I Want My Body Back!

Last year, I put on the Freshmen 15 and never took it off, so I've decided to finally do it.

My goal is to lose between 15-20 lbs by the end of the year. I know, that's alot but 20lbs in 9 weeks is totally doable. I did it two years ago so I should be able to do it again. And before any of you say that I don't need to lose 20 lbs, I'll say you don't know how much I weigh right now lol...I guess I'm less concerned with the pounds than with the inches. I just want to feel comfortable in my clothes. So that means none of this:

None of this:

And definitely, none of this:

LOL!!! Okay, I'm exaggerating. I don't have any fleshy overspillage like that (even though anybody can have a muffin top if you wear pants 2 sizes too small). But I do have some tummy fat that I'd like to firm up. Nothing drastic. This is a pic of me the summer before I went to college.

Not fat, not skinny--just healthy. I was happy this size. So, when I get back to my pre-college weight, I'll be satisfied. I've been doing good so far. Last week, I started a healthy diet and workout routine, and I haven't cheated or slacked off yet. Been in the gym 5 days out of the week and I've had less than my Estimated Calorie Maintenance Level everyday. Yay for me! Whenever I set my mind to losing weight, I always do. It's just a matter of determination and discipline and I've got plenty of that, right? lol

Imitation of Life

My English professor told us on the first day of class that, by the end of the semester, we'd be man-hating Feminazis and I'm starting to think she's right. I'm by no means a man hater, but I'm truly starting to understand the pseudo-feminist views that she has.
We just finished reading a book by Fannie Hurst called Imitation of Life. Set in the 1920s, the story is about a business woman who builds an empire by the age of 25, but in her quest for financial success and security, she neglected her personal life. When she finally did attempt to pursue a meaningful relationship with a man, it didn't work out. So what she settled for some "man lovin"--today's equivalent of a boo.
Last night, I didn't go to sleep until 5am and I had to wake up at 8 but, thanks to a very large cup of java, today turned out to be a great one. For once, I wasn't up into the wee hours of the night doing homework. This time, it was a much more recreational pastime that kept me awake. Mr. Cocky and I broke our silence as I knew we would. After couple hours of hanky panky (yes, I am gloating now lol) he said, "Ugh...we really need to stop doing this."

At first, I began to nod my head in agreement--he was right. We had to stop. But then I thought about it. Why stop? We're both single, consenting adults with needs. Why not make the most of this convenient situation.

Maybe it was reading the book that sparked the epiphany in me. I'm a full time student with a bright future ahead of me. My plans for a career as a writer/art historian are panning out beautifully, with many of the recent opportunities that I've had. Though I would love to be in a stable relationship, I simply don't have time for one right now. I'm far from being a workaholic with no time for social ventures, but I do know where my focus is and it's on my career. That said, the most that I can manage right now is an imitation of a relationship. A little "man lovin."

Eventually I said, "No, we shouldn't stop." And it didn't take much to convince him of that.

Ideally, today's modern woman can have it all. Love. Sex. Relationships. Success. But is that really true or are we forced to choose? And if we do choose a our careers over all else and settle for sex without love, is it just an imitation of life?

PS

I hate Blogspot. I've spent the last 20 minutes trying to format this post. I give up.

A New Direction

I've had this blog for about 10 months now and over the course of those months, my writing has revolved around my relationship troubles. I updated on no particular schedule, only when I was down-trodden by love or depressed. While I held this blog down, I also managed another blog called A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That. I used this blog to help document and assist my journey as an aspiring writer.

Yes, I want to be a writer. That's something I don't think I've ever divulged in this blog before. It has been my passion since the age of six and I've always known that writing was my calling in life. I've written for numerous publication during my high school career, but my goal write now is to become a professional freelance writer, as well as publicize my own column/blog.

Journalism was always the obvious route to go, when I used think of what I'd major in. But once I got to college, something became apparent to me. After taking Journalism 200, where the professors emphasized the whole cut-throat and by-any-means-necessary approach to journalism, I realized that it wasn't for me. While I do enjoy researching, investigating, and writing, which were the original appeal of journalism to me, I don't like the lack of morals that are expected of a journalist. What I enjoy doing is writing about things that I'm already knowledgable in, while researching to know more, and a blog is the best place to do this.

Ever since the beginning of my summer break, I knew that I wanted to start a new blog so that I can hone in my writing skills, and create some sort of portfolio. I had been racking my brain for what I wanted my blog to be about because I had a laundry list of interests that I could write about.

fashion.film.art.writing.blogging.new media.Japanese culture.beauty.makeup.graphic design.italy.travel.books.researching.music.movies.guitars.philosophy.animals.photography.life.people.dreams.forgiveness.happiness.interior design...The list went on for pages.

But then I realized the other night that I already had a topic in which I was intensely interested, and would love to learn more about. And I realized that, in fact, I already had a blog on it.

No, I'm not an expert. And, of course, I'm still learning and growing. But this crazy little thing called love is very intriguing to me, and everything associated with it. So I hope you guys join me in my exploration of what I know.