done.

I'm DONE!!  I cannot even begin to describe to you how absolutely fantastic it feels to be finished with my undergraduate education forever!  Finals were rough, but I made it through and managed my highest semester GPA yet ... well, still waiting on one grade, but things are looking good :)

Updates on going vegan:  I feel fantastic!  Sometimes I do feel a little annoying when telling people I'm vegan now, because they feel the need to make special accommodations (please don't!  I can work my way around meat/cheese dishes!), but other than that I've found my dietary transition to be going smoothly.  My running times have improved already, and I feel more energetic and strong during my runs as well.  I've also re-discovered my love of cooking, which I hope can continue now that I'm no longer in school and have significantly more free time.  Next on my recipe-tackle list is vegan mac n' cheese, which if you know me, you know is one of my all-time favorite foods.  Wish me luck!

Please, if you have any good vegan recipes or tips, pass them along!  I appreciate you in advance!

vegan.

So my dear friend Alina and I have decided to go vegan.  I experimented with the notion for the week following spring break as more of a detox, and found that I felt a lot more energetic and healthy.  I also discovered that by eliminating animal products from my diet, my running improved, and in JUST ONE WEEK!  I was only set on eating vegan for the week following spring break, so I transitioned back to eating omnivorously again afterwards.

I've been feeling weak and sluggish again lately and didn't really make a connection with my diet, I just thought I might be stressed with finals coming up and term papers due.  Today is officially day 2 of my vegan-again lifestyle (strictly dietary -- can't say I could ever give up leather) and I'm already feeling great!  I've always known I am slightly lactose-intolerant, but was never terribly bothered as long as I avoided drinking milk straight or eating it with cereal.  Perhaps the dairy I was eating hidden in foods, such as cheeses put in sauces, skim milk in my coffee, or the cream hidden in my all-time favorite tomato basil bisque, is the secret culprit?  I suppose I shall see.  I'll continue posting my progress, as long as what I'm eating and how I'm running.  Any other vegans out there?

Day 2:

Breakfast -- coffee (black)
Lunch -- Naked brand Green Machine juice, roasted red pepper hummus with pita bread
Dinner -- (Seva's restaurant) Tempeh burger with daiya and basil-cashew pesto and sweet potato fries.
Dessert -- unsweetened applesauce

Run -- 9.2 miles in 84 minutes

Bethenny

I recently bought the book Naturally Thin by Bethenny Frankel, used of course (yay for recycling!) and I can honestly say it's beginning to change my relationship with food, even after only four chapters! I've spent my whole life dieting, or thinking about diets, just like most girls my age. Not only is it not satisfying, it's usually not successful. Bethenny's #1 rule is simple:
treat food like your bank account.
What the eff does that mean? Well, you don't want to "spend" all your carbs/fat/sugars at once...and you definitely shouldn't! It's alright to splurge once in a while, as long as you save elsewhere. Have that cheeseburger at lunch! Just don't get the fries.. Just like dropping all your cash at one store and having an entire mall to go! And if you do eat the cheeseburger (or the fries), balance the fat and carbs with a salad with grilled chicken and veggies for dinner.

and never feel guilty. if you honestly crave something and only eat a few bites (savor them!), no "damage" will be done.

This is only a portion of the book, and already the woman's got me convinced. I'm excited to read the rest :)