Farewell 2016 post

I decided to focus on the positive...and not even talk about what I didn't do!!!!  

Three things I did right in 2016

1.   I took the big scary step of giving my heart to someone. After my marriage and the hurt involved it was a huge step and very difficult!!!    But I finally decided that it was better to take the leap and risk a broken heart versus never love against.  If it ended then I would treasure the happy memories!   As a result I have experienced a love like I have never experienced!  
2. Realizing that possessions only weigh me down....and starting the purge of unnecessary items from my life. (Stuff like games I will never play...books I will never again read...etc.). Slowly but surely!  (Very slowly ....a garbage bag here and there!  Either to the garbage or to goodwill!)    This has been difficult...I didn't realize how much I am tied to possessions.  I worry about getting rid of stuff...what if I need it next week???  But I have found with each purge I feel so proud of myself!  
3. Taking the plunge into a hobby that I had contemplated and dreamed about for a long time.   What fun it has been to work on dollhouses....it combines my jack of all trades master of mine mentality to crafts!!!!  To do a dollhouse you need to have a bit of knowledge in so many aspects...and the projects are usually shorter than some of these long crafts (seriously a quilt can take months...as can a cross stitch) so I don't get bored and put the project aside!!!

Three things to improve in 2017

1. Finances....savings. I need to build my savings!!!  My car repair depleted it almost totally!!!  (Have I mentioned that dollhouse stuff can be expensive??)
2. Lose weight. This is my year!!!
3. Running, biking hiking...consistency through the year in these activities will make it easier and more fun!

One word to be the word of the year!

Happy !    

I go into the year satisfied with some aspects of my life.   I am in a relationship where I am quite satisfied  happy and content.   But I am not content with my job and I would love to be living on my own again and because of that I struggle with satisfaction and happiness.  But I need to remind myself to be  satisfied and happy  where I am at right now and at each pout in my life.  That includes my current weight, my current running pace, and everything else.  I don't have to be content where I am at....but I have to be satisfied and happy!   I have to say, I want more but I am happy  with where I am at until things change!!!  I am satisfied....and therefore happy!!!

And a mantra/phrase for the new year....

I hold the keys to my satisfaction and happiness!!!!

My ace in the hole for losing weight is that Jason seems to be very interested in making a change in his diet and lifestyle also.   He had talked to me a few months back about juicing.  He wanted me to try it and in a moment of weakness I agreed.   I did make the proclamation that I didn't want to do it in then because I had a vacation upcoming ...then thanksgiving...then another vacation...then my birthday...then Christmas.  So he agreed to early January.  I kinda of forgot about it all.....and admittedly maybe hoped that he would forget (or move onto something else)!   But nope he brought it up the other week when he talked about his weight and his plans. (He doesn't need to lose much but he has his few 'vanity pounds' he wants to drop (pounds to drop not a pant size but to be under a certain number on the scales).   So it's coming...and honestly, although the fear of the taste looms big, I am somewhat interested in what kind of loss I can have that week...and of course how I will feel!!!   (I told him he better come up with really good tasting juice combinations!!). And if I feel awesome and drop mad pounds I just may commit to more juicing than a week!

I of course set the 2017 miles in 2017.....I have also joined the Hub City 100 Miler...100 miles in 100 days.   Jason and I have talked about ramping up our hiking again....and we have talked about biking the whole length of the canal.  And we have mentioned restarting the running challenge....so lots of activities for me in the new year.

I decided to focus on the positive...and not even talk about what I didn't do!!!!  

Three things I did right in 2016

1.   I took the big scary step of giving my heart to someone. After my marriage and the hurt involved it was a huge step and very difficult!!!    But I finally decided that it was better to take the leap and risk a broken heart versus never love against.  If it ended then I would treasure the happy memories!   As a result I have experienced a love like I have never experienced!  
2. Realizing that possessions only weigh me down....and starting the purge of unnecessary items from my life. (Stuff like games I will never play...books I will never again read...etc.). Slowly but surely!  (Very slowly ....a garbage bag here and there!  Either to the garbage or to goodwill!)    This has been difficult...I didn't realize how much I am tied to possessions.  I worry about getting rid of stuff...what if I need it next week???  But I have found with each purge I feel so proud of myself!  
3. Taking the plunge into a hobby that I had contemplated and dreamed about for a long time.   What fun it has been to work on dollhouses....it combines my jack of all trades master of mine mentality to crafts!!!!  To do a dollhouse you need to have a bit of knowledge in so many aspects...and the projects are usually shorter than some of these long crafts (seriously a quilt can take months...as can a cross stitch) so I don't get bored and put the project aside!!!

Three things to improve in 2017

1. Finances....savings. I need to build my savings!!!  My car repair depleted it almost totally!!!  (Have I mentioned that dollhouse stuff can be expensive??)
2. Lose weight. This is my year!!!
3. Running, biking hiking...consistency through the year in these activities will make it easier and more fun!

One word to be the word of the year!

Happy !    

I go into the year satisfied with some aspects of my life.   I am in a relationship where I am quite satisfied  happy and content.   But I am not content with my job and I would love to be living on my own again and because of that I struggle with satisfaction and happiness.  But I need to remind myself to be  satisfied and happy  where I am at right now and at each pout in my life.  That includes my current weight, my current running pace, and everything else.  I don't have to be content where I am at....but I have to be satisfied and happy!   I have to say, I want more but I am happy  with where I am at until things change!!!  I am satisfied....and therefore happy!!!

And a mantra/phrase for the new year....

I hold the keys to my satisfaction and happiness!!!!

My ace in the hole for losing weight is that Jason seems to be very interested in making a change in his diet and lifestyle also.   He had talked to me a few months back about juicing.  He wanted me to try it and in a moment of weakness I agreed.   I did make the proclamation that I didn't want to do it in then because I had a vacation upcoming ...then thanksgiving...then another vacation...then my birthday...then Christmas.  So he agreed to early January.  I kinda of forgot about it all.....and admittedly maybe hoped that he would forget (or move onto something else)!   But nope he brought it up the other week when he talked about his weight and his plans. (He doesn't need to lose much but he has his few 'vanity pounds' he wants to drop (pounds to drop not a pant size but to be under a certain number on the scales).   So it's coming...and honestly, although the fear of the taste looms big, I am somewhat interested in what kind of loss I can have that week...and of course how I will feel!!!   (I told him he better come up with really good tasting juice combinations!!). And if I feel awesome and drop mad pounds I just may commit to more juicing than a week!

I of course set the 2017 miles in 2017.....I have also joined the Hub City 100 Miler...100 miles in 100 days.   Jason and I have talked about ramping up our hiking again....and we have talked about biking the whole length of the canal.  And we have mentioned restarting the running challenge....so lots of activities for me in the new year.

Lofty or realistic??

Well I'm not feeling as crazy out of control as I was last week!   I managed to make it through the Christmas week between my Wednesday weigh ins  with a maintain.  I will take it!!!

I am splurging a bit this week....there is a cookie that my mom only makes at Christmas that she just made for me!   I've been after her to make them and she just did!  (Thank you mommy!!!)   But I'm going to try to moderate my intake.   Luckily one of mom's customers also loves these cookies so he got half the batch (apparently he doesn't share his with his family ...these cookies are that awesome!!)

This past weekend I had thoughts of popping into myfitnesspal to keep my streak alive...but I totally forgot and I lost my streak.  I was over a year of logins!   It's sad to let it go....but in a way I'm happy.  It was a total false streak!  Out of those 400 days I probably only logged 1/4 of them...maybe half!!!!   I wish I could turn that stupid streak thing off...it's pressure!!!!   I'm sure I will be logging soon enough and the streak will begin again and the pressure will mount as the streak grows.  In the meantime I'm just sitting back and enjoying not worrying about that stupid streak!!!!!

So this morning I saw someone that has challenged themselves to walking 2017 miles in the year 2017.  That's 5.52 miles a day or 168 miles a month!   That's a LOT!!!   Ok before I start talking myself out of this...they say aim for 10k steps a day.   That's roughly 5 miles right there.  Maybe I really should invest in that Fitbit to be able to count all those random steps.....hmm or just count the actual walks, hikes, runs and bike rides.

***In the summer jason and I walked a lot in the evenings it was easy for us to knock out between 3 and 6 miles in an evening.

****In the winter spring and fall  we hiked a lot...it was average for us to do 8-10 mile hikes.  

*** we have been biking and that racks up the miles fast!!  (We are talking about doing a through ride on the canal one long weekend...that's 184 miles in one weekend!!  Plus we will be riding a lot in preparation for the big ride!)

***running. There is 40-50 miles a month with simple 3-4 mile runs.

***if I walk on my lunch break there is a mile....times each day of the week gives me five miles a week....25 a month.  

Yes...this is actually doable!!!!

So I guess I have started laying out my plans for 2017!!! I may as well finish now!!!

Plans and goals for 2017

1. Propel myself 2017 miles
2. Get to my goal weight (50 pounds to lose give or take)
3. Exercise consistently to rebuild my fitness levels.

Change

Twas the night before Christmas (before Christmas Eve) and all through the house, the smell of cookies wafted!

Ok, that's not how it goes....but sometimes that's what I feel this world is.  I feel like I am walking through a world of temptation.  I feel like every which way I turn I am accosted with super yummy things that are just HORRIBLE for my weight loss efforts.  Notice I didn't just say horrible. Because in the grand scheme of things a Reeces Cup, or a cookie or a serving of Ben and Jerry's ice cream is not a horrible thing.  It's horrible for ME because I'm out of control.

There, I said it.  I'm out of control. Or rather I've been out of control!  (I can't say that I'm in control yet...but I had a realization this morning and maybe...just maybe I'm regaining control!)

I make grand plans to 'clean it up' and vow to do it....but then I get to work and a customer brings in cookies.  Well of course I have to have a cookie....or three  or four.  I am just getting over the cookie frenzy when a coworker gives me a Christmas bag....with Reece's Cups.  Well I just 'had' to eat them didn't I?   Now, it doesn't matter that there were five cups and I ate them in one day....I was showing appreciation for the thoughtful gift right?  A tin of popcorn?  A box of candy?  Yeah, people bring their bankers gifts sometimes (the regular customers that we see on a daily basis do at least) and I have been imbibing!  

But lets be honest.  It just hasn't been the work food.  I've bought a pint of Ben and Jerry's Ice cream at least once a week....ok, and for a while it was more often.  A pint would last two nights (ha once or twice only one night) and then when I was out I would go pick up another pint!   Talk about the cost of obesity. (my last blog post...and since I can't do links here.....http://mfclingan.blogspot.com/2016/12/the-cost-of-obesity.html)....there is roughly 1000 calories in a pint of that delicious stuff....and it's $4.19 at the grocery store!  

It's just not good.   I've been consciously trying to make better choices....but it's just not good.

Add that to the fact that last night I woke up with a HUGE cramp in my foot.  Oh my word it was HORRIBLE!  I couldn't get it to ease up.  I couldn't move!  HORRIBLE!   Eventually it died down after what seemed like hours, but in reality was probably only minutes.  It wasn't until the light of day that I realized what is happening.  Dehydration!  I usually only get cramps in my legs/feet when I'm dehydrated!  And let me tell you.....the half bottle of water I drank yesterday is NOT enough!  Yeah, I only drank a half bottle of water yesterday.  Ok, maybe a full bottle.....16 ounces at most!   I have to be quite dehydrated!   And upon further thought, maybe that's why my head is kicking up a storm!

So what was the realization that I had this morning????  Cookies....mom made the comment that she should have me make some more pecan tassies because she only has a dozen to sell at the market.  I immediately thought about the fact that I only had a few tassies the day that I made them and then I"ve had no more as she has been selling them.  Ohhh and the same thing with the date dainties that I made that same day.  I was sad for a split second....and then an incredible thing happened.   I realized that I didn't really want any more of those cookies.  I had had my taste and I was good!  Now that's not to say that if I would happen to make them that I wouldn't eat one or two....but honestly I am ok without them!  (And I doubt I will make them as her last market before Christmas is tomorrow and I work today!)

I'm not making any dramatic declarations yet.  But I will say that I'm tired of being 'over stuffed' with food and feeling miserable.  I'm ready for a change!

The cost of obesity

You know....this food addiction is costly.  What a waste of money!!!

Last week I was meeting Jason and he was running a few minutes late so I popped into a CVS to pick up a greeting card.  I saw this.....

Yes I have to admit that the chocolate was in my hand as I walked around.  I wanted it!!!

But then I started thinking about what else I wanted to do with my money.   I have lights to buy for my dollhouse!!!!  (And my birthday dollhouse to build, light and furnish!!). Three or four bucks could buy me something for that!!! (Part of  something maybe)

Yeah, I put the chocolate back....ashamed to admit not because of the calories but because of the money....mostly!!!

Obesity costs....financially...physically...emotionally...in every way!!!!    

So my weekly weigh in was this morning....arrggh!   Can I leave it at that????   Last week I was so happy with my 'I held steady and didn't gain weight like I did the first vacation of this fall.   Well it just took a few days to catch up apparently!!!!

Yeah I've eaten chocolate today.  What's wrong with me????  (Nope I didn't buy it...customers have been dropping off chocolate and treats for us!)

I believe that I'm going to just 'be' for the next few days.  Try to curb the intake...but not stress...but after Christmas hit it hard!!!!   And add in that exercise.

(Of course I wrote about exercise in my last post and ended up with something wrong with my arm!!!  Grrr)

Which way did it go?

My vacation ended on Wednesday morning when I went back to work.  I had made the very conscious decision to clean up my eating at the same time!   So now it's Saturday and time to check in to see how I have done.

I haven't weighed myself since my weigh in on Wednesday.  Wednesday are my official weigh in day and I'm ok with not checking daily.  Although maybe I need to get back to it, even if just for a marker and a daily reminder to clean it up or a pat on the back for a job well done.  Hmmmm.  

I will say that my clothes feel tighter than I like them.  The 10 pounds I have gained in the last so months are showing!  I don't like that!!!!

So was my welcome back to 'real life' a success or a failure?

It wasn't a colossal failure.  But I wouldn't call it an utter success either!  

Wednesday and Thursday my calories topped at around 1500 - 1600 calories.  I aim for 1200.....but 1500 isn't bad at all.  (And would have been better had I actually exercised!!).  Friday...well my calories were outrageously high!!  2300 high!!!    

(Christmas cookies....the devil incarnate!!)

So where does this leave me????  It wasn't a failure but wasn't a success.

I'm actually happy with my efforts this week.  I have tracked.... and other than the one day I wasn't too far out of whack with my eating. (And while I can blame the cookies...it was really the 1500 calorie screaming scicillian holy pepperoni pizza that killed my calories on Friday!!)

I know I need to clean up the eating.  And by cleaning up the eating I don't mean , cleaning up/eating all of the random cookies that are leftover!   

Exercise.  I KNOW I need to kick it into gear!   I like to run outside...but dread starting back!!!   And there are always excuses, it's cold, my knees hurt, it's dark, it's too something!!!  Well, I pay for a gym membership (that I never use).  So saying that it is cold is not a valid excuse!!! The problem??   Honestly, I hate running in a treadmill?  I hate being inside...I would rather run outside.  I would rather ride my bike outside!  A stuffy old gym isn't any fun!   But in the cold...and with my schedule where it's dark pretty much all the hours that I'm not at work...it may be a necessity!!!  

So how can I work  exercise back into my life?

1. Schedule exercise!  Schedule which days I exercise and take no excuses!   I did that with Zumba.  I went to Zumba regardless of the weather or how I felt!  It was scheduled into my day and I went!  (Well unless they cancelled or if I really was injured or sick!). 
2. Watch the weather and plan plan plan!  
3. If the weather is warmer by all means sleep in a bit and go outside for a run!!!
4. If the weather is cold and icky...drag my butt out of bed earlier and go to the gym!!!!  Even if that means that I have to go to the gym at 5am!!!   A lot of times I'm awake at that hour...I'm just being lazy and laying in bed playing on my phone or iPad!!  And yes...I did just say gym and 5am in the same sentence....kinda shocked the heck out of me too!!
5. Alert my parents to my plans....that is an excuse I use frequently...well if I leave they will worry about where I went or I may scare them when I'm rattling through the house at 4 or 5 AM!
6. Lay out my clothes the night before!!!!!  And that includes exercise  clothes AND work clothes!  Make the transition from bed to exercise  and exercise to work easy!!!
7. Too cold to get to the gym because the car would need scraped and warmed and it just kills too much time?  Or because I'm running late?  I have tons of exercise videos!!!  
8. Grab any type of extra activity that I can.  There are tons of chances for movement *walking outside on my lunch break on nice days                                                                      *going up and down the steps on cold days * using the steeper/thigh workout machiney thing I have at home.                        *exercise videos...I have a ton of them!!!
9. Pray for nice weather on days I'm off or when I have a few hours of sunlight when I'm not working so that I can get on my bike....or lace up the hiking boots......or simply walk on the canal!  All things that Jason and I like to do together!

I really should have absolutely no excuse!!!  

And in the meantime....I need to keep the really cool clothes I've seen at some of the stores I've been in recently first and foremost in my mind!   I want to buy clothes that fit perfectly...not clothes I barely fit into...tightly!!!! 

Vacation

Well on my week of vacation in November I gained something like 5 pounds.  I didn't lose that before my December vacation.  But at least I maintained through the December vacation!

Yes, sadly the week vacation is over.  I have vowed to track my food and get back to eating healthy and lose this weight!  I want to be thin.  I want to buy really cool clothes!  Yup...that's my motivation!

Deeper thoughts coming soon...in the meantime, pictures from my vacation.

We had fun.

We rode bikes....

 Explored old buildings...

 Went bowling.....

 For my birthday I got flowers....beautiful flowers.....

 And we went away to a cabin in the woods....

 We played games in the cabin to pass time....

Relaxed in the hot tub.....















And checked out the General Lee car......

 Looked for bears.....

 For my birthday I got lighting equipment for my dollhouse....the Mini Mansion

 And I got a new dollhouse kit!!!!

It was a good week!  Now back to normal....and healthy pursuits!