Blog Challenge. Day Eight.: 3-pointers and Free Throws.

My "Free Throw" goal for this month is to be a good student. I'm starting graduate school next Tuesday, so I think it's a little implied. Nevertheless, I want to do this with excellence; and it won't happen if I don't make a conscious decision to do it well.

My "2-pointer"...find a job. Next week. One that fits into my college student schedule but doesn't terribly wound my college graduate pride. Don't give me that look. It can happen. (Maybe taking on some humility would have been a better choice?)

"3-pointer"...Turn off the Houston's First Baptist webcast and find a College Station church. Realizing my overwhelming love for my home church also revealed how easy it would be for me to sit in my room, watch church on my computer, and miss out on real life, in person, 'let me hug you' community. That may not seem like a big deal to you, but it's a definite 3-pointer for me.

Buzzer shot. I want to be intentional in the relationships I'm about to start. I'm going to meet new people, have new roommates, new coworkers, new faces on the bus...and I want to be intentional with them. This. Month....not next semester. Now.

I like that these are short-term, month goals...and not a vision-cast for the whole year. That's too much for my head.
What are you hoping to accomplish this month? Let's help each other out!

this girl's about to get honest.

I want to lose weight.

How much?

Well....a lot.

I've wanted to for a long time, but there were several reasons why I never really got around to it:

-I was busy. (lame excuse)

-My sweet friends always said things like, "You don't need to lose weight. You're fine just like you are. No one thinks you're overweight." (thanks for the encouragement...but you're lying!)

-My struggles with weight aren't all my fault. Growing up I had a lot of health issues and had to take a lot of Prednisone. What I had been told would make me "puffy" ended up being a much...well, bigger problem. I've justified my weight issues with the knowledge that I didn't start them. (But I can sure as heck finish them)

-I'm one of those people that, if I can't do it to perfection, I just don't do it all. I've been so scared that I would set a goal and never reach it that I just avoided it all together. (Again, lame excuse)

So now I'm going to do it. I am. It's happening, and there's several reasons for that too:

-I'm tired. ALL the time. I don't feel good. I don't have energy. I want to feel good.

-I would like to be able to buy jeans like a normal person. Cute ones. Gap ones. Express ones. Any ones really...just something other than what I've been stuck with.

-Did you know that for every 10 pounds you're overweight, your fertility percentage drops?....Yeah, I want babies. (someday.......faaaaaar from now)

-I don't want diabetes.

-I don't want heart problems.

-I don't want to die any sooner than necessary just because I didn't have the gumption to get up and change it.

-I want to look pretty...feel pretty...for my maybe/someday/one day husband. I know he'll love me so he'll think I'm beautiful. I know that no matter how I look, I'm still going to have insecurities about my body. I'm a girl...it's what we do. I can, at least, help the situation a little though.

So here's my steps.

1. water. water. water. and only water. (and sometimes coffee!)

2. eating healthier. (which will be difficult since my only chance of survival is in the form of nasty, disgusting dorm food...but I'm determined!) better food choices. smaller portions. healthier.

3. exercise. at least 4 times a week.

4. Alli. Ultimate accountability in a safe, effective supplement. (I promise...I've checked. And read....and read....and read.) Eat one thing you shouldn't....this little blue pill will make you pay; and I don't want that!

And I need your help!

Yes....you!

Every week, I'll post a blog about my progress and level of commitment for that week. If I'm not posting or if my posts reflect that I'm failing miserably, TELL ME!

And please pray for me! I've been told by a friend currently using Alli that the first three weeks can be summed up in three words:

Bloated.
Stretchy.
Pants.

This should be....fun?