New Years Eve came and went and I have not done any of those typical things that happen at the beginning of the year for people who are serious about losing weight and getting fit. I haven't done a single solitary thing. Resolutions? Nope, I didn't set them. Write down goals? Nada. Not a one. Did I even write down a word of the year? Can't say that I did. Why? Well, I just didn't feel like it. But that doesn't mean that I don' have an idea of how I want this year to go.
Theme of the Year
I have chosen words of the year previously. I have even broken it down to words of the month and words of the week. I love love love the concept. But I didn't do it this year. But that said, I have an idea of what my year theme is. My theme is rebirth and recovery. I have been struggling with a lot lately. I've struggled with depression and an overwhelming sadness. Along with that comes the anxiety and lack of self worth. All of it goes hand in hand together and it is perfectly matched with my weight loss efforts. To recover my physical health, I need to fix myself internally. That is my theme.....recovery.
How am I proposing to do this?
First of all, lots of prayer when the anxiousness and depression threatens to overwhelm. The last few days I have felt some of these feelings and I have prayed for peace and then after my prayer I mentally force myself to walk away from the overwhelming feelings. Sure, the feelings came back....but my theory is that it will take them longer and longer to come back each time.
Secondly, I am putting myself first. I am signing up for my exercise class. I know that it will inconvenience our home life. I won't be getting home until around 7:15-7:30 each night. That's late for someone that has an alarm that goes off at 5AM. Dinners will have to be pre-planned and prepared well in advance, utilizing the crock pot, the insta-pot and the use of casseroles that can be popped into the oven when Jason gets home to be ready for my arrival. As inconveniencing as it is, I can't continue to ignore myself and run myself ragged in an effort to take care of everyone else. It's not that I don't want to take care of Jason anymore, I just know that I have to take care of myself first. (In taking care of myself I will be better equipped to take care of Jason). But the most important thing is that I am putting myself first because even though I don't always believe it, I know that I am worth every ounce of effort I put into myself.
Third, I am focusing on things that make me happy. Last year I read 200 books, yes exactly 200. It was a day or two before the new year and I saw that I was at 199 and I knew that I didn't want to leave it at 199....so I made sure to finish the book that I was reading before midnight on New Years Eve. I love to read and it does make me happy. So I will be continuing to read. But I will also be doing crafty things. I love the creativity involved in making quilts (yes I know I still need to take a picture of my memory quilt) and in doing my dollhouse/miniatures. So I will be focusing on that. It makes me happy and it reminds me of who I really am!
Weight Loss
I haven't set any main goals for the year. I am not vowing to lose such and such amount of pounds. I didn't set a resolution to keep my calorie count at a specific number or below. Same with water and exercise. I have no set goals.
However, I WILL be working on my weight loss and fitness journey. I have not been calorie counting. I've done that for over 20 years. I'm weary of that. What I am doing instead is writing down my food. I am just not adding a number to it in terms of calories and points. Writing it down as of right now has been sufficient enough make me cognizant of what I am eating, which is the trick for me. (Remember I've had had 20 years of tracking so I kinda know WHAT I need to do even without the numbers attached to each piece of food I put into my mouth). On Friday at work I did have a Reece's Cup. It was a miniature and I only had one! I WANTED more, but I kept it at one. I knew I had to write it down and I didn't want to write down any more than one! This may have to be adjusted in a few months or maybe even next week. But for right now I am trying to focus on eating intrinsically with the reminder (call it a check and balance) that I have to write it down when it's all said and done.
Fitness
As I have said a few times, I have this new exercise class that focuses on flexibility and mobility. I will be continuing to walk the dog in the mornings (brrr it's so darn cold walking her at 6AM). I plan on starting some cardio form of exercise within a week or two. I dread it, because for me to do it I will be exercising at 5AM while Jason is in the shower. (I hate hate hate doing it that early....but anything else and it won't get done!). And that's it.......I plan on exercising. No set number of times....just plan on kicking back in...hopefully the week of the 12th (unless this new class kicks my behind so much that I delay it a bit to get into that routine!)
Finances
I have been really enjoying working on my dollhouse and miniatures. It has been costing me some money. That is OK, I have spending money allotted in my budget. But I can see how this could be an issue if I keep spending at the rate that I have been spending. I also have been not saying no when my co-workers ask if I want to order out for lunch....which turns out to be between 10-20 dollars each time! Ohhh yeah, and there are those days that I am on my way to work and decide that a breakfast sandwich (and tater tots and a drink) would be fabulous. That ends up being about $10. I have been able to add to my savings and I'm happy with how that account is looking and how it is growing. But I know that if I want it to keep growing something has to give. I can't keep eating out all the time and buy miniatures and the supplies I need to make miniatures. One has to go. I have decided that the eating out has to be curtailed. So I will be declining most if not all of the meals out in conjunction to work. The added bonus? Think of all those calories saved!
Speaking of miniatures, I will share some pics of the miniature projects here at some point, but lately I have been doing the not so exciting things like building walls, painting, planning....and just not picture friendly things like making a spiral staircase that isn't installed yet so it looks not as fun.
