I have a problem finishing things. I have no end to the number of unfinished knitting projects, writing projects and other creative pieces floating around my laptop and my apartment. I am sure a good therapy session would explain my fear of finishing and my love of jumping into new things, but we don't have time for that here.
I was watching an episode of I Use to Be Fat (mentioned here on Tuesday) about an 18 year old boy form Illinois who lost 80 pounds over the summer before he started college. He was a sweet kid and looked and felt great when he had dropped the weight, but what struck me so much was this comment: "I am proud of myself, not just for losing the weight but for finishing something and not giving up."
I actually got a little teary. How often do I just give up or get bored or think I am wasting my time with so many things in life? More than I would like actually. So 2011 is going to be all about finishing things!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Online Grocery Shopping: Yes or No?
I have lived in a city for over 13 years now with no car and have never ordered my groceries online. I know people that have and I have been tempted to, but it has never happened.
This article on Wisebread has made me consider giving it a go.
Have you grocery shopped online? Pros? Cons?
This article on Wisebread has made me consider giving it a go.
Have you grocery shopped online? Pros? Cons?
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Watching Other People Lose Weight
I have already blogged about The Biggest Loser. I do continue to watch it from time to time On Demand and enjoy the finale when you get to see them all glammed up, but a couple new weight loss shows have hit the air in 2011 and I am going to tune in and see what they are like.
The first one has already begun and it is on MTV, yep going back to MTV, no more Alan Hunter and I am already sick of Jersey Shore just from the commercials, but the new show I Used to Be Fat has proven to be quite good.
This show focuses on 1 teenager a week, although 2 of the episodes had 18 year olds who had just graduated from high school, and follows them over the course of last summer as they worked with a trainer to lose serious amounts of weight.
Now a teenager's metabolism is firing on all cylinders and I do not watch for tips for myself, but the emotional issues of overweight teens is something I greatly sympathize with and I have found the stories very touching. I give MTV props for making this show very real and not too flashy, I hope it helps other teens.
Last night A&E premiered their new show Heavy. I have it sitting on the DVR but did not watch it last night. I actually saw a trailer for this show at the movie theatre. It is not a game show like The Biggest Loser, it follows 2 people each week through their full transformations, so you get the gratification of seeing their results every week. The people shown in the trailer were severely overweight, so the emotional impact of this show is bound to be off the charts.
I'm not convinced that watching other people lose weight actually inspires me, The Biggest Loser has been on for 6 years. While it is comforting to know I am not alone in this struggle it is also disheartening to know how many people struggle and fail with this issue.
The first one has already begun and it is on MTV, yep going back to MTV, no more Alan Hunter and I am already sick of Jersey Shore just from the commercials, but the new show I Used to Be Fat has proven to be quite good.
This show focuses on 1 teenager a week, although 2 of the episodes had 18 year olds who had just graduated from high school, and follows them over the course of last summer as they worked with a trainer to lose serious amounts of weight.
Now a teenager's metabolism is firing on all cylinders and I do not watch for tips for myself, but the emotional issues of overweight teens is something I greatly sympathize with and I have found the stories very touching. I give MTV props for making this show very real and not too flashy, I hope it helps other teens.
Last night A&E premiered their new show Heavy. I have it sitting on the DVR but did not watch it last night. I actually saw a trailer for this show at the movie theatre. It is not a game show like The Biggest Loser, it follows 2 people each week through their full transformations, so you get the gratification of seeing their results every week. The people shown in the trailer were severely overweight, so the emotional impact of this show is bound to be off the charts.
I'm not convinced that watching other people lose weight actually inspires me, The Biggest Loser has been on for 6 years. While it is comforting to know I am not alone in this struggle it is also disheartening to know how many people struggle and fail with this issue.
Monday, January 17, 2011
The Value of Fun
As I traverse the weeks and months of my budget, one category continues to be a sticking point: entertainment. My entertainment budget has been quite slashed and living in a city it is easy to rack up the entertainment dollars.
To that end I have begun using a series of websites dedicated to collective buying power. These sites, like Group On and Bloom Spot offer a variety of activities, services and meal options at highly reduced prices.
Some of the offers require a minimum number of participants, the vendor banking on volume to make up the mark down. In some cases you have to buy with a group of people to even qualify (i.e. you and 5 of your friends buy the half off yoga classes) and in other cases you can buy individually but a minimum number of people city-wide have to participate for anyone to get the deal.
I have bought vouchers for reduced meals at local restaurants (generally the voucher covers booze too which is a plus) and I have bought movie passes for $4 (a movie runs about $12 nowadays so that is a significant savings). Generally you have a few months to use your deal so you can buy without an immediate occasion in mind and have them handy for option when cash is tight or you are already straining that entertainment budget.
Check out their websites, you can get daily email alerts of deals or you can follow them on Facebook or Twitter to see what the offerings are, you are sure to find something to meet your needs.
Remember life on a budget does not have to be devoid of fun. Shop wisely and you can have a great night out for half the normal price!
To that end I have begun using a series of websites dedicated to collective buying power. These sites, like Group On and Bloom Spot offer a variety of activities, services and meal options at highly reduced prices.
Some of the offers require a minimum number of participants, the vendor banking on volume to make up the mark down. In some cases you have to buy with a group of people to even qualify (i.e. you and 5 of your friends buy the half off yoga classes) and in other cases you can buy individually but a minimum number of people city-wide have to participate for anyone to get the deal.
I have bought vouchers for reduced meals at local restaurants (generally the voucher covers booze too which is a plus) and I have bought movie passes for $4 (a movie runs about $12 nowadays so that is a significant savings). Generally you have a few months to use your deal so you can buy without an immediate occasion in mind and have them handy for option when cash is tight or you are already straining that entertainment budget.
Check out their websites, you can get daily email alerts of deals or you can follow them on Facebook or Twitter to see what the offerings are, you are sure to find something to meet your needs.
Remember life on a budget does not have to be devoid of fun. Shop wisely and you can have a great night out for half the normal price!
Friday, January 14, 2011
Friday Recap: Week 2
So my last holiday gathering was last Saturday. That is it, no more overindulgence until there are leaves back on the trees. This week felt more like normal.
Diet: 4 Trips to the gym (I did not venture out in the blizzard) with good solid workouts. I can actually feel muscle in certain places. Food was definitely better overall this week, not perfect yet, but definitely better. Made some very healthy chicken cacciatore in my crock pot!
Budget: Also getting back to normal here. I have squirreled away a couple of gift cards for a treat in the spring. I am well stocked with lovely things here in the apartment, so I should be able to curb spending back to bare essentials for a couple months.
Mood: Trying to handle work stress better, this week was better than last. Winter seems to make things more foreboding, trying to find optimism where I can.
Looking forward to a relaxing weekend with some quiet times with friends (not that the last two weekends of celebration weren't awesome!).
Diet: 4 Trips to the gym (I did not venture out in the blizzard) with good solid workouts. I can actually feel muscle in certain places. Food was definitely better overall this week, not perfect yet, but definitely better. Made some very healthy chicken cacciatore in my crock pot!
Budget: Also getting back to normal here. I have squirreled away a couple of gift cards for a treat in the spring. I am well stocked with lovely things here in the apartment, so I should be able to curb spending back to bare essentials for a couple months.
Mood: Trying to handle work stress better, this week was better than last. Winter seems to make things more foreboding, trying to find optimism where I can.
Looking forward to a relaxing weekend with some quiet times with friends (not that the last two weekends of celebration weren't awesome!).
Thursday, January 13, 2011
That Guy at the Gym
So I belong to a Gold's Gym, known throughout the land as the manly man gym, where body builders and athletes trained in California back in the day. I chose mine because it had the two things that mattered most to me at the time: location and value.
I won't work out if I have to get on the T to go to the gym and my other local gym was twice as much per month and became too cost prohibitive. So, I am at Gold's.
A few people raised their eyebrows at the idea: "Are you sure you want to work out around all those men?" I guffawed, the men are way too interested in themselves to look at me. I was always more concerned with other women silently criticizing me, my shape, my form, my sweatiness. I never gave the men a second thought.
It turned out to be true. I have never felt the least bit uncomfortable there and while there are tons of overly muscled men, they all seem very nice and keep to themselves.
There is this one guy though, who works out very hard and is quite vocal about it. Most days I have my Ipod on and don't notice, but I accidentally left my Ipod on the other night and when I went to the gym realized I had drained the battery. Left with no musical interlude to cover his grunting I was forced to listen to this man strain himself for an hour. It was, well, unpleasant.
Despite that I am happy to hang out with the jocks at Gold's. It is by far the best deal in the Fenway and should I ever need steroids, I know who to ask.
I won't work out if I have to get on the T to go to the gym and my other local gym was twice as much per month and became too cost prohibitive. So, I am at Gold's.
A few people raised their eyebrows at the idea: "Are you sure you want to work out around all those men?" I guffawed, the men are way too interested in themselves to look at me. I was always more concerned with other women silently criticizing me, my shape, my form, my sweatiness. I never gave the men a second thought.
It turned out to be true. I have never felt the least bit uncomfortable there and while there are tons of overly muscled men, they all seem very nice and keep to themselves.
There is this one guy though, who works out very hard and is quite vocal about it. Most days I have my Ipod on and don't notice, but I accidentally left my Ipod on the other night and when I went to the gym realized I had drained the battery. Left with no musical interlude to cover his grunting I was forced to listen to this man strain himself for an hour. It was, well, unpleasant.
Despite that I am happy to hang out with the jocks at Gold's. It is by far the best deal in the Fenway and should I ever need steroids, I know who to ask.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Low and Slow
I got a Crock Pot for Christmas! Crock Pot cooking, especially this time of year, is a healthy hearty way to make a meal chock full of veggies and lean meat that is savory and delicious.
A little prep work and then you just leave it to do its thing for the day.
There are very high tech Crock Pots out there with timers and what not, but since I work from home I can just turn mine on when it needs to go on and be here when it is done (of course I have to smell the deliciousness all day).
Here is an official Crock Pot website with tons of recipes. I am going to make a chicken cacciatore today wile the snow falls!
A little prep work and then you just leave it to do its thing for the day.
There are very high tech Crock Pots out there with timers and what not, but since I work from home I can just turn mine on when it needs to go on and be here when it is done (of course I have to smell the deliciousness all day).
Here is an official Crock Pot website with tons of recipes. I am going to make a chicken cacciatore today wile the snow falls!
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