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Saturday, February 11, 2012
I went to go watch a buddy of mine from grad school play at a bar in Arlington on Thursday. Show started late--9pm--and I love my sleep, so I went ahead and took a vacation day on Friday to sleep in late. I'm to a point in my 7 Habits reading that I also felt like I needed a day to sit and ponder it, so my day off was billed as a mental health day.
Regarding mental health, I did not get as far into my 7 Habits pondering as I would have liked. Nor did I get enough cleaning done. I thought my mental health would be improved by a decluttering, and while I did get a little done, not near enough.
It turned out that a day such as this probably shouldn't be overscheduled, and maybe shouldn't include such irritants as going to the eye doctor or chopping jalapenos (hello, capsaicin burn!).
I did get my core values more or less determined, and I'm feeling inspired. I had hoped to put together a draft of a personal mission statement during my day off, but it didn't happen, and at the end of the day, I was falling asleep and definitely had to stick to "Quadrant IV" (Stephen Covey-speak for non-urgent, unimportant) activities.
I had an NSV on Friday as well. My day started off with a visit to my favorite masseur, Marlon. I heart massages like crazy, though I do often think, "Gosh, this poor guy has to touch my fat rolls, and my dry feet, and my unshaven legs!" so there are some stressors involved in even going. I try to remember that he must've seen worse, right--RIGHT??? and it's okay.
Well, I was in this situation, and he was working on my thighs, which have always been voluptuous and self-consciousness-inducing, even in my heyday, and I felt him touch something that kind of hurt. Then, he rubbed it again and said, "Hmm."
And I said, "Did you find a knot in my thigh?" which, while I suppose not an impossibility, would have been a first for me.
He answered, "Have you been working out?"
YESSSSSSSSSS!
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
I did fine in January. I did a lot of what I said I would do. I cleaned the wall by Sammy's food bowl. I cleaned the microwave. I read three books, though not the three I said I would. However, I did not buy something to replace TV trays in my living room (we use them like a hutch, I guess). And I did not do what I said I would for my long-term career goal.
Regarding weight loss and fitness, I did great with exercise goals. I did ride my bike consistently after it arrived. I did ST when my housemate wasn't home. I did not do what I was supposed to for diet. I did not keep chips out of the house, and I did not stay in my range 6 days a week. But I did do well with eating more vegetables.
One thing that's cool is I got 959 fitness minutes. I did not set out for 1000 minutes, but I got close, anyway.
I'm not quite prepared to tell you specifically what I'm going to do this month, especially where cleaning the house and reading more are concerned. Reading I can throw out there that I want to finish 7 Habits and The Spark. For my third book...One Nation Under Therapy. Why not? It's already on my Kindle.
For exercise, I'll do what I'm doing. And why not? Let's shoot for 1000 minutes. It's a short month, but that's okay.
Diet: Definitely no chips in the house. Even if we have chili. And track everything.
I'll probably think of more when it isn't 3:30am, but this seems good for now. I feel good about February. Should be a good month, especially if this crazy weather holds!
Saturday, January 21, 2012
I have been losing weight the last three weeks. I just realized it today after I posted my penultimate weigh-in on the Starfish forum. It made me realize that this journey isn't made up of landmarks or milestones, but rather, the plodding along. I mean, losing 3 pounds in a week is great and all, but not if that's all you do for four weeks, gaining each subsequent week. Half a pound each week is way more effective, though less exciting.
So I need to make sure I'm paying attention to the smaller victories, so as not to get discouraged. I haven't been feeling soooo great about everything the last several weeks, but it turned out I'm doing very well, and I just hadn't noticed.
My husband thanked me today for bringing good food into the house of which he can eat a lot and not gain weight, and for the bike, and for telling him to make a map and take concrete steps if he wants to lose weight. Haram, this guy (I say that a lot IRL--haram is Arabic for "Poor," so, "my poor husband." As an aside, it also means "forbidden," so you gotta listen for context. Not sure if they're both spelled the same) I hope it's something we can keep up.
Today I ate a fried egg sammich on a multigrain thin, with a slice of ham, about an ounce of cheddar, and one Laughing Cow wedge on it. Lunch was a salad of spring mix, an avocado, and boneless buffalo wings I got from a SparkRecipe. I've considered making my Food Tracker public, but it creeps me out a little. Maybe the creeping me out thing is a reason FOR doing it, rather than AGAINST it. Thoughts?
As far as proactive language is concerned, I haven't heard much language today. I taught my lessons in the morning (which I don't think counts), then I watched "Judge Judy," then I took a 3-hour nap with Sammy. "Judge Judy" was an interesting study in the language, though. There was an episode (a rerun), where two nine-year-old boys' parents were in court because one of them threw a rock at the other. Both of the boys made the fatal mistake of LYING to Judy. The Plaintiff-boy started crying when he got caught in the fib, but the other one was very stoic and chill about the whole thing. When you heard the way the parents spoke, you understood why. Judy told the father of the Defendant-boy that this won't be the last time he's in court with the son, and the father didn't get it. He just kept making excuses. "It was self-defense," "the other boy lies more than my son," "but my son told me x," and so on. Not proactive, or particularly responsible, language.
Oh, and lookie up there! I found some reactive language in my blog! I was going to delete it when I saw it and be more proactive, but then I thought I'd point out my folly! Do you see it? Right there: "I hope it's something we can keep up." OF COURSE it's something we can keep up--if I CHOOSE to keep it up. Who's going to stop me? The moon? The grocery clerk? Frito-Lay? Only I control what I put in my shopping cart!
And my "Circle of Influence" (which is everything over which we have control, according to Steve Covey) has just expanded. BAM! 
Friday, January 20, 2012
In my attempt to follow the Seven Habits and help them become, you know, HABITS, I had three activities to do with the first habit: Be Proactive.
1. Pay attention to my language and that of those around me to listen for reactive phrases vs. proactive ones.
2. Select a problem and determine the first step I can take to solve it within my "Circle of Influence." Take that step.
3. Try a thirty-day test of proactivity.
And I gotta tell you, I'm not doing so hot. It's really hard to remember to be aware of all this! Especially 1 & 3. I could probably knock out 2 relatively simply and quickly if I didn't always forget what it was.
Anyway, tomorrow and Monday, I'm going to focus on the language. One day at work, one day at home. Sunday, I will do number 2 from start to finish (assuming the step can be taken on a Sunday...if it's work-related, I might have to wait until Tuesday). And I'll start the 30-day test on Tuesday or Wednesday. I will keep notes in my planner or here in the blog to keep myself accountable and aware.
Seems like a decent plan.
Thanks for all the blogging, 5% Challengers, and 'specially my Starfishies! This is always a fun LTGL challenge!
Sending lots of wet, salty Starfish kisses everyone's way!
 
Thursday, January 19, 2012
It came yesterday (AS PROMISED!--thanks Overstock!), and my husband and I put it together. I haven't used it yet, for a couple reasons:
1) My housemate is gone...that means strength training!
2) I'm writing this blog instead.
My housemate has been here A LOT the last week and a half or so, which has made it hard to exercise. I tell myself I have to strength train when she's not here. Finally, she is out of town, so I have new rules. I strength train until I tire of it when she's not here, then I hop on the bike. I hope to get more minutes this week. Thanks for putting up with me, Starfishies!
On another note, we're heading to DC this week! Stop by and see me! Love y'all!
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Maybe down the road you could blog some specific reactive vs. proactive language you have found yourself using--? Language has such power!
Member Comments About This Blog Post:
you can do it!!!
job in January! And here's to more of the same in February! Most years the weather makes it feel like the LONGEST month to me, despite what the calendar says. At least this year that may not be the case.
