Excuses and Regrets

I took a year off from high school before I enter the big world of university, most of my classmates did not and so, every time I log onto Facebook it seems everyone and their mom is graduating from university. Me? 1 more year. This time next year will be my turn. Finally

I've been thinking lots that come 365-ish days from now I will be leaving the world I've known for the past 3 years. My classmates that I've grown so close to in the past few years will be moving away. Who knowns where I'll be. I won't see those people everyday like I do now. Those weekly traditions with friends such as talking about last night's teen mom (it's so bad but so good) won't happen as much. Everything will be changing and that makes me really really sad. 

I always here stories along the lines of not seeing university friends after graduation, you say you will but life gets in the way. Excuses begin and 1 year goes by and no one has gotten together. Then 2 and so on. That's so sad! The hardest part is that happened to me this week and it sucks. 

I had a really close friend of mine fast track and a whole 1 year early is done her undergrad. So great! But gut wrenching when we texts me to say that she's in Montreal and leaving for home, Saudi Arabia this Tuesday. 

Ok, I thought-we'll do lots when she comes back---since she's only away for the summer. Or so I thought. Nope, Wafa isn't sure she'll ever come back. No plans what so ever. 

I went to bed Thursday with tears, the thought of never seeing her again when we saw each other multiple times a week is a tough pill to swallow. 

Now I'm on the regret train. I regret so much, we didn't make enough plans. To many reasons why hanging out wouldn't work. And now it's so late. It sucks. She knows how sad I am. 

Even thought Waf's is gone, I'm going to make this the best school year ever. No more I have to be up early excuses, creating memories is worth it. Thanks for teaching me that Wafa. 

Kicking weight losses rear

A few days a go I had a friend of mine from camp days message me on facebook saying she didn't know if this was awkward or strange but wanted to know if I had any tips for losing weight because she's noticed that I'm fit and healthy (<best compliment ever)

I know, another fitness related post. Oh well.

I admit, I wrote a novel to her. Honestly didn't mean to but I have so many tips that have worked for me. 

1) Make small changes

Make a small change like cutting out pop, eating breakfast, drink water, have a veggie at every meal...well maybe not breakfast, that's hard. 

2) Get moving

You don't need a gym to workout. Some people do and like that but be active. It's summer now-go ride bikes, go walk to get that bag of milk. Aim to get 10,000+ steps a day. There are tons of free online workouts videos to do at home too.

3) Write it down

There's a saying my gramma says if you bite it, write it. I found it really handy to write down everything I wrote. It helped me make better choices if I saw a had a cookie at lunch then I knew I really didn't need that pie at dinner. 

4) Take measurements

Sometimes the scale won't move-but you're getting smaller and losing mad centimetres but without taking measurements (bust, waist, hips, each thigh and arms) you won't know. Remember, losing inches gets you into smaller sizes. 

Making lifestyle changes is a marathon, it takes a while. Trust me. 2.5 years later and 41 pounds lighter, take it 1 day at a time. 

They were right-eating right and exercise is key

On Saturdays around lunch time I go to my favourite gym exercise class, it's a bootcamp where we do lots of tabata work with cardio and weights. That 1 hour class is a killer where I constantly give myself pep-talks along the lines of it's only an hour, you can do this for an hour, and you'll feel so good after this class is done, now keep moving. 

The instructor is this really really fit women whose life is about fitness and wellbeing. When I say fit I mean she has muscles that I didn't even know existed. She's great and I may have a little crush on her. 

She also says the best things at the right time, like when I was doing jump squats and she looked right at me and said 5 little words that meant so much to me those are great jump squats. I needed that little push because this class was kicking my tush. 

It feels really good to be pushing it really hard during my workouts. With the whole30 challenge and working hard at every class I'm really happy with my progress. 

Whole30 was great. Having my bestie Karen doing it along with me helped me so much to stay on the wagon. By help I mean make muffins and granola bars for each other to snack on. 

April 30th 2014-June 1st, 2014

April 30th, 2014-June 1st, 2014

I didn't lose any weight during this whole30 challenge but I did lose 3cm from my waist and 3.5 from hips. 

What's next now the "challenge" is over? Nothing. I plan on sticking to this type of eating. More whole foods, processed is out. Foods with ingredients I can pronounce is the main thing I focus on. Fresh foods. Not looking back now.