Ok, so I've made you wait long enough. I am finally going to tell you the story of Cheap Chase. It's been nearly a year since I met this debonair man(sarcasm intended). I met him online and the first thing that I noticed about him was his height....6'7". Think, Jolly Green Giant! He had just recently moved from Seattle to Shawnee(I know, why right?) in corrections. He started off the conversations with some really good questions. I have found that a lot of guys don't know good questions to ask someone they are trying to get to know online, but they do know how to ask for more pictures! I appreciated his steady and chill attitude throughout our dialogue, which earned him the name Chill Chase in the beginning. After a couple of weeks of chatting back and forth, he asked me to a coffee date. I happily accepted but didn't know if he was the type of guy I was attracted to.
So, I arrived at Starbucks and waited. He messaged me to say that he was running late. When he arrived, he quickly greeted me and rushed to the counter to get coffee. I looked at him from the table in shock of how tall 6'7" actually is and watching the group of girls behind him make comments about it as well. He sat down with his coffee and noticed I didn't have any. He asked, "did you not feel like having any coffee?" I responded, "I was just waiting for you before I ordered." He looked at me, completely oblivious that he should buy me coffee. He did use the words "coffee date". I thought, "Come on buddy, you are from Seattle. Isn't that where the Starbucks date originated from?" I reached for my wallet and walked up to the counter. We got into conversation and it seemed to flow pretty well. If you can believe it, he talked more than I did and I'm sure everyone could here our conversation because his voice carried.
I don't have a hard time engaging people in conversation, but I was not feeling it. I was a little bored hearing about all the places in Shawnee that offered a special sale on certain nights of the week. This guy had only been here for 2 weeks and it seemed he knew where to find the best deals than I did, and I've lived here my whole life! He also talked about finding someone on craigslist that needed a ride in the direction he was going, so he picked up a stranger to share expenses with. Call me crazy, but I think that's how you get killed! Naturally, I picked up that he was pretty frugal which is a good thing. He ended our date with a side hug and as I got in my car, I hoped he was just as bored as I was and wouldn't ask me out for date number 2.
I heard back from him a few days later (do guys still follow the 3 day rule?). He asked me out again, and being the one who hates to reject as much as I hate being rejected, I agreed to another date. At first, he suggested breakfast at Firelake, because we could get a $1.50 breakfast. He also mentioned a movie from the dollar theater. Whoa buddy, don't break the bank. Picking up on the fact he didn't want to spend much money, I suggested Braum's since he had not been there, being from Seattle and all. I met him there and we ordered. The cashier asked us if it was together. He hesitated for a long time and then finally said, "Uhhhh....sure." I thought, "He is put out with buying my $2.00 ice-cream? What a cheapscate!" Feeling a little perturbed, we sat down at a booth. I forgot to get water, so he asked if I would go up and get us some water. I anticipated the moment the date would be over! The conversation followed along the same path as the first date, however, I don't think I understood just how "frugal" he was until he shared what he did with me. He mentioned he had to pick up a mattress that he found on Craigslist (ew, gross! There are three things you just don't buy used...shoes, underwear, and matresses). I remembered him saying he had a bad when he was living in his first place, here. I asked him about it. He proceeded to tell me that he had found a mattress in the alley behind the mattress store and took it. After a few days, it began to give off a stench, so he had to find another one. Ewwwww! I don't even want to know what was on that mattress! That just takes frugal to a whole new level. I was so disgusted and held it together until the end of our date.
I was shocked the next day to receive a text from him asking if I wanted to go out, again. Now, this is the part I hate about dating because unless they are the one you are gonna marry, someone has to reject the other one; it just doesn't feel good. I felt so bad because he was a nice guy, but I had to decline. He was very cool about it and asked if we could just be friends. I replied, "sure" knowing that wasn't gonna happen but didn't want to kill his ego. He texted back and wrote, "yeah, that sounds good because there is this other girl that I have been pursuing, anyways." The Nerve! I was over it and didn't feel sorry for him at all after that. Whoever he ends up with must be willing to pay for their dates and possibly one day, sleeping on a dirty mattress.
So, that's how Chill Chase became Cheap Chase. Let me tell you there are some real winners out there ladies, and I'm lucky enough to find them! LOL! Anyways, I hope this made you laugh and will leave you in suspense for the story of the next one.
I have fallen off the wagon in my attempt to blog about all the interesting men I have met and my experiences with them. I reread my blog from December and am thankful that God did not have him for my future, either. Another bullet dodged! If you care to know, I will fast forward a little and tell you how that story finally ended...for me anyway. After the blow, I was determined to start the new year with a fresh start and let it be history. Regretfully, things rarely go the way I would like. The new year began with several unwanted encounters with "Sorry Sam"(oh, yes...I have revised the name). Most of them all happened in one day. I saw him at Subway(which didn't make sense because he works in another town). That afternoon, I ended up sending a text to a friend about what happened and soon discovering it was not sent to a friend...YES PEOPLE... I sent it to him! (Raise your hand if you've ever done that before). I was mortified!! Hoping to work off the stress after all of that, I went to work out with some coworkers that invited me and low and behold, there he was standing as soon as I walked in. That resulted in me turning around and walking out the door. I can't even imagine the look that took over my face. I wish that was the end folks, but the next day I decided to work out at the YMCA and had the luxury of seeing the girl he broke things off with me for working out as well. Talk about awkward! I did manage to set my schedule up to avoid both of them and it has worked! It took me a few weeks to process all of it and go through several stages of grief. Denial, sadness, anger, bargaining, anger, sadness, anger, Anger, ANGER! All that anger came 5 weeks later when I got a phone call from a friend, telling me that they were engaged! WHOA! I was shocked, but then again, things like that don't shock me anymore. Story of my life. All I could think was they are both crazy and deserve each other! Then, I found myself incredibly angry at him, for knowing he loved someone so strongly, that he would propose to them at any moment, but date someone else to try to convince himself he didn't have feelings for her. I know I may not have intentionally been used, but that is how I felt. I went to the gym the next day and beat the kickboxing bag so hard. For awhile, I wanted it to end just like they had the times before. I'm just being real, here. We all have those thoughts and feelings that go on inside. It wasn't until one day someone started up a conversation that headed in the direction of how their marriage wasn't going to work and they would end up miserable. I stopped them in mid conversation to say that I did not want that to happen. I want their marriage to work out and for him to be happy. I wouldn't wish for anyone's marriage to end or be miserable. That's when I knew. I had finished the grieving process and finally reached acceptance and peace. There are times I think, man, that was really crappy! They get to have a happily-ever after while I was the one wronged, but I am trying to remind myself that's not what is in my story right now. It might not ever be a part of my story, but my singleness could be more happily-ever after than a failed relationship with him or anyone else who isn't worthy of me. Some days are a struggle to believe that God has a better life than the one I've imagined for myself. I cannot control whether I will marry or have children...but there are things I can control and have chosen to focus on those things.
At the end of January, I decided to really focus on my health. I had created a lot of bad habits when it came to my health...poor diet, lack of exercise, not getting enough sleep. My family's health history really scared me and I wanted to put myself on the right track so that I could possibly avoid the suffering that my family has endured from these vicious diseases. God has given me this body for as long as I'm on this earth, and its my responsibility to take care of it so that I can do the work He wants me to do.
I met with a woman that I went to church with who is a holistic nutritionist. We talked over dinner about the choices I have made my whole life and I was ready to make a change! I started a 30-detox where I cut out gluten, wheat, pasta, refined sugar, caffeine, and alcohol. The purpose of the detox is to eat clean while purging your body of all the toxins that you intake through these foods. You then introduce those things back in to see if you have any allergies or sensitivities to it. Most people feel lethargic, have digestion issues, and other reactions because of these foods and don't even know it! Once you know, you can avoid those foods so you can feel good and energized! Realistically, the goal is to eat clean 80% of the time and 20% for those special occasions like birthdays, nights out and such. She set me up with an awesome nutritional kit(plant-based), free coaching, grocery lists and recipes of yummy meals I can eat. I hesitantly agreed to the 30 days hoping that I would not fail, because honestly, I hadn't stuck with any diet(this means how and what you eat) very long in my life and this was much more extreme. Surprisingly, I got through the 30 days with much success. My friend Malialani was a tremendous help and cheerleader for me! I found that I didn't have the cravings for sugar and bad foods nearly as much, so I decided to continue and do another 30 days. After 60 days down, along with many pounds and inches, I kept going! I was so focused and determined to reach my goal weight, and more importantly, continue feeling AMAZING!! It's true. You are what you eat!
I just completed my 90 days last week and am now on Day 96. I realize it won't kill me to have a little bit of those foods, but I know that what I'm doing makes me feel good and I will reach my goal!
I will include some before and after pictures of my journey. As of today, I have lost 35 pounds and 32 inches!!!! That's half way to my goal! People ask me what is my secret. Guess what? There is no secret! People see my results, but there is a lot of hard and sweat that I have put in.
I just heard Sandra's voice in my head saying, "You get out, what you put in." Very true. lol!
I also have to thank the leaders that host FitCamp for FREE and my awesome coworkers who have encouraged me all the way through it! You guys rock!!!
I would love to answer any questions you may have and if you would like to join me and start your very own journey! You can message me on Facebook or email me at brittneyallison@gmail.com.
Okay! Now, for the before and after pics! Each before pictures is from before I started the detox. Some are months and some are years before. Look at the difference!
Detox Day 60
Detox Day 75
Detox Day 90
Today!!!
Well, this blog went a totally different direction than I planned, and that's ok! You will have to learn about Cheap Chase in the next blog! It's a comical one:) Enjoy the rest of this beautiful weekend!
In Christ,
B
