And all before 7 a.m.

Today was day two of my new (and also my third) job. I am the newly hired "lab assistant  for the Animal, Dairy, Veterinary Science Department here at Utah State University. Now, it sounds like I am going to be a cool lab scientist  but actually I work out at the South Farm in Wellsville feeding beef calves for a research project. Yay me! 

Actually I quite like it because it gets me back to my roots of working on a farm with animals. I'm more of a dairy cow kind of girl but these 24 beef calves will just have to do for now. And the best part of this job is that I wake up 4:30 in the morning to feed them before my classes start for the day. Did I say best part? I actually mean the not-so-best part. This is just yet another responsibility to add to my very large list of things to accomplish every day. The real best part is that I only do it during the week. (I can still go to the great little town of Preston Idaho every weekend to see the dairy boy then! Yeah yeah!) 

Don't worry though I am not letting this wake-up-at-4:30-in-the-morning stop me though! Once I got back from the farm I made an out fit change and did a quick workout before I had to shower and head to class. And I decided upon this outdoor run circuit workout from Julie at Peanut Butter Fingers. She has a GREAT blog about being healthy that has become one of my daily reads these days. This was a great and quick workout I could get in for the day before all my classes, meetings, and work came. It wasn't the hardest work out I've ever done but it felt great to take action, sweat a bit, and all before seven in the morning! 

Source 

Dedication, Determination, and Motivation

I have now completed two posts about change. Have I actually changed though? 

Part of me thinks no not at all but the then again I kind of have. I am thinking about what I am eating, drinking, doing, or more importantly not doing! That's just it though...for the most part I have only been thinking about it.

I had a lovely (and I use the word lovely in some what of a sarcastic voice) conversation with my boyfriend, the dairy boy, about dedication. You see, he has recently lost an amazing 40 pounds! Woohoo! Way to go babe! So of course being healthy, eating right, and exercising are common topics for us these days. Now I know if I say "I'm fat" many people would shake their head at me with disagreement. And although I am not obese or showing more weight like crazy I have gained  some weight in the past year. I hate to admit that I have, but it is the truth.

Seeing the dairy boy's amazing results and seeing his dedication, determination and happiness that the healthy life change has brought him, I want it myself. I have been talking about doing it. Making changes in my life. Mainly eating better and exercising. I have talked of these changes for so long, too long. However, I have not had the dedication or determination to actually act and make the change reality. And in our "lovely" conversation about dedication, the dairy boy informed me of how I have had none, which is sadly so true! I have talked the talk now I need to walk the walk. So I decided to find some inspiration from Pinterest to get me going and find that determination, dedication and motivation that I oh so need! Enjoy!

It's time...

I think it's time...

Time to make a few changes in my life. Some big and serious. Some small, yet still important. And to help me 'officially' make these changes (and stick to them!), it is time I get back to this blog and posting all about my life to those handful of people who actually read this somewhat pathetic blog I have.

So hold up your glass with me (well, I'm holding up my bottle of milk really) and cheer to change!

And first order of business is this...

You may be wondering, what I'm talking about. Well, I am talking about how I have packed on some weight in the past year, and I hate how I look in all my clothes and pictures lately. Like I said above, it is time for a lot of change and this is one of them! I know this won't be easy at all (I mean come on, I have not met a person that loves sweets as much as I do), but I WILL DO IT! It's be tough and not fun at times but getting healthy and fit never hurt anyone.

So here I go, the first change is out in the open. Time to get to work. I'll update you as I go, and of course fill you in on all the other changes going on around here out in the west while I 'push the pony' as my father loves to say!

Just two more hours and one last final...

Just two more hours of work and one last final tomorrow. That's all I have left of this semester. And as I sit here in front of this computer for the last two hours of work my mind keeps going to the summer that lies ahead of me. And the many opportunities that it holds.

I get to spend three months back in my old stomping grounds, work with the 4-H program that I lived for each and every summer, and spend time with all of amazing family and friends that I rarely ever get to see throughout the year. The possibilities are unlimited, and I don't want to waste them! This has led me to the decision of making a "Summer Bucket List" that will include everything and anything that I want to do while I'm back home this summer. I have a lot of different ideas roaming around in my head, but I need to get them down on paper and make them official. 

So get excited for the official "Summer Bucket List" coming soon, and hopefully everyone back home is gearing up for my return because in just one week I will be making the long long long drive from Logan, Utah to Hope, Indiana. Ahhh...I'm SO excited!

No more fast food for me...kind of.

So I have made my decision. No fast food for me this summer, well kind of. I don't think I could ever give up all fast food forever, because I love food! (I mean how could I live in Indiana for three months and not eat at Steak'n'Shake!) I've decided to make some changes though to be healthier and get in shape and this is the next big decision I have made.

I am only going to allow myself to eat fast food once a month this summer. This seems like a feasible goal for me, although I know I'm going to want to break it multiple times, especially since I will be working in Columbus this summer where there are hundreds of choices. I should probably clarify that the "fast food" that I can only eat once month is what we would call the bad and unhealthy fast food. I thought about defining fast food as any eating place with a drive-thru window, but Subway and even some Panera Bread places have drive-thru windows, and I would not consider them unhealthy. So I am banning myself from the so-called unhealthy fast food places, which means no frostys from Wendy's, no pizza from Domino's but just once a month. Only one fast food meal all together each month this summer.

As I am putting this new stipulation into writing I am realizing the reality of it. And it's not making me very happy. I will definitely see the benefits though when I am training for the Top of Utah Marathon that is in September, and hopefully in my wallet as well. Not eating fast food all the time will help me to save my hard earned money this summer that I will desperately need for school this fall.

It all begins now. Hopefully I can have enough will power to stay strong, especially as I am driving across the country in two weeks back home to Indiana. Not eating fast food or only eating it once will be quite a challenge, but here I go. I can do this!

It's time for some changes...

Exercising, diets, eating out, healthy choices and fast food have all been recent topics for Cody and I. We have been dating for almost a whole year now (Yay us!). One of our favorite things to do, besides visiting dairy farms, is to go out to eat. Besides the effect we feel in our wallet, we are starting to realize its affecting us physically. And sadly I am coming to the realization that I have gained some weight.

Looking back over this past year though I am not surprised. I have literally eaten whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, and how ever much I wanted. It sure has been fun, but I don't like the extra pounds, the heavy breathing I get just from walking up a flight of stairs, and looking at all the money I spend on food each month. So I have made the decision to change this. Actually I made the decision a long time ago but never seemed to have the motivation to actually do anything about it. I would make little changes here and there, like walk to campus or do a quick workout, but I have not been committed or consistent. It all changes today. Right now actually.

I am not exactly sure how I want to approach slash start this endeavor. There seems to be so many different ways I can go about doing this. I have had a few ideas how I want to get healthy and back in shape while shedding some pounds.

The Top of Utah Marathon is held in September here in Logan, and I have toyed with the idea of participating. It would take some good dedication and a lot of training to do so, but I like the challenge. Unfortunately, my foot has decided to hurt and turn black and blue from an old injury, so I haven't started any real training yet. Besides training for a marathon this fall, I want to stay active and take some type of fitness class this summer. My internship this summer with the 4-H program will keep me on my feet for some part of my time, but then again I will have office hours every week when the fair or 4-H camp isn't in full swing. This means I plan for my summer to include a lot of outdoor activities and work (hopefully some horse riding slash training and good old labor around the family farm with my dad). And I mentioned a fitness class. Besides a conditioning class I took the fall of my sophomore year here at USU, I have never taken a fitness class. I have always had interest in doing one though. So I'm excited to find one back home that is once or twice a week, and hopefully I can get my sisters to join me!

So I have mentioned a lot of exercising that I will be doing, but what about food? This is where it could get ugly. I love food, especially sweets. Cinnamon rolls, cupcakes, cake, ice cream, you name it, I love it! Besides just eating, I love to cook, and it's not always the healthiest. I haven't decided how to go about this. I have used the MyFitnessPal app on my iPhone recently that counts your calories, and gives you daily nutrition details. It quickly made me realize that I eat way more calories than I should, and that I am not getting enough of my essential vitamins and nutrients. This means I need to be conscious of my choices, and what I put into my body. A summer fast of no fast food is one of my recent thoughts. I don't know if I am ready to make such a commitment. I need to ponder it a little more.

In two weeks the semester will be done, and I will be on my way back to Indiana for the summer. I am so excited to start my internship, spend time with friends and family, and make some smart and healthy changes. This is just the beginning of it all. We will see what the summer has in store for me.

A Summer back home in Indiana...

So if you haven't heard yet I am returning back home to Indiana for the summer!!!

Ever since I moved out to Utah for school I have wanted to go back home for a summer, however it was just never able to happen...until now. I will be working full time for the Bartholomew County Extension Office as the Summer 4-H Intern.

Growing up at home I lived for the County Fair every summer. I showed our Jersey dairy cows, sheep, swine, and of course competed with my horse and pony in the contesting events. Besides livestock, I did sewing projects, gift wrapping, and microwave foods. I can't wait to spend my entire summer working with the program that made every one of my summers amazing. I'm looking forward to working with all the young 4-Hers and putting together a great 4-H camp and 4-H week at the fairgrounds.

Besides working my dream job, I will be able to see all of my family and friends for more than just a few weeks at a time. I can hang with my incredible little nephews and twin nieces for the entire summer. Spend time with my little sisters that are living back home in a huge house with my parents. And help my dad farm and care for the cows and pigs during a great Indiana summer. I am so excited and anxious for it all to start, however leaving Cody (my cow crazy farm boyfriend) will be hard. He is pretty darn lucky though with a full time job working on his family dairy farm in Preston, Idaho. I'm going to miss him like crazy.

I don't think I could put into words how much I love home back in Hope, Indiana. I love the great summers full of the fair, corn and beans everywhere, driving around in a truck with the windows down, and hanging with my friends and family.

I hope everyone's ready for me to return, because I sure am!