2012 Resolutions

Resolution - a resolve or determination: to make a firm resolution to dosomething.

I don't normally make resolutions. The thought of them has always plagued me with worry. I stress about the littlest things when it comes to committing to change. I've come up with a plan for myself .. I changed my idea of what my resolutions should be. I'm not sure I can really explain my thoughts or reasons for the change ... but for me, they don't overwhelm me & flow in to changes I feel are important.

1) Spend more time with my Heavenly Father. By this I don't mean reading the Word more (all though that's in the plans too) or praying ... I mean ... just sitting with Him, calm and still ... quietly admiring His creations. "Be still and know that I am God" comes to mind. 

2) No more buying from corporate bullies who move their jobs to different countries. If it's not made in America, I don't need it!!! In my hunt for gifts and items for myself or household, I will be looking to my  friends who have home businesses. I believe in you, your product & want to do everything I can to help you succeed! (So, if you have a blog, website etc showing your products or services, plesase send it to me)

3) Making healthier choices - not just with food, but in friends, acquaintances, committing to do things etc. I want my body healthy in the New Year but also my mind & soul..

4) "Stir up the gift of God which is in you" ... a beautiful piece I won in a GiveAway. I will strive to spend more time doing just that. I will spend more time feeding the creativity that God placed deep in my heart. I will write, sing, paint ... and take photos. I use the gifts he hjas given me to teach my children to use their gifts. I look forward to a creative year!

5) Take time to recognize the blessings & gifts in my life ... every day. It may not come as a FB post or even a word spoken outloud ... but I will be thankful!

6) Stop second guessing myself ... when I have a gut feeling to not go forward with something or someone, I need to stop talking myself out of it. That instinct is there for a reason! 

7) Health - yep, you knew it was coming. This is a priority for me. I have been doing good on my journey to lose weight ... but I know I can (and should) do more. My goal is not weight loss (though that is a perk) ... it's to be healthy ... eat healthy, get the proper amount of sleep, have a strong immune system etc. I get in a good routine & then stumble. I want the stumbling to happen less & less this year!

D@#^ you, Cheese in a Can!!!

So, it's been a while ... but I've only been absent from blogging ... not the healthy lifestyle. Last I checked, I'd lost 40 lbs. I've gained a couple then lost a few more ... fairly balanced, I think. Any way, I've been reading past entries & re-evaluating some things in my life. I tend to add stress on myself in places that really shouldn't matter ... well, they "matter" but  shouldn't hold as much weight as I allow (quite a fitting statement). I have mentioned in the past that I see myself only posting positives or minor issues. It's not because I want to portray myself as not struggling or make it look like I'm doing great. Really it's because I don't want to be responsible for someone else stumbling. I still don't ... but I know we can only control ourselves ... not how others react. I want to be real & throw myself "out there" but have hesitated for that very reason. I just can't do it any more ... so with that in mind ...

I am usually able to control myself when there are "bad" snacks in the house. I have been working on snacking on healthier items but I indulge in very small portions, on "forbidden" things from time to time. It's not about suffering or doing without for me. It's about controlling myself with the things that should be controlled. Apparently Cheese in a Can is a bigger battle than I thought LOL ... I haven't had it in so long & when my husband brought it home from the store ... well ... I went crazy. I don't think I ate the whole can (I'm positive I didn't) ... but I might as well had because I ate too much.

Ah well ... tomorrow is another day & I still have time to get some extra moving and exercise in!!!

On my weigh!!!

I'm still losing ... YAY!!! I'm down 2 whole lbs. as of my last weigh in. I'm really excited. I know I've said this before but this time really is different. I have so much control over what I'm doing. I don't think I'm struggling with emotional eating any more & I have no clue why. I know that there have been a couple times where I thought about food during extreme emotions but I didn't take any action. It was way kool!!! I've been working on goals, rewards, workout stuff ... I just feel better when I have things mapped out for myself. (Once a list maker always a list maker LOL) Here's what I've come up with so far:


Work out:

M/T/W/Th/F:

Walking/Treadmill - 30 minutes

Step Aerobics    -  15 minutes

Dancing - 30/60 minutes (depending on the day)

Bicycle - 30 minutes (only when I can get to the gym)

Jump Rope - 15 minutes

T/TH: Strength training:

Push-ups - 4 x's 25 reps

Windmills 2 x's 50 reps

Squats - 3 x's 10 reps

Crunches - 3 x's 10 reps

Bench Pressing - 4 x's 25 reps

Bicep Curls - 4 x's 10 reps

Alternating Curl - 4 x's 10 reps

Triceps Extension - 4 x's 10 reps

Sunday:

I can't decide what kind of boot camp I'll be doing on this day. I'll post an update when I decide though. 

Reward chart: 250 lbs. starting

225 lbs - Exercise equipment

202 lbs - Conga Drums

182 lbs - Piercing

164 lbs - Demonia Boots (or similar)

147 lbs - New wardrobe

135 lbs - Tattoo with a scale, highlighting starting weight

Doin the Happy Dance

My scale has been out of commission for a while ... a dead battery. It started working again the other day & I weighed myself. I am excited to report that I have lost 8 lbs. Too KOOL!!! It was just the kick in the pants I needed. Success always motivates me!!!

Tomorrow's post will be my renewed goals & rewards ... and measurements, weight etc (if I don't panic LOL)

Keepin' it real!

My head has been pounding all day today ... chest is tight & I'm feeling somewhat congested. I think my daughter shared her chest cold with me. Yay ... NOT! I'm fighting the urge to eat comfort foods and not be accountable. Instead I'm going to have my hubby pick up some soups. I've only done a third of my workout today ... but I'll finish it tonight after the kids go to bed.
I can't take anything over the counter or prescribed due to severe allergies. I'll just have to combat it with good old fashioned soup & home remedies. 


If you click on the above picture it will take you to the Livestrong site & you'll find information on how to combat chest congestion and cold issues. 

One small step ... nah, who am I kiddin? It was HUGE!

We had a meatball grinder night at my house ... and then a night with the left over grinders. Well, I was on the phone when dinner was served. I looked at the sandwich & decided that I just didn't want it. Sure I could have made it healthier for me ... instead of using a sub sandwich roll, I could have used flat bread. I also could have cut the bread out completely & just added the meatballs to a salad. Nope .. I turned the whole thing away & went for something healthier & less calories.
My meals were way off today though ... I skipped breakfast, had a late snack ... had an even later lunch and an even later dinner. I'm thrilled to report though, that in spite of messing up meal times & skipping one, my calorie intake was under goal by 45 calories!!! That is HUGE!!! And the calorie count was even lower by the time I added up my exercising for the day. I am one proud woman!!!

Motivational thoughts

I've been fortunate to get involved with a few different Facebook groups specifically geared toward losing weight. The support I am getting from these groups is amazing. I'm not sure how much I'm actually accomplishing as far as weight loss .. because my scale has a dead battery. I feel motivated and am working hard. I'm making some meal change plans, adding new goals and redefining my idea of a reward for reaching goals. I've not been one to reward myself with food ... I think I may have done that a time or two but really, when you think about that, doesn't it set yourself up for failure? I think so. I've used rewards like CD's, clothing etc ... and I don't think there's anything wrong with that but someone said something to me today (thanks Jennifer) that kind of "clocked." She's getting herself an exercise tool ... and the reward is that it will help her keep track of her progress. Simple .. yet makes sense. Our progress should definitely be a reward. The fact that you are making progress should also be motivation ... even if you are at the same spot you were the week before. At least you're not going backwards. And if you do take a couple steps back, it's ok. Start fresh the very minute you realize you went backwards. You can do this. I can do this ... and we'll do it together!!!