Getty imagesStill, change is coming, change is hard, and what's hard for me about change is that so much of it is out of my control. I've decided to be proactive and make some changes of my own. Much needed changes that will positively impact my life.
In 2010, I'm going to:
- Lose 25 lbs. In truth, I need to lose more than 25 lbs., but 25 is an excellent start. Honestly, 20 lbs. is a lot more in my comfort zone of do-ability, but 25 it is. I saw a great I-phone or I-touch app that lets you track calories, exercise, etc., but I have neither. If anyone knows a great website that truly helps with weight loss I would love to know about it. How do I hope to accomplish my weight loss goal? I'm going to start drinking water with most of my meals. I'm going to do my best to eat when hungry, not when stressed. I'm going to try and practice more "conscious eating". Choosing what I want to eat and when I want to eat and not doing either just because I'm not paying attention or the clock says to or all the other reasons I tend to eat. I'm going to pay more attention when I meal plan to building healthy meals into our schedule. That's not to say that every meal will be healthy, but hopefully I'll get to the point where more are than aren't. Those are the changes I have planned right now. My weight loss goal puts me at a 1/2 lb. per week pace. I'm confident that's doable, I will be watching my weight and making adjustments where needed.
- I am going to begin an exercise program. Not only will it help with my weight loss goal, it will also help with my overall health. My blood pressure is way too high. Part of that is heredity, part of that is stress, part of it is weight, part of it is lifestyle. There's not a lot I can do about some of those components, but lifestyle I can change and this year I will. We belong to our local rec center. In an ideal world, I would go there 4 days a week, mid-morning, and work out for 30-40 minutes. In this working-mom real world, that's just not possible. Our rec center's childcare does not allow children under the age of one year so that leaves the rec center out of reach during the day. I wish they would open at 5:30 AM to accommodate real-life schedules of today, and I'm going to write city council asking them to consider that change. In the meantime, I'm lucky enough to have a treadmill gathering dust in my basement family room. The situation's not ideal, I literally have to move furniture to use it, but Melissa's got me thinking a lot about priorities and how we make happen what's important to us, and I've decided to make my health the priority it should be and make exercise happen in my life.
- I'm going to get back to enjoying hobbies. I love to sew, knit, crochet, read, all sorts of things. I always feel like there's never time or money to pursue my hobbies. This year, I know it's important for me to find my way back to doing the things that make me happy. Chris, from Life...or a Reasonable Facsimile Thereof, has inspired me to consider taking part in the 365: photo a day project. I'm not 100% committed, I'm still on the fence about whether or now I'm truly going to do it, but at the very least I'm going to be taking more pictures this year. I'm not a particularly good photographer; Chris is, you should definitely check out his site, but it's something 1. I enjoy, 2. I want to get better at and 3. serves as a good distraction, potentially making this a good addition to my schedule this year.
- I'm going to learn how to get on top of keeping my house clean. I'm not talking straightened here, I want my house to be clean. Sometimes I feel like there's a secret formula out there that I just never learned the code to, this is the year I'm going to figure out a system that works for me. I'm not up to FlyLady's rigidity, but I'm going to try and find a schedule that is doable for me and my family that will keep my house the way I want it to be. I'd really appreciate any tips or schedules that work for you.
- I'm going to reduce our grocery budget. Honestly, I haven't quite figured out how that's going to happen, but it has to so I need to make it work. Again, any tips would be greatly appreciated.
- I'm going to spend less time on the computer. Shocking I know, but these wonderful little contraptions literally eat time. If I'm going to have the time to make these changes happen, I have to stop spending so much time browsing the internet.
- I'm going to focus more on my relationship with Mark. We're both under a lot of stress, there's a lot more stress inevitably in our future. Neither one of us deals with stress particularly well. I'm smart enough to know that he is one of the best things that has ever happened to me, and I'm going to make more of an effort to live that. Money's definitely going to be tight this year, and come the end of August we'll lose our go-to babysitter, but date nights are going to become a regular event around here. We need to have more fun together and spend more time remembering what drew us together in the first place.
- I'm going to turn off the little voice in my head that constantly runs negative thoughts about me through my brain. I'm ugly, I'm worthless, I'm not good enough for my family, they're all in there rattling around and they're absolutely doing me no good. I think accomplishing the other items on my list will go a long way to countering the negative thoughts in my head--the rest of the time? I just need to learn to push the off button.
7 comments:
Oh dear. Work on that little voice first!
Right now I'm a fan of CalorieKing.com. It's free (though they have a paid program too) and for me, just writing down every thing I eat and then seeing the calories--well, it's motivating, put it that way. I also like WeightCommander, which is cheap (a guy built it for his friend) but he does start needling you to start other (paid) subscriptions. Still, it's an easy graphing program. The water is huge. And as for the health piece--I have tried to add a fruit or vegetable to every meal. Breakfast was cereal; now it's cereal and an apple. Lunch, I either add a salad or an orange or clementine or something. That's been working for me. Even my smoothies I'm going greener and throwing in some frozen spinach. They don't look as pretty but if you put in a small enough amount you don't even taste it. :) Good luck--that's a lot to bite off at once!
Good luck with your goals. I am working on mine today. I want them in writing and posted where I can see them to motivate me!
Do you have a deep freeze freezer? I have found that to be one of my bigger helps in controlling my budget. Example - whole chickens are on sale this week for $0.69/lb. I bought 3 knowing that I will use one this week, and the others in the next month or so. I'm also making my own bread (I'll send recipes this week). We're also buying bulk meats like a roast or a ham, cooking it ourselves and using a slicer to make our own deli meats. I know not everyone has a slicer, and we wouldn't but it came with the husband. :) I also count on my crockpot A LOT to help me make cheaper cuts of meat edible. I've stopped buyinh boxed pastas and rice side dishes. I cook up some pasta (bought in bulk) and add a little butter and parmesan. Works for all of us, and it is much healthier. Hope some of this helps.
Those are FABULOUS goals, hon. As far as the weight loss goes, remember that you can't kill yourself over a bad week or two. You WILL lose weight and you WILL gain some back and you WILL lose it again and figure out how to change your lifestyle. But it takes time. And patience. And consideration for yourself.
The attention to your marriage is a really, really good idea. I am thinking that it should be a higher priority in my life, too.
Good luck!
Well, gal, you've got yourself some definite goals there.
I especially share interest in spending less time on the computer, and more time relationship-building with family.
Also, like you, Stacey, I DON'T LIKE CHANGE, but it does happen. :P
I read somewhere that if you do something for two weeks, you're well on your way to establishing a (new, good) habit.
I'm all with you, too, on living "in the moment".
Hope this is a great New Year for you!
I'm glad I could be of some inspiration (or maybe a nagging voice?) as far as the treadmill goes. Exercising can be a real pain at first, both literally and figuratively, but it does get easier and more enjoyable.
As far as eating healthier and cutting grocery costs, I buy very few convenience foods and almost NO junk food (I splurge on ice cream or a bag of baked chips once in awhile). I mostly buy what I need to make my recipes, and nothing "extra."
Great goals! Best of luck!
I'm with you - less time on the computer -this is the first time I have read blogs this year - I am limiting myself to once a week to read my favorites and that is it. No more twitter either. I am getting back to serious scrapbooking and guess what - I forgot how much I LOVED it!! Exercise is on my list as well - but I have yet to do anything about it! I am also getting serious about cutting our grocery bill. I have been a COUPON queen this past month or so - I saved 92.00 the last trip! I was so proud of myself I think I smiled for hours on that one!
i'm a flylady drop out... i may have made 6 days with a shiny sink and laced up shoes. but that was all i could stand.
have you read the messy manual? it's a good one. and it was more helpful for me.
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