'm doing that now. So. Kay bye.

--Emily

So Starting Anew

Alright. So. Gained 15 pounds over a week and a half. Awesome work, right?  I was on vacation--fuck off.

I've lost it. So I'm back down to where I had been. Maybe just a LITTLE under that. I need to go buy a scale. I... actually, I think I'll go do that (because Target closes at 10) so that I can run when I get back. Since... I decided I'll actually start doing that now...
Yeah, that sounds like real dedication right there, doesn't it?

The truth is, my desire to be smaller is still present, but I just have so many other things going on that it's kind of fallen by the wayside. So I'm still eating decently and I take the stairs instead of the elevator and I power-walk to all of my classes--which are at least three blocks away from my dorm, fyi.

so I went and bought a scale. According to that $8 piece of high-tech equipment, I weigh 171 pounds. Which is... embarrassing. But fuck you for cringing, alright? I'm 5' 8 1/2" and have a big[ish] frame. And that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Anyway. I'm going to go for a run before it gets too damn late here. And then I'll do my homework. And so I'll be up late regardless. Oh. Well.

I also found this particularly bomb website that has a page that gives you exercises that target whatever areas  you're after. So like, they've got particular exercises to work the insides of your thighs, or your sides, or your tummy, or your arms, or your calves, etc. It's great. I like it.

I don't think I have anything else to babble about. But I'm starting over. You aren't getting a picture tonight I don't think. Forget it. Not happening. Maybe after a week. I haven't changed any since the last pictures, save for my hair color. And that's negligible. So there.

Kay bye.

Days 10-21

Day 10
I didn’t go running. In fact, I don’t really recall having done anything. But that was a few days ago now, soooooo… anything’s possible, really. It’s hard to say. I know I MEANT to go running… but then it got dark and I didn’t make it. C’est la vie. That’s all I’ve got.
I probably didn’t eat very well either. Whatever.

Days 11, 12, 13
I was travelling these days. Therefore you and I both know that I don’t even have to admit to neglecting to travel or that I seriously neglected my diet. Because, like, duh? Hello.
I sat in a car all day on Day 11. We got out to use the bathroom and to eat. We finally got to a hotel and eff no I didn’t go work out. For one thing, the only “shoes” I brought are Converse, and they were in the wrong bag. So whatever.
Day 12 I was a bit more active because we made a handful of stops in places to look at things and shop and stuff, but even so. We stayed at my great-aunt’s. Those two words—hyphenated though they may be—should say exactly what happened:
Food.
Lots and lots of food.
HOWEVER! We did go to a mall and I did a shit-ton of walking around because I had to find a store that had jeans for a price I was willing to pay because the ones I was wearing sucked. And I needed/wanted new ones.
For the record: Aeropostale.
Day 13 we finished the drive from Spokane to Seattle after the most amazing breakfast ever. In my defense, I did eat a bunch of fruit, which is good for me.
Confession: I ate them with cream and sugar. The cream is still okay. The sugar? Less so. But I didn’t use a lot! So. Go away.
Again—no exercise. Are you kidding? Get real.
In Seattle, I ate at the most amazing 100% Authentic Greek Restaurant downtown. I can’t tell you what it was called because A) my keyboard doesn’t have those letters and B) I can’t even remember what order they went in. I don’t speak Greek. Shame, because it’s kind of a fun language.
And I ate WAY more than I should have and it was worth EVERY FATTENING BITE. No regrets. None whatsoever.

Day 14
Okay… so I think that this is today? Which is the 4th. But honestly, I could be off. I don’t have internet on the ship because they want an absolutely obscene amount of money for it and it’s just not worth it.
Yet.
Anyway. So as far as I know, this is Day 14. And I owe you a 2-week picture, but I don’t think you’re going to get it. Would you like to know why?
Food baby.
Yes, that’s right. I am absolutely swollen right now because I ate so much at supper. I will work out later… once I’ve digested… though it’s already 10.07, so maybe I’ll put that off until tomorrow morning. I’m getting a pedicure at 4, so… we’ll see. (That sounds so rich-person girly doesn’t it? I’m getting a pedicure on a cruise. What the hell? Hahaha I love it.) I do intend to work out this week, though.
Also, PSA: I’m ditching the diet this week. I’m on a cruise to Alaska, dammit. You don’t hold a muthatruckin diet on a cruise! Are you crazy? You should see this food!!
Amazing. All of it. Absolutely amazing.
So. Good.
And I get free ice cream. And I have a thingy for unlimited soda, “mock-tails” (cocktails sans-alcohol) and like, hot chocolate and milkshakes and stuff. Who the hell doesn’t take advantage of free ice cream?? Honestly.
So the diet’s gone out the window. I’ve resigned myself to the several major steps backward that this vacation will take me and I am 100% okay with that this time. Hahahahaha. SO WORTH IT.
At a time like this, you just have to weigh your options.
Diet… Cruise food.
If the latter doesn’t win for you, there’s a problem. Because this shit’s fabulous. And seriously, it’s already paid for, so I may as well just eat it. =P
I am ALL OVER that.
I’ll just have to actually WORK when I get home again. No problem. I’ll feel so damn guilty by the time this is over that I’ll do it.
In theory.

Day 15
I woke up early. Early enough to eat breakfast and monkey around for awhile and STILL have time to take a nap before noon. Like, seriously? What the hell?
I think I’m gonna have to start over with this project when I get home because it’s really going the wrong direction this week.
I was good for lunch, though! I had a salad! And it was yummy. Actually not all that much food, either. I’m probably going to go ruin the small success with ice cream. Best way to do it, you know.
Y’all are probs super disappointed in me right now.
Or obnoxiously jealous.
I’m gonna go with the latter because it makes me giggle instead of sigh. And I’m on vacation, dammit. I’ma giggle.
Even if I’m wrong.
Which I’m not.
=P
I haven’t worked out yet. But there’s all kinds of time. I just don’t want to shower again yet. So I’ll do it later. Probably after the illusionist tonight. (= And there’s pools, so once I get over the fact that it’s cold out there I’ll probably go swimming, too. Hahaha. I’m just being a baby because it’s cold.
We’re out on the open ocean and it’s cold. Go figure. Lol.
FYI—I swam 10 laps in the pool. (= And it felt pretty damn good. Though… I feel super old now, because my shoulder joints pop funky while I’m doing a backstroke. No me gusta. A no todos.

Day 16
I actually didn’t eat all that much. No, really!
We went whale watching, so there really wasn’t that much time for eating, hahaha.  If you want to hear about that, you’ll have to go look in Personal Notes. There’s a HUGE post about my vacation there. No, literally; HUGE.
I wasn’t feeling very well last night, though, so I went to bed early instead of going to do something. I’m not sure what my problem was. But my sleep cycle’s been TOTALLY disrupted. So. That’s likely at least one culprit.
And I walked around Juneau quite a bit. So there.
Day 17
I have been up and on my feet SO MUCH today. Has to count for something. I dunno. I don’t want to talk about a whole lot that doesn’t pertain to this here since I’m doing it on my other blog anyway. Hahaha.
But I took a bath, and I’m all clean and happy and comfy and I smell good. So I’m not about to go work out. Besides the fact that we did a TON of walking around so I think I’m good. Even though I’m… really not.
Whatever.
Eat it.
I’m definitely going to have to start over when I get home. Hahahaha. Oops.

Day 18
I am eating like a king.
Like Henry VIII.
Who ate… and ate… and ate…
He was aptly numbered.

I am not eating as much as Henry VIII, but I really am eating well. The food here is too damn good not to.  The diet restarts the minute I return home. I swear I’m going to super glue my lips shut or something. Liquid diet from here on out. Hahaha. Honestly, though, I’m going to have to diet super hardcore for a month just to recover from all this food. Gah.
I should go work out. It’s only a quarter to 10 here. I just… er… ate too much. Hahahaha. I don’t want to disturb it in there. Because expelling it in the fitness center would qualify as totally uncool. I don’t wanna be that guy.
Yes, I know that I am anatomically incapable of being that “guy” but I am metaphorically capable of being “that guy” and that’s what I’m avoiding.
So literal. Jeez. Live a little.

Day 19
I’m getting dangerously closer to the three week marker. I don’t think I’m going to give you a three week picture either. You’ll have to wait til I hit 4 weeks so I’ve got a little time to recover. This is ridiculous.
I’m pretty sure I’ve gained weight. Like, I’m positive that I am squishier than I was when this all started. That’s disgusting. I feel like a cow.
Moo.
I got some exercise today, though. I had to run halfway across town carrying a shit ton of stuff and up a steep gangplank and then up three flights of stairs and then run BACK. Hahaha. Not that big of a deal, really, buuuuuuuuuuut it was exertion, okay? Leave me alone. I’m fat, remember? Jeezez.

Day 20
Ohhhhh todayyyyy… yeah I’ve just taken a ton of stairs today. And walked around 2/3 the perimeter of the ship. Outside… yeah… really… aaaaand lunch wasn’t any big deal. One soda. So far…
I was gonna cut that shit out of my diet, wasn’t I? Yeah… about that… aheh heh…
And since we “disembark” in the morning, I highly doubt I’ll bother working out today. It just hardly seems worth it. I’m probably wrong. Somewhat misguided. But I’m on vacation, dammit. Leave me alone.

Day 21
I’m sitting in a car until I’m chilling at my great aunt’s. Girl’s gotta eat. Leave me alone.

Day 9

Day 9
I spent pretty much all of yesterday power cleaning. And while power cleaning isn't exactly working out, it's enough of a workout to count.
Okay, so not really. But I was on my feet and walking around all day, moving heavy things, scrubbing walls and the floor and pieces of furniture and sweeping and mopping and stuff. And the range of motions required for said actions counts as exercise. Light exercise, but nevertheless.

So I didn't run last night. After working all day long, I just wasn't in the mood for it. I should have. But I didn't. So whatever. I at least ate decently.

I'll post today [Day 10] later. When there's been more day to report. lol. So far I've eaten breakfast and gone to work. But at least I ate breakfast.
I keep saying "at least."  Yeah. That's about how this shit goes for me.

Day 8

Alright! Alright! I promised you guys a One Week Update picture. And as much as it kills me to have to post more half-naked pictures of my fat ass online?  Here we are.  Whatever.  Deal with it.  You're the one looking.

And, eventually, I guess that I'll be posting half-naked pictures of a skinnier ass. Eventually. In theory. At least that's the idea.

Been a good day. That's all you get. Ta ta.

Days 6 and 7

Day 6

Yesterday... yesterday... Yesterday I went to the dentist in the morning and had two fillings done. When I was done at the dentist, I went and found my mom at Home of Economy, where we shopped for stuff for a few more minutes and then went to go get lunch at Hardee's. So we ate lunch, and promptly upon finishing, my tooth starts shocking me. Like, super hot, super strong, but short electric shocks that spread throughout my body from my tooth.  And at first they were painful but not that big of a deal. I took Excedrin.
Mom and I went to WalMart for a couple things. We decided that we'd give my mouth some more time to come out of the anesthetic, figuring maybe my nerve was just waking up and unhappy about being tampered with. It was a pretty deep cavity, after all.
Pretty soon the shocks are getting stronger and more frequent. More intense. Finally I told my mom that we were going to have to go back to the dentist. So we checked out and went.  We called from the parking lot but got no answer. I feared the worst.
Upon our arrival at the office, in the parking lot my tooth [metaphorically] exploded. Simultaneously, I burst into tears. Now, you should know that I haven't cried over tooth pain since my mega-abscess in 3rd grade.  I don't just cry about physical pain.  It takes a lot for me.  But the nerve in my tooth was exposed, and the severe pain washed up over my face and around my skull, down the side of my neck and into my shoulder and chest.
I repeat: My tooth hurt in my CHEST. O_o

It was miserable; I'm telling you.

So I had to sit in my car for 45 minutes while I waited for my dentist to get back so that we could do an emergency root canal on tooth 12, for anybody who knows anything about dental work. It's tooth 12.
Finally I went back inside and sat in the chair. My dentist eventually shows up and shoots my mouth full of novacain. Again.  When he came back in, he was literally in my mouth for a total of 4 minutes and then he was done. And the pain was gone. All gone. My face was numb, granted; but still.

Therefore, all of my afternoon plans were instantly cancelled.  My mom told me that it was gonna take a lot out of me and I wasn't gonna wanna go anywhere. I didn't really believe her because, at the time, I totally felt fine. Great, even!
Only... then we got home... and I wasn't feeling quite so great. So... I took some ibuprofen just in case and went to go take a nap.
Mom woke me up for supper. So we ate... Grilled cheese and homemade tomato soup, btw. Best stuff EVER.  And I got done eating, and I'm sitting there thinking, "Uhhh... bedtime... damnit."

So it's definitely a really good thing I didn't go anywhere yesterday.
Consequently, I also used my dental work as an excuse to avoid running... Only I think I actually did go run my driveway (it's a mile to the mailbox and back) because I'm positive it was last night I got swooped by the bat...
I think?
I totally DO NOT REMEMBER anymore. Drugs. They totally screw with you. Uff-dah.
So: diet mostly intact. Exercise: maybe. Probably.

Day 7
Technically this means I'm supposed to post a picture doesn't it?  I did tell you I would rephoto at Day 7 so that it'd be once a week. But uh... We'll make it Day 8 so I can put it off a bit more. =P
Today I walked a mile with my mom. It was a pretty slow walk, but nevertheless.
And then I went to the fair and ate cheese curds. And deep-fried oreos! hahahaha.  Yes, I really am aiming for the heart attack option.
So today: diet: SCREWED. Exercise: morning mile plus an hour of strolling around the fair (taking pictures and stuff).  Definitely not enough to reconcile the crap I consumed today.
But it was SO worth it.

Also, I feel like I should come clean about 2 things:
1. I'm mostly  putting off taking the picture tonight because I've been in bed the whole time I'm writing this. I don't sleep in pajamas (far too much information for public eye, but whatEVER). And I'm too damn tired/lazy to go downstairs to the family room and relocate my camera, bring it upstairs, put on the appropriate clothing, take pictures, cut them, put them together and then post them.  It's not worth it. Y'all can wait to see... bleh... tomorrow.
2. I haven't been doing abs workouts in the mornings. Not even once so far.  I mean to. Sometimes I even set my alarm for it. But I don't sleep enough to have the motivation to start my day with that much physical activity. It simply isn't worth it for me.  This process is going to keep taking longer and longer the way that I'm going about it, but at least I'm doing something. Making any effort is better than making no effort.  And I'm starting to feel better, thanks to the exercise, so at least I have that.
It's amazing what some added oxygen to the muscles can do.

I'm considering seeing about an athletic trainer when I move to Grand Forks. I know that MSU had trainers that you could get to help you, and I know they were free--because my roommate had one.  I just don't know about UND.  It's possible. I'll look into it. Whether or not I actually employ one? Another matter entirely.  But it's a thought.

So. Picture tomorrow; promise. Not sure why you'd want it. But you'll get it anyway.

That's what I've got.
It's been a week of pretty much NO progress.  Joy of joys.

I would be more optimistic about this because I think optimism would help, but I'm not exactly in the brightest of spirits at the moment. So. Cynicism because I know myself too well. There ya go.

Ta ta.
--Emily Renae

Days 3, 4, and 5

Day 3

I went to the fair.  This should tell you right off the bat that this project got fucked 6 ways from Sunday.  I ate Greek stuff--which was AMAZING but probably super bad for me--and a milkshake and candy from booths in commercial buildings (only a little) and a full soda. And then we went home and ate pizza.
IN MY DEFENSE I was walking around in the super-heat for about 6 hours.  So... it probably cancels a bit of that out, right?  I doubt it, but I'm going to say it does because it makes me feel a little bit better. hahah.

Day 4
I didn't do jack shit yesterday.  Honestly.  I didn't get up and work out.  I didn't take my antihistamine or my multivitamin and I didn't run at night.  And I drank soda.  TA DAAAA! This is how this is going to go.  One step forward and two steps back.  I did walk a mile with my mom, though.  And I did a bunch of cleaning in my room. (Which is what I'm supposed to be doing now.) So at least there was that.  Hardly counts as anything, but it is something.

Day 5
Uh... yeahhh... Considering the last two days?  I'm not posting a picture today. Absolutely not.  I doubt I'll go every five days anyway.  Maybe once a week.  That sounds more reasonable.  I have two more days to catch back up with my bad habit(s).
Even though... uh... I'm going back to the fair on Wednesday... Sigh. #Facepalm.  and I'm going to be even dumber then!  Because that's just how I roll. lol.
Welcome to my life.

I have a feeling this cruise isn't going to be nice to me either.

But I am intending to run tonight.  I'll desperately need a shower by tonight anyway, so I may as well earn that bugger.

This is about as hard as I knew it'd be.  Maybe I'll get a personal trainer at UND to help me.  We'll see what happens.


I think that having to admit to the public that I have horrible nutritional/health habits is enough to keep me in a 'moving forward' motion.  I mean, yeah, I screwed up the last couple days, but that's life.  The fact that I'm not giving up with "this is too much for me to accomplish" kind of says something.  I've done it almost every other time (though not quite this early yet, I don't think).  so we've already made progress!

Or something like that.

--Emily

Day 2

I hereby claim an exemption from any abs workouts to take place in the morning following a night during which I do not sleep.
Last night, I finally went to bed somewhere around 1ish or something like that and proceeded to toss and turn and shift and wiggle and fidget and overheat and freeze and be tired but AWAKE GODDAMNIT until approximately 5.30 this morning. Or somewhere in there. I don't really remember.
So when I woke up at 7.30 to do the morning portion of my new workout schedule, having slept a grand total of like, an hour and a half (because the sleep was not continuous in that 2 hour period), I said "screw that shit" and didn't get up.  Of course, my alarm kept going off every five minutes for me, just in case somewhere along the line I changed my mind. But I didn't.
And then I ended up late for work anyway.  So that kind of sucked.
But that's the situation.  I'm half a bottle of water down and lunch is in half an hour. I should have eaten breakfast but, as it was 9.05 when I left my house, I just didn't bother.  My mom offered me a peach, but I didn't want to make that big of a mess in my car.
Considering how my stomach feels, I probably should have.  Oh well.

Also, I decided that I'm only going to post picture(s) every five days. The next one will be on Day 5, 10, etc. Which I realize is 4 days and then 5 days, but whatever.  There don't need to be that many shirtless pictures of a pudgy Emily on the internet. There just don't.
So that's that.

Day 1

Here's the rundown.

Every day I'm going to do an abs workout in the morning and go for a run at night.  This project formed mid-afternoon, so it's started with a run.  The first pictures are prior to said run, therefore making them the Base picture.
I am not proud of this [picture].  In fact I'm extremely embarrassed.

But one has to start somewhere.