Foods

I had the perfect dinner last night! Perfect because it was just like something I would love cooking! Stir fried vegetables, some grain mixture with veggies, and a piece of chicken...oh, mocha also. That meal made me so happy, felt so healthy =P

not my pic

Despite the artificial ingredients in the hot chocolate that I mix with coffee, I feel like a sweet drink is better for my personality than cookies are. Can't just eat one? Might as well eat none!

I never considered that some students might be provided with much healthier options here than at home. I've only, "Well this stinks...it's not as healthy as I chose at home." =X Whole milk, full fat ice cream milkshakes?! Horrible idea! At least those are...for special-ish occasions...meaning they're not available in the dining hall and I don't just go by myself to get a shake! Heavy cream in chicken dishes & sauces?! Horrible. The broth for the stir-fried veggies is saltier than I'm used to, but it's probably better than they're oil...unless it's extra virgin olive.

I was thinking about peanut butter as I was reading Ovid a minute ago...
I realized that I've mentioned to friends, during my time here, that pb on chocolate chip cookies is really good, so I can't believe that I just realized tonight that I can try that here!
It's not like it's healthy! And I shouldn't make any habit of it! And I avoid unnatural pb! And I don't want to eat cookies with any regularity, if at all! But....I haven't tried the combo in a year and a half =P

Dorm room homework workout

As a college student who prioritizes sleep and homework, the gym is one of my last priorities. Biking 10 miles in the gym while reading biology and sociology was the start of working out while doing homework at college, but it's something I did for years at home. (The elliptical & treadmill would probably can also work for reading and flashcards mainly, I would say.) So the simplest things to do are stretches and strengthening moves in my room. I do all these things while either holding my book, or setting it on my bed or floor. (I'm just gonna explain some exercises in case names aren't universal.)

• Stretching - for hamstrings, quads, calves, adductors, bottom middle back, side back, feet, triceps, shoulders. Quads are definitely fire some leg muscles for balance while stretching, double deal! Stretching hamstrings and adductors by propping your leg up on your bed might be balance work for some, too.
• Back extensions (aka press ups) - Don't picture a gym workout machine! This stretches your spine and it's particularly felt in the bottom middle of the back. (It also does a little for your tri's.) You're just gonna get in push up position and push your torso up while leaving your hips ON the ground!  (I think I find it more comfortable to hold myself up longer rather than keep pressing up & down, cause reading gets crazy then.)
• Balance strengthening - My main one is just standing on my right foot with my left knee bent and my left foot placed on my right knee (and vice versa). Bending the knee would fire up the quad more too. (I feel this one is SUPER good for me because it strengthens my feet, which NEED it, cause they're flat. Orthotics can only take away some pain, not actually repair feet!)
• Wall sits - I actually leaned my back against my bed frame instead of wall.
• Heel & toe raises - Works balance too if you don't rest your hands on something!
• Kick backs - Book is on the bed, hands rested on the bed, take a foot and put it behind the other (NOT behind and lined up! Just bring your toes approximately back to the same level of your other heel), and you just kick back, strengthening your glute. OR (maybe these are called "kick ups" or something *shrug*) On your hands and knees, lift a leg so that your thigh is parallel with the floor with your toe pointed up, and then just lift your toe to the ceiling.
• Planks! - Book on the floor! =)
• Hula-hooping!
• Leg lifts - Totally work with the book on the floor. Outer and inner thighs are what I've done.
• Arms - Just grab something from your room that has sufficient weight, but that's comfortable to hold. You can do: biceps & triceps + lifting out & lifting forward + plus punching motions

Crunches & push ups haven't really seemed practical cause my eyes would have to refocus 24/7.
Maybe I'll have more ideas once I grab my pilates book from home and thumb through that?

I excitedly write and do things like these yet can't consider myself to be passionate about exercise and Ex Phys? Hmm =/

Basically my balancing pose...minus the beliefs behind yoga...not my pic

Ladies, pj's, comfort, & tears

I went to the cutest women's night with the sweetest ladies! There were 6 little tables with food in an atmosphere was beautifully autumnal! It was so cute & well-planned. After the food we listened to 4 women's testimonies on how God has comforted them in their lives, and we watched this amazing video.




What really struck me were the lines:
"As his dad, I would do ANYTHING to get him home." 
"That walk was one of my deepest most intimate memories of my life with my son."

For me, the first one said, "God, as my loving Father, knows the way home as I'm going through the storm. I may be so lost an confused, but He sees the whole picture, and he knows exactly what I need to do to get through, and grow during, hard times" 
Now that DOESN'T mean He's just gonna take away all the pain and hardships! Not to say He'll never do that, but a complacent easy life isn't what He wants or promises for us! Look what He says to us in John 16:33 - "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (Side note - we wouldn't learn things with the depth that we learn them if He painlessly removed consequences that come from bad choices we make.) That's how we grow, that's when we seek God the most - which leads to the second quote! Those moments when we're struggling are usually the moments when we cry out to God the most & just throw ourselves in His arms - that's why they're the most intimate moments with Him. 


"AMPED" last night and our "women's comfort night" tonight have just been phenomenal. It's so refreshing to be with these believers, and I have a new feeling of being family with all believers that I'm meeting anywhere. It's wonderful!
Last night....God just broke my heart for what breaks His. =D I joked that I shouldn't wear mascara to AMPED again - but I gotta put a plug in for Maybelline Great Lash - but it was NOT all over my face! Ha, my reflection surprised me!

not my pic

I'm so excited and joyful!

Weekends

lol, not my pic

I'm wondering if I'll end up living for the weekend in college, for the time when I can catch up with all the things I don't have time for during the week - laundry & the gym at least. I never thought of the gym be extra empty on the nights that people go party, saaa-weet! I'll get in shape while others get drunk? lol.

The library here has awesome couches & chairs, I want my living room to look as good! I love the idea of just gathering everything I need for the day & going from classes, to lounges, to the fountain. Mhmm.

I've eaten sole & flounder the past two days too! (I think that's what they were called!) They taste the same as tuna & salmon as far as I'm concerned! Branching out =)