Korea Life: Cheonan

When I was interviewing for a job here in South Korea, I know I wanted a big city. I really wanted Seoul but knew that I did not have the qualifications for a good job in a city of that size. So I decided that I would be OK with a medium sized city that wasn't too far from Seoul. When I interviewed for my job here in Cheonan, the city was one of the things that drew me to the job.

Cheonan is a pretty great city to live in. It's not the most exciting city, but it is by no means boring. The city has a lot of great aspects to it. First, it is surrounded by mountains. Not only does the air seem really fresh here compared to the big city, but it has really good hiking trails. I have gone for quite a few hikes up some really beautiful trails since I have been here. Cheonan is also known for "hodugwaja", which is a really delicious walnut bread. You can find it in stands on the street corners. The smell is even better than the taste. You can usually smell it from a block or more away and it makes your mouth salivate like crazy.

Since it is a medium sized city, there is still a good night life here. The clubs are always full and there are lots of people partying on the streets whenever you want to go on a rager. This also means that there is a good number of cafe's and restaurants here. It is not limited in it's food selection. You can get almost any type of food you want and nothing is too far away. I have had a really great time trying all the new food and trying the fusion restaurants.

As I have mentioned, it is not the biggest city but there is still a lot to explore and do. The shopping is really great and there is underground shopping as well as a couple of malls. I have still barely scratched the surface of the city. There is still a lot more to see and even more to eat. 

Korea Life: My First Trip to Seoul

For the Chuseok holiday I took my first trip to Seoul. A coworker and I packed one carry on suitcase and headed for the big city (according to the people we met in Seoul, we are living in the country).

Luckily Cheonan is a transportation hub. So we have the KTX (high speed train), it only took 30 minutes from Cheonan to Seoul (2 hours or more by bus). The tickets only cost 16 dollars for a one way direct. If we had bought a standing ticket, it would have only been 10 dollars.The Seoul subway was actually easy to navigate. We downloaded an English app and we were able to find everything easily on there. It is also very cheap, much better than a cab.

Our first stop was Itaewon-dong because I had heard about a Mexican restaurant their that I had been craving for the past month.The restaurant did not disappoint. It was called Coreanos and the food was excellent. I got a chicken quesadilla and it was a great reminder of home. As you can see by the picture, I could not wait to eat it. We then made our way for coffee and dessert. We found this cute little place called Hello Pudding. We got a cookie, carrot cake, and some coffee. Everything was delicious.

After that we went to find our hostel. We were staying in Hongdae-dong. We were recommended a hostel called Fortune Hostel. Neither me nor my coworker had ever stayed in a hostel before, so we did not know what to expect. All we could think of were the really crappy hostels you see in movies, we were quite scared to be honest. However, we were pleasantly surprised. The hostel was very clean and quiet. We stayed in a 6 bed room, the floor we were on was girls only, so no worries about pervs trying to peak. The price was good, 180000won a night (around $18 US). We were right in the center of all the action too. We could walk anywhere to get anything. Everything was right beside us, including a great night life scene.

Since it was Chuseok weekend (korean thanksgiving), lots of Koreans had gone back home to see their families. There were sooooo many foreigners there for the long weekend. All the bars were filled with foreigners from around Korea (mainly English teachers). We met lots of cool people and made many new friends.

We spent most the days walking around and exploring. Seoul is so big, with lots of really cool things to see. I feel like I was posting too much and not enough on instagram all at the same time (a_is_for_amyzing if you want to see more pictures). We tried lots of food and bought stuff from a lot of small vendors. I am pretty sure I gained 15 lbs from sweets and street food. But it was all worth.

Before we left, we went to the Hello Kitty Cafe. It was everything you would expect and more. It was like pink and cutesy puked on the whole place. I loved it. The food and coffee were ok, it is definitely a place you go to for the experience. The place is two stories high and filled with Hello Kitty everything. The top floor has a Hello Kitty bedroom where you can take pictures. There is also a gift shop to buy overpriced brand name things (you can get them on the street for a lot cheaper). But it was a fun experience and  I was really happy to go there.

We only stayed for 2 days, but I will go back soon and explore some more. It may be a lot different on a non holiday weekend. It will probably be a lot more packed full of people. Which is fine, because it made Cheonan seem so small.

Although I loved Seoul, I was happy to arrive back in Cheonan. I needed a full shower and a full night of sleep. But I will be going back soon.

Korea Life: Coffee Shops

I had a given up drinking coffee on a regular basis about a year ago. I had switched it for green tea. But it is so hard not to be a coffee drinker in Korea. Why? Because there are cute little coffee shops EVERYWHERE! Down every road, on every corner I find them. The cutest, most welcoming coffee shops that say "Come in, Have a sweet latte." How can I resist the coffee shops. Yes I know they serve non coffee beverages, but I do love the taste of coffee. So it is hard for me to go to a coffee shop and not get a latte.

In Houston, we have Starbucks everywhere. And most starbucks look exactly the same, with a few minor difference. But the menus are the same and the people look the same. But here there are so many small, local shops. All of them have different drinks and items, all of them look so different. It is absolutely wonderful. I have fallen in love with all my local shops and a new one just opened up two doors down from me that I am dying to try.

It may not be healthy, but it is relaxing. I love a warm cup of coffee and the weather is only getting cooler. I know in winter I will really appreciate all the coffee shops being so close to warm me up.

It is also nice to have the fresh coffee, because most of the coffee in the stores is instant coffee. The instant coffee here is good. But after drinking it all week, it is so nice to have a fresh cup of coffee at a cafe.

Korea Life: Living Off Convenience Store Food

The first few weeks I was here  I could not find an international ATM. So, I was not eating out but living off of cheap convenience store food (thank you GS25). When I say convenience store food, I do not mean the really processed, disgusting hot dogs and nachos you get in the states. Here convenience store food is much different. You can get as healthy or as bad of food as you want. I probably now have an unhealthy love for Korean convenience store sandwiches. Most of them have eggs/egg salad and are oh so delicious. But I have gotten kimbap to sandwiches to a full on stew from the convenience store. None of it cost over 25000won (2.50 US). The point of this being you can live off of convenience store food for cheap. Now the second point, this blog has a lot about losing weight and healthy living. Even though I was poor and eating from the convenience store. I still ate in moderation and chose wisely. So instead of gaining, I lost weight the first few weeks. Meaning that even if you have to live poorly your first few weeks here or even months here, that does not mean you will gain weight. Choosing wisely and eating in moderation are still big factors.

Lets move on to my real obsession that I buy from the convenience store.... banana flavored milk. It was honestly one of the things I wanted to try most when I came here. It is a hit or miss among foreigners, but it was a bullseye with me. I love the stuff. I would drink a bath of it. Even though I grocery shop now, it is something I still need to buy from the convenience store (this is to discourage me from drinking more than one a day because they are high in sugar).

I can now report that I can access my money back home and am back to cooking for myself. But I still treat myself to an egg sandwich once a week and banana milk a little more often. I am very happy I went through those broke convenience store times because there are other gems I found that I will probably continue to eat as well.

Korea Life: Teaching Kindergarten

Before I came here I was not a kid person. They annoyed me. When they screamed, I winced. When they ran, I wanted to trip them. I did not want them in my restaurants, I did not want them touching me. So why did I move to South Korea to teach English to kindergarteners?? For adventure, for experience, for money, but now.....

Oh... how things have changed. Teaching Korean 7 year olds (in the US they would be 5/6 year olds) has really changed how I feel about small children. It may be the mothering instinct that I suppressed for so long or it could be the responsibility you feel for your class. Or it may be the fact that they are all soooooo cute, I mean seriously adorable children. But I love all my students, even the ones that are complete brats (and I have many brats).

I feel like it may not be my place to comment on these things because I have only been teaching a month and a half. However, it did not take long for me to love my students. As soon as they were put into my care, I felt an overwhelming sense of responsibility for their well being. They are only children and so small, so you have to take care of them. It has been a challenge though. Going from not being around kids at all to teaching them all day, it has been hard. I will probably spend the whole year learning how to best cope with them and how I can take care of them better. (I think anybody would do the same though because in all aspects of your life you never stop learning.)

I like to think my classes warmed up to me as quickly as I warmed up to them. They are very affectionate and give me lots of hugs and cuddles. They say very nice things to me and give me pictures they draw for me and cards with cute things. It is a very rewarding job, but not easy by any means. We do lots of fun things in class (although sometimes it is hit or miss with the activities). So,
I am constantly moving around with them and lifting them (or peeling them off of my legs) so it is an all day workout. I knew it was gong to be a different lifestyle than the cubicle I was used to. But I did not know how much until I was on my feet and lifting small (but heavy) children all day.

I am sure I will have more updates about teaching as the year goes on. But I think this is a good overview of how it feels to start teaching in South Korea, specifically  coming from being a person who disliked (now past tense) kids.

Korea Life: My Apartment

I have been living in my apartment just over a month a now. I read a lot about how I would have to adjust to a lot of things. However, so far, I have found the differences minimal, to say the least. The apartment is small, but I think it is perfect for one person. Just enough room. I have everything I need in the apartment, with a little room to spare. It is comparable if not bigger than a studio apartment in Houston or any other big city.
It is a one room apartment with a small kitchen and a bathroom. As you can see it is not the biggest thing ever. But it holds a desk/table, bookshelf, tv/stand, queen size bed, drawers and has a nice size closet. The floor has a good amount of space for my workouts in the morning. I have enough room in the bottom of my closet to store my weights and yoga mat. I am sad that I filled the top up and my clothes are trying to bust out of the closet. My kitchen is very small and cannot hold much food. But, as I have said, it is enough for one. It is a pain to cook in because there is no room to cut veggies. There is no oven, only a stove. It saves on a lot of space and a lot of heat, so I do not mind.

So, let's move on to the differences. The main one is the bathroom. It is not like a traditional western bathroom. There is no shower or bath tub, it is just one tile room. Your shower head is connected to the sink. So you have to take a shower in the middle of the room. There is not curtain or anything. Just you in the middle of the bathroom showering. It means everything gets wet in the bathroom, at least at first. It is not bad, just different. Another difference is the washer and dryer, or lack thereof. There is only a washer and then lots of drying racks to hang your clothes. My porch, which in the US would be used for patio furniture, is solely used for my washer and drying racks. The last difference is that it is not normal to keep the A/C on for a extended amounts of time. In Houston, the A/C stays running, even when it is cool outside. It is not normal to keep the windows open all the time. But here it is very normal to keep your windows open instead of turning on the A/C or fan. So, my windows stay open all day and night, I have only turned on the A/C  a few times since I have been here. This could be because of a slight weather difference (hot/humid is all Houston is and the weather is beautiful here) but I also think it is just something we get used to doing now. There are a few other nuances that I think are well known. You don't wear your shoes indoors, so there is a spot in the front to take them off and put them. The plugs are different. You have different controls for the hot water. But those are all a given.
I am not done decorating yet because I need more on the walls to complete it. I have been on a search for really cute things to fill my apartment with. You know, the quintessential Asian cute stuff they are known for. I have found a few things. Cute stickers for my kitchen and bathroom walls. But nothing that I am super excited over. I will try to remember to take more pictures when I am done completely decorating. That could take awhile though.

Korea Life: The Arrival

I have been living in Cheonan, South Korea for a month now. I meant to update sooner buuuuttttt surprise surprise three prong chargers are not easy to find in Korea. However, I finally got one on Friday.

Sooooo, my Korea adventure started a month ago. I have not taken many pictures. But that does not mean I have not been exploring everything, everywhere that I can. I have been trying lots of new foods and meeting new people.

I spent my first week in a love motel. It was kind of funny, because I was not expecting it. But the motel was very cute and super clean. It was fun for my first week, although a little creepy.. I think some people got the wrong impression of what I was doing there. For anyone that doesn't know what a love motel is, it is a cheap motel where people can go for uhhhhh "love".

I will post more specific blog posts about my apartment, food so far, and teaching kindergartners in Korea.

The Transition Abroad: Stocking Up

It's coming down to my last week in Houston and I am feeling the pressure to get what I need. I have been slowly stocking up on a few essentials. But now that it's down to the wire, I need some of my favorite products that I know I won't be able to get in Korea (or at least not as cheap as Wal-Mart). This should be a calm head to the store type of process right? For me... no... I realized that I may not be able to order all the things I want online and for them to ship to me in time. So I have been on a buying frenzy, and funny (not funny) enough something already got lost in the mail. (UPDATE : my amazing driver found my box!)

So, what do I need to stock up on? First my favorite mascara. Luckily I don't go through mascara that quickly (surprising since I use like 5 coats per lash), so I am guessing I need at least 4 tubes of it.... is that not enough? I don't know, I don't want to run out, I've been using the same mascara for 4-5 years and I don't like any other mascara. Mousse... it is the bane of my existence. My hair is naturally wavy/curly and some mousse' work and some do not. I finally found a formula that works well with my hair and gets my waves perfect. It is coming with me. 10 bottles....maybe just 6? I use it almost every day, so there will never be enough. Other things are simple and I can just grab at the store either when I get there or quickies before I leave. But my non negotiable items, I have no idea how many to bring for the year. I should have been counting how many I go through during the year.

Sneakers are one of my biggest fears right now. My training shoes just wore out recently (the traction on the bottom was gone, working out was so hard when I was slipping everywhere). Those lasted 4 years but with little to no use for 3 of them. I wore them down over the last 5 or so months. So I bought a new pair and it just hit me that I will need more than one pair to get me through since I workout 6 times a week. Now I am wondering if they will get to me in time if I order them TODAY. And so on and so on.

As you can read I am not a calm person and with all the lists and preparation I take, panic will always set it when things get closer. And inevitably, no matter how prepared you are, you probably forgot something. Or something that wasn't supposed to break or wear out will. Thank goodness for grandma saying she will ship me anything I forget or anything I need. Plus I am sure that I can find half of this stuff there, but my favorite saying is "It is better to be over-prepared than under-prepared."

Health: Staying Positive and Staying Motivated

During this journey my friends have expressed how proud they are of me and enviable they are of my ability to stay motivated. The ability to stick to something wholeheartedly for a year and having the same motivation, if not more, than when I started, it inspires them. I tend to always look at them baffled when they say these things, partially because, although I like compliments, I get severely embarrassed when given one to my face but mainly because it hasn't been hard to stay motivated throughout the year. I have a goal I want to reach, I have a fitness level I want to reach, I am not there yet, so I need to keep going. I see the changes in myself and I like them, so every change spotted adds to my motivation. I may even be too motivated, I have had to reevaluate my process in the past because I was over-training and under-eating at more than one point during this journey.

However, staying positive has been a whole different struggle. One that goes up and down with every passing day. Like most weight loss journeys, mine hasn't been completely linear. I do not see consistent losses every week. Sometimes the scale won't move for a month. These weeks are hard. I can be really rough on not only my body (over training to break through) but also my self image because I take out my frustration in the mirror sometimes. I know I put in the effort. I diagnose and overthink my whole system of weight loss. I dissect everything I am doing to the point of obsession and wonder why my scale isn't reflecting my effort. I read EVERY SINGLE article on why the scale may not be moving. Those weeks are the worst and while I keep going, the stress that this causes is sometimes unbearable. (And according to a few articles, may be the reason I am not losing weight. Vicious cycle).

So how do you stay positive during the weeks the scale decides it does not want to move? Realize that weight loss is not perfectly linear. Especially when you get closer to your goal weight. The pounds take more time and effort to get off. But mostly you have to put your full trust in the process. If you are putting in the work and eating correctly, the scale will move again. It is just a matter of time. I always tell myself, "the first 80 pounds came off, it is only a matter of time before the rest follows." This is after dissection and finding nothing wrong with my eating or exercise habits. And don't be too hard on yourself. Sometimes these things happen, and there is no point in beating up your self image because, as I've mentioned in a previous post, those two things should not correlate. It is disappointing but you are never going to get further if you don't keep trying. And you won't want to keep trying if you are beating yourself up, you need to pump yourself up instead. (That was really cheesy... I apologize.... Never-mind, I don't apologize. "Pump Up the Jams" is now in my head to back up that sentence).

Now patience isn't my strong suit, so I know that sometimes no matter how many positive things you tell yourself, it is still hard to see a light through the darkness. But even I know that at some point I should put faith in myself. I know what I am doing. I know when I am cheating and should not expect scale movement. I know when I am on point and if the scale doesn't move, then wait it out. So it is easy to regain a positive disposition when I remember to trust myself and what I am doing.

Health: One Year Fitaversary!

June 2014

So August 1st marks the one year anniversary of the day I decided to take back my health and my life. I am feeling super nostalgic, just like I did on the anniversary of my friends wedding that marked the turning point in my life that led to this starting point. This post definitely won't be as long as the last one, but I am super excited when I think about all the goals I have accomplished in just one year.

June 2014

So I started trying to lose weight by printing out a 30 day Ab and Butt Challenge. The first day was hell. I couldn't do a proper squat because it hurt my knees. I couldn't do a sit up because I had no core strength. On my way up I had to use any momentum I could muster, I  kind of rocked from side to side just to get all the way up. I was a mess and the workout only last 5 minutes. If I remember correctly it was only 5 squats, 5 sit ups and 10 crunches for day 1, I was insanely out of shape. But I did it and I finished out the month. By the end of the month I was doing 100 squats and 50 sit ups (my form was still terrible though). I was really proud of myself for not giving up after day 1 or day 5, but I made it all 30 days. And it only increased from there. The workouts got longer and more intense with each 30 days. Now, I am doing about an hour and a half to two hour workouts a day and my fitness is the best it's been my whole life.

I remember starting day one with this humongous goal ahead of me. It was overwhelming and I really thought I would never even get close to it. The amount of weight I needed to lose was scary. However, I determined not to think of the ultimate goal and just to take my weight loss 30 days at a time. All I had to do was get through a month and there was no way the weight wouldn't come off. So I took it one month at a time. I did the 30 day challenges for activity and tried my best to eat right. I honestly didn't weigh myself until 3 months deep and at that point I had lost 30 pounds. I was very excited. Yes my goal was still very far away, but not nearly as far as it had been 30 pounds ago.

Over the last year I have lost 80 pounds but I have gained a whole new perspective on life and health. I am only 20 pounds away from my goal now and thinking about changing it to 15 pounds. I am stronger than I have ever been. I can actually throw a decent punch, which I have never been able to do. I can see muscles that I never knew existed on me. I can fit into a clothing size that, except during that short spurt of being this weight in 2011, I haven't fit into since middle school. Most importantly I have grown to love the body I was given and appreciate all it does and will do for me.

June 2015

July 2015

I celebrated my Fitaversary with actually paying for a workout routine(gasps)! I also treated myself to a few new dresses. I was hoping to be at my goal by this point, but I am not disappointed at all that I didn't make it. I know that I will continue to put in the work and eventually I will get there. So happy Fitaversary to me!

Health: The Fear of Regaining

During the course of any lifestyle change, there is always the question of "will I fall back into my old lifestyle?". This question is scary for those who are losing weight. The fear of regaining is a very serious concern. Not only because it is easy to fall back into old habits, but because the statistics are against us. Most people that lose weight, gain it all back plus some over the next 5 years. It is a scary prospect to think that all the hard work you put in could be for nothing. I am sure people are tired of reading this sentence, but it truly boils down to a lifestyle change not a diet. That is the only way that a person can hope to sustain the new weight bracket they are in. But unfortunately the odds will always be against those that used to be overweight. It is easier for people who used to weigh more to put on weight because fat cells do not disappear, they just shrink. So it is easier for someone who already has those cells to refill them, than it is for someone to create those cells.

So how are you supposed to stay motivated when the odds are against you? How are you supposed to want to keep up all the hard work when this fear is constantly on your shoulder? I try to see it as extra motivation. Yes I messed up once before, I lost 50 lbs in college and gained 80. When I realized I had regained and that I was over my highest weight, I was truly at my lowest in spirits. I was extremely disappointed in myself.. I don't want to feel that way again. I also know that the embarrassment will be doubled if I let myself regain all over again. So, I learned from the mistakes and know what to do and what not to do now. I motivate myself by telling myself to not become the statistic. I don't want to demotivate others by regaining again, so why not become an exception to the rule instead of the norm. Sometimes, I even just choose to ignore it. So what if the odds aren't in my favor, I am doing this and I will be successful. There are no "maybes", it is a statement: I will succeed. The possibility of regain is there, but it doesn't define my current situation. Currently I am living a healthy life and I am succeeding. That is what counts.

I hear from friends and read on forums people who regained and are scared to start over. I look at it like this: you lost it once before, so you can do it again. Will it be harder? Yes. Will it be worth it? Even more so than the first time. Fear of something is not an excuse not to start something. I say this to myself as much as I write it for others to read. This is not fear of heights or a fear of clowns (people in clown costumes mostly... so scary), this is fear of living your life. Living your life as healthy as possible, because losing weight is not just about the aesthetics, it is about overall health. And when you let fear dictate your overall health, you let it dictate your life.

Health: Clothes I *NEVER* Want to Have to Wear Again

During this weight loss journey I have had to go through tons of clothes. Some I was more than willing to get rid of when the time came and some I still miss terribly. When I was obese I started to really find my rhythm, style wise. I was finding out what sort of clothes I liked and the type of person I wanted to portray through clothes. I really started to create a wardrobe I loved. The problem was that a lot of the clothes I liked didn't fit me. And then when I started to lose weight, I have been losing my style for necessity. So now that I am getting closer to my goal weight, I am making a list of clothes/items I NEVER want to have to wear again.

1) Leggings as Pants

I know. I know. I KNOW! A lot of woman wear leggings as pants, a lot of woman love leggings as pants. When you have to wear leggings as pants because all your pants are too big and you are only 40 lbs deep into a 100 lb weight loss journey. Well, you start to despise leggings. I like pants, I like jeans, I like slacks. I want to wear those and not have to wear leggings. I don't mind leggings to work out, I don't mind leggings on cold days with boots and a dress. I do mind leggings every day because you have no pants that properly fit.

2) Plus Size Clothes

Don't get me wrong, as I mentioned my fashion stride really started when I was wearing plus size clothes. Technically, currently I am wearing a plus sized top because I don't have many shirts at the moment. Unfortunately though, the selection and style in the plus size section is not there. The clothes never tend to fit right and they always cost more. This is definitely more of a selection and price thing rather than a size thing.

3) Jeans that Sag in the Butt

Last week I got rid of my last pair of big pants. The weight in my butt went first because I naturally have nothing in the back. It is a very, very sad fact. So as soon as I started losing weight, my jeans started sagging in the butt. Every pair, all the time. Then as I got down further and further, I didn't know it was possible, but it got smaller again. The aforementioned last pair was a pair of jeggings in the size XL. It fit alright in the hips, but the butt looked like a diaper. I couldn't take it any longer, I broke down and bought some cheapo jeans from Wal-Mart. 

4) Accent Belts

There is nothing wrong with an accent belt. However, when you are bigger you like to accentuate the smallest part of yourself. My waist was always a lot smaller than my hips, so I used to belts on almost all of my clothes. It always felt like a cop out, because I thought I didn't look "as big" if I had the belt showing my smallest part. I added them to everything, until I was completely tired of them. And right now I am having to add them to all my clothes again, because everything is too big. I want to wear the belt because I want to, not because I have to.

5) Empire Waist-ed Everything

This kind of relates to number four. A lot of plus sized clothes are made in the cinched at the waist form. Which is still flattering on my frame, but literally all my clothes. Everything tied or cinched in there or I belted it. As I mentioned it was my smallest part, so I tried to make sure that people could see I was small somewhere. Nothing against the style. I still like it, but I don't want every piece of clothing to be in that style anymore. 

6) Granny Panties

They do not make cute underwear in large sizes. They do not make cute underwear in large sizes. You are left with only granny panties. My underwear were not cute and they were huge. Before I gained weight I only wore frilly girly panties. Giving those up because none fit anymore was the worst. And now in the interim, I don't want to waist money on undies that won't fit in a few months. So I'm still in the granny panties, but now the butt sags to the back of my knees. I have never felt more sexy in my life (please read the sarcasm oozing from that sentence).

These are just a few of the pieces/style of clothing that I never want to go back to wearing. A large amount of people that lose weight gain it back. I was unfortunately part of that statistic. But now that I am going down again, I plan on staying there. This is a list of inspiration for me to keep maintaining and staying healthy. Some may totally agree with this list, some may lynch me for it. But these are the things that I could not/cannot wait to stop wearing during my weight loss journey.

Health: You Don't Need to Pay to Lose Weight

How many times have we heard or given the excuse "I don't have the money to lose weight"? Meaning  that the gym costs money, healthier food costs money, new clothes cost money. It's a common excuse, but it's just that... an excuse.

You don't need money to lose weight. It's a fact. That excuse is now null and void. If you are still using it, make a new excuse. I started at 260 and have lost over 70 pounds without spending money (Well sort of, new clothes did happen, but I budgeted and bought new clothes on the cheap). So I am about to give you my detailed guide (more of an outline) of how I lost weight without spending excess money. Debunking all the things you "need" to lose weight, one excuse at a time.

1) "I can't afford to go to a gym."

Then don't. You don't need a gym. You don't need equipment. Do you have a body? Then you have all the equipment you need. Youtube is overflowing with free workout videos. Trainers are on there posting 30 day workout plans, for free. If you don't have access to Youtube videos to follow, that's ok. I started with a 30 day PDF file with pictures. Workout plans provided by certified trainers are just a google search away. You don't need to pay gym fees, you don't need to pay trainer fees. There are many, many resources available online. Plus, if you are/were anything like me, I was so big that I was embarrassed to go to a gym with fit people. I felt like they were judging me. So being able to workout in the comfort of my own home, without other peoples eyes on me, that was the best.

Here is a list of free trainers that I've used and really enjoyed:
-Darebee ( www.darebee.com )
       -Formerly Neila Rey. This website provides PDF and clickable 30 day to 90 day workouts. They have low impact for beginners up to high impact for the beasts. All the programs have options to start with the lowest intensity and work your way up to a higher intensity. I don't think any of the workouts require equipment, but if they do, they will tell you at the bottom. All you need is you bodyweight to start. Everything is free. This is the website I personally started with on my journey. I did the 30 days of Cardio Blast two months in a row. The first month I was on the lowest intensity the second month I was strong enough to move up to the highest. I saw tons of improvement, not just in weight dropping, but in building muscle. There are also meal plans, recipes, and more on the site. It is a great resource.

-Super Hero Fitness (www.youtube.com/user/superherofitnesstv)
        -Keaira LaShae is one of the most entertaining and fun trainers I have found on the internet. Her workouts are simple, but fun and effective. She does a lot of dance based cardio, but she walks you through the steps. The plus side is, even if you aren't good at dancing (I'm not), you can still have fun and get a good workout with her videos. She has a few 30 day workout challenges where she gives you a list of her videos to workout with for a month. Every day is different and it gives a good mix of cardio and strength training throughout the week. I am on my 3rd 30 day workout routine with her. I sweat, I laugh, and I am sore with her videos. And the plus side is her advice, videos, and humor are all free.

-Joanna Soh (https://www.youtube.com/user/joannasohofficial)
      - Another Youtube trainer. Joanna will kick your butt into shape. I haven't followed her videos on a regular basis. But every time I attempt even one of her videos (looking at you kickboxing), I am on the floor by the end and can't move the next day. She has tons of great advice videos and a few 30 day workout plans. She's spunky but tough and a pleasure to watch. Her website is full of free meal plans and great recipes.

There are sooooo many more if you just  search for them. But these are the 3 I've personally tried and loved.

2) "Healthier food costs more money."

False. It is because you are trying to add your healthy food to your junk food. I made this mistake for the longest time. I thought that adding a few vegetables to my meal constituted eating healthier. Frozen vegetables are cheap. Kroger has bags of frozen veggies for a dollar. That is cheaper than your bag of chips. Chicken is cheaper than beef. A large pack of chicken at Kroger (if you can't tell, I live by a Kroger and shop there) is 8-13 dollars. It comes with 6 large chicken breasts. You can divide that into 6 or 12 (I cut them in half) meals. Divide them out, freeze the ones you aren't using immediately and you have a lot of meals on the cheap. Rice (brown or white) can be bought in bulk at your local Asian market (I go to 99 Ranch) for only 13-20 dollars. The bag should last you a REALLY long time.

I personally count calories. You don't need to buy Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig or whatever programs are out there just to have them tell you how many points to eat. Apps and websites like Spark People and MyFitnessPal are completely free (upgrades cost money, but you don't need them). I used Spark the first time I lost weight and lost 50 pounds. I've lost 40 or so pounds using MyFitnessPal this time around. Not saying one is better than the other, either one is pretty good. Mainly just depends on your preferences.

3) "New clothes cost money."

Can't really debunk this one. It's true, as you lose weight you will have to buy new clothes. But it's rewarding. When you fit into smaller sizes, when you move from the plus size section back into the misses, that's a good feeling. It shows that all the hard work has paid off. But when you lose massive amounts of weight in a short time (looking at you 70 lbs in 10 months), clothes stack up. But there are ways to get around this. Your interim clothes don't need to be expensive. I found stretch skinny jeans at Walmart for 8 dollars. Buy a few pairs and you'll be good for a couple of months. For my old t-shirts, I cut them up and used t-shirt glue to put them back together in a smaller size. I only use them for working out now, but hey I needed new workout clothes anyways. Find sales. Wet Seal has a ton of sales all the time. Shirts 5 for 20 on the regular. A lot of people swear by going to resale shops while they are losing weight. I know the resale shop by me has dollar bins. They put out bins of clothes where everything is a dollar. Yes you have to search, but you can get clothes for very cheap in the meantime.

The point I'm trying to make is that money should not be an excuse as to why not to lose weight. Yes it takes major motivation, yes it takes time, but it does not take money. Some people would say that doing it for free is harder. I think it's harder on me to spend my hard earned money on things I can get for free. I'd rather save that money and buy myself a nice wardrobe when I get to my goal weight. All the gym fees I avoided, that's cute new tops. All the money I saved when I shopped for healthier food options, those are new pants. And the new clothes I had to buy in the interim, those can go to charity and help someone else. I don't mind, it feels good to give back.

So ditch the excuse that you don't have the money to lose weight because it is not valid.

The Transition Abroad: Selling All My Stuff/Downsizing

If you are anything like me, to make any sort of decision you read tons of other peoples stories that have been through the same scenario. That sentence wasn't structured well, so I'll simplify: I have been scouring peoples blogs and vlogs to decide what to take with me to Korea. Not only what to take but what to leave behind in a storage unit, if anything. I would say this is the most difficult part of the process, but luckily my whole life is in transition right now, so I'm not feeling overly attached to most of my things. What I am worried about is if I'm making the right decisions.

What I've "Learned" I SHOULD Take With Me

According to all the female Korean bloggers above a size 8 (in shoes and clothes) there are a few musts to stockpile:
-Bras (this varies in need but always says somewhere above a B cup)
-Shoes (some say above a size 8, some say 8 and a half. Also I had no walking shoes)
-Pants (as mentioned above a size 8ish or over nothing will fit your bum)
-Undies (see above)
There are a few hitches though... I do not have the suitcase room for all the clothes I am going to need for all the seasons. SO on top of my suitcases I have three boxes to ship to myself. It feels excessive. According to UPS each box is going to cost me around 100 bucks to ship to myself. Now before you think, she doesn't need that many clothes, it isn't all clothes. The first box is winter clothes (that includes sweaters and jackets for fall and winter because I'm from Texas and I NEED TO BE WARM!). The second box is shoes, this box may be a bit much, but hear me out. The bulk of this box is winter boots to keep my feetsies warm on the snowy, cold days. The third box is necessities of a non clothing kind. From allll the things I've read and been told I would think this last box is very vital. It holds: deodorant, minty toothpaste, multivitamins, things that remind me of home (pictures, stuffed animal, etc) and food stuffs.

Hitch number 2, as you can read in the rest of my blog, I am currently dropping weight. In the past 10 months I have lost 70 lbs and am still losing. I don't know what size I"m going to end up at. So while I am trying to buy clothes that I hope will fit me, some may end up being too big. I am waiting until right before I leave to buy new pants and things where the sizing is more important. It's a lot of guesswork. For instance, my winter jacket from this past winter is a bit too big. So I bought a new one during the winter sales. It is a bit too small. But it may be just right come winter in Korea. Guess work. There is also the fact that I plan on continuing my weight loss journey in Korea, so any clothes I bring with me may end up being too big. -_-

The things I should take with me, I knew, were going to be hit or miss. Most definitely I am going to figure out I didn't buy something I needed and probably packed stuff I didn't need. This part was always going to be trial and error because everyone has different needs. No matter how many blogs I read on what to bring, there is no correct formula for each person. When I get closer to my leave date I'll probably post a what I am bringing and then later what I did/didn't need.

Things to Leave Behind/ Get Rid Of

Everything else I own. No. But seriously yes. I have a few options of things to do with my furniture and nick knacks. Pack it all away and put it in an expensive storage unit. Or sell it all and hope I don't regret it if I come back in only a year. This should have been a tougher decision for me, since I am bit of a hoarder, but I chose option number two with a bit of option one. I am limiting myself to 3-4 boxes, my grandfathers roll top desk, and the miniature dollhouse my grandmother built me as a child. As of right now one box is full of the fairy tales from around the world book collection I've been working on since I was a teenager, one box is my DVD collection, and the third box is overflow from that and my ps3/ps3 games. That's it. Everything else is going. I am not keeping any clothes or shoes that can't come with me(this probably accounts for needing to ship boxes to myself). I'm not keeping any furniture (save the roll top desk mentioned above). Everything is being sold/given away with the money helping with my adjustment over there.

This may seem extreme, but I have a few reasons behind why I think this is the best possible option. Firstly, as of right now my furniture is all a mismatched mess. None of it is in bad condition, but most of it was bought for necessity or given to me by family. Ikea and free is all the furniture I own. So if/when I come back it would be nice to start from scratch and make sure my furniture matches. Second, storage units become more expensive the bigger the unit is. So to avoid the larger fees (also having to pay exchange rates when sending money back etc) it makes sense to downsize. Lastly, I think it is a good lesson in letting go. I have always had a weird attachment to my things. In somewhat of an unhealthy way. Before this year I couldn't imagine parting with a single piece. That's why my closet and apartment were/are filled with things I've had since I was in high school but don't use/wear. I didn't want to let it go. It came in handy while decorating and made my apartment feel like "home". But it is past time that  I should be able to get rid of these things and live in a much less full apartment. I loved living in my dorm because I bought everything new and it was very sparsely furnished/decorated. It was easy to clean and I loved the simplicity. When I moved back into a full apartment and brought all my things with me, it became cluttered. There was too much stuff, too many nick-knacks that I held onto for no reason more than, it is mine and it was from my parents house. So releasing all these things is cathartic and a way to signify my true leaving of the nest. Plus, I can have a whole new decorating scheme and not worry about incorporating my things. To top it all off, I don't have to worry about paying for all this stuff I'm not using, it's like repaying for the furniture. I can save the money and buy new when I get home.

Ending Thoughts

Like the whole process of uprooting your life and moving abroad, it takes time and consideration. You can read all the blogs you want, but ultimately you have to decide what is best for you. Take advice, but don't take it too strictly. Everyone has their own formula for doing things, so just because you do it differently than someone else, it doesn't mean it's wrong. This is a trial and error process. Not just packing and getting rid of stuff, the whole shebang. You pick a country, you may love it or you may hate it. You find a place to work, you may adore it or you may despise it. Really you just have to keep making leaps of faith in hoping that you are making the right decisions. And even if they don't turn out to be the right ones, well you learned something. I think that every decision you make serves a purpose in your life, whether because it benefits by helping you in some way or it's just there to teach you a lesson of how not to do things. Think it through, weigh your options, find what you think is best for you, and make a decision.

**This is going to be the start of a new segment "The Transition Abroad". It is going to chronicle all the thoughts, struggles, and process of moving to a new country. So more to come as I continue through this process over the next couple of months.

Life: Big Changes (Moving to South Korea!)

I've hinted in a few of my last posts that I had something big coming up that was still in the works. I've spent the last couple months (read almost year) trying to find out where and how I wanted to go teach English abroad. After lots of time, hard work, and money: I am now extremely happy to say that in August I will be moving to South Korea!

That being said, I have been super busy trying to prepare to leave (hence the fact that is has taken me forever to update). The process is long and tedious. But so far I am loving every minute of it. There are tons of websites out there that tell you the process for going to teach in Korea. It is long (especially for Americans) and not for the poor. My background check was going to take 15 + weeks to come back but I spent 3 times (rough guess) as I would have to have it expedited (FBI Channelers: there is a list on the FBI website and you have to make sure they are a channeler that sends the document that can be apostilled). Also it turns out, unlike some cities, Houston doesn't fingerprint at police stations, so you have to schedule an appointment at one of the select locations where you can get it done. They are not in good areas but the schedule is pretty open and the people are nice. Then you have to wait nervously for your record to come back (Side note: I have never even really spoken to a cop or gotten into trouble of any kind yet I was still super nervous about my background check. Goody two shoes here.). Then you have to send that into the US Department of State to get it apostilled. Which only takes about two weeks. In the meantime you need to get your diploma notarized and then send that into your local state department. None of this is free (well maybe the notary if you have cool friends ;) ). ON TOP OF THAT, you will be going through some sort of interview process to get a job. I went through a recruiter, who if you get a good one will be very helpful. (However if you are looking into this DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE YOU ACCEPT THE JOB). But once again... tons of warning blog posts on that.

Currently I am in the final stages now. I sent in all my visa things to my school in Korea and am now waiting to hear back so I can continue the process at the  consulate here. Once that is finished my flight will officially get booked and I will be on my way. However there is a ton of preparation before then. I have a composition notebook filled to the brim with lists of things to do. And I may or may not be over preparing (packed all my winter clothes, ready to ship and all the shoes I'll be taking with me).



I will update more as things roll along. I will be really interested in focusing on how to keep up my weight loss efforts while living in Korea. Exercise and food wise mainly. I'm super super excited and cannot wait for this adventure to begin.