my December goals

Here are my goals for December--let the healthy lifestyle changes continue!

Fitness Goals:

20 min-Elliptical machine X 3 days per week
20 min-Walking X 2 days per week
30 min-Curves workout X 4-5 days per week

Nutritional Goals:

Healthy choices, balanced nutrition—Calorie intake between 1,600-2,100 calories a day

Personal Goals:

Come to terms with and let go of my emotional attachment to Troy. I want to be completely rid of any feelings that I should still be trying to make it work. I've loved him for far too long, and have given up so much of myself trying to make him happy and trying to prove to him that he should love me as much as I loved him. But, in the end it wasn't enough... and I have to accept that.

I think that it's been time to move on for a while now, but I was sticking it out because there were so many reasons why the idea of "Troy and I" just made sense. I have to just come to terms with the fact that I gave it everything I had..and then some. And, he wasn't willing to give even half of what I was..and I deserve so much more than that.

I have to let go BEFORE I go into the new year! 2010 is going to be my lucky year after all, (according to my spiritual guide)..and I want to be READY for all of the greatness that awaits me. Personally, and professionally.

i feel free...

I realized today that the most important truth is being true to myself. Being honest and accountable to myself has been far more difficult to accomplish than I ever knew. But now,...now that I finally realized how important it is, I can breath. And that is in essence, my freedom.

my challenge to you

It’s quite possible that there is a giant visible 140 watt light bulb floating above my head these days. I’m changing…I’m moving, walking, eating, loving, encouraging, smiling, playing, dreaming, and goal setting. As a result of these changes I am beginning to shrink on the outside and grow on the inside. Which, in retrospect, is exactly the opposite of how I ended up 120+ lbs over weight to begin with.

I can’t tell you how many times I have tried, or at the least considered trying diet fads, pills, fasts and even surgery to lose weight. Let's be real, losing weight is inconvienient and time consuming. It takes a lot of work! Who wants to be bothered with all of that? If there is a quick fix out there that will require minimal work on my part and will give me amazing results then I'd be stupid to NOT try it right? I'd be an idiot to want to work hard! Yes, I have had this very negotiation with myself in the past. I'm sure that we all have. But here's the only real diet pill you need to swallow. Dieting doesn’t work. Restricting certain food groups, doesn’t work. Changing your life..one day at a time..DOES WORK.

This isn’t the first time in my life that I’ve been on the path of better choices, exercise and nutrition..but for some reason it actually feels like my first time. There’s something different going on within me this time. I’m NOT on a diet…I’m NOT looking for a quick fix to a life long struggle. I’m simply making a lifestyle change. Now, I know how much that saying “lifestyle change” leaves many people perplexed by the illusion that this must be a smoke and mirror trick. But, I assure you it is far from trickery.

In fact, there’s a level of clarity to be seen once you make the decision to “change”. I think the ability is there, in EVERYONE..unfortunately, clarity is easy to miss when the life that we live is clouded by perceivably easy, quick and conveniently deep fried choices. Sure, it’s much easier to just lay on the couch or sleep in that extra hour, I’m no stranger to this kind of rationalization..but, as soon as I decided to stop making “easier” choices my life changed. I turned in my easy card, and gladly exchanged it for a hard card. Consequently, I found out that I am so much happier with the hard card in my pocket. And now, losing weight is simply a "bonus"....I'm in it for the happy!

My challenge to you

I challenge you to read these two statements (below) and for a moment, consider how you typically answer them. Then, try NOT making excuses for a while…let’s say one-two weeks. Then, come back to my blog and let me know how you did, and how you feel..and more importantly, how you plan to continue to love yourself enough to change your lifestyle.

“I can’t exercise today because ___________.”
(fill in the blank with your chosen vice for today-no time, too tired, stressed, broke, busy)

“I’m just going to pick up _____________ because I don’t have time to go to the store.” (again, fill in the blank for the drive-thru’s that you frequent)

...it's fuel, and I'm working my way up to premium!

Of course, within 10 minutes of posting my November goals a friend of mine at work tried to guilt me into going to this Thai restaurant by the office with him. I politely declined..but he was pretty persistent. So, I explained to him that I was watching my calories and making healthier choices and that Thai wasn't budgeted into my day..lol He tried to guilt me into it..talking about how we never have lunch anymore..yada yada.

Then, I realized that he just needed to justify eating that crap by making someone else go too. Misery loves the hell out of some company eh? Then he asked me what I had eaten today, (I wasn't sure if he wanted to laugh at me or get on the bandwagon, so I shared the honest truth..).

For breakfast I had a bowl of cereal, milk, an apple and my iced green tea from Starbucks (my one vice that I'm not ready to give up lol). Then, I had a pear mid morning. Then, I had leftover tuna helper for lunch and a glass of chocolate milk.

Now, I am about to enjoy a cup of herbal tea with a little honey. And, I explained that I had an apple and 1 tbs of peanut butter on my desk for this afternoon....and that I had about 400 calories left for dinner.

To which, he rolled his eyes and said, "That's NOT food!"... I have a feeling that my old lunch buddy and I will be parting ways during the noontime hour..lol

goals

A happy, fulfilling life is all about setting goals, meeting goals, accepting failure and learning from it...and then celebrating those accomplishments or lessons learned. So, on that sentiment I am setting these nutrition, fitness and personal goals for the month of November:

1) Do my best to meet my nutritional needs while staying under 2,300 calories per day.
2) Walk at least 1 mile, a minimum of 5 days per week.
3) Work out at Curves, a minimum of 4 days per week.
4) Read at least 4 (SparksPeople or other Healthy living news outlet) articles a week to improve my knowledge of nutrition, fitness and/or motivation.
5) Have fun and be silly with my girls..each and every day!
6) Limit fastfood to one or less times a week.(So far, we haven't had fastfood at all in almost two weeks!..big, accomplishment for my busy family!)

'tis the season to get creative...

Halloween 2009 has passed, marking the beginning of the 2009 holiday season to come!

From this point forward,..no more vacation days off (need to save all of those up for the Christmas break). I want to be able to enjoy a fun filled two-weeks of family, friends, laughs, love, celebration and silliness (in no particular order, of course).

The weather has cooled off considerably here in Arizona and the commercialization of the holiday season has taken to the store shelves in abundance as usual.

Every year around this time I find myself indulging in fantasies of the endless possibilities should I chose to apply some of my imagination and creativity to the gift giving season. I think, if I start planning now, I can accomplish something amazing. But then, I get busy..and end up purchasing gifts that my friends and family will – or will not, enjoy. My typical “M.O.” materializes in the form of gift cards, bath and body works gift sets, slippers, books, cloths, toys...etc.

But, I long to do something special. To reclaim the authenticity of who I am and show that I can offer something more meaningful to my loved ones without succumbing to the mindless cesspool of pre-packaged gifts. How can I gift something that shares a piece of myself while complementing or better yet, inspiring others?

Well, this year is no different than years past. I have begun my fantasy stage..the difference though, remains to be seen. Will I throw in the towel and pass on my ideas to future years? Or, will I step it up and find some personal fulfillment beyond the mystical wonders of my imagination?

I just might be in the right mindset for pushing myself a bit further this year..

I’m on a more significant and more concretely motivated path to self improvement. My new attitude may lend itself quite nicely to the materialization of my imagination.