Project 365

PROJECT 365 Weeks 2-3(ish)

Finding My Inner CaveWoman

So...I'm pretty excited about this!
With my new years resolution to get in shape and eat better, I've decided to go paleo/primal. (No, I won't be moving into a cave, but I do intend to find my "inner cavewoman" :P)

Before I get into that, here are my overall/ultimate goals:

• Be able to do at least 1 pull-up/chin-up by the end of the year.
• Lose at least 3-4% body fat if not more.
• Cut sugars, dairy, gluten, and processed foods out of my diet.
• Eat as clean as possible/budget-able (grass-fed, pasture-raised, organic dirty dozen, stuff like that).
• Learn to have a better relationship with food (as much as I LOVE carbs/sugars ...they don't love me back, so I have to learn to let em go in favor of the foods that will treat me well ...kind of like dating relationships :p).

WHAT I'M AVOIDING

Sugars, Processed Foods (Yeah...this category also includes beverages like soda as well as some popular cooking things like Vegetable oil), Gluten/Grains (Did you know corn is a grain? And humans can't actually digest it. Oh, and this category includes oats as well - goodbye mushy oatmeal), Dairy, and if you're gonna be really strict about it: No legumes, beans, white potatoes (although, I'm in the camp that says that white potatoes, while lacking in nutrients, are okay to have now and again) ...and there are a bunch of other controversial "is it paleo/primal or not?" foods -- I'm kind of avoiding legumes and beans too...but mostly because I'm really not a fan of em anyway :p

WHAT I AM EATING

Anything Real/Natural! Veggies (Any of em...except corn and white potatoes); Fruits (preferably fresh ones rather than dried ones but it doesn't really matter - however, because fruits tend to have more sugars, they're meant to be eaten a little less often than veggies); Meats/Fish (meats are obviously important because of the amount of protein they provide) generally, on a paleo diet, you wanna eat grass-fed beef/buffalo/etc.; Nuts (like wal-nuts, almonds, etc. - exclude legumes of course); and Fats (for cooking, it's a good idea to avoid vegetable oils and use clarified butter or even coconut oil instead - I love using coconut oil; as well as other fats sources like avocados!).

RECIPES

In preparation to start eating paleo, I wanted to make sure that I had a lot of recipes on hand so that I wouldn't wuss out and be like "I don't know what to have...oh, look! Bread! nomnomnomnom" and ruin the whole thing. This is a list of websites where one can find a variety of yummy paleo meals/recipes:

• http://www.paleoplan.com/recipes/
• http://paleodietlifestyle.com/paleo-diet-recipes/
• http://www.chowstalker.com/whole30/
• http://nomnompaleo.com/recipeindex
• http://paleoblocks.blogspot.com/p/recipes.html
• http://www.theclothesmakethegirl.com/recipes-index/
• http://www.wholelifeeating.com/
• http://everydaypaleo.com/category/food/
• http://balancedbites.com/2010/10/priorities-for-eating-paleo-on-a-budget.html (This link is actually specifically about eating paleo on a budget!)

WHY PALEO? WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

Personally, I'm doing paleo because it takes into account the things that make me sick/feel blah anyway (like dairy, gluten, etc.) and because, by eating paleo even for just a week, I had more energy; I wasn't as hungry all the time; my skin got a little bit clearer; and I even lost an inch off my waist (these were just some of the things I've been self-aware enough to notice in the first week - After 2 weeks, I've seen even more benefits). If you read more into the diet itself here, here and here, you can get a better idea of what other benefits one might gain from it.

With the New Year, I decided I didn't wanna do one of those (typically) short term diets; I wanted to change my eating habits entirely to be much more healthy (you can ask anyone who knows me well, and they'll tell you that I'm not exactly known for my healthy eating habits :P) and I wanted to really get rid of the things that make me sick (you would not believe how badly I used to crave cheese, despite the fact that I'm lactose intolerant and shouldn't eat it). Obviously not every diet is perfect for everyone, this is just what I've decided would work best for me. I'm not gonna be a total nazi about it if I'm like out with friends or whatever (confession: I went to zupas the other day and... yes, I did eat the chocolate covered strawberry - but not the bread! :p), but it is something I intend to stick with as well as I can while keeping practicality and budgeting in mind!

In addition to healthy eating, I plan to increase my exercise (for now I just do a couple sets of body weight exercises at home, every other day) to some weight lifting (to build a little more muscle, tone up, and hopefully reach that pull-up/chin up goal) and cardio (hitting the treadmill!)

Project 365 - Week 1

So, one of my resolutions is to complete a 365 Project.
For anyone who doesn't know what it is, it's pretty simple - you take 1 photo, everyday for 365 days.
The idea is that, after 365 days, you're bound to be a better photographer than you were when you started.
Additionally, it makes you use your camera everyday.

I've attempted this project previously and didn't get very far.
This time I've decided to use the camera on my phone (because I almost always have my phone with me) and an app called "365 Photos" for android (there are similar apps available for iPhone as well, such as the Project 365 app).

These are my photos from the first 7 days (well, 6 - I'll upload the 7th one at the end of the day today).

A New Experiment in ... OMG That burns!!!

Okay, so it's a new year!
I decided that it's a good time for a little experimentation and trying new things!

So, the past 2-3 days, I've been experimenting with dadadadummmm... "Washing my Hair without Shampoo!" Okay, okay, before everyone scooches away from me in disgust, let me explain!

Since I've decided to change my eating habits to something a little more healthy and natural (blog post coming soon), I figured, why not try a few other more natural things? (No, I haven't gone full on hippy, "lets burn our bras, never shave, and go live off the land in the rainforest!" I just figured that if removing some of the processed, chemically manufactured foods from my diet can be beneficial, then what about using fewer chemicals in other parts of my life?) If it doesn't impress upon your inner "natural (wo)man" (<- The good one; not the one that makes you wanna have sex outta wed-lock or any of those other "baser-instincts.") then, perhaps it will impress upon your frugality. Just hear me out.

Image via Flickr

Apparently, you can replace your shampoo (which, even at $1 a bottle at the dollar store, is more expensive than the alternative I'm about to suggest) with...Baking Soda. Additionally, you can replace your conditioner with Vinegar (most sites I've read recommend White or Apple Cider).

Here's the reasoning (and I'm just paraphrasing - you can actually read a little more about it here and here and of course, you can always do a bit of Googling on your own to learn more):

Shampoo strips your hair of it's natural oils > So to make up for it, your body produces even more > So you have to wash your hair with stronger stuff or wash it more often (or both) > So your body produces even more oils > etc.

Image via Flickr

If you break that cycle by using something natural that doesn't strip your hair's natural oils (like baking soda and vinegar), first your body will go through a transition period (I've read that depending on your hair, what you were using, and how much oil your body produces, and whether or not you wuss out part way through and try shampooing again ;p this can last anywhere from 1-6 weeks) during which, your scalp has to learn just how much natural oil to produce (so your hair might be a little more greasy sleek than you're used to). However, after that transition period, there are a number of benefits to not using shampoo...

Your hair is supposed to become:
Healthier, easier to manage, shiny, easier to brush through (yay fewer rats!), easier to style, won't have to be washed quite as often, will have more vibrant natural color, and will have more body/volume

I'm totally up for benefits like those!

How to do it:
It takes a little while to figure out the exact ratios that are best for you (this is one of those, everyone is different kind of things) but basically, you create a mix of water and baking soda (most things I've read recommend a ratio of 1 part baking soda to 3 parts water - but, again, you're meant to troubleshoot until you find a ratio that works for you) and a similar mix of vinegar and water (or you can go it straight, depending on how much acidity your hair needs to up the acidity of your hair to kill bacteria and what not...it's chemistry stuff - I'm just gonna mess with the measurements until it works. Some people don't like the harsh vinegar smell...[which fades as your hair dries] so they'll add some essential oils like tea tree or lavender to mask the smell).
Side note: If you dye your hair with chemicals, the vinegar will strip the color!

Okay...
So, I'm currently trying it - I'm on Day 3.
My hair isn't quite as oily as I thought it might be, but it's enough to bother me a bit. (Yes, it's driving me insane to have it that way...but I'm hoping my transition period is only gonna last 2 weeks...if it lasts longer...I may wuss out and go back to shampoo :p  -- Or, I'll try an alternative such as Marseille Soap which, because it lasts longer than shampoo, is still cost effective and is also more natural). Additionally, I suddenly have lots of little flakes ( though I can't tell if it's dandruff (in which case, I'll add a little tea tree oil to the vinegar), if it's because I didn't rinse out all the baking soda, or if it's because I showered with hot water <- cooler water is better for your hair/skin, because it doesn't dry out our skin like hot water).

Though I am going to note something very important that I've learned so far (and this is where the "OMG That Burns!!!" part of the blog title comes in) - wait until AFTER rinsing your hair with the vinegar to shave your legs. If you thought using Nair burned...try shaving and then having a few drops of apple cider vinegar hit your legs (remember that chemical burn scene in the movie 'Fight Club'? Yeah...it's basically that!)

Something else I'm considering trying: Oil Facial Cleanses Goodness knows I'm willing to try anything to even out my crazy crazy skin!

New Years Resolutions

Relevant and Funny... (Calvin and Hobbes is one of my Favorites!)

Except I'm gonna make some resolutions anyway...

Think of it as a "12 in 2012" (to go along with my 30 Before 30 ...which I need to go back and edit :p) and these aren't really in any particular order.

1. Learn/Improve Time Management Skills - Between my internship, classes, other resolutions, Institute publicity committee, and the hope of actually having a social life, I'm really going to need to manage my time wisely this semester!
2. Get in Shape - Because "blob" is not a shape. No, I don't intend to completely lose my curves (cause I actually really like em) but I do intend to tone up, lose some weight, and get healthier in general. 
3. Eat Better - (although I think technically, this one should really be more like "Get some willpower") I'm planning on cutting back on calories and trying to stick to a more paleo diet. (I already try to limit, if not avoid dairy because I'm lactose intolerant, but gluten intolerance runs in my family [actually, most people are gluten intolerant, they just don't know it] so I figure it couldn't hurt to see if cutting out gluten and grains maybe wouldn't help give me more energy. Although, it'll be difficult since I really love carbs).
4. Do more with my camera(s) - I have a P&S, a DSLR, and a camera on my phone but I feel like I haven't been doing a lot of photography. I'm planning on maybe doing a 365 project and hopefully trying to do more photography in general. Take portraits, go on photo adventures, etc. 
5. Be a Better Friend - The past few semesters have been super busy and I haven't had a lot of opportunities to spend time with my friends, especially those in Provo/Orem which makes me sad. Hopefully that can be remedied.
6. Increase Spirituality - Obviously one to always be working on. And naturally it includes getting better at scripture study, completing visiting teaching and callings, etc. etc. 
7. Graduate - I should add "...without burnout." I'll probably walk in May, but I won't officially be done with my degree until the end of summer. 
8. Date More - I can't really say that I particularly enjoy dating (if you think I'm awkward in a casual group settings, I promise - I'm worse in a one-on-one date setting...and probably even moreso, the more interested I am in the guy). However, in this past year I've been on a grand total of (maybe) 2 dates this whole year [assuming they counted as dates, cause 50% of the time, guys don't specifically say "date" so I can't always tell if it's a hang out or a date - so confusing and yet another way to make sure it's awkward]. This year, it would be nice if I could at the very, very least top out at 3. :p
9. Improve My Sleeping Habits - I don't think I've ever had good sleeping habits. But I do have more energy and am more active and productive when I get enough sleep, so it's probably a good goal to have.
10. Increase My Intelligence - One of my favorite parts of Academic team in high school was learning all the random bits of trivia, I knew a little bit about everything (a lot of which, I learned on my own through research and reading) and most of the stuff I learned, I still know - but part of the fun of it all was learning! (The second part of the fun was showing off my random trivia knowledge! :P) I'd like to get back into learning about a wide variety of things, various, random facts and anecdotes - stuff like that!
11. Decrease My Awkwardness - I'm not entirely sure how to accomplish this goal...but it is a goal! I'll never be a Grace Kelly or an Audrey Hepburn in terms of grace and class...but if I could get to a point where I can get through a simple conversation without saying something awkward or being too loud or anything, that would be awesome.
12. Be Awesome - Mostly because my mind blanked and I needed one more goal :p

So, yep - those are my goals for 2012! :)

What are yours?? 

Travel

This is the most recent event that's happened.

On the 14th, I flew from Salt Lake City, UT to El Paso, TX to spend the holidays with my family.
I flew on Southwest (cheapest tickets I could find - which is to be expected from a company who's number 1 goal is the be the cheapest airline possible) and had to fly from SLC International to Sky Harbor International (in Phoenix, AZ) - wait around for about 2 hours to get onto a flight to El Paso.
Much to my disappointment, there are no direct, nonstop flights from SLC to ELP - you can't avoid a layover.

The last time I flew, my layover was actually longer, but I was prepared - I downloaded a bunch of TV show episodes to my iPod and laptop to watch while I waited for my next flight. This time I wasn't quite as prepared. I arrived in Phoenix around 12:30ish, hungry and without entertainment. I figured I could just go to one of the little airport restaurants, grab something and people watch until my flight, but the nearby restaurants were all super crowded and there was no where to sit (well, except in the boarding areas). So I wandered into the CNBC store, picked up a book ("The Help" - thought I'd read the book before I see the movie), some pretzel/crackers and a soda (I was sleepy!) and then I headed over to the boarding area to read/snack. (Funnily enough, I wound up sitting across from a girl who was doing the same thing! - She was eating the same thing, and reading the same book as she sat next to her purple carry on case, wearing a cute purple/burgundy skirt, top, and cardigan outfit. In my mind, she was a much more fashionable, jet-setting version of me, probably on her way to see a fiancé or go to an interview for a fun and artsy new job).

Luckily, the time passed quickly enough and I was able to get onto my flight to Texas without any problems.

Last time I flew, I wound up in awkward and uncomfortable seats either between two talkative business people or squished up against the window while the guy sitting next to me shifted uneasily in his seat like he was gonna vomit the whole time - this time around I was able to sit by the window on both flights. The first next to a middle-aged couple that didn't say a word to me (which I was totally cool with). The second, next to two older ladies, who saw my book and then dove right into a conversation about civil rights during the 60s (after a while, I didn't really feel as though I was necessary or important to the conversation, so I just slouched down and quietly went back to reading my book).

Another difference between the last time I flew and this time around, was the fact that I took photos. Previously, I was so concerned about the plane's controls that I shut off my phone before I even got onto the plane (and didn't turn it on until I got off) - this time, I went ahead and left it on and took pictures until the pilot or flight attendant announced that all devices needed to be switched off.

Leaving UT I got an awesome view of the mountains, and over AZ, I was actually able to see some of the Grand Canyon! :)

I kept thinking about how awesome it would be to be a pilot or a stewardess; to get to travel every day as a job, and to get to see such amazing views of the sky! 

All in all, pretty okay trip (well, besides my ear and head aches, but they weren't quite as bad as they could have been, so I've got that to be thankful for).

Upcoming...

First of all - redesign! Well...sorta. As much redesign as you can do with a blogger layout without digging too far into the code (which I don't like doing on here, because I feel like it's kind of a pain the way that Blogger interprets stuff with it's pre-exisitng structure).

Second of all - Yay, I'm back to blogging. I feel like I keep getting interrupted in this particular endeavor by school (so, we'll see how long this burst of blogging lasts).

Some posts that will be coming soon:

• My work from my Video Production class this past semester
• Travel
• Internship/Career goals/developments
• My 30 Day Facebook Fast

So those are some things to look forward to! :)