Tag: summer of melissa

Summer of Melissa: 2 Month Check-In

It has been about 2 months since I decided to put myself first for a summer. I’ve had 60 days to work toward my goals, and things are going well.

1. Financial Freedom.

My goal was to pay off credit cards. I  racked up some decent credit card debt–about $6000. Which isn’t as bad as it could be, but it was still causing me trouble sleeping at night. I paid off 1 credit card with a loan right away in June. I’mthiscloseto paying off another one. And 3 weeks ago, I paid off 2 others. The smaller one will be paid off in the next few months. I’m on track to pay off the other one by early next year. Spending diets suck.

2. My Self-Imposed Dating Break.

Well, yeah. Next topic. Not quite ready to share on this one yet. :)Moving on.

3. Change up the workout.

Sigh. I’ve still been biking, I’m on day 69 of the 100 day pushup challenge. Haven’t missed a day! My arms are looking fantastic. I still haven’t joined a gym. And I still would rather run than do anything else. I’m considering yoga classes and P90X. This one is kind of a fail for me. Whatever. It’s my life and my choice.

In other good news…I’ve been trying to lose 8 pounds. I’m down 5lbs. Secretly I’d like to lose a total of 10, so I’ve only got 5 more to go. Is it doable in a month? I don’t know. But I’m sure gonna try!

Thanks for all the encouragement and kind words on this journey friends! You all are so amazing.  

1 Month Check-In

It’s been about a month since I started my little “Summer of Melissa” Project.

Let’s check in on my goals, shall we?

1. Pay off/down credit cards.

This is going well. The 2nd job is helping immensely. I’ve paid off 1 card completely and am on track to pay the other 2 off by the end of the year. I’m not spending needless money. Its nice.

2. My self-imposed dating break.

Well, aside from the disasterous date with “Blender Blake". I’m doing well on this one. However, my roomie is talking about setting me up. I’m down with that. I’m just not doing the online thing right now. It was way too stressful. I have NOT missed that stress in my life.

3. Change up the workout.

Well…on that front. I’ve been biking more. That’s so much fun! I haven’t done any yoga or lifted any weights. HOWEVER! I am 34 days into the 100 day pushup challenge. They are getting easier and I’m seeing some definition. It’s awesome. I’ve also been planking. I’m up to 2:40. Its hard, but totally worth it. You can see the muscles in my upper arms when I’m planking! Score!

I’ve got 60 days left to lose these stupid 8 pounds. I’m considering joining a gym near my house where my morning editor goes. Its only $30/month if I want to do the classes. $20/month if I just want to lift weights and use the machines. I’m mulling it over. It certainly goes against my spending diet. But I need to lift!

Hope you all have a great week friends! 

There must be something wrong with me

Last night I had a perfectly nice date with a perfectly nice guy. In fact, he did everything right., but I was just NOT feelin’ it. Sunday I started stress-sweating. I only got worse on Monday. At some point that day I realized that I did NOT want to go out with him. My gut was screaming at me that something was wrong, but I didn’t know what. I traced it back to when he sent me (unprompted) a photo of himself at a wedding in a tux. It weirded me out. I haven’t met you and you’re sending me a picture? Maybe something IS wrong with me? I don’t know.

He did nothing wrong on the date-texted when he was running late, opened doors for me. He tried to put a song that we had talked about several days before that I said I liked onto his iPod for us to listen to on the way to the restaurant. It didn’t work, but it was a sweet gesture nonetheless.  

We had good conversation, but I was NOT feelin’ it. In fact, I didn’t want him to touch me, I didn’t want to look him in the eyes, or even at him. I even subconsciously put my purse between us as we were walking to the restaurant, just in case he tried to hold my hand! (Seriously, what is wrong with me?)

He paid for dinner and then carried my leftovers while went to get some ice cream from a local parlor. He paid for the ice cream. When our hands brushed while opening the door, I had to stop myself from recoiling. (ack, really Melissa?)

When he dropped me off at my car, I actually RAN away! He was telling me that he had a good time and wanted to call me again. I said my stomach was upset from the ice cream, said I had a great time too, (why, oh why am I so nice and prolong this stuff?) and said I needed to run. I then bolted from the car and back inside my work. I waited until he left and went home.

When he left I felt relieved. I know he’s going to call again and I know I have to be honest and tell him I just wasn’t feeling that connection. My friend that set it up asked me if I just liked guys who treated me like crap because this guy was doing everything right but I did NOT want any of it. I told her that I have to trust my gut. I haven’t had such a strong gut reaction to a guy since I went out with Crazy Felon Mike (and look how that turned out! He was an international Felon! Boy can I pick ‘em!)

So once I pull the trigger and tell him, I’m back to the summer of Melissa and my self-imposed dating break. It shouldn’t be this stressful, right? I just can’t handle it. The right one is out there, and he won’t make me feel like this.

Sigh.

Life is strange

So I’ve dubbed this summer as the Summer of Melissa…I’m focusing on me and changing my life. Changing up my workout routine, getting control of my finances, and most importantly, NOT dating. I’m not looking, I’m not trying, I’m just worried about myself.

And you know what? That feels awesome! I’m running, biking, weight-training, doing push ups and planks (and am starting to see some results 12 days in!) I’ve paid off 2 credit cards and am on track to be debt free by (hopefully) the end of the year. I’m happy and I’m buzzing right along…enjoying my summer.

However, you know what’s strange? When you’re not looking for it, romance DOES have a way of (trying) to find you. Case and point:

My co-worker has been wanting to set me up with this guy that comes on our Midday Forums (community interview segments during the 11am news) for awhile. It never worked out. I was dating someone, he was dating someone. I told her I wasn’t really interested this last go-around, but she still persisted. So 2 weeks ago she conspired and got my business card with my cell phone number to him, (with my permission) and she eagerly awaited the “good” news.

I will tell you that I immediately wrote him off. I figured he wouldn’t text or call. But he did! He texted me Tuesday while I was working at my PT job and we ended up talking for an hour and a half that night…the next night, and the night after that as well. He asked me out to dinner Wednesday night and we have our first date tonight. He’s totally pursuing me and I should LOVE that…and I do. But….(and its a big but) he’s a little odd. I’m not sure if I’m physically attracted to him, but I do know that we talk easily and he makes me laugh.

We shall see.

We’re going to dinner at my favorite Thai place. I’m not too heavily invested in this; if it works out great. But if not? Well, its still the summer of Melissa and I’m just fine with that!

Happy Monday friends!

Decisions, decisions

Help tumblr!

So I’m faced with a dilemma: I have no firm plans for tonight. Do I:

Take myself to the movies and see “The Heat"? (friends are busy and i want to see it. I have no problem with going to the movies alone. And its the summer of Melissa….)

Or do I redbox a movie…

Or, since its so nice out do I do something outside…just chill and enjoy the evening?

Choices, choices!

Help! What should I do?

I already ran this morning…but I could go again.

The following are in regards to my post about The Summer of Melissa. I cannot express to you all how much I appreciate the support you have given me on my journey and on this. Thank you so much for being there and being awesome. You all are what make this thing worthwhile!

happyhealthycook said: This is just another thing I love about you – that you know when and how to say “hey, I need to take care of myself, whole body and mind.” I wish you much happiness with all of this. 🙂

Melissa-thank you! I’ve never thought about it like that, but I think you’re right!

deanaisfindinghergroove said: Sounds like a great summer to me!!!

Deana-It is a great summer so far! 🙂

runningfortheriesling said: I love everything about this!

Thank you Sam! Its pretty great putting yourself first.

hopetherunner said: You are such an amazing woman! 🙂

Hope-Thank you!!!

littlemissyoullgofar said: BEST DECISION EVER.

Kari-Totally agree.

The Summer of Melissa

Summer starts on Friday. As the solstice draws near I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about my life. Running, dating, weight-loss, relationships, my finances, things like that. And I’ve made a BIG decision.

I’m declaring summer 2013 as The Summer of Melissa. I’m going to work on me. (Not that I haven’t been doing that for the past few years!) but I’m working on things that don’t just involve weight-loss. I’m going to be busy and don’t have time to waste.

Last week I started by getting my financial house in order. I’ve managed to rack up some decent credit card debt, so I applied for and got a personal loan! I’m paying off 2 of my credit cards, and have only a little bit left to pay off. I feel such a sense of relief and like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. The plan is to pay off my other card by the end of the year. That’s where my second job comes in. I’m working there as much as I can during the week to make extra cash. Every little bit helps, right?

Secondly, I’m taking a self-imposed dating break. I’m tired of stressing about it, I’m tired of worrying about things that I can’t control. It’s stressful and I need to just take a step back and re-evaluate. I went out with the friend of a friend that I met on Match 2 weeks ago. We had our second date. Two days after that date I texted him and I never heard back. I took that as a sign that I need to step back and spend some time on myself. When the right one comes along I will know. I will be in a better place mentally, financially, physically and spiritually to be with him.

Thirdly, I’m changing up my workout routine. I’ve been running without doing much else for 4ish years now. I’m going to bike more, do yoga, and I’ve started lifting weights. I’m up 5 pounds and that’s unacceptable to me. I feel squishy. And I don’t like it. Time to get leaner, stronger and faster. And I need to remind myself that I don’t need dessert every night!

The way I see it, I have 90 days to make some big changes in my life. I want the next 3 months to be ones of growth and change. I will still be me, but Melissa v.2.0 🙂

Welcome to the Summer Of Melissa friends! 🙂