Week 5: The Alcohol Syndrome

Hello all. I know it has been two weeks since my last official update, so I will try to explain all that has happened, where I am at now, and what needs to be done.

Two weeks ago I headed back to the Windy City to return to schooling. Sadly, something happened on my plane ride over: I broke my soda ban. I have an ingrained habit of ordering a Ginger Ale while on a plane (the only time I like the stuff), and did it without thinking and was drinking it before I realized what I had done. I didn't take this reflex as an automatic sign of failure, and have continued resisting the urge to drink soda, which has proven fairly easy now.

Still, three sodas in one month is a good start, and nothing to scoff at. True to my goal, I went and shopped at Whole Foods and was astounded that my bill was nearly $80 for supplies that barely got me through one week. There is a Trader Joe's nearby, but I seem to be too lazy to traipse down there and get stuff because I don't want groceries on a bus...it's kind of weird. However, I'm going to have to suck it up.

Then, on Sunday, January 24th, I turned 21, which opened up the gates of alcohol to me. I went to a bar, and had a few drinks (a Jack & Coke among them, which again breached my soda vow), and got somewhat drunk. Over the next week, I had alcohol in some shape or form nearly every night, which finally culminated in this past Sunday, when I drank tons of Gin and got really, really drunk. Awaking February 1st with severe nausea, I have now decided that my alcohol intake is over, for now. It doesn't contain an excess of sugar like soda does (unless you are having sweet mixed drinks), but it is an unnecessary source of calories, and does not help me towards a healthier lifestyle. I will limit my alcohol intake to the maximum of once a week, minimum not at all.

I also returned to work at Buca di Beppo, where I host and hopefully will soon serve. This was definitely a nice step in the right direction as the job keeps me on my feet for hours on end, and relatively active for portions of the shift. No, I don't break a sweat unless it gets really busy (which it didn't), but it is still a nice step forward to working out more.

My roommate also recently joined a gym in order to lose weight as well. I have considered joining up with him, but at the rate of $50 a month (plus initiation fees), it's not something I feel I necessarily can afford right now. Yes, I can ask my parents, but I don't want to run to them for EVERYTHING we do.

Besides my excessive alcohol intake, I've been keeping relatively healthy, eating a balance of fruits and vegetables, a salad here and some carrots there. I have lapsed a time or two, including when excursion for fried chicken, and these moments of weakness are only human, but need to stop if I am to lose weight in a healthy manner.

I guess my next goal: working out! How? I think I need to jog this week. That's right: jogging. It's free, and is an easy way to begin to burn calories I intake. There are also a few work-outs that can be done at home that I will start trying. My goal as of the next posting will be to have jogged once, at least. Baby steps. How far, I cannot say. I cannot go the distance and would be surprised if I lasted past 10 minutes, but this is Chicago and everything is flat, so I don't have to worry about hills.

Until next week!