Race to Abs

So my boyfriend challenged me with a Race to Abs. The point of the challenge is whoever gets abs (ahem, or the 'best' abs) by June 2014, gets one wish-- absolutely anything and the other shall grant it. The prize isn't all that exciting or motivating for me since there is nothing I would need to use the wish for. My wishes are so small, if not nonexistent, that they're granted when it's the right time.

In order to whip up an exceptional amount of motivation, I'm going to use my blog to track my progress. My plan is to take a picture of myself once a week in my underwear and post it here. If you want me to include my meals and workouts, I can though they always vary. 

Now, you know Christmas is just around the corner and I'll be heading home to PSL on Monday and staying until Friday-- so that's a challenge in itself; being vegetarian in my parent's house is about as hard as getting Rinpoche to play with his plastic balls with bells inside (if it's made for a cat, he mostly doesn't want it). 

Thinking about it, this Race to Abs is a bit different for me. This sort of goal has never been on my list before just because I thought I'd have to give up my sweet treats entirely. Well, that and I've just never had the desire to actually go for a sculpted core. I've just always wanted to be healthy and fit (and I actually don't consider a sculpted core to be a mandatory part of the fitness image). 

While my main fat store is indeed my lower abdomen, a small portion of sweets once a week won't hurt-- as long as I portion and balance my meals for the rest of the week.

So, challenge accepted, baby. Challenge accepted. Here's my photo for this week. Day 1.

Annnnnnd there's Rinpoche wondering what I'm doing. Hehe I guess I'll be taking pictures of him as well. He never allows me to go to the bathroom without him. 

I'll only post these measurements now and then at the end. I'll keep a record in Excel just to see my progress and give me that push towards the end. 

40" shoulders

33.5" chest

29" under bust

9.5" biceps

27" waist

31" belly button

37" hips

38" butt

21" thighs

13.75" calves

Alright let's do this! 

Hello There, World

It's been quite some time since my last post. I've allowed myself to be engulfed in Vampire Diaries via Netflix, along with a few other shows available to me through Xfinity. While I do indeed enjoy these shows, I look up from this screen and I see my tea untouched, my homework piled, my other half immersed in Dr. Who or Minecraft. I see the world that we, as people, seem to make into a medium rather than the actual fruit of our lives. We walk to class, the library; we go on a trip to Disney World, but are we really there 100%? How much of our lives do we spend on Facebook or watching marathons of shows and movies?
Let me say it again, there is nothing wrong with enjoying your favorite show or movie but what happens when we delve so deep that we wake up wondering whether we're finally going to find out exactly how Elena Gilbert becomes a vampire instead of wondering if it'll rain today-- or even what we will do to fill in the time between what absolutely needs to be done?
I am guilty of allowing myself to fall down a self-made rabbit whole of obsession. I've kept up well enough with my homework and yoga but I haven't breathed life into my work or loved habits... they simply were routine.
So. This is me admitting to the world this obsession.
This is also me apologizing to myself. Life is short and by dedicating far too many hours to the computer screen, I've missed out-- or, at least, potentially missed out. I may not have missed out one week but when I finally come up for air from this obsession, I see responsibilities that need to be cared for. They could have been cared for earlier to keep room open for new experiences but instead they were spent ogling Damon Salvatore. I don't want to miss out. I don't want to live through a television show. I want to breathe fresh air and meet new people, make mistakes, and feel everything that comes along with the experiences.
I need to work on moderation. Moderation with television shows as well as sweets. Two birds with one stone.
So here's to more time spent on assignments and projects, trying new recipes, reading, writing blog posts, taking pictures, exercising, and spending quality time with Alex. I wish you all the same and best.

Namaste.

Self-motivation

On mornings after a work out, I often wake up and see me as myself in the mirror. It's not that I don't see me, it's just that I really see me-- I see a transformative person who knows that life is full of change. If life is change then I can choose the changes.

I've come a long way from being that chubby girl who didn't know anything about nutrition. Looking back, I see that it was all necessary for me to become who I see in the mirror now-- and I see someone who knows Truth and can make happiness. 

There are too many aspects of life to be happy about to focus on only the sad. Viva la vida. 

It's an I-Feel-Like-A-Bad-Ass Morning

I hope everyone's having a lovely Friday!

It's the start of another weekend and, while mine is sure to be laden with studying for Midterms, there's  no need to neglect our best friend, the gym.

Yesterday was a rest day for me but I found that I regretted not going to the gym. I was so antsy that the first thing I did this morning was head on over to the Leach. No more gym-skip days. I must do something every day-- can't allow myself to count going to class.

Today was arm and abs day for me at the gym, though, any day could be ab day.
I did biceps, triceps, shoulders (from all angles), ab-twists, weighted side bends, lower back lifts, and everyone's best friend, plank.
Since I've added weight training into my routine, I've noticed everything from yoga to doing a plank is easier. I carry my laptop in my backpack with significantly less struggle than before. I'm only a month or so into my new habits and I'm already feeling more confident, energized, and focused.
If you want to make a change in your life, this is definitely one to make. Start with just a quick workout or yoga routine every morning for 15 minutes. Yes, just 15 minutes. This will help you transition into a healthy motivated mind set.
Give it a try and let me know how it works for you.

Food (because I can't not talk about it)

• Pre-workout Fuel: Water + Hummus on Whole Grain Toast
• Recovery: 1 yolk & 2 egg whites, scrambled +  my fancy oatmeal

Fancy Oatmeal Recipe (as pictured in my Wake Up Call post):

1/2 cup instant oatmeal
cinnamon
honey
pinch of salt
Tbs ground flax seed
1 sliced banana
Raisins (optional)
Almond Milk (just about drown everything in the bowl)

Microwave for 2 minutes and let sit for a few.
Dig in and Mmm!

Motivation Motivation Woo!

Whatever your goal is, keep feeding the fire within. You must nurture your desires and keep them close in order to feast on success. I believe in you.

Chaturanga

I am still working on my Chaturanga but lately my form has been getting much better from practicing it every morning! When you don't think you'll ever get it, stop and observe but, most importantly, keep trying.
If the little giggle about t-rex's short arms isn't enough of a push of encouragement, here is an inspiring video of a man who ignored those who said it wasn't possible.

Burst!

When I'm in the last few minutes of my workout, I find it most motivational when I have a kick-ass song playing and my own personal mind-push: "you can do this, these are but a few moments of your life that will shape what follows." I believe I have found one of the most awesome almost-done-workout songs. When it popped up on Pandora, I felt like I was running away from or struggling to fight a monster.

Doomsday by Nero

Like a phoenix, burn today and flourish tomorrow.

Enjoy, and keep going!

Finite and infinite

To begin you must first take a step. Images like the one following always give me a nudge because I remember it is POSSIBLE.
I'm really going to kick things up a notch this time. No excuses.