Hello and Happy New Year!!!
After taking a short break to my “get crap back together” after the school thing, am very happy to be back and will be blogging again regularly. Missed everyone but have been busy learning new fitness, nutrition, and motivation tips and tricks to help us all!
But first a quick wrap of “2012 Goals Achieved“!
INCHES LOST: I lost 4 inches off my bust, went from 22 to size 16/18 in pants and from 1X to Xlarge and some Large/Medium as well. Sold or Donated 80% (or more) of my clothes and shoes and, except for one shopping trip, have gotten everything but sneakers from Goodwill.
FAT LOST: I lost 15 pounds this year and have kept it off. Went through a cycle of gaining and losing, then plateaued for about 5 months but kept going.
STRENGTH: I am doing much better. Can do 3 rounds of full range of exercises with trainer. Bench press 40 pounds and squatting 60 pounds. Much better endurance and able to run 2 miles easily.
MOTIVATION: I began working in July with an amazing trainer and hit the gym at least 3 times a week now, if not more. That includes fitness classes, strength training, C25K training, and yoga. Also tried P90X with a group.
RUNS ACCOMPLISHED: I completed 3 separate 5K’s this year, up from 1 last year. Also decreased time on the last one – Thanksgiving Day – by 15 minutes!
DIET: This year I struggled with sweets and junk food, especially pastry, but was able to get friends on board with my “healthy eating program”. Also did a great job with food choices during the holiday’s compared to last year, and did a 1 day water cleanse yesterday – even with going to a friend’s gathering a being surrounded with AMAZING FOOD.
BREAKFAST: Eat breakfast every day, use stevia not sugar, cook with cooking spray.
WATER: Drink it like it’s out of style (at least a gallon a day). That, coffee, and protein shakes are all I drink now.
ENDING THE BLAME / GUILT CYCLE: I am finished blaming my weight gain on my condition (1 med a bit of an issue but have overcome it), my mom for passing the condition down, and beating myself up when I slip off the wagon, hit a wall, or fail at something. Now I can accept life as it comes, deal with it, and move on to make healthier, smarter decisions next time. This is a HUGE step for me!
TAKING CARE OF MYSELF FIRST: After the whole “class thing” and backsliding, I have been extra vigilant about self care, meds, preparing healthy meals, eating on time, and getting to the gym. The healthier I am in all areas of my life, the better wife, friend, and overall person I will be. Can’t help others with half a tank!
OTHER GOALS ACHIEVED OF NOTE:
SOCIAL: Went from anxiety/depression central and trapped at home 2 years ago to planning and hosting 3 parties/gatherings this year: a “Harry Potter Movie Marathon and Authentic Menu” Party, “Cocktails/Mocktails” Party, and a “French Country Christmas”. Also captained the 2012 NamiWalk, great success! Am almost anxiety free now and ready to kick another med to the curb! And will be reconnecting and visiting with friends monthly.
EDUCATION: Signed up for and completed 90% of a college class.
FINANCIAL: Also studying and creating a financial plan for my family for next year to knock out our debts. Paid off car and refinanced house this year. Exciting plans for 2013.
Have another set already of goals for 2013, some carried over from 2012, but many new.
Pleased to report that achieved almost everything on our “2012 Vision Board“. So for those of you who don’t know what a vision board is or just haven’t used one – I HIGHLY recommend it! Seeing your goals in color every day and the “check marks” stuck to the one’s you’ve achieved is an incredible motivator. Gives such an amazing feeling of pride and accomplishment. Have a blog entry from January 2012 explaining how to make your own vision board but even if you just create a “2013 Goals List” and display it where you’ll see it every day, then check things off as you do them, you’ll still get those “warm fuzzy feelings”.
So, welcome back everyone! 2013 is a year of challenging myself like never before, beating the sugar monster, and getting in the best health I’ve been in since my late 20’s. And I challenge you to go after your goals and “knock them out of the park” as well! Would love to hear some of your plans and goals for the New Year and your accomplishments in 2012. This is going to be exciting and thrilled you’re along for the Ride!
Related articles
- The Secrets to Realistic New Year’s Resolutions (news.health.com)
- It’s a wrap! A year of running mayhem, by the numbers (strideandjoy.com)
- Yearly Roundup: December 2012 (thedailyquirk.com)
- Setting achievable goals for 2013 (winecountrymom.com)
- 2013: What to do? (letslivehealthily83.wordpress.com)
- Setting Your 2013 Yearly Goals (greenandcleanmom.org)
- 2013: Happy, Healthy, Hot! (eat-spin-run-repeat.com)
- Goals for 2013 (alteregolifestyle.wordpress.com)
- 13 Goals for 2013 (bloomfieldroad.com)
- Looking Back (and Looking Forward) (mylittlereviewcorner.wordpress.com)
Lara: On the Weigh Down 
It looks like you had a GREAT year!
Thanks so much! Learned a lot and excited about 2013.
Well done! What successes you have had over 2012. Keep going with them and happy 2013!
Absolutely and looking forward to many more and new successes in 2013. Best to you as well!
The cockles are definitely warm! Think doing an annual review is a huge motivator and helps plan for next steps. Looking at the big picture definitely keeps me from focusing on the smaller failures. The Harry Potter party was a BLAST! We got a HP cookbook and made all the authentic food including pumpkin juice and had fun watching all the movies. Lots of friends, serious good times. Now brainstorming for this year’s social stuff :-0!
Tori, MY GOD, GIRL! When you write all this out and look at it, doesn’t it just warm your cockles? Illness, discouragement, backsliding happen. We just have to keep coming back. And I would have *loved* to come to your Harry Potter Marathon Party! Rats!