I love to laugh!

So today was an ordinary day...I did manage to get a good night's sleep, which is nice, but I've had the worst appetite lately. Haven't really felt hungry at all, so food was nothing special for me today.

I have been pretty bad with studying, but I managed to talk to my mom today and we laughed throughout our entire conversation! So nice :)

I really can't wait to go home now. Even though I'll prob only be around or a little while because it looks like the travel bug in me is pushing me towards New York this summer! Let's see what happens :D

I have to study tomorrow as well as work.  Gonna see if I can go out for a run in the morning and then go grocery shopping in between studying. Got lots to do, so little time to do it, but it's possible. Night!

PCOS Diaries: Food Log

So as part of my PCOS diaries I'd thought I'd share a little on how my eating schedule went today. Now I'm not trying to plan just exactly what I eat days in advance, but I think keeping a record of what and how I eat is a healthy tool in keeping with my lifestyle change.

So first for "brunch" (woke up at noon again!), I had one boiled egg with Spanish style toast, which were two small slices (both equal the size of a standard slice of bread) or whole wheat bread with olive oil and crushed tomato on top. I like to sprinkle dried ground garlic on top of the bread whilst its fresh out of the toaster.

For lunch I had all the leftover veggies sides I had sitting in my fridge (baked spinach, roasted zucchini and carrot, rice with peas and onions) as well as some leftover marinara chicken.  Dinner consisted of some nasty mac and cheese I made myself with whole wheat pasta (the sauce didn't turn out so great).

I of course snacked in between: a cup of milk with a couple of whole wheat cookies and chocolate, a glass of orange juice, another boiled egg, a small piece of strawberry yogurt cake my friends made and some chocolate milk. Seems like a lot but I honestly spread everything out as evenly as possible. It's now 10 pm here and I am FOR ONCE not hungry and have lots of energy!

I've been drinking TONS of water and will probably work out soon before bed in about two hours. Despite being a lazy Sunday for me I feel like I've treated myself well.  Now let's keep up the good work!

PCOS Diaries: Changing Things and Seeing Change

So I think I'm going to start writing more about how I deal with my PCOS. I'm at a point in my life where I've decided to make personal changes in order to combat it and just deal with it. So I guess I'm gonna start a sort of "PCOS diaries" type of thing! Hee hee!

I'm still in Spain and I've got about a month left. So I'm gonna take advantage of being gone from friends and family to really reinvent myself. I decided to cut out soda (probably my biggest weakness) from my diet for at least this month and see how that goes. This includes diet soda because in the end you mess up your body from all of the chemicals in it, you know? This all might change in El Salvador, where soda's not only cheaper than bottled water but cleaner than tap water. But that's another story, and I've got over a month and a half before that!

So today I woke up at noon, which is progress for me! I probably have the WORST sleeping schedule on the planet. I really need to work on at least getting 7 hours of sleep every night, and actually getting a sleeping routine down. Getting a good night's sleep will not only help me lose weight but also help me feel better and have lots of natural energy throughout the day. So that's definitely a work in progress right now :)

I've been sticking to eating lots of veggies lately. I cooked one cup of rice with onion and peas, which makes about four servings. I roasted zucchini, carrots and one large red potato which also makes about four servings, and made some baked spinach (three servings). I'm planning on having a salad for dinner today, which will probably consist of romaine lettuce, red bell peppers, caramelized onions, cheese, broccoli and a lemon vinaigrette.  Also making sure to drink lots of water by keeping a reusable bottle filled in my bedroom, either on my nightstand or my desk.

I'm still eating lots of yummy fruit and good whole grains, of course! Drinking milk, eating cheese and yogurt, just trying to keep everything in balance for once, along with portion control (another battle, but I'm getting there!).  I'm working my way to working out everyday for at least 30 minutes (might try to go up to 1 hour), and as soon as it stops raining I'll probably give morning runs a try. Definitely trying my hardest to make changes in my life!

I've also noticed some changes in my symptoms: my hair is becoming really, but REALLY curly and my appetite is changing again.  I'm looking at appetite loss, which to me is a good thing because then I can control when and what I eat. It's like my body is telling me to just feed it when it's necessary. I'm also doing really good with snacking (my BIGGEST weakness), and eating good things whenever I feel hungry like an apple or some whole grain cookies and a piece of dark chocolate.

I'm going to go grocery shopping soon, but it will be a small trip because I've still got nice and healthy fresh foods in my fridge. I'm looking at possibly buying some water-packed tuna and chicken because I need some protein in my life. But all in all I'm feeling really good about myself. Hoping and praying that this positive attitude and longing last a long time. Take that ovaries!

For Good

I know I haven't blogged in a while, but I feel like I should. Hee hee so specific...

I am so thankful and indebted to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for all the wonderful things that have happened this year. I am also thankful for the hardships I've gone through because I know they'll make me strong. I'm still a work in progress, in this journey that is life, discovering that person God had designed from the very beginning for me to become.

I am so happy and delighted to say that I'm in Spain. It's still such a surreal feeling to think that I'm in Europe. Travelling to Europe is everyone's dream back home, something I didn't think was possible for me until after college and settling down. After three months it still feels like I'm watching someone else live my dream. I am forever grateful to God and to my family for allowing me to be here. Forever grateful.

Having said that, I still have a reasonable amount of guilt for having left my family. Don't get me wrong, I love being here and even though I get homesick I know that I can survive seven-six months more. I have so much travelling and learning left to do! But the primary reason why I think I should go back home is because I feel like my family needs me. My sister is graduating next June and she's already applied for colleges with my cyber help. If I was home I would have been on top of her college apps two months ago. But she did manage to turn them in on time, so all is good. I'm praying she gets into the college of her dreams, the college where God has reserved a special spot for her like He did for me. And then there's gonna be the FAFSA issue in February. We'll see how that goes, hee hee.

I feel like I should be home because I feel responsible for my parents. It's almost scary to feel that way, but it sure is a sign that you're starting to grow up. I've never considered myself a mature kid but I know that things are beginning to change. My parents mean the world to me, and I owe everything that I know about life to them (after God, of course). I hear sadness and tiredness whenever they talk to me. Like sometimes I wish I could be home to help around the house and such.

I do not regret the path I chose, because God guided me towards it. I know that I am meant to be where I am, and to continue living. But I'm still human and I still have a healthy, beating human heart that doubts and questions and wonders. In this case, my heart feels a pull for my family. I want to be the one with all of the answers and all of the solutions to what goes on back home. I know I'm still a child and that I still depend on my parents, but the tables are beginning to turn and they will be completely switched before I know it. I guess this is God's way of showing me what growing up is all about. What love and compassion is all about. When you truly are an adult, you begin to see the importance in others before yourself. You learn about responsibility when your heart reaches out for the care of others.

All I know is that my Lord has never foresaken me or my family and continues to do so. I remain in constant prayer for personal matters at heart, and hope and pray for the best. I have faith that God will respond and that all will be well, even if I cannot define what it is. I just know He has me in His arms, and I'm going to be just fine.

"To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter and purpose under heaven." -Ecclesiastes 3:1

You've got every right to a beautiful life ♥

So it's almost the end of the semester, I'm stressed, tired, and busy with school work and studying! But either way, God's pulling me through!

Talked with my Bible prof today, went pretty well, and it looks like I might ace his class! Yay! I have to go talk with my business law prof, because I totally bombed the last midterm :( But I am going to try harder!

So I've really embraced PCOS (kinda don't have another choice, it's the "thorn in my flesh", hee hee!), and I am definitely going to work on my health this summer when I'm less stressed (I definitely have more incentive for changing my lifestyle and diet now). And I've been thinking of doing videos (I was going to do Bible study ones, but I never seemed to have the time, I guess?) for PCOS support! Like tips on diet, exercise, products (natural and paraben free has become important).

I just hope I stick to these changes!

Couldn't be happier, thank goodness!

As corny as it sounds, I really couldn't feel happier! I feel as if though God truly has strengthened me in this past year. I now understand that all of the things I had to go through, all the changes I experienced and observed were purposeful and for the best. I'm thankful that no physical harm was done (and I pray for those who are suffering), but He made me go through some tough times to toughen me up! He never gives us anything we can't handle, which is just so wonderful!

On Friday's youth vigil at church, the preacher said that when you want God to use you, it's not easy and is a very painful process. Something I couldn't agree more with. When I was fifteen, I went on this retreat where the turning point for me was when this girl started praying for me, and everything she said (in a prophetic voice) was true, and was exactly what I was going through. And I remember hearing those words were like feeling knives stabbing me, because it was just so painful and unexplainable. When God changes you, it truly hurts, but He does it to make us stronger. Looking back now, things started to get worse after that retreat in all areas of my life.

I was diagnosed with PCOS after dealing with health issues after four years of not knowing what was wrong with me. I began to learn which people to continue trusting as friends and who had lost my trust and respect. I went through so many other changes in these past five years, but those words I heard always rang loud in my ears. "I cry when you cry, I laugh with you", which made me realize that God was with me through all of it. I've discovered so many new things about life, about myself, about Him.

In the end, what we need to realize is that life truly is a journey. It's a journey about discovering the person God created us to be when we were conceived in the womb (Jeremiah 1:5). He also made life complicated in order to not be boring! God bless you all!

Sick of you, so sick of you!

Ugh, another SINUS INFECTION. This is going to be my third sinus infection this winter season. I really need to start taking vitamin supplements and working out again to get my immune system stronger. I'm hoping this will pass by me faster!

On the upside, I've been working hard in school to improve my grades. I'm finally at a place in my life where I feel genuinely happy. I still have issues to deal with, but God has shown me so many great and wonderful things and has introduced me to truly God-fearing people, that I have nothing to complain about. Things are wonderful at home, great relationship with my parents and my sister, and still learning about life. I honestly "couldn't be happier!" (a la Glinda, no less!), and thank God for always being there for me.

That said, I've really been contemplating doing something more productive with my YouTube channel, instead of just random stuff I have on there (www.youtube.com/theemmygomez, btw). I want to start posting some inspirational/motivational vids up there, because I know that like myself, there are plenty of people out there who are in dire need of uplifting, truthful and honest words to keep going. I've learned that it's the little things in life that really can make us or break us, but ultimately, the decision is ours. God gave us a spirit of authority over ourselves, but not many of us know how to exercise that power (others abuse that power, of course). We need to learn in Jesus how to be strong, independent, and confident.

So I hope to be able to upload some good stuff for y'all! God's placed the first message in my heart: humility. My first topic will be humility, something so dear to me. Of course, I want to wait out this nasty sinus infection so that my voice will be audible instead of hearing a nasaly Bible message! LOL well I will keep you informed! Till next time, Love Emmy!