September-startin early

I’m starting this month early  because its Monday, and I can. This month,  September, I am not going to starve myself of something I love, or am semi-addicted to.  I’m going to do a behavior change for 30 days.  This is something that I’ve tried, and failed.  Every time.  So, here goes it.

I’m going to be super healthy girl for the next 30 days.  I’m still going to allow myself a drink, a dessert, hamburgers and french fries, but this time, I’m going to be keeping track of it.  I’m going to keep a food journal, and  exercise 4-5, maybe 3 days a week. 3 at its minimum.  I know that this summer has been tons of fun, but I’m out of shape again, and my body shows.  I am going to log my food/exercise  into my iTouch, and it will keep track for me of all of it. 

Here’s my logic.  I initially thought this whole project was going to be something I did for fun, to see if I could do or not do something for 30 days, and, well, I’ve actually seen a change that has extended past the 30 days.  I still don’t have cable TV, I don’t eat as much meat or fast food, I don’t really miss coffee as much as I thought I would, and I actually do take in less celeb gossip. So, I thought if I can train myself to be healthier all around, then it will last further than the 30 days (fingers crossed). 

Sorry to my family for the lack of potty humor in this post.

Tastes so good once it hits the lips

I'd gone 17 days without coffee or caffeine....until I got horrible sleep.  I woke up this morning to being lightly punched in the back by my sleeping hubby (he said sorry) and I knew right then it was time to stop the drought. I need espresso to get me thru this 8.75 hour work day.  I wondered if the girls at The Steamery missed me or my money.  They didn't say anything other than, "Your usual?"  I'm getting used to them knowing how predictable I am, simply because I was too tired to say, "12 oz iced soy double latte with a splash of vanilla"  (sounds so snobby, doesn't it?).

Making this conscience effort to go without my espresso has really helped me realize that I don't normally need one.  I had started going multiple times a week, and that is just downright dumb (read: expensive).  I thought about it the other day.  If they are 4.50/drink x 3 x 52 = 702 bucks a year.  Thats $1.90/day.  I don't really like to do these types of calculations, because to me, its a scare tactic parents use.  That $702.00 is mine to do what I want with it, and I choose to drink it in the mornings to help me start my day.  If I wasn't into espresso but was into lets say shoes, I would be out more than 702/year.  So I guess I looked at it as something I like to spend my money on.  But since these two and  a half weeks not drinking it, I have actually been quite satisfied with myself for a few reasons.  One, I don't have coffee breath that could curl a nose hair, and two, I'm not making mad dashes to the bathroom every 20 minutes. 

I know for sure sure (thanks to Cedric for that new phrase I annoying overuse) that I'm not going to be drinking coffee as much.  Only after a toss and turn kind of night, or if I need a good colon cleanse. 

You know you have a problem when……

The Barista has your drink waiting for you when you pull into the drive thru window. 

MONDAY AUG, 1^ST, 2011

Wouldn’t you know that August 1^st would come on a Monday.  And wouldn’t you know that I chose to go without caffeine/coffee this month. I pretty much look at this month as torture.  I know its do-able.  Obviously.  I mean, every month has been do-able.  Its just that I, along with millions of people not only rely, but look forward to that morning cup of joe.  Especially on Mondays.  That’s why The Steamery has their double punch card day on Mondays.  They understand the importance of that caffeine jolt before starting the work week. 

The reason I say caffeine/coffee, is because I don’t really drink pop.  Occasionally I will walk over to my next door neighbors that have a pop machine outside their business only because if I’m lucky, and most times I am, the machine gives me 5 pops for the price of one.  Granted, in order for that to work, I have to get a flavor I don’t really want.  Its like the candy claw game. You will always get 1 piece.  But if you’re lucky you’ll get a few!!!   Also, if you hit the button more than once, sometimes that works too J  I’m sure they love me telling people their machine is broken, but I guess until they fix it, its their problem. 

Coffee doesn’t even really taste that good.  Its kinda like beer. It has that “adulthood” taste to it.  You remember tasting it as a kid, and it doesn’t taste any different now than it did then, but somehow we can drink copious amounts of it.  When I started working at Regence 3 years, I would fill up my coffee cup up to 4 times a morning.  Now, the free work coffee is starting to taste sooo bad, that not even the Vanilla Caramel fufu helps. 

Today is a perfect example of a necessary coffee day.  I normally would have either gone straight to the coffee bar to fill up, or I would have stopped at The Steamery.  I made a deal with myself that if there are cars in the drive thru, I will keep driving, and if there are none, it’s an iced 12 oz double shot soy vanilla latte and two punches on my card.  I can really feel the espresso getting to all the tired body parts and giving them a little jumpstart.  That dang drink has ruined me.  Hopefully if nothing else comes out of this month, I will drink less of them, and more of the free coffee here at work.  Maybe after a small hiatus from it I won’t hate the flavor, or at least can drink it for a few more months.

FRIDAY, AUG 5^TH, 2011

So I actually survived a work week without any caffeine.  Honesty, I thought it was going to be harder.  Granted, I got enough sleep this week, so that helped.  A few years ago, at my old “desk job” I was sooo tired, that I actually crawled under my desk and fell asleep.  I worked with my sister, so she watched guard for me.  I’m pretty sure I drank coffee that morning too.

So an update on last month’s No Fast Food.  I went until the 29^th.  And THE ONLY REASON WHY I ate it that day, was because we were headed out of town for a quick overnight camping trip, and the hubby wanted Sharps.  That was my kryptonite.  My knees buckled at the thought of a hot fry being dipped in secret sauce.