Resolution Round Up

It has been 1 month since I hopped back on the healthy wagon after my holiday hiatus. So, it is time for my Resolution Round Up.

1.      Get down to goal weight of 127 pounds. Starting weight: 149.5, so -21.5 pounds. About ½ pound per week.

My weight last Friday (weigh in day) was down to 143.5 – a loss of 6 lbs so far. Now, because it is a truer picture of my weight loss journey, I wanted to share a few things. First, 149.5 was my weight at the beginning of this blog but a far cry from my highest weight ever. About 2 ½ years ago, I weighed somewhere above 213 (213 is the last time I consciously remember stepping on the scale). I don’t really remember how much above but probably around 220 – well into the obese category for a 5’3” female. I tried to lose on my own, and was down to 193 last February. That is when I started making revolutionary, Weight Watcher’s style changes in my life. I will tell more about my weight history another time.

Here I am today (hiding my greasy, no make-up, snow day face). Check out my awesome claw grip on that camera. Argh....

2.      Log 130 workout hours (the equivalent of 30 minutes, 5 times per week). I chose total hours instead of times per week because I will inevitably be sick for at least a week and then feel like a failure for not exercising.

Before starting this blog, I was not committed to physical exercise. The closest I got was wearing my Shape-Ups every day. I have now switched to Fila’s, which I love (thank you to Stone’s mother for both pairs of shoes).

I added wii Fit Plus to my workout as a way of getting moving. At first I felt guilty for not going hard core on the treadmill or something, but the point is that I am moving every day. It turns out that some of those wii Fit Plus exercises are hard! I have logged 16.7 hours so far.

Here is my little personal trainer, telling me what to do next.

3.      Make plans to do something special with my best friend once a month. We talked about it; I will plan one month, he will plan the next.

As you can see, we enjoyed a very nice night out. Also, he is now my boyfriend (I hate that word, it makes me feel 12 – I need a good alternative).

Here is a grainy picture of Stone playing with Simon last year.

4.      Take my nephew out to do something special at least once per month.

We didn’t get to do what I wanted because we were snowed in on the day I had set aside. I did take him to the Discovery Center, though, and we had a blast. I also took him to get a cookie at Julia’s one day, and did lots of fun stuff with him at home.

Snack we made at the Discovery Center:

One of our crafts from afternoon Auntie Antics:

5.      Go on two vacations. (I really want three, but two seems more achievable).

I have one vacation booked for later this springJ

6.      Update blogs for a total of 5 updates per week.

Obviously I have overshot this goal. I have a total of 66 blogs this month between my two blogs. One blogger pointed out to me that blogging every day may get annoying to one’s readers. If that is the case, I apologize. Since I have just started, everything I cook is a “new” recipe for this blog. If it’s good, I put it up (believe me, there have been some not worth sharing). As time passes, I will still be cooking these recipes and won’t have as many “new” to share. I am sure my blogging will slow down.

7.      Finish editing the book of short stories I wrote last year. Contact at least one agent.

I have 200 of 225 pages edited. Which is great. I am starting to get super nervous about contacting an agent, though. Emotionally, I hadn’t dealt with anything beyond editing. Now that editing is drawing to an end, my thoughts center on the basic idea that my writing sucks and no agent in the world would be interested. 70% of me believes those thoughts. The other 30%, which says, “Go for it anyway” is going to have to start talking a lot louder for me to actually send a letter off.

8.      Pay off the remaining loan on my car.2,792.61 which I owe to a relative who does not ask me to make regular payments.

Since the budget month of January is not over yet, I can’t assess this one yet.

9.      Say no more often.

I’m working on it. I am 1 for 3 right now – I can think of one time that I stood up for myself, and two times I caved in. Progress is progress.

10.  Make time to do things that make me happy.

I gave up a huge, time consuming hobby – couponing. It was taking up a good 14 hours of my week. With that gone, I am cooking a lot more often, which makes me very happy. Also, making a concerted effort to spend more time with Stone and Simon has been fantastic. They are both so important to me and make my life richer, calmer, and more joyful. As for the lost “savings” of couponing – those are not the foods I needed to be eating, anyway. How often do you see coupons for fresh fruit, veggies, and lean meat? I have to be more careful with my grocery money, but I also saved money by eating at home almost every night (I only ate out three times this month).  

Here is something I really enjoyed cooking this month, Diet Coke Brownies:

11.  Make an effort to be a better person.

I am trying. My other blog was a starting point, forcing me to spend time in thought and meditation.

This blog has been an eye-opening, splendid experience so far. Before I started this, I had no idea who many amazing people were out there – pouring your hearts out, practicing your creativity,  making wonderful food, and inspiring others through your stories. I am always humbled when I see that someone has visited this blog, and I greatly appreciate your comments. I owe a special thank you to two of my favorite bloggers for making me feel extra welcome by including me in their own blogs. Thank you to the fabulous diva of Sizing Down the Diva for including me in your blogroll and to Taking Less Space (i.e. Lynda) for including me in your Food Bloggers post.

See you next month for another Resolution Round Up.