2013 Goals

Last year, rather than “resolutions” I set many goals for myself. I was successful at completing many of the goals for at least some length of time, but I did not keep up with most of them. That’s why many of my goals for 2013 are the same as in 2012. And, although I’m not a fan of “resolutions” I know that I have truly resolve to make some serious changes in my life if I really want to see these changes.

Spiritual Goals:

• Daily Bible Reading
• Focused/Planned Bible Study
• Write Bible study lessons (and execute them) for the kids.
• Start using the Scripture Memory System with the kids (and me!)
• Develop a deeper prayer life.
• Make an effort to encourage brothers and sisters in Christ.
• Always be ready and eager to share the gospel.

House Goals:

• Get the house organized, and purged of excess junk at the beginning of the year.  I did this last year, but I need to do it again! It is amazing how much junk builds up over time and also how much stuff you kept last year that you realize you don’t need this year.
• Have a garage sale (sooner rather than later).
• Keep up with Flylady’s daily assignments to help keep the house in a manageable state.
• Handle papers (mail, or otherwise) when they come into the home, rather than just piling them up to handle later.
• Get one “house” project done each month (paint the front door, repair the floor, etc.)

Health Goals:

• Get back into a regular cardio routine even if it just means pushing the stroller around the block.
• Gain strength and endurance.
• Continue on a path of healthy eating. Compared to a year ago, I have a much healthier eating lifestyle; however, I’m still not where I want to be.

Family goals:

• Eat at home more often. This is something that definitely seems to waver with the season. The holidays kills our routine, but hopefully I’ll be back on track soon with more cooking at home.
• Stick to our budget, and look for ways to save more.
• Foster a good relationship between the kids (teaching them about sharing, patience, kindness, etc.)
• Get outside more with the kids.
• Cook a hot breakfast for the family at least once a week.

Photography:

• Learn more about off-camera flash.
• Learn more about Adobe Photoshop.
• Work on posing.
• Learn more about graphic design.

Other:

• Exhibit more patience towards everyone, but especially my husband and children.
• Work on time management, including getting up at a more consistent time in the morning, and going to bed earlier in the evening.
• Spend less time on the computer.
• Finish reading Bringing Up Girls and Bringing Up Boys.
• Re-read Your Mama Don’t Dance.
• Read A Well-Trained Mind and Home Education as well as start doing serious research/planning on making a decision about homeschooling

Words of Inspiration

I officially completed the Couch to 5K workout program today! I’m excited for my progress, but I’m sad to say that I’m not actually running a 5K distance . . . my pace is still too slow. BUT, considering where I came from, and how out of shape I was in the beginning, I’m thankful that I can actually jog for 30 minutes straight! Now I’m going to start working on my speed a little bit so that I can actually run a 5K in 30 minutes.

With that said, I saw a quote on Pinterest recently that really got my attention.

No matter how awful I’ve felt after a workout, I’ve never regretted completing it.

 

What do I regret?

 

All those times I should (and could) have worked out that I chose to be lazy instead.

All those times that I should have gotten up early to workout, but chose to sleep in instead.

All those times that I ate food without considering the effect it was having on my body.

All those times I told myself that it really didn’t matter.

All those times I told myself that I couldn’t do it or that it was too hard.

The years that I have spent neglecting my health (eating and exercise).

 

BUT, I think I may have changed. I think I’m on a road to less regrets when it comes to my health. Sure, I know I’ll have ups and downs when it comes to taking care of my body. But, hopefully, I’m finally on the path where the ups greatly outnumber the downs.

My on-going journey to a healthy life

Journeying to a Health Life: 3 Month Report

It has been a little over 3 months since I committed to living a healthier life, and I’m excited to say that, so far, I’ve actually stayed pretty well on track! I’m finally getting to the point that eating healthier and exercising seem like a natural part of life. Staying within my calorie goals everyday isn’t a burden like it was in the beginning (I still remember those first few weeks feeling like I was going to starve!). Is it always easy? No. In fact, today has been one of those days where I haven’t done so well eating, but I’m ok with that because it isn’t my lifestyle to eat poorly anymore like it was before. {As a side note, mostly to myself, I suppose, I definitely get the urge to snack more when I have a lot of nervous energy . . .I probably should have put that energy into a workout instead of snacks!}

I’m down 14 pounds since November (9 since coming back from the Christmas holidays over which I had gained a bit back). Although I don’t really feel “skinnier,” I have finally been able to see some changes in how my clothes are fitting. I am down a pant size! It is great to have that kind of progress (even though I still have a long way to go).

I’ve also noticed a great improvement in my physical fitness/endurance. I’ve been completing the Couch to 5K program, and I’m a week and a half from finishing it. I can actually jog for 28 minutes without stopping, which is a HUGE accomplishment for this non-runner. Unfortunately, about a week and half ago I sprained my ankle (from being a clutz tripping down my front porch, not even jogging!) and I haven’t been able to jog since I hurt my ankle. I’m really hoping I’ll be able to pick back up on Wednesday. I was really, really bummed when I hurt my ankle. BUT, it has given me a great opportunity to make sure that my eating stays on track without burning extra calories from exercise, and I’ve actually done pretty well with that.

2 Month Report

2012 Goals

Rather than making resolutions, I’m setting goals for myself in 2012. I guess it might just be a different way of saying “resolutions” but, to me, goals are generally more tangible than any resolutions I’ve ever made, and I hope to be able to check them off the list sometime during the year (or at the end of the year). I realize this list is probably very boring to you, but I wanted to have a place to make myself accountable.

Spiritual Goals:

• Daily Bible Reading
• Focused/Planned Bible Study
• Write Bible study lessons (and execute them) for the kids.
• Develop a deeper prayer life.

House Goals:

• Get the house organized, and purged of excess junk at the beginning of the year.
• Have a garage sale (sooner rather than later).
• Keep up with Flylady’s daily assignments to help keep the house in a manageable state.
• Handle papers (mail, or otherwise) when they come into the home, rather than just piling them up to handle later.
• Get one “house” project done each month (paint the front door, repair the floor, etc.)

Health Goals:

• Complete Couch to 5K (I’m currently in week 4).
• Lose weight. (I’m currently down about 8 lbs from November)
• Gain strength and endurance.

Family goals:

• Eat at home more often.
• Stick to our budget, and look for ways to save more (including getting back on track with coupons – it is always hard for me to keep up with those over the holidays).

Photography:

• Complete Project 366.
• Learn more about off-camera flash.
• Learn more about Adobe Photoshop (I’ve only recently purchased Photoshop).
• Work on posing.

Other:

• Exhibit more patience towards everyone, but especially my husband and children.
• Work on time management, including getting up at a more consistent time in the morning, and going to bed earlier in the evening.
• Spend less time on the computer.
• Get outside more (especially with the kids).

Journeying to a Healthy Life: 2 Month Report

Two months ago I wrote about starting a new diet, well, actually about starting a new lifestyle in regards to forming healthy eating and exercising habits. I’m removing the word “diet” from my new venture because to me there is something that isn’t permanent about a diet – it is just an activity you do for a little while to produce desired effects. I don’t want to only do something for a little while. I want to make a serious lifestyle change that results in a lasting healthy lifestyle.

So, how have I done these past two months? Have I made any progress in the right direction? Overall, I definitely think I am moving in the right direction, but I’m not where I want to be yet.

I’ve lost about 8 lbs, which isn’t a lot, but it is something, especially for me. Most of the times I have tried to lose weight in the past, I’ve never even made it to 8 lbs before reverting back to the old bad habits. Combined with the fact that we’ve had Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s in the time I’ve been working on this new way of life, I’m certainly pleased with an 8 lb weight loss.

I’ve completed 4 weeks of the Couch to 5K program. Although I technically should have completed 7 or 8 weeks at this point (not really wanting to count it up right now), I’m excited that I’ve made it this far. I had a wicked cold/cough during December that prevented me from running (I have terrible asthmatic cough problems at times), but I’m back on track now that I’ve gotten past the cold. On top of completing those workouts, I can actually notice a difference in what I’m physically capable of completing. During the first week, I felt like I was going to die (well, almost) when I had to run for a minute and half. Yesterday, I was able to run for a total of 16 minutes – 2 3-segments, and 2 5-minute segments, which is good progress!

Finally, I feel like I’m slowly developing a better relationship with food. Two months ago, I was at a point where food controlled me. And, although I’m not 100% in control of the food in my life, I’m at a MUCH better place than I was two months ago. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed using the My Fitness Pal app, and I highly recommend it! The Couch to 5K app is also great.

No official after picture yet, but hopefully it’ll be coming in the next few months as I continue on my journey.

I need to take a before picture

Ugh, this has to be about the 500th (ok, maybe 1000th) time in my life I’ve decided to start a diet. Except this time I’m planning for it to be different. I don’t need a diet. I need a lifestyle change. And, I need to take a before picture, because I’m determined that there will be an after worth seeing.

I started this new life on Monday, and so far have managed to stay focused. I started Monday morning off bright and early by doing the Couch to 5K workout. (If you aren’t familiar with the Couch to 5K program, it is a program that you follow three days a week to slowly build yourself up to running a 5K in 9 weeks). I’m not going to sugarcoat it – I felt absolutely awful after completing the workout. I complained to my husband that I thought exercising was supposed to make you feel good, but I felt anything but good. But, I did it. I made it through the first workout. And, then I made it through a day of counting calories and staying below my calorie target. And then Tuesday came around, and I made it through a second day of counting calories. And then today, even though I absolutely didn’t want to get up, I completed the second day of the Couch to 5K workout.

I know that I’m really going to have to do some serious training when it comes to food. I certainly have some internal struggles with food. For instance, yesterday we had a soup and salad luncheon. I counted calories, was barely able to eat anything {especially considering what I normally eat}, and left hungry and unsatisfied. I really thought eating at a soup and salad luncheon would be easy. But it wasn’t, not even close. I need to learn to exercise self control in my life. I know I can do it; after all, I had to follow strict food restrictions in both my pregnancies because I had gestational diabetes. My actions must reflect the importance of being healthy.