Fresh Start

Today was my very first Monday at my new job – and it was great! I don’t know about you, but when I say good - it means exciting, busy and very, very productive! The kind of day where you don’t stop working and the time literally flyssss by because you are SO busy you don’t ever have the change to look at the clock. Most people probably think I’m crazy – but I thrive off of this type of work atmosphere.

After work I flew across downtown to my friend’s place to watch Game 6 of the Stanley Cup playoffs… and as predicted – Vancouver LOST! Although it kind of sucks, we needed to bring it home for game 7 in order to take the series and win on home ice (knocking on wood as we speak)! The Canuck pride in this city is absolutely incredible and I CANNOT WAIT for Wednesday night’s game – ahhhhh! :)

Look what I spotted on my way to work this morning:

Last night as I was walking home from job #2 (the restaurant on the beach) and I read a tweet from a good friend stating “Lesson of the weekend = life is too short.” It really hit home because since starting this new job I’ve been continuing to do something I really don’t want to do… serve tables. If it weren’t because of the great people who work there or the fast money, I wouldn’t continue to do it; but I know that for the meantime I have to. I don’t know about you but I often struggle to “do things I don’t want to do” and question if the reasons for continuing to do them really out way the reasons for giving it up. The only reason I’m still there is because of money and that’s not a good enough reason for me anymore.

I moved here for a fresh start. The new routine and lifestyle that I craved so badly I left my old routine and lifestyle to set off to find. That being said, I’ve found a job and the potential for that routine I’ve been craving is possible! It’s time to work on the goals that mean the very most to me. So starting today I’m going to blog about my healthy lifestyle and am using my blog as a means of keeping myself accountable!

So what does this mean? It means I’m going to enjoy my summer in Vancouver the true vancouverite way: healthy, active and green!

Goal #1: Buy a bike (and sell my car back home). I don’t need nor want a car here in Vancouver. Honestly, there is no point for me to have a car! I live 20 minutes away from my work and once I get a bike I will kill two birds with one stone (proverbially speaking): green and active!

Goal #2: Eat clean. I need to start writing down everything I eat and start counting calories (not obsessive but have a good awareness of my food intake). I have an issue with convenience eating and portion control – and I know this. (Also… I’m not allowed to buy peanut butter because I will eat the entire jar in a week… or less.)

Goal #3: Start a new fitness routine. As you might have already realized – I get really bored with the same fitness routine. If there is a set goal (ie. Insanity) and length of time until the goal is finished I am really good with staying on track! I love cardio based things (running for example) but I know how important strength training is and have a weird obsession with wanting to go extreme. Give me the heaviest kettlebell to swing and the largest dumbbell and I will make sure to kick my butt!

So, I’m hoping with the purchase of a bike I will be able to also start using the gym at my work! It’s not a very big gym – but it has equipment and a few cardio machines. I’m allowed to use it whenever I want so I’m going to take advantage of that instead of buying a gym membership for the next few months at least :)

The Plan: My ultimate plan is as follows: 1. Bike to and from work everyday (and bike around the city)! 2. Go to work early so I can run and get a weight routine in before work. 3. Eat clean and start making a food plan. I know my biggest struggle is going to be taking the time to prepare meals – I struggle with this SO MUCH.

Any suggestions? How do you make time to prepare and plan your meals?

(Ps. I just want to make an open call for people following my blog! What would you like to see more of? Pictures of my food? Writing down all my meals and focus on calorie counting? Workout schedules and details? You let me know and I will focus on it!)

Keeping On-Track

Thank-you to everyone who left comments on my Lululemon hire-me campaign post! I feel so loved, you are all far too kind!

I feel like everyday for the past while has been a complete blur! I meet new people who are willing to help me on my journey everyday – and most of the time they are people I meet at random! It’s amazing the people and connections you can make when you are positive and confident in what you want. I haven’t heard back from Lululemon thus far. However, I did speak to someone in the HR department who now has my resume and am in contact with another person who might be able to get my resume passed along! All I know is that I’m keeping up my positivity and keeping on track with my goals! (<– That’s my key to success people – If I can do it – so.can.you!)

I will keep you updated!

Operation Slim-Down (OSD) is still on track! Breakfast was the same-ol’-wonderful-same before packing up and heading to a new coffee shop to do some work. This place was Arbutus Coffee (circa early 1900′s I believe!) and was super cute and smelled AMAZING. I actually had to leave because I was going to give in and buy a baked good (which no doubt would have been incredible) and fail at self-control. I won myself over and moved onto the next lovely cafe! :)

I then went boot shopping! I know I should not be shopping for anything because I’m JOBLESS - but honestly my boots that I’ve been wearing now have holes in the sides and the bottoms now = unwearable. Thus the hunt was on – and I found some amazing deals. I got two pairs of boots (both walk-a-ble!) for $80 when full price they would have been $230! Is that a good find or what? 

By this time I was starving and was right next to Choices (or Whole Foods – same chain!) so I went in to get some lunch. I have to admit that the fact that this city has healthy options as take-out at local grocery stores basically makes me want to live here for that reason alone. Halifax needs to step it up! I’ve been following my favourite fitness and food bloggers who live in the USA for a long time now and was always jealous of the fact that they had access to an affordable health-foods grocery store – it makes me smile every time I walk into it knowing that I now can too!

They have this wonderful “hot foods bar” where you can literally put whatever you want in a container or a bowl (take-out or eat-in) and they simply weigh it and that’s how they figure out the cost! It’s amazing and I might become addicted to it… This was my combination today: bean and veggie medley, raw spinach, a spoonful of wheat berries, a few garlic artichokes, 5 cubes of feta, edamame, 5 cubes of sesame tofu and some kale on top! It was delicious and I was so full!

Since I was in the area – I obviously had to have a non-fat latte from 49th Parallel! (Follow them on Twitter – @49thParallel)  They have amazing coffee and it reminds me of TIBS, so for good reason it is my favourite place to get lattes! :)

I then spent the next few hours doing a lot of work trying to email contacts and reached the point that I had enough – it was time to go home! I had a snack and was going to do Insanity 2.3 and then try to make it to 8pm hot yoga but was so tired I had to have a nap. The nap turned into an hour and by the time I finished Cardio Power and Resistance it was past 8pm!

I have to admit that I found it painful to even walk today I am that sore from starting Insanity again. On that note I am going to re-adjust my goals to stick with Insanity first and foremost and incorporate running and yoga into my schedule once my body tells me it’s ready. The key to any fitness program is listening to what your body is telling you!

Late dinner consisted of a spinach salad with strawberries, goat cheese, a few walnuts for protein and a few drops of feta oregano dressing! Dessert consisted of an apple with a side of organic PB - YUM!

On an exciting note, my best friend and amazing photographer Faith Bowyer (<– check out her stuff!) is coming to stay with me tomorrow… because she’s MOVING HERE TOO! I’m so excited you have no idea. We’ve been dreaming of this point in our lives since we were in elementary school – watch out Vancouver you’ve got two very ambitious and passionate ladies in your mists!

What do you do to keep yourself on track with your goals?