Lent = Bye-Bye Facebook

Why on Earth would I decided to give up the one thing that I do everyday without fail? Well, just for that reason exactly.

Hello, my name is Rachelle, and I'm a Facebookaholic.

For Lent I usually try to give up something that will test my character to the max. Last year I gave up alcohol and fast food. It was difficult, but by the end I was healthier and very proud of myself. And I must say the whole process definitely changed my drinking/eating habits in the long run for the better. I am hoping that giving up Facebook will force me to do other things with the moments that I am bored and be more productive with the little down time I actually even have. 

And to be honest, I really don't like how I know everything that is going on in my friends' lives solely based on their status updates. I'd rather and should know those sorts of things because of having an actual conversation. I think Facebook has done society a disservice by disconnecting us from each other in the process of connecting us to each other (and we are guilty for allowing it to happen).

And if you recall, part of my New Years Resolution was "Unplug" (as in get off Facebook) and "Reconnect" (as in reconnect with old friends etc). So this sacrifice is kinda reinforcing my NYR.

I am however allowing myself to use Facebook chat and here is my justification for that: I use a program called Adium which logs into all my different chat programs at once so I don't have 5+ applications running at the same time. I am usually logged into Facebook chat through this and chat is not something that consumes my time like Facebook actually does. At least chatting is communicating and while I am chatting with someone, I am usually being productive doing something else on the computer. Facebook, on the other hand, just sucks me in.

Let's be honest, I'm going to miss it. I'm already having separation anxiety.

Read more »

I'm still here

Wow, I can't believe it's been so long since my last post. How time flies when you are....well, busy!

It's nearly Easter, which means Lent is nearly over and I can finally drink again. Yes, I actually made it. Besides my mai tai of weakness and having literally a sip of Jim Beam on my brother's 21st birthday, I have been dry for all of Lent. Not gonna lie, pretty impressed with myself. I have saved a TON of money and have actually lost about 8 lbs in the past few weeks (Weight Watchers has helped with that too).

Now that we are over three months into 2009, I want to take a look at my New Years Resolutions and see how those are holding up:

1. 10 Day Master Cleanse.

As mentioned previously, it's not gonna happen anytime soon.

Grade: withdrawn

2. Start going to the gym again

I am lazy and unmotivated. Period. I need to do something about it. Now.

Grade: F

3. Go veggie and eat healthy

I am still going strong with this one and haven't had meat since December 31st 2008.

Grade: A

4. Lose the 'break-up weight'

Joined Weight Watchers, already lost about 8lbs in a just a few weeks. Going extremely well!

Grade: A- (still got a way to go)

5. Get a REAL job

Need to get my ducks in a line to go back to school for radiation therapy

Grade: C

6. Cut back on the booze

WOOT WOOT!!!!!

Grade: A+

Not too shabby. I seem to be an 'all or nothing' kind of girl. Either I am fully committed to a goal, or it just doesn't seem to happen. I am gonna start focusing on some of those that are slacking. :)

Read more »

Here We Go...

I started Weight Watchers on Friday. I've done it before and lost a TON of weight. About 14 months ago, I was at my thinnest. I felt amazing, looked pretty damn good if I do say so myself, and while I will never be 'skinny' (proud to say I have a booty and boobs), I was definitely a healthy thin.

What happened? Well as I mentioned in a previous post, 2008 ended up being a horrible year for me. For those that have read New Moon... basically that book embodies the pain I was going through. I was supposed to move to Australia to live with my (Australian) boyfriend. But literally at the last minute I chickened out and we broke up. I was heartbroken. Yes, it was my choice, but it ruined me. I spent the rest of the year crying, eating away my emotions, and laying in bed everyday til I had to go to work. So between being unmotivated to do anything and eating away my pain, the cute figure I worked so hard to get has become something I am more or less embarrassed of.

My best friend is getting married in June and I hope to lose at least 25 lbs by then. I would be feeling like the old me again.

Aside from my "Mai Tai of Weakness," I have stuck to my 'no booze for lent' commitment. I definitely like how my body feels without alcohol. As of March 1st, I have been a vegetarian for 2 months. Pretty proud of myself and impressed by how easy it's been so far.

Anyways, wish me luck with the weight loss. I hope this is the last time I will have to do WW.

Read more »

Mai Tai of Weakness

I failed, but it's not my fault!

Last night I went to a crab feed dinner in the city with Rob, his parents and a bunch of his parents' friends. Everyone was great, wanting to get me raffle prizes, drinks etc. But since I had given up alcohol for lent, I insisted on just drink water each time someone went to the bar. Under my breath, I jokingly whispered to Rob, "I would kill for a mai tai." Shortly there after,  Rob came back from the bar and handed me a mai tai:

"Babe, is this a virgin?"

"Yeah."

Awwww, how sweet. Gulp...gulp...gulp........

"ROB!!!! THAT'S NOT A VIRGIN!!!!!"

Cue Rob bursting into an eruption of laughter.

And somehow that one mai tai prompted about 3 others to follow compliments of his parents or their friends. And since I did not want to insult anyone, I drank them. (But I must admit...I did so quite willingly.)

So, what do I do now? Do I ignore my night of weakness and stick with the plan? Do I amend my previous Lent commitment and give up alcohol only during the week? Or give myself a few 'free passes' to use during Lent? Or do I just give up alcohol I actually have to pay for?

Stupid delicious mai tai...

Read more »

40 Days and 40 Nights

Last night, I had my last drink for the next 40 days. 

Yes, you heard me right. 

I, Rachelle, am giving up alcohol for Lent. Alcohol and alcohol's good friend, fast food.

My reasoning for this is simple. First of all, I am constantly going out for a drink with friends (usually after work). Don't get it twisted- I am NOT constantly getting drunk or anywhere near it, just a simple drink. But think of all the money wasted and unnecessary calories consumed.

Lets' do a little math exercise:

A hard working restaurant server often joins her friends and coworkers for a nice cold brew after work. Occasionally, she will go out to the city and have a few more on very special nights. If she consumes on average 6 drinks a week, how much money would she spend during Lent?

Factors to consider:

47 days (count-there are actually 47 days in Lent)

7 days (per week)

6 beers (per week)

$5 (average cost of a beer)

47/7=approx 6.7 weeks of Lent 6 beers x $5=$30 per week

$30 x 6.7 weeks of Lent= $201

Just with giving up alcohol alone, I will be saving approximately $201.

Now let's factor in the money spent on Fast Food.

A hard working restaurant server often goes out with her friends on the weekends to unwind and have a few drinks. Oftentimes, a trip to the local Jack-in-the Box or Taco Bell takes place on the way home. If this occurs once a week and an average of $5 is spent each time, how much money will she say during Lent?

Factors to consider:

6.7 weeks (approx during Lent)

1 Trip to Fast Food (per week)

$5 (average cost of Fast Food)

6.7 trips to FF x $5=$33.50 saved 

$201 ($ saved on alcohol) + $33.50 (Fast Food)= $234.50 saved 

$234.50. O-M-G!

Now let's figure out how many extra calories I am in-taking from alcohol alone.

After work, a hard working restaurant server often enjoys a beer  with her friends. With an average of 6 drinks a week, during the course of Lent she will have consumed approximately 40 beers. If a Bud Light is approximately 110 calories, how many calories will she intake from beer alone during Lent.

110 calories x 40 beers= 4,400 calories

4,400 calories!?! Are you kidding me!?! 

And this is actually underestimating since I only drink Bud Light about half of the time. Not to mention all of that fast food too. 

No wonder I have gained so much weight this past year. 

Lent will save me: over $234.50 and more than 4,400 calories

I should have done this sooner!

Read more »