Covering the Basis for the Critical

I'm pathetic. I don't even want to look at the last time I posted, but I know off of the top of my head it's nearing the two week mark. Not OK. I will get better at this ridiculous schedule thing, I promise.

I was obnoxiously informed by one of my most loving co-workers that my blog has turned into nothing that I promised it would be. While I initially started it claiming I'd focus on finding balance with fashion, fun, and fitness on a frugal budget, I've strayed into my dating life, drinking habits, and religious views. And as much as I adoringly wanted to hit him for criticizing my blog, he was right. Sort of. While having fun, shopping, and working out take up generous portions of my time, so does drinking, spiritual speculation, and failing miserably in the dating world. And considering the ridiculous number of page views on posts that featured a drunk dial from my ex boyfriend and my humiliating blackout that included a drunk dial to my daddy, I don't think you mind reading about any extra-curricular material. Nonetheless, just for this darling co-worker that puts me in my place during every shift we share, I shall make a point to touch on all that I've promised you. And then some.

Fashion. As in shopping. As in I have done wayyyy too much of it in the past two weeks. Ok, month. But it needs to stop, because the numbers in my accounts are dwindling, and my fridge and gas tank will not fill themselves. It has not all been for nothing though, because there are some fabulous additions now sitting in my wardrobe. As in these babies.

When in doubt for what to buy yourself for your birthday, always head to the shoe section. And finding anything in leopard print is just an added bonus. And the fact that I found them in a shoe warehouse, allowing me to pay my rent this month. Happy birthday to me. Another pair of stilettos I could potentially take a tumble in after a few too many drinks - just what I needed.

One of my best friends came to visit for my birthday, so having fun has not been an issue. I did the unthinkable and took off the entire weekend of work. There were lunch dates, shopping and nights out in the city, sleepovers in Brooklyn, and lazy mornings laying in bed. To say this was all done on a budget would be a blatant lie, but best friends don't come every weekend. Sadly, once she left, my reality of work schedules and homework piles was waiting right where I left it. I was able to take a break to see some family in the city last night, and there's a night out in Long Beach in my very near future, as in tonight, so I haven't become socially awkward quite yet.

As for fitness, the majority of my workouts have consisted of shaking a drink mixer, squatting down to be eye level with the beer cooler, and running around tables on wing night. I've tried to fit in actual runs, yoga classes, and an elevated treadmill that burns ridiculous calories at the gym, but my schedule has been a little crazy. There always seem to be periods of time where this happens, and all I can do is remind myself that it's not the end of the world if I can't work out every day. I just do what I can when I can, and move on. Life will slow down.

So if you were becoming as critical of my blog content as my coworker, relax yourself - I just covered it all. And for those of you who actually appreciate my cynical viewpoints on dating and over-indulgences with drinking, no worries. As long as I continue to have pointless encounters with awkward guys and gin and tonics to numb the annoyance, the stories will keep coming. At least this way, someone will benefit from the entertainment of the never ending unfortunate situations I find myself in.

I Be Up in the Gym

...just workin' on my fitness. Because I'm Fergalicious. Obviously. But after almost three weeks away from my normal eating and exercise routine, I better as hell be up in the gym, because there is nothing vicious about the body after a mojito, gyro, souvlaki, and tiropita filled vacation.

I've said it once before, and I'll probably be saying it until the day I die - I hate gyms. The funky smelling recycled towels, awkwardness of panting and pouring sweat three feet away from a complete stranger, and enough eye contact with Sexay Biceps to make you wish you actually put make up on before working out...it's just too stressful for an activity that's suppose to reduce stress. But aside from the 'cons' that kept my running on the streets and boardwalks, shopping around for gyms may lead you to find some great incentives to join at a fairly decent price. Those incentives, along with my desperation to be rid of the new found handles that are no where near being loved, are exactly what lead to my latest plastic purchase.

For me, nothing will ever beat the feeling of running outside. It's more than a physical release...it's time for me to vent mentally as well. Unfortunately, any type of outdoor activity has its' limitations, and with classes soon being added into my schedule, those limitations lead me back down the escalators at the mall and through the doors of XSport Fitness. Their 24 hour availability was the first thing to draw me in - nothing pisses me off more than being dressed and ready to go, only to discover by the locked doors that the gym is not ready for me.

Another incentive XSport offers is an impressive, fee-included selection of group fitness classes. When thinking about switching up your work out routine, or if you're nursing any type of injury or soreness, a fitness class is always something to consider. I love to do pilates and yoga, and used to attend classes frequently, so the thought of it being a regular part of my routine again only pulled me further into a gym membership.

The last consideration to determine my decision, the factor that always represents any 'final say' for me, was the price tag. This is where XSport may not have won out in the end if it weren't for my careless spending habits after I first moved to New York. I was actually a member for the first few months that I lived here, but thanks to the $165.00 one-time-only membership fee, and $49.00 monthly price tag, my shopping habits couldn't support the cost, and I gave up my membership as soon as the sidewalks began to peek through the snow. It was a lot of money then, but the membership fee has proven to be a good investment for me, with the first and last months' payments being all I needed to sign up. Not only that, but my student ID knocked me down to only $35.00 a month - the same rate as most fitness centers in the area, making my choice of gym pretty mindless. And no, I have not actually found my student ID card, but I brought along enough paraphernalia to be worth half of Adelphi's bookstore, and combined with my Midwestern charm and on-cue smiles, there was no way Guido Juice-head trainer could say 'no'.
**Just a side note - it may just seem like an incredibly unflattering photo of you, representing where your money will be going for the next 65 years, but a student ID comes in quite handy with reduced rates. I have yet to find mine (I'm still convinced I will), but it would have saved me a few Euros at museums and historical sights visited in Greece. Restaurants, tourist attractions, fitness centers, even merchandise such as Apple computers, offer student discounts. All you need to do is flash that unfortunate photo, and smile pretty to prove you look better in person.

A final motivational thought for joining a gym - actually having to pay for a membership is incentive to get your ass to the gym and get your money's worth. A monthly bill alone won't pay for that vicious, Fergalicious body. You gotta be up in the gym, so every time you turn around brothas gather round, lookin' at you up and down, 'cause you delicious. D to the E to the L-I-C-I-O-U-S.

Being Drunk Is Not an Excuse

Am I the only one that listens to piano music on Pandora? My page automatically starts with Lorie Line Radio. Surely this is not normal for a 22 year old. My only comfort is that Brittany Haan's Pandora most likely blasts an organ's rendition of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata when she signs in. One of the 483 reasons why I love her.

It's ridiculously humid on Long Island right now, making my typical afternoon run difficult to get through. Or even convince myself to begin. I have access to my school's gym, but I cannot find my student ID for the life of me, and lets be honest, going to the gym is about as thrilling as a visit to the gynecologist. I'd much rather take my run to the scenic outdoors than stare at the white washed cement walls in front of my treadmill. My dad swears he can run twice as far on the treadmill - I start swearing after .2 miles, am excruciatingly bored by .5, and usually call it quits around .8. It's not that difficult, it's just that boring.
The obvious solution to the heat would be to run early in the morning. And now lets refer back to my previous post and confirm that it's just not going to happen. I'm past my days of obsessively running 10 miles in whatever heat the good lord blessed us with that day, so my advice for a lush, late night working, busy bee college student who appreciates a good workout: do what you can.

There are some days I have the time and energy to put in a solid eight miles, and so I do exactly that. For longer runs, I love to go to a more scenic location - a local park, the beach boardwalk...anywhere where I have a little more to take in, with less risk of getting bored. My long runs are my favorite workout, and it is so frustrating when the reason for stopping is because I'm bored - it can be a difficult hurdle for me to overcome. If this is your problem when working out, do the obvious thing, and give yourself some type of entertainment. Whether it's the view around you, or the TV at the gym, address your entertainment issue head on, and give yourself something to focus on.
I obviously don't have the ambition for a long run every day of the week - there are days when there is absolutely no motivation to workout at all. The first step to no motivation is to simply put on your work out clothes. It's much more difficult to put off a workout when you're walking around in gym shorts and running shoes. (Although I will admit to a time when my motivation was so non-existent, I literally laid down on my bed and took a nap after this attempt for ambition - running shoes and all). Once you're physically ready, it will be a lot easier for you to become mentally prepared to workout.

If you're still not in the mood to break a sweat, give yourself 15 minutes. Knowing I always feel better afterwards, I try to talk myself into some form of exercise. You don't necessarily need to put in a four mile run and three sets of 15 reps on every weight machine in order to get a good workout. Hop on the elliptical, jog around the neighborhood, hell - even a walk around the block. Give yourself 15 minutes to get in the mood to workout, and if you're still not feeling it, to hell with it. Chances are though, at this point, you will have put so much effort into actually motivate a workout, you'll want to continue for lasting results.
Another cure to boredom? Mix up your workout. It was a lot easier when I was home and had access to my outdoor shed stocked full of gear, but there are so many different forms of exercise - don't limit yourself to just one or two. Invest in a pair of roller blades, fill up the air in your bicycle tires, or break out your old jump rope. Finding new ways to work out not only brings a little fun into your routine, but it can make you feel like a kid again - and who doesn't like that?

An issue I often face during my day is time to workout - or lack there of. There are days when I hardly have time to pee, much less squeeze in a workout, and that's OK. Rest days are vital to a healthy, active lifestyle, and you should allow yourself at least one per week. If it's not a rest day, and your time is limited, refer back to my golden workout rule: do what you can. Even if it's 20 minutes of cardio, something is always better than nothing. Consistency and quality are most important when it comes to maintaining an exercise routine, so squeeze in whatever you can find time for.  

Today may be one of those days where I need to lace up my running shoes in order to motivate myself to get out the door. Ever since I stopped validating "I'm lazy", "I'm hungover", or "I'm drunk", as justified excuses to miss a work out, it's been much more difficult to feel OK about skipping them. Damn.

Healthy Little Lush

I wish I could just post a list of randoms every day. For example, a list of things bothering me in Starbucks right now.
1. It's approximately 46 degrees in here.
2. They're playing ridiculous Latin music that makes me feel like I'm on the streets of Madrid.
3. There is a loner of a woman in here who is wandering around and has now cornered a total of four people, bringing up pointless conversation. And that's just since I started counting.
4. The man next to me is shaking his legs with such vigor, I'm convinced he ripped a line before leaving the house this morning.
That is all for my morning rant. (pictured - my annoyed Starbucks face. Attractiveness)

Moving on. Lets talk health. Mainly because food is on the mind. I'm out of groceries, hence my Starbucks breakfast, and I need to make a list anyways. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is vitally important at any age, but being conscious of it is crucial in your early twenties. You have to actively counter late nights often filled with junk food, recover from the happy hours that turn into early mornings at the bars, and somehow catch up on the sleep you never seem to have time for. While these scenarios are all a part of my life, I have a little added boost of incentive keeping myself on track health-wise. I am in the process of recovering from an eating disorder. It is no secret, I am not embarrassed, and thank you but I really don't need any pity. I think the topic is much too taboo, and while my posts will not center around my eating disorder, it plays a critical role in my healthy lifestyle here.
That being said, despite the humor I find in my every day life, my health cannot be taken lightly. When I talk about my diet and fitness patterns, you may see structure that seems a little rigid for a college student who looses track of her gin and tonics on ladies' night, but it's only because structure and planning is required in order to stay on track in recovery. The good thing about dealing with a disorder that can make me feel like a crazy person? I am a bottomless pit of knowledge when it comes to nutrition and fitness. My former obsession and an overwhelming amount of treatment makes me feel as if I could potentially become the next Dr. Oz, except I'd obviously have a more flattering pair of scrubs than his poor choice of a mundane navy blue.

So when I write about living a healthy lifestyle, trust that I am not simply recounting my interpretations of the latest Women's Health. I am writing from experience. After years of struggling, I am finally able to live my life again. I'm going to be 22 year old girl. I'm going to pull all nighters, spend nights getting way too drunk, and comfort my hangovers with a famous New York bagel. And then I'm going to get myself back on track. The key to living a healthy, yet realistic, lifestyle in your early twenties is making it a priority. It does not need to be an obsession, but it cannot be an option. No one is going to force you to eat your veggies anymore, and not everyone is fortunate enough to have a work out buddy as motivation. You need to be willing to make healthy choices, and actually carry through on those decisions. I've said it before, and I now realize it's going to be a theme throughout the blog - You need to do it for yourself, because no one else is going to do it for you.

Blogging My Balance

 Welcome! I've been contemplating the idea behind this blog for a while now, and decided it was time to stop fussing over the details and let it materialize. I'm currently studying English at a university on Long Island, and writing has always been a passion of mine. I've lived in New York for almost two years, and can safely say moving here was the best decision I have ever made for myself. There's nothing quite like packing up your car and driving halfway across the country by yourself to initiate responsibility and personal growth.

While my writing will always be personal, I don't necessarily plan for my blog posts to revolve directly around my life. Instead, I want to share my advice and experiences of starting life on my own in New York, hoping you may learn from my mistakes or find relation to situations I find myself in. I go to school, hold down two part time jobs at local sports bars, and love to go out when I can. I strive to live a healthy lifestyle, which does not always coincide with a college lifestyle. Trying to balance all of these aspects of my life is often overwhelming, but I would not have it any other way.

As I reveal more of myself in my posts, I hope you are able to see a little bit of yourself in them as well. I'll give my advice on how to cut back financially, share my best money-saving shopping tips, and explain how I get myself back on track health-wise after a rough night out. And I'll most likely throw in a good bar story every now and then.

So check in and entertain yourself as I dread the first of the month rent payment, squeeze in workouts between bar hopping, fight for the last of my size on the clearance rack, and deal with all that falls in between.