Photo Walk - W5.D6

Friday, May 21, 2010

After I spent a little while complaining yesterday, I changed my clothes and went for a walk. I didn't set out to do anything other than walk ...and take photos of my journey. What the heck, right? Combine my passion with my walking and it might be a little more fun. Yep. It was! *lol*


See...I'm walking! Dang, I need some new walking shoes...


I'm gonna try to keep knocking down the barriers that get in my way! HA!


Is this the wrong side of the tracks? Uh-oh! *lol*


This hill tried to kill me. No, I'm being serious! It tried to murder me!


I tried to tell you...


Should I try to climb these? Uh...no...not today....


Taking some time to stop and smell the roses. They smelled GOOD!


It's blurry because I was running. Well, I call it running. Other people simply call it Esther moving at a slightly more rapid but still slow pace.


These doggies is tired!

So I walked .95 miles and was out for like 22 minutes. I stretched afterward, and then used the rest of my lunch to read in the back of my van! *lol* It was a good lunch break!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

RAVENSONG37 5/24/2010 3:48PM

great job!! get some good shoes for walking...that will make SUCH a difference for your feet, legs and overall enjoyment of your walks. Some shoes are heavy, bulky or totally unsupportive, but the right shoes make your feet feel awesome! Report Inappropriate Comment

MEGSFITNESS 5/24/2010 8:37AM

Lol nice job :D Report Inappropriate Comment

ALIMESSA 5/22/2010 3:34AM

Cool blog...I love when people add photos! Have a great weekend! As always, Stay Strong!! Report Inappropriate Comment

PENNEYV 5/21/2010 9:40PM

Love the idea! Report Inappropriate Comment

TENACIOUSLADYT 5/21/2010 6:48PM

That is a really fun idea, plus I bet it keeps things interesting! Report Inappropriate Comment

JESSASAURUSFLEX 5/21/2010 6:35PM

I wish we lived closer, I think we could motivate each other! I love reading and seeing your pictures about your walks!! Keep going Mamma, you're doing wonderfully!!!!!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

KILA1228 5/21/2010 6:29PM

I love the pictures! Taking time to smell the roses! I need to do THAT! Report Inappropriate Comment

Trying to Succeed - W5.D5

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Yesterday was ...well, not so great. I was hungry all day. At least mentally hungry. Not sure what the deal is lately. Haven't had any energy all week but I've been trying to push through. I managed to walk yesterday at lunch, through plenty of whining and pouting on my fat chick's part, but I couldn't bring myself to do anymore than that. And then today I woke up late.

It's been on my mind lately just how much I have to lose to get where many of you inspiring people are. I tried surfing Spark yesterday and just ended up more frustrated. Not because anything you guys have done, and not even out of blind jealousy (I don't think), but rather self-hatred. (Damn emotion rears its ugly head once again!)

I read that one girl started her journey because she nearly couldn't fit into the rides at the amusement park. I haven't been able to do that for years. I think I was 16 the last time I rode a ride, beside the rides at Disney World, which I researched "fat rides" prior to.

I read that one girl gained 30 pounds in college. I gained way more than that before I even had college as an excuse.

I saw one girl's picture of her in high school, and now she is working toward looking like that again. I don't have one of these pictures. I weighed nearly 300 pounds when I graduated high school. (Of course, you could think of it as - I don't have too far to go until I match what I looked like in high school - but even then, I'll still be fat.)

I read one girl struggling to stay within her calorie goals of 1300 (which just seems so low to me!). I'm allowed to eat 2200 a day. Why? Because I'm so damn fat. (And I rarely hit them because I'm eating healthy food, and you have to cram a whole lot more healthy food in your mouth for 2200 calories than I did when I was eating hamburgers and fries...I'm just sayin'.)

And Done girls, don't hate me...I'm not done. There's a reason this idea of being done irks me so, and let me try to explain. I understand the concept. I understand using this as motivation to lose weight. But it's just not working for me. At all. Not a tiny bit. Truth of it is, even when I lose 100 pounds, I'm not going to be done. I won't be done being the fat girl for a REALLY long time. I mean YEARS! I try to restructure it to say "I'm done letting the fat girl tell me what to do," and sometimes that works, and other times, it doesn't.

I don't know what it's like to be the skinny girl so many times it's hard for me to say that I'm done being the fat girl. What does that even mean? It took me a long time to learn how to be the fat girl who could still have fun and enjoy things like hiking or swimming. It took me a long time to settle my mind with being the fat girl who didn't let the fat stop her from something she really wanted to do. I went dancing. I put on makeup and looked my hottest. I flirted with guys. I went on airplanes (and yes, I asked for a seat belt extender...and, no, it didn't break my heart to do it). I traveled. I even ran the first two weeks of the C25K program as training for a trip to New York.

I took the time to remind myself that being fat did not mean I was dead. It also did not mean I was lazy or stupid or a million other things people thought, and still think, about us "fat folk." And now? Now I have another hurdle in front of me...letting that fat girl mentality go and finding a skinny girl mentality. I just don't really know how to do that right now because...well, because the last time I wore a size 16 I was in 6th grade. The last time I rode a bike I was 14. The last time I was skinny was when I was 4, and I don't even remember it. So how to I latch on to something I just don't know?

So I woke up today (late) and headed to work (late). I made myself breakfast first, a healthy breakfast around 400 calories, much like my breakfast every morning now...not because I'm giving into a skinny girl mentality, but because I know it's what's right. Or maybe just because I like it more than McDonald's Sausage McMuffin. It makes me feel better about my day when I start it off right, even if the ending isn't so stellar.

And I sat down at work and started the tedious process of looking for jobs in secret while trying to do work at the same time. And I thought to myself the old adage, "Dress for the job you want, not the job you have." And I put in my contacts and put on some makeup and put on my flat, gold dress shoes (will have to work my way back into heels because it's been nearly a year since I've worn them somewhat regulary). And then I wondered...instead of trying to search for a skinny girl mentality (grasping at straws is more like it), maybe I should "Act like I have the life I want, not the life I have." Maybe it's not about adusting to a skinny girl mentality, maybe it's adjusting to a mentality of being healthy and happy and fit, even though my body really isn't right now. (Maybe it's the same thing - hell if I know!)

This morning I was up a little more on the scale, but that doesn't have to define my day. It doesn't have to define me. I can just live like a fit and fabulous woman and hope that one day the outside shows the world that fit and fabulous is exactly what I am.

I'm not saying that this idea is going get me through this VERY long day. I'm not saying that I'm going to happily march my big butt around the ballpark without wishing I was just sitting in the grass reading a book and destressing instead. I can't even say that it will get me through until lunch. But I'm going to try to remember that it's not about what I have to lose, but what I have to gain...and hope that's enough for success.

We'll see.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

AGAINALWAYS 5/20/2010 6:47PM

Here's to your inner healthy girl! I, too, have been overweight much of my life. Size 18 at the end of high school became size 26 a year ago, with some ups and downs along the way. Still, I was in theater, I sang in public, I flirted, I dated. I still lived my life. Still, I satisfied my lust for fashion with cosmetics and purses, because they fit at any size. At age 30, I got tired of sweltering to death under 3/4 length sleeves on 100 degree days, so I acknowledged my body and wore cami tops. At age 34, I met the man I married. I have a good life, despite being the fat girl. Well, I finally ran into something I couldn't do at this weight. I cannot have a healthy pregnancy at this size, nor would I try to. That's what gave me the motivation to live healthfully and shed this extra me so I can at least try to realize that dream. Bravo for you! I know you've been having a hard time. I'm not going to promise it gets easier, but do promise to stick around if you need a helping hand. Report Inappropriate Comment

IHEARTK 5/20/2010 6:01PM

Your blog today is wonderful. I won't tell you not to compare yourself negatively to others. I can't give out advice I don't take myself!! :) But, try, at least to compare yourself positively as well. Just like the people who have a headstart on you, I look at you and think, I should have been this committed when I was your age... I wish I had your attitude and understanding of the process decades ago!! As for the time it will take... well, one of the lessons I have learned (the hard way, naturally!) is that I will never be "done". So, timelines don't really matter- it's all about how you live your life now. Hey, didn't you say something just like that?!? You are wise beyond your years. :) Report Inappropriate Comment

ALIMESSA 5/20/2010 5:16PM

Just remember that what is most important is who you are on the inside...and your weight has nothing to do with that! I know the road may seem long, but if you take the focus off the weight and make it more about the healthy lifestyle change (I know, you've heard this a thousand times before), but if you truly do, then it might not seem so bad...the healthy lifestyle change is occurring right now...right this second...because you are taking the needed steps to change it. Focus on that, and also on all the baby steps and baby victories, and the long term victory/goal of getting to your ideal weight WILL HAPPEN...just don't make it your main focus. (Easier said than done, I know!) Best of luck to you...hang in there! As always, Stay Strong!! Report Inappropriate Comment

NIKMON 5/20/2010 12:44PM

Awesome blog! I think there are a lot of us on here who feel the same way. We've never experienced the 'skinny life'. While I read through your blog, I thought about what I was going to comment down here. As I kept reading, you took the thoughts right out of my head. I love how your attitude completely changed from the beginning of this vs. the end. Keep up that closing attitude! Thanks for this blog!! Report Inappropriate Comment

MEGSFITNESS 5/20/2010 12:32PM

I feel the same way... I've never been skinny and likely never will. It's SCARY to lose so much weight and hard to embrace the change. I think that embracing the healthy/fit/happy mentality will be much easier than trying to be someone I'm not. (especially since I grew up thinking skinny automatically made a person to be a stuck-up, selfish, snotty biznitch.) p.s. my thoughts on skinny girls has changed (for the most part) as I've grown up. Now I assume that they're nice (until they prove me otherwise). But you see what I've done here? Ostracized "skinny" girls and used the word "they". I have to remember that it's not an "us" vs "them" thing and that we all have health and self-esteem issues that we're working through :) Report Inappropriate Comment

MERALO 5/20/2010 12:19PM

This blog spoke to me quite a bit...I'm struggling with 2 things are the moment: 1. the skinny girl mentality - I don't knoow what its like to be skinny, so I really don't know the person I'm supposed to become 2. the dieting vs living choice - I hate living my new life by the scale or my skinny jeans, it makes me feel worse when things don't go well. Or when I have a slip up and beat myself up for days because of the calories I consumed. I know the skinny girl is in there somewhere, but I'm really hoping she'll just come out on her own. I have managed to silence the fat chick in me (told her to buzz off and find new friends), so maybe the skinny girl will just appear. I don't know. I'd like to teach myself about eating well and listening to my body, the rest should come naturally. How do the reall skinny people never diet and never get on a scale...and yet keep the weight off? And I know that the scale measures our results definitively, but I can't bear the thought of crunching numbers for the rest of my life to make sure that I don't end up back where I started! Sigh. You wrote a good blog here...lots to think about. Thanks! Report Inappropriate Comment

PRETTYMANDI 5/20/2010 11:44AM

You hit the nail on the head there at the end: it isn't about a skinny girl mentality, it is about a healthy girl mentality. You don't have to weigh 120 pounds or whatever it is that skinny people weigh to be doing healthy things. Maybe you don't look at yourself and think "woo, she is healthy" but if you made healthy choices today, then today you were. That is what is important, I think. Screw being skinny, if I focus on that it is so far out that I will lose momentum. I am focusing on what makes me feel best about myself today. Not only that, I am imagining lower cholesterol will be nice. I was told I will be getting bypass surgery by the time I am 40 if I don't stop living the way I am, and the scary thing is I just went home and continued to do whatever I wanted. As though I am somehow invincible? I dunno. I had to get foot surgery because I was so obese my arches collapsed, and instead of taking care of myself, I gained 25 lbs while I was laid up from the surgery because I drank a 2 Liter of DR. Pepper everyday and ate chocolate cake. If asked, I blame the vicodin, but I know it was my choice to do that to myself. I was almost 300 lbs when I started this journey, 2 1/2 years ago. Right now I am 224 because I keep letting myself get side tracked, discouraged, etc. I could be so much closer to my goals now if I would just push on! I pray that you can keep up your momentum! Don't give up! We are all rooting for you! Report Inappropriate Comment

ZENTHAE 5/20/2010 11:32AM

Your post made me cry, and somewhat happy at the same time. I know exactly how you feel to most of the extent. The smallest number I have ever seen on the scale was 215. And that was AFTER high school when I lost around 80 pounds. (Unless you count when I was 7 and weighed myself at 100 pounds). I don't know what its like to be skinny either. And to be honest, I don't really crave to think of myself as skinny. I just want to be HEALTHY, and not die because of my weight. I love my son to pieces, and the idea of leaving him behind at any age gives me anxiety beyond words. Sure I want to shop in the shops to have more selection, but if they made the selection to bigger sizes and I was considered healthy at that weight, I would stay there. Being thin won't give me anything, being healthy will give me everything. You have beautiful kids, a wonderful husband. I know your jealous of those other small facts, but there are people out there who are jealous of YOU! There are women out there who aren't fortunate to have men that love them no matter what their size, or who have an education. I know I am jealous of you for finishing school! You are awesome. You are doing amazing, and I am sorry you are feeling down. I don't mean to take away from your feelings at all. But you are amazing and to continue to push through everything despite your feelings, is what makes you such an inspiration! Report Inappropriate Comment

ALLEY2231 5/20/2010 11:25AM

Everyone has some bad days during their weight loss journey! Instead of focusing on the negative, try to keep thinking of the positive. The past is the past and the future is all yours!!! I read your last journal entry and the goal you have of doing a 5k in all the states - what an AWESOME goal!!! (I am now even contemplated it) It's things like that and determination that help you reach that goal. You can do it! Have faith in yourself!!!! A quote that I have posted everywhere that I look at when I am down and thinking negatively is: "Our attitude towards life determines life's attitude towards us." ~John N. Mitchell It's SOOOOO true!!! I wish you the best of luck on reaching your goals and weight loss! Report Inappropriate Comment

DLEE27 5/20/2010 11:25AM

Fantastic blog girl! To me, being a "Done Girl" just means that I am done defining myself as the fat girl. See, I did feel limited by my weight, and by letting go of that, I am allowing a new me (a fitter, healthier, happier me) to move in. It sounds like that is exactly what you are doing...we're just using different language. You are doing a fabulous job. You inspire me all the time. And yeah, you know what? Maybe you do still have a ways to go to get to "goal weight" but that doesn't mean that you haven't already accomplished a lot. Think about all the amazing changes you have made in your lifestyle and that of your family. You are cooking these awesome, healthy meals and getting outside and being active. These are things that you can't quantify by a number on a scale. And I know you already know all of that but I just thought we could all use a reminder from time to time that we're doing great! I think your "new mentality" is fantastic and you're going to continue to be a total rock star!!!!!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

One Foot In Front Of The Other - W5.D4

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

It's hump day everyone! I'm considering changing this to hUMPH day in order to challenge myself each Wednesday to give it a little extra and finish the week strong...

I've been thinking a lot about challenges, about working out, and about a 5K. Yep, I said it. I'm thinking of at least walking a 5k before this summer is out. I was checking races yesterday evening and I found a site where you can search for races by state...and it got me thinking...wouldn't it be great to do a race in each and every lower 48 states? (And maybe Hawaii, but I'm not too sure about running through Alaska! *lol*) But before these lofty goals can be put into motion, I should probably just start myself out slow - walking a 5K. Right now I can comfortably walk 1.5 miles, so I'm going to try to work my way up to the 3.1 miles and find a comfortable pace.

My work is changing things around again, moving me to a different department. Let me start off by saying that I have worked in every department in this office other than finance (don't even get me near numbers, I'm sure to screw them up!), so the change is not that big of a surprise. What did sound...well, exciting, is a week-long training in D.C. And do you know what my first thought was, Sparkers? "Hrm...wonder what kind of walks I can do in D.C.?" I had an image of myself jogging past the White House or taking a tour of the city on foot. Doesn't that just sound dreamy? *lol* Now that I think of it, I wonder if the hotel they'll put me in will have a gym...you know, just in case it rains or something...

My second thought, of course, was "Oh my! I'm going to have to really plan ahead on meals for a trip like this!" My work, of course, will pay for all my meals out, but I'm wondering if they'd allow me to go to a grocery store when I get there to pick up some fresh fruit and veggies for snacks, maybe some cheese and hummus and such to stick in the mini fridge? If not I'm going to have to seriously consider what I can and can't eat out.

But until I know when I'm going, I can't do much to plan ahead. Instead, I'll focus on the here and now. Like the fact that it's slightly chilly outside but has not started raining yet. I'm hoping this holds out so I can go for a good walk today. Thinking of taking a different route today...challenging myself a bit...

Goal Update:
- Reading the book DLEE suggested for the smoking habit.
- Been too rainy to take Joey for any walks lately.
- No need for grocery limits for now because we really stocked the fridge this weekend!
- I haven't gotten to the cleaning/organizing, but that is my plan of action for Friday.
- I tried to work up a budget for the family the other day in order to see where we could save, but I am seriously lacking when it comes to handling numbers! *lol*
- I've decided that my first reward will be when I hit that 20 lb lost mark, and I'm going to buy myself something for food storage or maybe just a cookbook.
- I haven't written anything yet, except for these AMAZING blogs, yo! ;)
- I have a list of places to send my resumes and am going to go through it today and get to work on that.
- Grad school: still pending.
- I'm currently reading Carrion Comfort by Dan Simmons (category: suggested)
- And I worked all day yesterday trying to give some support to SparkFriends and surfing message boards. Also got hubby to sign up so that he can surf through the recipes and *gulp* maybe even find some muscle building exercises. Hubby is blessed with a great metabolism so losing weight is not really an issue for him.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

ALIMESSA 5/19/2010 6:42PM

If you do decide to walk in all the states, we should all try to get together and do the walks with you...when you are in OUR state...if that makes sense....IDK...might be too hard to plan that far in advance...just a thought...if you come out to California, you should definitely let me know! I am actually scheduled to run next year in the Bay to Breakers run/walk that is held in San Francisco every May...me and my sister are working towards running in it...you should join us...being that it is San Francisco, it is a pretty entertaining event from what I've been told...several people actually do the race in the nude even...LOL!! Only in San Francisco!! You are doing great...keep up the great work, working towards your goals! As always, Stay Strong!! Report Inappropriate Comment

-SHIMMER-ANN- 5/19/2010 5:51PM

I really like the idea of a 5K all over, how smart and motivating!! Enjoy your trip, and good luck :) Report Inappropriate Comment

MERALO 5/19/2010 12:36PM

A walk int he city would be awesome! In the old days (the fat days) I went to Paris for work and I ended up doing a bike tour of Versailles, best experience ever...even though I couldn't walk for about 3 days, lol! They must have something active to do in DC, make a point to find something...it's so worth it. And then you have to let us know all about it! Report Inappropriate Comment

MEGSFITNESS 5/19/2010 11:36AM

D.C. would be so cool :) Especially in the spring! I went there in October once and it was gorgeous. Report Inappropriate Comment

PRETTYMANDI 5/19/2010 11:22AM

If you decide where to eat before you leave the hotel (and have access to a computer) you can look up the nutritional facts of the menu online before you go to a restaurant. Whenever I know we are going to need to eat out I try to already know what I am going to order and where we are going in advance so that I am prepared. Preparation is the key to success when dining out, in my experience. Especially since the calories on foods vary greatly from one place to the next. I have heard that in NY they have started putting calories on the menus, and I think that is awesome. I know that Panera bread does that here. I am way less likely to splurge if I can't do it blindly! LOL :-P Have a great trip, and enjoy those beautiful walks! Report Inappropriate Comment

BOONDOCK_FAN 5/19/2010 11:01AM

Great plans!!! Walking in all 48 states Hmmmmm.....interesting! Report Inappropriate Comment

DLEE27 5/19/2010 10:58AM

How exciting! Keep us posted!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

Food and Exercise Blog Tuesday 5/18

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

So, I didn't take any pictures today, but I still want to go over what I ate today.

6:30am - Breakfast
1/2c egg beaters, 1/4c low-fat mozzarella cheese, 1/2 banana, 16oz coffee with 3Tbsp. Peppermint Mocha creamer

I wanted to start this off the right way. This is a high protein breakfast for me, and I like to eat some sort of fruit in the morning. I am going to start limiting the coffee in the morning until I switch to tea entirely.

11am - Snack of Veggies
1 pkg. Green Giant Garden Medley vegetables, frozen - steamed in microwave bag

I've noticed that the frozen dinners I usually eat don't have enough calories to really make a dent in my daily goals. I'm trying to even out my eating so that I'm not stocking up at dinner. I'm getting better with this.

12:04pm - Exercise
13 min while reading

Took a somewhat leisurely walk around the ball park at lunch today. I wanted to take it easy because I've been sick. I think it's a sinus infection. Plus, my legs are still very sore from this weekend. I then sat outside to read some of my book for a while. It felt great to just have some time to myself!! I think this is what I've been missing lately.

12:45pm - Lunch
Michelina's Lean Gourmet Chicken Alfredo Florentine

Okay, let's face it. I'm totally annoyed by these frozen dinners. They are boring and lack the taste I've come to expect from home cooked healthy meals. So I'm going to try to limit my intake of these. I already packaged some lunch for tomorrow, just need to figure out my snacks for tomorrow as well.

2:30-3:00pm - Snack
1 Mini Bag of Popcorn with Butter, 1 Fiber One Oats and Chocolate bar

I ate the popcorn because it was time for a snack. I ate the Fiber One bar because I wanted it. Now calorie wise this isn't a bad thing, but I have to get out of the habit of just eating because I want to. I need to wait until I'm hungry or until 2-3 hours have passed. It really would've saved me around 5pm when I was all out of energy and ended up falling asleep at my desk for 10 minutes!

8:00pm - Dinner
2 oz. (1 serving) of Slow Cooker Pork Roast, 1c mashed potatoes, 1oz italian bread with butter

I logged this and then realized that I had more calories left, so I went back for an extra cup of mashed potatoes and another 1/2 oz of bread. Of course, again, calorie wise this was fine, but habit wise - not so much. As far as the dinner is concerned, Shane makes an amazing Slow Cooker Pot Roast that is TO DIE FOR! It's also almost 500 calories and 23 grams of fat! So I talked him into using pork this time, and low fat cream of mushroom soups, so it was half the calories and fat!

9:00pm - Exercise, again
22 min on inStride cycle

So I decided to do 20 minutes on the cycle tonight. I bought this thing for like 35 bucks on Amazon. It can be used as a foot or arm cycle, and I can go as fast as I want or as slow as I want. I'm not sure I'm tracking the calorie burn right, I just use the slowest cycling on the fitness tracker and log however many minutes I do. I'm hoping it's around the right calorie burn. Once I did 20 minutes, I decided to do an extra 2 so that I could make it a round 35 minutes for the day.

9:30pm - Dessert

One thing my Momma taught me is that it's okay to give yourself a dessert, as long as you keep within your ranges. This will stop you from feeling deprived of things like chocolate. I found these things in WalMart the other day and said, "There is a God and he's heard my prayers!" *lol*


http://www.drumstick.com/flavors/lil-dru
ms.aspx

Mine (Chocolate with Chocolatey Swirls) had 140 calories and 7 grams of fat. It's a little high in sugar, a little high in fat for a regular treat, but for a treat, you can't beat that calorie count! I love drumsticks but they are INSANE! (We're talking 310 calories and 17g of fat with 20 g of sugar!)

So I go to bed with a headache still (stupid sinuses!) but feeling good about my day!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MEGSFITNESS 5/19/2010 8:38AM

yep, you've definitely got reasons to feel good :) that was a good day. Just remember what you said you wanted to change. Practice makes habit, not perfect ;) Report Inappropriate Comment

SKINNYMISSKASEY 5/19/2010 7:44AM

Sounds like you had great stuff to eat! I wish it were that simple for me at work but I am healthy with what I have on hand. Hope you finish getting well soon! Report Inappropriate Comment

ALIMESSA 5/19/2010 12:05AM

Sorry to hear you are still under the weather...hopefully you will feel better soon! I've seen those tiny, snack-size ice cream treats...seems they are making everything in snack-size these days...which is a good thing...I just still don't trust myself with them in the house! Luckily, I'm not feeling too deprived...yet!! As always, Stay Strong!! Report Inappropriate Comment

ZENTHAE 5/18/2010 11:36PM

OMG mini drum sticks!!! I hope they sell them in Canada, those are my prayer answer too! You are doing great! I love your daily blogs, your so motivating! Report Inappropriate Comment

DLEE27 5/18/2010 10:12PM

Sounds like an awesome day chickee! Report Inappropriate Comment

PRETTYMANDI 5/18/2010 10:02PM

your blog made my mouth water! lol I want to buy little drumsticks! yea! Report Inappropriate Comment

Setting New Goals - W5.D3

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

So, now that graduation is over and done with, I need new goals for myself. I have spent the past 3 years working toward this point, so it's time to set a plan of action for the next three. And what better place to track all my goals than here at Spark, where tracking goals is the name of the game?

Food Goals
Use baby steps to keep myself within goals.
- Cook at least one new recipe a week and have the family rate it.
- Measure everything.
- Drink 8 glasses of water every day.
- Consume 4-6 servings of fruits and veggies every day.
- Track everything.
- Work on switching from coffee to green tea.
EDIT: One more - Reduce my dependence on frozen dinners at work to "nearly never"!

Fitness Goals
Just keep moving!
- Work out for at least 10 minutes every day.
- Follow SP strength training workouts (ST 5 days/week on different areas)
- Cardio jam sessions 3-4 times a week, walking at least 30 minutes.
- Work interval training to work towards goal of running a mile.
- Start training to walk my first 5k with Mom.

Activity Goals
Get out there and do something!
- Plant a vegetable and herb garden.
- Go to the lake once every weekend (if possible).
- Hike once a month, increasing distance and difficulty.
- Work on swimming technique and incorporate water aerobics.
- Incorporate Yoga and Tai Chi into my routine to help with balance and flexibility. (and focus)

Other Goals
Stop smoking.
Take Joe for walks and socialize him.
Find ways to limit grocery bill.
Use FlyLady tips to clean and organize home.
Work on saving money.
Reward myself for goals met and consistency.
Get writing.
Send out 5-10 resumes a week.
Make decision on grad school and (maybe) send out more apps by September 30th.
Read one book from each of these 12 categories:
1 - "Classic"
2 - Appalachian
3 - Foreign
4 - Kid/YA Lit
5 - Non-Fiction
6 - Plays
7 - Poetry
8 - Short Stories
9 - Pre-WWI
10 - WWI-1980
11 - In My Lifetime (1981-present)
12 - Suggested by Others

and...
Spread the Spark!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

KILA1228 5/18/2010 9:30PM

Wow, you are on it! Positive attitude (LOVE IT)! I need to do what you're doing and start a goal list! Way to go girl! Report Inappropriate Comment

ALIMESSA 5/18/2010 2:55PM

Revamping and revising goals is so important...our lives are ever changing, and therefore, so are our goals! Way to stay on top of it and keep yourself on track! Good luck...I'm here, cheering you on every step of the way!! As always, Stay Strong!! Report Inappropriate Comment

DLEE27 5/18/2010 1:19PM

I love this list! Regarding the quitting smoking - there is a book called The Easy Way To Quit Smoking by Allan Carr. It was recommended to me by several people and when I finally read it I quit smoking when I read the last page. That was 6 weeks ago and it has been the easiest time out of all the different times I've tried to quit. I've since told 2 different people about and they both quit with it too. (secretly I googled it a found a free pdf version...so there's really no harm in trying!) Good luck with all of your super awesome goals!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

REDCHILIFLAKES 5/18/2010 12:02PM

Lots of goals! Way to keep the momentum going after graduation and !!! Your grad pictures look great and it looks like you are ready to tackle the next stage of your life. Report Inappropriate Comment

PRETTYMANDI 5/18/2010 10:52AM

I really like this! It makes me feel inspired. maybe I should be putting my goals down in a more tangible way so that I can't just conveniently "forget" them! Report Inappropriate Comment

CALLIKIA 5/18/2010 9:44AM

MEG - I use goodreads.com to keep track of my books read usually, but I'll post them on here as well. I'm starting with Carrion Comfort which was bought for me by a friend for my birthday (in JANUARY! *lol* Haven't had time to read "for fun" in SOOO long!). HARMONY - It's going to be very difficult considering I have lived on coffee for 3 years. Only way I could get myself through 15+ hour days! Report Inappropriate Comment

HARMONYBLUE 5/18/2010 9:31AM

Nice goals. I have just switched from coffee to decaf teas myself in the last week or two. The first week was hard, but it gets easier and easier Good luck! Report Inappropriate Comment

MEGSFITNESS 5/18/2010 9:25AM

Great goals to work towards. I especially like your use of icons :D So, where are you getting your reading recommendations from? Will you be keeping a list of the ones you read? Report Inappropriate Comment

KLEE76 5/18/2010 9:11AM

Report Inappropriate Comment