This past week my life has been more hectic than ever, and my diet has suffered because of it. With everything I have going on, it has been really hard to get in all of the fruits and veggies that I need everyday. Of course, the fact that my mom decided to make a German Chocolate Cake didn't help either.Not only has my diet suffered, but my exercise has been almost nonexistent.

As of this morning I am getting back on track. I woke up and made sure to take all of my vitamins this morning. I Also had a good breakfast and vegetable soup for lunch. Today instead of cake, I will be eating oranges and if I workout, maybe some sugar free chocolate pudding. I must admit chocolate is my weakness.

After this next week all of the chaos in my life will subside for a few months while I take summer break. I have decided that I want to try a new type of workout. I have tried so many that I have never liked enough to stick to, so now it is time to try some more. Any ideas on good workouts that will actually keep my attention long enough to be beneficial?

Pretty Weather

Now that the weather is getting prettier, I know that I should do more things outdoors. I have joined a local softball team with one of my best friends. I also took my puppy downtown yesterday to an Art Festival.

I am not the best at getting outside in the sun. Sad, I know. When I was younger my parents couldn't keep me inside the house, but all of the things I did as a child seem so much harder now. Who knew how much effort it took to ride a bike around the neighborhood?

Today I am going to take a ride through my neighborhood. There is a 2 mile loop that runs from my house through part of my neighborhood. I am actually really excited to try it again. Last time I did this it kicked my butt. Hopefully this time will be better. Wish me luck!

Lime-Jalapeno Chicken

This recipe looks really great!

8 servings, about 1.5 ounces each

Active Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes (including 1 hour marinating time)

INGREDIENTS

• 1/4 cup lime juice, (about 2 limes)
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 jalapeno, sliced
• 1-1 1/4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed of fat, tenders removed

• PREPARATION

  1. Whisk lime juice, oil, vinegar, cumin and salt in a small bowl. Stir in jalapeno. Place chicken in a shallow baking dish and pour the marinade over it, turning to coat both sides. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, turning once, or overnight.
  2. Preheat grill to high heat. Oil the grill rack (see Tip). Grill the chicken until cooked through and no longer pink in the middle, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Let cool slightly; thinly slice crosswise. Serve warm or chilled.

  TIPS & NOTES

  • Make Ahead Tip: Marinate chicken in the refrigerator for up to 1 day and/or refrigerate cooked chicken for up to 1 day. Slice just before serving.
  • To oil a grill: Oil a folded paper towel, hold it with tongs and rub it over the rack. (Do not use cooking spray on a hot grill.) When grilling delicate foods like tofu and fish, it is helpful to spray the food with cooking spray.

  NUTRITION

  Per serving: 71 calories; 2 g fat (0 g sat, 1 g mono); 31 mg cholesterol; 1 g carbohydrates; 11 g protein; 0 g fiber; 46 mg sodium; 98 mg potassium.

  Exchanges: 2 very lean meat

Never Stop

Yesterday I woke up early and went to the gym for a run before I got ready for work. I was amazed at how much easier it was to get through my day when I got a jolt of adrenalin first thing in the morning. It also really helped me want to eat better throughout the day since I started off my day on a healthy note.

The hardest part of this whole endeavor is that I have an incredibly busy schedule. I am not only a full-time student, but I also have an internship and a job. So far I have found that doing little bits of exercise at a time. I'm really starting to look for new ways to do a little more. I almost always take the stairs and park a little farther away from the entrance. Lets see if this helps!

Better Recipes

I went to the mall today and got drawn in by the evil that is the food court. This one oriental style restaurant has the best jalapeno chicken. I can't seem to resist it.

While I was there, I was thinking that I wish I could find healthy recipes for all of my favorite fried foods. I think that the chicken would be just as good if it wasn't fried. I mean it's not the fried part that I love so much, it's the heat. So my goal for tonight/tomorrow is to find a great and healthy recipe for a spicy chicken meal. Let me know if anyone knows of anything good.

On another note, I am going to go to the gym tonight and run for a little while. I recently started to like running for exercise, but I still can not run very far or fast. Lately I have been able to run almost 2 miles at around 5.3 mph. I'm hoping that if I keep working on it I can run a 5k. Every year there are tons of 5k's in Knoxville and I always wish that I could make it through one alive. So this year I am going to keep running until I am able to run 3 miles easily. Then maybe I will give it a try.

Day #1

This is my first ever blog post! I wanted to start this blog because I want to document and share how I will start to become a healthier person. I have always been on the smaller side, thanks to great genes. The one thing I have never really been is really healthy.

For almost 4 years, starting my freshman year in college, I was always sick. I was not in a lot of pain, but I never actually felt good either. After countless tests from doctors and multiple diagnosis that did nothing, I finally decided that I was going to have to do this on my own. The first step for me was seeing an allergist. Come to find out, I have food sensitivities. They are like less intense versions of food allergies, but instead of causing an allergic reaction, they make you feel sick. Did I mention that the mass of my diet was on the list of foods that I have problems with? That was a major blow to my diet.

Since then I have cut out most dairy and started to eat a little better, but I don't think that it is enough. I am ready to do what it takes to be a really healthy person. I know that this is easier said then done, which is why I will need helpful tips and advice about different foods and workouts that can help me reach my goal.

What I am trying to accomplish has nothing to do with size or shape. It has to do with me finally being able to feel alive and energetic when I wake up in the morning; and not feeling like I need caffeine to get through my day.