Feeling inspired, I walked it out for five minutes before completing my own interval workout that looked like this:
| Minutes | Incline | Pace |
| 0-5 | 8.0 | 4.0 |
| 5-16 | 1.0 | Alternate 8.0 for 1 min. then 4.5 for 1 min. |
| 16-30 | 1.0 | Alternate 4.0 for 1 min., then 9.0 for 1 min. |
| 30-35 | 8.0 | 4.0 |
My hair was nice and sweaty by the end of this workout, but I didn’t feel like I was going to die like I did when I completed last Tuesday’s interval workout. Now that one was killer!
I rounded out my workout with 15 minutes on the elliptical while reading an old issue of Health magazine.
Breakfast
The vast amount of peanut butter I ate yesterday clearly did nothing to deter my craving for the nut butter because my breakfast this morning featured it front and center!
I topped a toasted whole wheat English muffin with peanut butter, fresh nectarine slices and a dash of pumpkin pie spice.
I ate it sandwich-style alongside a cup of strawberry banana Greek yogurt.
Peanut butter makes any meal just that much better.
And now for some limbo talk!
No More Limbo
As you know, throughout the past couple of months, Ryan and I have had some issues with unwelcome critters in our apartment. Though we’ve been working with our landlord to resolve the problem, it seems to be worse than we initially thought (those little jerks reproduce quickly) and it has taken a pretty serious toll on my morale.
When Ryan and I moved into our apartment, we did so primarily because of its amazing location. The size was right, but the style wasn’t really our style (hello, heinous cabinets) and the windows don’t let in a whole lot of light. Maybe I’m crazy, but having a light and bright home is crucial. Caves are cool and all, but they’re not my ideal dwelling.
Ryan and I are homebodies and love just being at home. Sharing our home with rodents has taken a lot of the enjoyment out of being in our place and I cannot wait to m-o-v-e. Ever since we’ve been on a month-to-month lease, we’ve felt like we’re in limbo. Sometimes limbo is a stinky place to be because you don’t know what your next step will be. It’s the feeling many have right when they graduate from college… What now!? It’s the not knowing part that can drive you mad!
With a lot of different personal factors weighing on our shoulders and many different things to consider, we’ve pushed back our move out date again and again. And all the while the mice were treating the walls of our apartment like a brothel.
Finally, last week, Ryan and I sat down on the couch after work and discussed our feelings. I told him I felt trapped and extremely frustrated with our current situation. When I have an issue in my life, I do everything I can to fix it or improve the situation. With our current living arrangement, I felt like there was nothing I could do since different personal things were keeping us married to our current apartment.
And then Ryan said, “We just need to get out.” Even though this decision may cause some serious headaches for us down the road, I am so thrilled to have a move-out date circled, starred and highlighted on my calendar.
August 1 can’t come soon enough!
Question of the Morning
Have you ever felt like your life was in limbo?
I’ve felt like I was in limbo many times in my life… most recently when I was going back and forth about my decision to leave my job. Knowing in my heart it was the right thing to do, but finding the courage to actually take a leap of faith and do it left me in limbo for several months! I always feel so much better when decisions are made and things are concrete.
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Congrats on having a move-out date! I hope you guys find a nice place!
I’ve been in a sort of limbo for the past year with working this job that is FT hours but not FT benefits (hello living at home!). I knooww I need to just find a new job so I can start to get my life straightened out, but something always seems to come up that keeps me in place.
ugh, being in a state of limbo is frustrating. I was there a year ago when I lived in Georgia and desperately wanted to move back to Ohio to be with my family and boyfriend, Andy.
When I finally had a plan, things got much better. And once I started taking steps towards my new goal, l got out of that limbo stage!
Good luck! It seems you have a plan now though, so that’s the first step! 🙂
Julie – so glad you aren’t in limbo anymore.
Being in a crappy living situation is never good. You are so right about feeling “trapped” since there really isn’t much you can do!
I am excited to follow you through yourmove 🙂
Congrats on you and Ryan’s big decision, that’s so exciting!!! I definitely know the feeling of limbo because I’m stuck in it for another year living at home while I finish grad school; I know it’s not forever but it feels like a long time some days! Can’t wait to hear more about your moving plans 🙂
August 1 will come fast enough! 🙂 Keep calm and MOVE on 😉
Ah, I totally know what you mean with the being in limbo business. I HATE that feeling. I just want things to be settled. I myself am moving (albeit, just to round out my last 8 weeks living in London) on Friday and I’m dreading it. I feel comfortable here and I hate the thought of having to acclimate to living somewhere else.
Good luck with it all though — I agree with Lindsey, it’s so much easier when you have a plan, which you do. So I’m sure it will all work itself out soon. 🙂
Glad you are getting out of there! I was in housing limbo last summer when I moved back home for a month before starting graduate school. I didn’t have my bed at home anymore, so I slept on an aerobed or the couch for the month. It was rough!
slightly in limbo now, but it is slowly working itself out! it always does 🙂 Best of luck!
I lost my job last June and thought the world was ending…I was living in a city that I had grown out of, but stayed because of my (former) well-paying job. After that ended, I felt totally lost. I decided to take a leap of faith and move to Chicago without a job or plan, and — even though there were a LOT of bumps in the road — I couldn’t be happier now! So glad you made your leap of faith too!
That workout looks challenging! 9mph @ 1.0 incline – nice job!
I hate being in limbo. I’m actually in sort of a limbo right now. I’m not sure what my next step should be and I feel like I’m being pulled in multiple directions. It’s quite frustrating and I just need a bit more reflection time to figure out what I should be doing with my life!
I am in limbo right now with so many things in my life! My fiance and I are moving soon, too, but we don’t know when and we haven’t found the right apartment for us yet. We are also in limbo about where we will have our wedding, and we are trying not to hurt anyone’s feelings (very challenging!). I’m like you–I like to find a solution to any challenge, and it can be really difficult to feel like that isn’t possible. I’m so glad you’re able to find a way out of your stressful living situation.
Congrats on your decision! I was in a limbo when deciding to leaving my current job for another job! After lots of going back & forth, I accepted the new job and am now super excited to start in august!
Ugh, I ate so much peanut butter yesterday that I actually made myself sick of it! I had oatmeal this morning for the first time without any, because I just couldn’t stomach it, haha. Good luck on moving; limbo is a tough place to be. I feel like I’ve been there for years now, ever since a bad riding accident made me retire from horses and gymnastics. I still haven’t found a new way to “define” myself! Instead I developed an ED… lovely…
I think you two are making the right choice! I had mice at my last place and it creeped me out. EWW! I could not handle it.
I have been in limbo for the last few months about my job too! Its funny because when you announced you were leaving your job I was in the middle of accepting a new job and getting out of an unhappy situation. Woo hoo for starting new chapters in our lives!
I feel that way NOW! Good for you for making a decision! I will TRY to follow your lead and make a decision on where I will move to THIS WEEK!…well maybe next week after exams are done 😉 !
I 100% understand limbo. I felt like that for 6+ months after a breakup and a quick move. For the first time since November I am feeling a little more normal and like I have good things planned.
OMG, I had RATS in my last apartment before I bought my house. It was the scariest thing EVER.
I know how you feel and I’m glad you’re moving out. Blech.
My life feels like it’s been in limbo for the past 3 months. I just graduated and I’m trying to move across the country to Florida. It’s hard for family to accept it, but I need to do what I need to do. Thanks for this post..makes me feel a little better! 🙂
Limbo? Oh heck yes.
I moved back home 6 months ago and now I suffer from a 2 hour 20 minute commute. I need this job but I abhor the commute.
Something has to change!
Congrats on finally setting a date. Baby steps…
Hey Julie. My name is Jill. I’m new to this whole blogging community and just wanted to “virtually introduce myself.” I have been reading your blog for quite some time but just got up the nerve to actually put myself out there. 🙂 I admire your ability to balance it all and as a young gun just trying to figure it all out after graduation this “limbo” post really hit me. I’ll be stopping by continuously from now on!!
Hi Julie! I’m a long time reader and first time commenter here 🙂
I adapted your idea of reading a magazine for the second part of my workout – it feels like such a treat after pushing yourself for half an hour or so, but you still are getting some exercise in. Smart!
I def related to this. When I graduated college in May 2010 I had no idea what to do next. No jobs were found and everyone seemed to be moving on except me. I eventually had to move 800 miles to land a great job but leaving my friends and family behind was hard. It was hardest but best decision I ever made. My favorite saying is “Leap and the net will appear” and it always does! Good luck with everything, I know it will work out.
Sometimes I feel like my life is in a constant state of limbo…haha.
The past few years definitely felt that way. I wasn’t working full-time, trying to find some type of job, needing to pay off some debt, and wanting to get married to my wonderful boyfriend. All of those things have fallen into place with in the last 8 months, and I can’t be more happy about feeling a little bit more settled for once.
I sometimes feel like I’ve lived my entire 20’s in limbo! From being engaged and “waiting” to start our life together from 22-24 (2000 miles apart nonetheless), to “waiting” to move, to living in my in-laws “temporarily” for a year, to now waiting to move again! I have a feeling I wil never quite escape that limbo feeling, it’s just my nature. Gotta learn to embrace the present!
I gotta say, an english muffin with PB is one of the best food combos! Especially if it is toasted.
I’m definitely in limbo right now. I have a job that I like, but I enjoy the environment more than the actual job because I don’t really enjoy what I do every day. I’m stuck because I don’t know if I should start looking for a job or stick it out and head to grad school for something. Limbo is a tough spot…glad you’re getting out of the mice cave!
Congrats on setting a move-OUT date! 🙂 I was in a huge state of limbo pre-move in with the boyfriend. I had an apartment I loved but it never truly felt like home and I never really connected with it with all of the shuffling back and forth between our places. Thankfully that didn’t last long and the cohabitation began! But I definitely know the feeling.
PS- Have you worn your LuLu clothes to workout yet? Are you converted? 🙂 Shopping tip – each store puts different items on sale depending on their individual inventory – I once stumbled upon an entire sale rack priced at $29/piece – it was like Christmas morning!
first of CONGRATS on getting the heck out of the stinky infested place! you put it perfectly, you’ve been stuck and unhappy for too long and staying there isn’t worth it. yea, there might be some difficulties later on, but it’s not worth staying where you’re so unhappy.
that said, this post really hits close to home because i feel like i’m stuck in limbo myself. i don’t need to dump all the gory details out, but this post is refreshing and came at a great time. logistics are tough sometimes but i love how ryan summed it up: “we just need to get out.” i just need to get unstuck and out of my own limbo.
so happy for you guys! 🙂
First off just want to say I love your blog! I read it on a daily basis! I think it is great that you guys have a set date when you are going to move out. My roommates and I experienced mice in our apartment, it was a horrible experience!
I feel like I am in Limbo right now! I recently resigned from my job and am now moving back to my home state. I have no plan and it is a bit stressful!
Congrats on deciding to move!
I am currently in limbo as I just graduated and am applying and interviewing for a fall teaching position. There is one school that I interviewed at several weeks ago and would love to work at but I haven’t heard back from them yet. It is frustrating to still take time to apply and interview when I am waiting to hear from one school. Hopefully I will begin my teaching adventure and leave my job searching adventure behind me soon!
I agree! I’ve been in my apartment for 3 years now and I want to move because I know what I want, what’s I’d like to change.
Congrats!! While moving is ZERO fun, a new chapter in your life is about to start.. and there’s nothing better than that!
One of my English professors always called the limbo stage “liminality” and my roommate and I definitely wore the term out when we were job hunting prior to graduation. I’m living in Phoenix now, and trying to get the job experience to move back home, so I guess I’m there again! Glad you have a set move date…I can’t imagine living with mice. Yuck!
YUM, peanut butter makes everything better!!
I hate that “limbo” feeling, but I know it’s only a natural part of life and everyone gets in that place at one point or another. I just moved to another city and I’m looking for a new job, while my boyfriend is trying to move here! Fingers crossed it’ll all work out, but right now it’s just a pain!
Congrats on the move! You’ll be mice-free soon enough
I’m a type-A planner. Glad to hear you guys have a move-out date set. Do you think you’ll be renting again or purchasing. I’m involved in real estate so I know how stressful it can be. Hope your next place has better cabinets.
When I was going through the process of applying for a promotion at work, which required a change of location, I was definitely in limbo. New office, new people, etc. I felt bad for those I was leaving behind yet I knew I had to get out of there. It was around the time Kelly Clarkson came out with that song Breakaway. It was perfect for my situation and how I felt. Every time I started to have doubts I would play that song at top volume so I all I could do was sing along and not let my mind wander down the road of doubt. It’s my go to song when I feel like life is in limbo.
Oh Julie I am so happy for you both, you must feel like a weight has been lifted off of your shoulders.
I moved to Ottawa right out of highschool; I was not only starting University but moving away from my home at the same time. After a semester something didn’t feel right.. making the decision to come home and go to a closer Univerisity was a tough one and “limbo” would be the perfect way to describe how I felt!
I’m glad you are getting out! Those mice are GROSS.
I really think that being in your 20s is all about being in limbo. I got married when I was 24 and while I settled and very happy with that part of my life it was a lot of “what next?” I was still trying to figure out the career (still working on that – but making a lot of progress), I wasn’t ready for kids (we waited almost 4 years, it was a good decision), and just wanted to enjoy our youth but be domesticated at the same time. The turning point for us was when we moved back to Orlando (from Tallahassee — where we were for 8 years). I finally felt like that it where I was supposed to be. I did enjoy getting there though – it’s truly about the journey!
I just tried to make this. I am SO dumb. I set it for 425 not 325. DUMB! Burnt! And I’m out of honey now. Oy yoy yoy.
I’ve been in limbo MANY times in the last few years, and that feeling is the worst, especially for a control freak like me. Good for you guys for doing what’s right for YOU. You’ll feel so much better when you’re out of there!
You are brave.. I don’t know what I would do if there were rats/mice in my apartment..I wouldn’t have the heart to kill them but I think I would sleep with one eye open..they freak me out!
It’s funny you mention limbo because I am currently hanging in limbo and it is miserable. I left everything in November to come to NY for an internship and ever since then I’ve been hanging up here.. waiting for a job opportunity.. working free internships. It’s really hard because my boyfriend and family are down in FL.. I am home sick and frustrated 🙁 Hopefully things will work out soon….
Congrats on the moving date!
Glad ya’ll are moving out! no thank you mice! I’m defnitely in Limbo! I’ve been nursing job hunting for months, waiting for a job, so i can finally move to Austin! I recently decided that i just need to pack up and move already, it would probably be much better and easier to find a job living in Austin!
I’m probably going to be finally moving out of my crappy apartment on August 1st as well!! We’ve had problems with really super thin walls and with just about everything breaking. Congrats on your exciting decision!!!
Limbo= my life at present and for the past year!
I have renewed my “baby nurse” contract 3x now, with the next potentially ending September 30th. As each contract nears its end, I start freaking and it’s all I can think about. But it always seems to work out in the end! So, with 3months to spare, I’m trying to keep that mindset to get me through…’it will work out exactly how it’s suppose to.’
In the meantime, I will set up backup plan A, B and C, and just HOPE I renew the contract again come September, but for a PERMANENT position!!
Well, I know I’m a little late commenting on this post, but I felt like it was necessary! My life is completely in limbo and I’m not too sure what to do. I know exactly how you feel about your apartment and other limbo times in your life! I moved to Hawaii about a year and a half ago to teach and after a year and a half of living here, I’m not really sure what to do next. Should I stay in Hawaii longer, move back to NY, go teach somewhere else, or go back to school. Oh, the decisions! My life really is in Limbo at the moment!
However, I’m glad you are moving out of your apartment and away from those little pests!!! And I definitely don’t think I’d be peanut buttered out..it’s just WAY too good to stay away from!!! :o)