Reviewing 2012 Goals

It is New Year's Eve and yesterday I took some time to look over my first post of 2012 to see if I'm anywhere near where I wanted to be with regards to my health. 

While my weigh-in was less-than-stellar, I looked over my 2012 goals and realized this year wasn't all that bad.  

Here is a bit of the post and goals I set and how I did.  

So, in the spirit of life goals and resolutions I have the following plans for 2012:

• I will continue striving for better, in all aspects of my life - especially getting cards/gifts in the mail on time...I've gotten really bad about that lately.   I did make progress in this area.  Not all packages got out on time, but the majority of them did.  I'm becoming more conscious of this and continue striving for better.  
• I will stay focused on reaching a healthy weight without allowing myself to feel like a failure if I have a setback. It is time to finish the losing leg of this journey.  Officially I am 12.5 pounds lighter than the last weigh-in before the New Year last year.  I knew I could have been to goal by now, and I won't lie..I kind of wish I was.  However, I've learned something about me and my weight over the past 4-5 months (pretty much since hitting 170) and I think if I can embrace what I've observed, learn from it and put the learning into practice..I can truly finish the weight loss.  Oh, and I have done much better about not beating myself up for setbacks.  I lost weight this year.  That is victory!
• I will run in a 5K race this year. I decided it's time to run another race. My plan is to lose more weight and in turn better my race time since I'll be carrying less weight. I'm thinking next fall will be a nice time to race. My time to beat is: 43:44  Well, I did not run a 5K race this year...I ran TWO 10K races instead.  :)  And over the course of the year I've had many 5K runs with times down around 35 minutes.  I think this is my greatest accomplishment this year.  I not only beat the 43:44 for the 5K time, but I was challenged to run double the distance and I did it.  Go me!

*whew* This year was not as bad as this past week.  The good out-measured the bad and I've come out on top.  

And that is what life is about...as one of my favorite quotes states: 

Success consists of getting up once oftener than you fall down.  

Have a safe and happy New Year's Eve and I'll be back tomorrow with some new goals for the new year.  

Oh, and as always..thanks for checking in on me.  I always appreciate the support of my friends and family through this journey.  :) 

Weigh-In ... Expected Holiday Gain

Today's Weight:  169.0
Loss/Gain:  +1.5 lbs.

Okay, first off...I meant to hop on here Friday and post this weight quick, even if I didn't have time to write anything else, but my time got away from me.  After days of being lazy I got busy again cleaning up house and preparing things for my twins' birthday.  My girls are 15 years old today!

Back to my weight...

Short Story:
I was embarrassed of my weight, but want to be honest.  This was a weird week and I overate way too much.  Now I am ready to reign things back in, so I knew the weight will come back off.  Silver Lining is I did exercise two days last week...which is better than none.

Long Story:
I must admit I almost didn't post my weight on Friday.  I was embarrassed in a way.  Not so much because of the number, but because of how I'd been eating from about Christmas Eve on.  Oh my! I texted my mom and my accountability partner/best friend, but I was like "oh my!! I'm a horrible example during the holidays!!"  So, I didn't want to post my weight.

However, one thing I have always committed to on this blog is to being honest and posting my weight every week no matter how bad or good it is.

So, there it is.  Three pounds heavier than when I started my last-100-days-of-the-year-challend, and ten pounds over where I wanted to be.  Darn.

Now, I titled this post as the "Expected Holiday Gain", but something happened this past week or so that I did not expect.

My mind went into a sort of pre-weight loss journey mode and I was eating like I used to.  There's lots of thoughts going through my mind about why this happened and maybe if I figure it out I'll come back to write more about it later.

It was just plain weird...and scary.

And it didn't even feel well.

The food--mainly junk and candy--tasted good going in, especially early in the day, but as the day progressed my stomach would begin to get upset.  Tums became my evening snack more than a few evenings.

My body is simply not into eating like I used to, but for some reason I didn't stop.  That's the part that scared me a little.

Thankfully, it has scared me enough to remember that I don't want to go back to a 232-pound inactive mom.  So, my mind is ready to get back to work eating better.

I also want to figure out what possessed me to binge like that.  I hate that word, but I think that's kind of what I was doing.  After the kids go to school I'll have more time to think and get my thoughts down and in order.  I can't help but feel like if I can figure out why I did that, then I'll be better prepared to not repeat it next year.

Oh, and I did go to the gym twice last week and once my son and husband joined me.  There's the silver lining to this cloud of mixed-up-ness.  :)

Tuesdays Unwrapped - Christmas

This post has been brewing in my mind since late Christmas Eve, but I was busy enjoying time with my family and was not able to write it until just now.  This is the last of my "Tuesdays Unwrapped" posts for the Christmas season.  

Tomorrow will be back to normal weight loss blogging.  :)  

This Christmas was wonderful for me.  It has been an absolutely crazy busy month for us and while we had fourteen extra people over for dinner on Christmas Eve we spent Christmas Day alone.  

Fun.  Quiet.  Lounging.  Eating.  Peaceful. 

It was glorious.  

We didn't have to be anywhere or do anything specific.  I prepared meals throughout the day that were simple and didn't do any major cleaning until cleaning up the kitchen after the evening meal.  

I loved it.  

More than all the lazy, lounging fun I also loved the reason for such peace in our home. 

The birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  

My husband and I are born again Christians.  Our devotion to Jesus and making God the head of our home is why we can all stay home and enjoy our time together.  

He is why we all want to be together on a holiday.

Not everyone's home is like this, and I'm aware of how very blessed I am that no matter what happens in my life God is in control of it all.  

We sing a swing beat worship song in our church with a verse that goes like this: 

God is greater than my problems,  greater than my fears,

He is greater than my failings and faithful through the years

He is greater than the enemy and every human plan

Every word of God will always stand

Yes, God is greater and His word will always stand.  And this Christmas I was reminded of that.  May we never forget the reason behind this season...

²¹ And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, 

for He will save His people from their sins.”

Weigh-In ... Enjoying Myself

Today's Weight: 167.0

Loss/Gain:  +1.5

So...my scale has been down the past couple days and then I gained two pounds last night.  Um...whatever.

This week has been busy, but not as crazy as last week and I'm grateful for that.  I've been enjoying getting some wrapping done and last night I got some baking done.  No, I did not eat two pounds worth of fudge and cinnamon roasted pecans.  lol

Anyway, so I'm not sure why the scale decided to jump today, but it is what it is.

I've had three days of great workouts and drank 64 oz of water daily.  I have not tracked my food, but instead tried to make good choices and eat more like weight loss portions.

Over the past week I've wondered a few times if I'll ever be a person who reaches for veggies and hummus instead of bread and cheese.  Hhhmm...not sure, but definitely something I'm going to work on in 2013.

I can say that I do find myself eating less than I ever did before during the holidays.  I'm much more aware of how much I'm eating, as in feeling full and learning I'm done.  I am also reminded that my body prefers less greasy foods - read: unsettled stomach after heavier meals.  blech.

So, while I shall once again not be the gold medalist of healthy eating at Christmastime I can say one thing...I am a new Leah with regards to the holidays.  I am learning to enjoy the memorable moments and not just how much extra food I get to eat.

Speaking of moments...I need to go get ready for a puppet performance my children and I are in this afternoon.  We are performing a puppet Christmas play with our church puppet team on the military base during a family fun event.  Joy!

Have a great weekend.  I hope you have fun getting the last minute items checked off your to-do lists and can find some time to relax too.

Tuesdays Unwrapped - Quality Time

Yes, I'm behind...but this was lower on the priority list than shopping, mailing, exercising, etc.  I know you understand.  :)

*****

Years ago, when our children were about five and three years old my husband decided he would give each child $5.00 and take them one at a time Christmas shopping for their siblings at the dollar store.  Over the course of a single day he took them one by one to make their purchases and then they would come home and wrap their gifts. 

They loved the shopping and wrapping, and they especially loved getting to keep the change.  I loved being at home and watching each one return to the house with their treasures and then come out of the bedroom, wrapped gifts in hand, and place their gifts under the tree.  They were always so excited!

As they grew older I  began a chart for each child and they started earning their Christmas shopping money by doing extra chores around the house.  The first chart had boxes worth twenty five cents each and I would say things like, "Will you put this in the other room for Mommy?  You can mark a box off on your chart!"  They would gladly do extra little things around the house to earn their money.  

Then payday would come and they would go out on their little shopping trips with Papi to purchase something for their siblings.  Our hope was to teach them to be giving at Christmastime and to also learn how wonderful it feels to know you paid for your gifts all by yourself.  

Time has past, the gifts are more than a dollar now, but the tradition continues.  While this fall and Christmas season have been the busiest one we've seen in a long time the kids have managed to find some time to do a few extra chores around.  My son did some weeding and extra yard work, one of my daughters did extra kitchen cleanup one busy day and her twin sister polished all my silverware for Thanksgiving dinner.  

This year I took each of the kids out on the shopping trips because my husband has been busy with military responsibilities taking him out of town, or preparing to leave out of town.  I've taken them out on three different evenings.  

We start with a trip to Starbucks for a drink, coffee for me and a hot chocolate for them, and then we head out to the stores.  We've enjoyed chatting while we shopped, running into folks we know at different stores and just spending time together. 

What I'll remember forever about this year's shopping adventures is how each trip I was able to learn a little more about each one of my children individually.  It's interesting the topics that came up and how each one of them shared in their own unique ways about their daily life.  

They are growing up, these kids of mine.  I've written in many a Christmas card this year that I've traded changing diapers and chasing toddlers for driving my kids all over the place.  And while there are moments I miss them as little ones I am greatly enjoying the young people they are becoming.

Now, more than ever, I'm also grateful for these little bits of quality time I'm able to spend with each of them.  I'm also grateful that they want to spend it with me.  

Some day they will grow up and begin lives of their own away from our nest.  I know it won't be easy to let them go, but I also know I'll always have these memories to treasure forever.

Read more Tuesdays Unwrapped here.

Weigh-In ... Maxed Out

Today's Weight:  165.5

Loss/Gain:  -2.0 lbs.

I think I've reached my holiday limit of extra curricular activities for the year.  :)  I'm not overly booked, but I'm at my limit for 2012.

If anyone asks, "Ms. Leah can you..." I have no problem saying, "No." as of today.  :) 

I'm saying all of this because the extra busy hustle and bustle going on around here this year finally lead me to a point I didn't want to hit with regards to my healthiness journey. 

I have not exercised since Monday.  That is not to say I haven't been on the go, on my feet and staying busy all day, but I had to make a conscious decision to let the gym slide for a day or two..or three to complete some Christmastime projects.  

That is to say, to complete them and not let my house go to pot.  I've learned that if I'm busy staying involved in things and my house goes to pot I become a stressed out wreck, and none of the events I'm involved with are worth that kind of craziness.  

I don't regret skipping the gym.  I miss that I didn't exercise, but I have been so productive getting things done these last three days that it was worth the sacrifice.  Plus, it made me be even more careful about my eats, because I knew I wasn't burning all kinds of cardio calories. 

Which is where I go back to by weigh-in.  165.5 oh how I've missed you!  

With about two weeks left in 2012 I most likely will not hit 159, so I've decided if I can at least finish down near my lowest weight of 164 I will be content.  This week I ended up dealing with lots of stuff I put off doing (see procrastination post below..) so I couldn't get to the gym; however, next week I should be able to make it at least 3 days.  

This is an ongoing journey, and Christmastime is part of the journey.  As always, I'm not giving up, but giving in to the reality of where I'm at right now. 

So, now I leave you with two things I finished this week (that I wanted done the first weekend of December..lol) that I'm totally thrilled with.  

Have a wonderful weekend and thank you all for checking in.  I am truly blessed by the friendly support of blogland friends.  :)

Note: Credit and tutorials for wreaths:

Red Burlap Wreath

Brown Burlap Wreath

Tuesdays Unwrapped - Procrastination

I spent a good part of my day today cleaning my mini blinds.  Mini blinds are a blessing and a curse all at once.  While they do work well in blocking sun and keeping prying eyes out at night, I don't care for them.  And quite honestly, they are really the one thing I hate cleaning. 

Which is why I spent hours that could've been better spent finishing up Christmas cards, or cleaning up craft clutter, or finishing Christmas decorating, or baking cookies for a cookie drop at the base, but instead...

...I was dipping my hands in this bucket with soapy water and bleach. 

Because I procrastinated.

I knew they needed cleaning back in the summer, but I didn't do it.

I really wanted to do a deep fall cleaning before Thanksgiving and company arriving, but I didn't make time for it. 

Now, I'm hosting a party and am thoroughly disgusted by my dusty blinds, so I'm forced to take time away from other more fun activities to do my least favorite chore.  In the middle of Christmas.  :(

And all day I've been thinking about how I am going to post this as my "Tuesdays Unwrapped" post because procrastination is a problem for me and sometimes it threatens to ruin my holidays if I don't plan ahead.  

It's where I'm at today.

Where I'm also at is finally sitting down to write this post and feeling like an idiot.

Because when I checked at the original blog where I got the idea I was reminded that I'm not just supposed to share the "lovely, messy and unexpected..", but I'm supposed to share in a way that unwraps a special moment.

Um, folks, there's nothing special about stressing out about the to-do's because I procrastinated on a cleaning job.  Which has all been made worse because nothing really got done yesterday as planned, so I kind of lost those hours as well.  Plus, all day I kept thinking about how procrastination is a horrible trait when trying to lose weight, because it drags the losing process on and on when you put off sticking to the plan.

That doesn't make for a warm fuzzy post.

However, I was reminded that procrastinating doesn't help anything, ever.

And as I sit and ponder this post, rewriting, tweaking, etc.  I'm also reminded that everything will get done.  *deep cleansing breath*  

The house doesn't have to be perfect for the party.  

The food is planned and will all get made on time.

About 99% of my Christmas shopping is done.

The bills are paid.

My family is safe and sound.

And...my blinds look lovely...even if the rest of the house is a mess right now.  The hard work did pay off.

'Nite.  :)

Weigh-In ... Keeping My Priorities Straight

Today's Weight: 167.5

Loss/Gain:  -1.0

Yay!  I'm not up!! Good thing, because my emotional self needed something positive this morning.  Oh, it's nothing more than...yep...TOM.

Earlier this week I was like, "Why can I not get myself together and back in to weight-loss mode??"  Sheesh.  Um, now I know.  I should've known because of the craving for soda and chocolate earlier in the week.  *rolling eyes*  Hello...that's my cue.  lol 

Despite the PMS I was more conscious to get my water in, track my food most days and I completed my 4th workout of the week this morning.  It's not always easy, but I'm really trying to enjoy the hustle and bustle of holiday preparations while keeping my priorities straight. 

This involves planning and preparation. 

This holiday season is one of the busiest our family has seen in a while due to my daughters being in basketball, my son playing indoor soccer and a few Christmas production practices going on throughout the week that we're all in involved in.  Every evening is full of something, so that means my crafting, shopping, party planning, wrapping, baking, mailing, etc. etc. needs to pretty much get done during the daytime.  

With all this going on I have found myself over this past week constantly keeping a running checklist in my mind of what needs to be done and by when.  Over the past years it's been easy to push my exercise to the side during December, and I honestly don't criticize anyone who does this time of year; however, I've found for me that when I start my day out taking care of my spiritual and physical self properly I feel much better. 

So, I have made a conscious choice that I will stick to my devotional time and then my gym time as soon as I get home from taking the kids to school.  Maybe I won't get as much done each day as I hoped, or maybe it means I am going to be going constantly all day and not be able to rest until late in the evening, but I will make sure to do it.  

And you know [insert contented sigh] I feel so much better for it.  Now off to clean my floors and check that off today's to-do list!  

Thanks for stopping by!  Oh, and feel free to share how you keep your health a priority during this time of year.  

Have a great weekend! 

Tuesdays Unwrapped - One Day They'll Be Gone

I came across a blog with this great idea for taking a moment out of each busy holiday week to stop and unwrap the gifts around us that can not be placed under a Christmas tree.

It's called Tuesdays Unwrapped and I'm going to take a moment and break away from my weight loss posts and share a Tuesdays Unwrapped post with you every Tuesday from now til Christmas. 

That being said my unwrapped moment is summed up in this photo, (which my husband and son are both asking why on earth I took a picture of the mess in the living room?? lol) 

I took this picture as a reminder to myself that the people who left these things lying around won't always be in my home.  Yes, it's a mess and it can drive me crazy at times, but it's a mess left by the ones I love the most.  

So, while my instinct is to think, "I have so much to do today without having to pick up after everyone!!!" today I'm choosing to pause, be grateful for my husband and children, because there will be moments in the future that I'll wish there was something to pick up, or someone living here to holler at to pick up their things.  :)

Want to see more Tuesdays Unwrapped?  Click here.

Motivational Monday - This Could Be A Problem

Lately I'm having this problem with my wedding ring: 

With the colder weather comes colder fingers and my ring often slides sideways or upside down.

No, I'm not sad, and no it's not so big that it shakes off easily...yet.  Periodically I check to see if it fits on my middle finger, because I remember when my mom lost a bunch of weight once and had to wear her ring on her middle finger until she could get it resized.  :) 

Not yet..but soon! 

And this is one of those little things that motivates me to keep working on my weight loss.