Day 79 - Healthy Days Ahead

Post GMAT life has allowed me to have sufficient time to relax, travel, visit family and friends and chill in general.  It has been fantastic.

But now it's time to start with some new goals!  

I am moving on Saturday to my very own apartment (I've never lived alone!) which is a natural time to start re-setting goals for the summer.  Lately I've been reading a lot of health and food magazines (free subscriptions at work + airport travel = me totally caught up on the latest health & wellness trends) leading me to want to set my next goal around my health.

Now I would not say I'm a totally unhealthy lazy person, but I think there is definitely room for improvement in my approach to my overall "wellness."  Specifically I'd like to focus on what I eat.  I'd like to eat more local and less processed foods (o the irony of my current occupation) as well as cook at home a lot more.  Until now I was hesitant to cook a lot with roommates around.  I could never remember what food was mine and it seemed like I was always buying butter even though there was no way I ate that much butter in 2 weeks.  Eventually I just stopped buying groceries.  But living alone - EVERYTHING will be mine!  

So specific goals for improving my eating habits:

• Eat breakfast at home each morning, bring lunch 3x a week and cook dinner at home 3x a week
• Go grocery shopping once a week for that week's planned meals
• Try to shop at the Farmer's Market for produce
• Attempt to grow a few things - specifically I'm thinking basil and small tomatoes
• Understand what my caloric intake should be - this I can expand upon a bit.  I am definitely not trying to "watch my calories" or cut calories or anything like that since I'm a fairly small person.  But as a runner I know that I need to be getting a certain number of calories every day to keep up with all the energy that I burn and I'm just not sure what that number ought to be.
• Educate myself on how to shop sustainably as well as how I can incorporate local, organic and natural trends.  However, I have a feeling I will not be purchasing too many organic products because I simply cannot justify the price yet.  Perhaps once I learn more...
• Take the proper vitamins to supplement my diet.  I definitely need to be taking my glucosamine - I have the joints of an 80 year old woman.  

I think that's a good start.  

To close I thought I'd share some suggestions I read in the June edition of "body + soul" magazine on some easy switches to make in your diet.  The idea is that the alternative is equally as satisfying but much healthier.  Outlined below for your enjoyment!

1. Instead of white potatoes try sweet potatoes
2. Instead of croutons try walnuts
3. Instead of mayonnaise try avocado
4. Instead of button mushrooms try shiitakes
5. Instead of milk chocolate try dark chocolate
6. Instead of iceberg lettuce try romaine lettuce
7. Instead of cream cheese try almond butter
8. Instead of all-purpose flour try whole-wheat flour
9. Instead of vegetable oil try canola oil
10. Instead of sour cream try yogurt

Day 63 - Goal 1 Complete!

I'm happy to announce that I have completed Goal 1 - GMAT is finished!  Walking out of that testing center yesterday I felt very accomplished (and relieved).  Huge weight off my shoulders.  I'm happy to say that my hard work paid off and that I'm pleased with my score.  I definitely came a long way from where I started and it feels good to know that setting goals and being diligent about sticking to those goals are habits that are rewarded.

I'll probably reflect more later in the week, but I thought it was important to at least document that I have completed my first goal.  (In a mere 63 days :) ).