In the Summertime, When the Weather is Fine...

I'm feeling pretty good about myself these days. I've been spending a lot of time with my friends lately, which makes me extremely happy. I also started running with my mom again. I realized that my first 5K run is in just over a week, so I better get my butt in gear. I know I'm not going to be in the running for first place, but my goal for this run is to not place last. I think I can do that.

I started working at my mom's office last week, and that has been keeping me busy. I'm glad that I have something to fill my days during the summer. In the past, I've gotten pretty bored on many summer days when my friends couldn't hang out, and I'm thankful that I could get a job this summer. It's nice, because I am taking a lot of stress off the sales girls and I get to learn more about the family business! It's fun.

I've decided that at the end of the summer, I am going to give myself a makeover. I will have lost weight, and I want to stop biting my nails, for good this time. I'm going to get my hair cut and donate to Locks of Love. I am also going to go to Nordstrom and visit the lovely people at Clinique for a new bit of makeup. I am starting to feel really driven about my life, which is a wonderful feeling.

My first session of summer school ends this week, which I'm really excited about, because after this, I only have to take online classes, and I can have more of a summer. I'm confident that I can stay on the 4-year plan, which is very exciting, seeing as I am going to be the first Davidson to graduate from college. I'm really loving life right now.

As always, let me know if you want to hang out and get active with me!! I am always looking for a volleyball partner, someone to hike with, maybe even get a foursome together for a game of golf. I'm up for anything!! And I still want to learn how to paddleboard. Thank you all for the support you show me, even if it's not necessarily out loud. I can feel the support, and that's an amazing feeling. I'll be posting more pictures soon!!!

Time to Register

Hi everybody!

Today is the first day that I can register for the Disney Princess Half Marathon. When I went on the website, I learned that there is also a 10K. Now I'm conflicted, because I would love to be able to say that I've run the Half Marathon and I know that it was my original goal, but I know that even with getting fit, I would probably kill myself trying to get to the finish line, and the 10K seems like a much more attainable goal. They also have the "Glass Slipper Challenge," which is running both of the events in the one weekend (The 10K is on Saturday and the half marathon in on Sunday). I didn't realize that I had so many options, and I can't seem to make my mind up. What should I do?!

Please let me know your thoughts.

Great Expectations

Hello Everybody!! Long time no write!

So, first, let me catch you all up on my life.

I am a single lady, going on two months now, and I'm finally okay with it. I've made peace with what happened between my ex-boyfriend and myself, and I'm ready to move on. This all has been a huge drama in my life recently, and I'm glad that it's finally over and that I can really take the time to focus on me and my needs.

Also, IT'S SUMMER! I'm taking summer school classes, which is a bummer, but at least my mind is staying active for the next four months.  Right now, I am taking "Growing Close to God" to fulfill my theology requirement, and "Business as an Institution in Society" as one of my business exit classes. I will also be taking a sociology class and a management class online later in the summer.

I've been spending a lot of my time volunteering with the 4H group that I was in when I was a kid. It's been a lot of fun, and I'm actually going to take on a new group next year! Not only will I be helping kids train their dogs, but I will also be teaching them how to cook! I'm so excited, I can hardly stand myself.

Well, reality has hit me. I officially only have one month until the community 5K run that I said I would participate in with my mom. I am ashamed to say that will everything that has been going on in the past few months, I've kind of put getting in shape on the back burner. But this next month is going to be a really good one! I'm going to eat really well, exercise daily, and be ready for that 5K! My dad and I made a pact earlier today (well, I guess it was yesterday now) to not eat fried foods. We ordered french fries with our lunches, when we really didn't need them. I honestly was full after I finished my sandwich, but I ate the fries anyway because I felt bad for ordering them. No more of that. It's time to do things for myself!

Last weekend, my best friend and I went for a walk at the beach, and it was so much fun! I'm really grateful that she made me get up and do something instead of laying out by the pool all day. She's moving in a few weeks, and I get super sad every time I think about it. But I know that it is the best thing for her, and it will only make seeing her that more exciting, whenever that happens! I'm so excited for the new life that she is starting in a new place.

So, between studying for school, planning my 4H meetings for next year, and finding a job, I plan on working really hard to make me a better version of myself this summer. I'm really excited to see what's ahead, and am so excited to get it all started! Countdown to the 5K begins now.

30 DAYS AND COUNTING! I plan on posting my activities and experiences every day for the next month. Let me know if you want to go do something with me! I'm always up for being active with friends! Please make sure to check in on me and make sure that I stay on it! It seems as though I might need people breathing down my back sometimes in order to get my butt off the couch. Thank you so much for your support in my efforts to get healthy. I love you all so much.

Teammates, Assemble!

Hello, My Lovely Readers,

I'm sorry I haven't been posting lately. School is almost over, which means that summer is approaching! My goal is to be super active this summer. My mom and I are planning on running in the Orange Park Acres 5K Run on the 4th of July! I'm really excited about that. I also really want to get back into sports, like soccer, tennis, golf, and volleyball. Just casually, of course, but they are such a fun way to get exercise. I'll try to let y'all know when I'm going to be doing things so that you can join me if you'd like! Another one of my summer goals is to learn how to paddlesurf.

I really want to get into healthy cooking. I'm always so worried that healthy things are going to taste really bad, but deep down, I know that's not so. I have a really good feeling about this summer. I'll be taking a few classes, but that is over at the end of June, so I have two months to make the most of it!

I have to sign up for the Disney Princess Half Marathon soon (June 11). I'm wondering if there is anybody who wants to run it with me! It's at DisneyWorld, not Disneyland, so I understand that this limits some people. We can dress up in some crazy tutus or princess dresses or something and run our hearts out! It would mean a lot to me if my friends and family would join me; that support means so much to me. It would be so great to accomplish my goal with you all right beside me (or probably in front of me, dragging me to the finish line). Please let me know if you are serious about joining me by June 6th. I'm so excited!

I love you all so much. Thank you for visiting my website so often and continuing to encourage me every day. It is so uplifting to know that so many people are rooting for me.

Love Always,
Nicki

Right Where I'm Supposed to Be

Hello everybody!

I am proud to announce that I have officially hit my 15 pound goal!! I am now just under 280 pounds, and I am going to try my hardest to get into the 260s before the end of the semester, which gives me 5 weeks! I really think I can do it.

It's amazing. You don't really understand how big of a deal 15 pounds is until you hold a few bags of sugar or a 15 pound weight and realize you had this hanging off of your body not too long ago. Imagine when I hit my 40 pound goal! Thats an entire bag of dog food! Crazy.

So, in the next five weeks, I am going to be bogged down with papers and projects and presentations and studying for finals, but I promised myself that I would find time to keep going on runs. I've found that not only are they physically good for me, but I find them to be very therapeutic. If I'm stressed and I go on a run, I'm giving myself time to either really think it over or forget about it and come back with a clean slate of emotions. So I'm going to keep running, and I also want to do something fun and active once a week, like bowling or hiking. I just want to do something new and different!

As I've said before, don't hesitate to let me know if you want to something fun and active with me! I'll more than likely be up for the challenge! And thank you all so much for the inspiration you give me every day! It was funny, the other day my mom said, "maybe you should hang a picture of (a guy that I've had a not-so-secret crush on for a while that I'm not going to name here because that would be mortifying) in your room for inspiration." I looked at her and said, "as nice as that sounds, I feel like I have all the inspiration I need right in front of me. My inspiration is my friends, my family, and my ultimate goal." I feel like I'm right where I'm supposed to be, and that is the best feeling in the world!

Moving Forward

Hello everyone!

The past few weeks have been very tough for me. On Saturday, I broke up with my boyfriend of 3 1/2 years, because we were just in a spot where we needed to focus on our own issues, and that was easier to do apart, I guess. So now, I am going to focus on my own issues. I want to spend the next few months really focusing on me and what I need. So, I am going to power out on being healthy. By the time the semester ends, I want to have hit my 30 pound mark. I really think that I can do it, now that I can focus all my energy on me. But I need your help!! I would love to start doing some new adventurous things, so if you'd like to join me on any excursions, don't hesitate to let me know!!! Some things that I really want to do are hike, ride my bike, and maybe even learn how to paddlesurf!!

Thank you all once more for all the support you have given me. It means the world to me. Thanks to you, I am always feeling motivated and inspired to move forward. I have a really good feeling about the next few months; I am going to get healthy and have fun doing it!!

xoxo

Git'n 'Er Dun

Hello all! So, this morning, my parents and I went on our usual Sunday morning walk/run, and I think I did more running than I've done to date! And I'm soooooo sore. And then my parents and I spent the afternoon building agility obstacles for our dogs. All in all, it was a very productive day. And we are having tilapia for dinner! Yummy!

I want to thank you all for your support in my journey. It really truly means so much to me. I love you all for that support. And as for my goal of running the Disney Princess Half Marathon next February at Walt Disney World, I would love to have some friends and family join me!! Please let me know if you want to accomplish 13.1 miles with me!!

New Developments

Hello, my lovely friends and family!

Last week, I slipped a little on the exercise, but I'm back to running! Yesterday and today, I ran further than I have in the past, so I'm really proud of that accomplishment. :) Right now, I can run to the next street over without stopping, and then I walk about a quarter block, then run to the next street, then walk about half of the next block, then run to the stop light. My next fitness goal is to be able to run to the stop light without stopping, which, sadly, is only about half a mile. But, to use the cliche, you have to walk before you can run! After I conquer that goal, I'd like to be able to run to the fire station, then to the fire station and back to my house. I'm feeling pretty good about being able to meet my goals fairly soon.

Also, I found a 5K that I really want to run in. Wow! I never thought I'd say that. I already promised my mom that I would run the community 4th of July 5K with her, but I found another one in June that sounds like SO much fun. Its called the Neon Splash Dash, and it is at the OC Great Park in Irvine on June 14th. If you have any interest in running with me, let me know!! I would love to have a team to run with.

My parents and I watched the season finale of the Biggest Loser on Monday. I was so happy that Danni won! I've been rooting for her all season. I feel this connection with her, because her story seems so similar to mine. I realized just two nights ago that if she can do it, so can I. And if I look as kick-ass as she did in her finale dress, there will be nothing that can stop me. I love it when I find new inspiration!

Thank you all again for you spoken and unspoken support. It all means a lot to me, no matter how you show it. I love you all for that!

Your Comments

Hi, everybody!! I was getting very frustrated with the Guest Book on my website, and I finally figured out how to actually see the comments that were being posted!! I didn't think that anyone was really looking, but seeing all the pending comments made me so happy, I teared up a little! I went on another run with my mom today. She is so nice to stay at my pace and not leave me behind. I love her. I'm feeling good! Hopefully I hit my Easter goal weight! I love you all!

Gone Running

Hey everybody!! Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I was getting a little discouraged. But the other day, my dad encouraged me to go running, and I actually did!! I didn't make it very far, but I did push myself. The next day, it was raining and hailing and all that stuff, so I just did a little workout in the gym. Both yesterday and today I ran, and I am proud to announce that I have finally gotten under 285. This morning, when I got on the scale, I was 284.2. I hope to be even smaller tomorrow!! I am feeling good about myself again, and I am going to use that to push myself further and further every day!

On another note, I have been receiving many words of encouragement lately, and I am very thankful for it. Thanks to all of you who have said something to me in passing. It really means a lot to me, and seems to come at a time when I really need that encouragement. Thank you for all of your support! I'll try to post more regularly.

What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?

     Hey y'all! I haven't posted in a week. I must be more diligent about that. A few months ago, I decided that I really want to bake for a living. I've always been a good cook, and I love making cakes and cupcakes and cookies and pretty much everything. I realize, however, that practicing my baking skills on a regular basis conflicts with my goal to get healthy.
     This weekend, I baked a carrot cake (which I made my mom take to work, so it was out of the house) and an angel food cake, which has absolutely no fat! So, I guess the point I'm trying to make is that I can still do what I love to do while trying to lose weight. I just have to limit my tasting to a minimum, which I truly think I can do.

     I'm really trying to buckle down and give myself a push to lose some weight, kind of like a jump start. I want to be down to 265 by Easter, so wish me luck! A little bit of encouragement can go a long way! I love you all for supporting me! Thank you!

The Biggest Loser

Hey, y'all!
Have you ever watched The Biggest Loser? My dad and I have become addicted. I love it! I feel like I can relate to them all in some way. And they are all so inspiring!! I feel like, for the most part, they understand that even though they are there to overcome personal battles, people all over the country are looking to them as role models; I know I do! Anyway, the theme of this season is Challenge America, and I am taking the challenge! I signed up on the show's website, and I made a team (name: Healthy Forever). My team is challenging another team this next week. The challenge? Lose a bigger percentage of weight than the other team!! Seems doable. But I need teammates!!! Feel free to join me!! It would be so much fun to have other people working with me!!!

I love you all for the support that you are giving me. Thank you.

Feeling Guilty

So today, my dad and I went on another 2-mile walk. It was really nice! I've noticed that I've started walking faster, even when I'm just strolling. It's kind of fun! After seeing the title of this post, you are probably thinking, "WHAT?!?! Girlfriend must be crazy for feeling guilty after that!!" Well, there is more to the story of today. After our lovely, brisk walk, my dad and I went to a food tasting at his buddy's sports bar, and I had a little too much of each plate for it to be considered a tasting. I guess it's a good thing that we didn't each lunch, and after all that tasting and eating and marveling, I was too full for dinner. But then my friend and I went to Target to get our other friend some birthday presents, and in the check-out line, I picked up some peanut butter M&Ms. Damn you, delicious candy company for coming up with the best variety of your candy to date!! But shame on me for giving in to the temptation. I should be stronger than that. Hell, I AM stronger than that. I just need to be able to recognize that in the moment. We'll see how tomorrow goes. Night, all!

My First Post!

This is so exciting. I'm a BLOGGER! Just kidding. But I do feel like this is going to help me reach my goal of running in the Disney Princess Half Marathon next February! It's Valentine's Day, and love is in the air. So is a midterm. So I have to go focus on that now. Wish me luck!