January 2013--Let's Try Again

Well, here it is, 2013. I started this blog in 2010, if you can believe it. Thought I would stick to it, thought I would follow-through on goals, etc. Well, as has been the case for most things in my life, I gave up. I gave up and made excuses. Tons of them. Obviously, three years worth. But enough of the past. Time to move forward, right? So here it is, January 2013. I'm starting again with this blog because I have made 2013, the year to be "Accountable". Accountable to the First Place 4 Health groups, accountable to my family and friends and most importantly, accountable to my God. I want this to work for me. I know it can. I know I just have to work it. It's the way it is with any diet, lifestyle change, etc. You MUST work it. There is NO quick-fix for this. There is NO easy way to snap my fingers and get this done. Trust me, if there was one, I would have found it by now. And I certainly would have lost the 100+ pounds I need to to get rid of the words "MORBIDLY OBESE" from my medical records. What a statement. Even when you think you're doing well with your "lifestyle change" those words are still listed on your medical records until you reach a goal weight that drs and medical professionals feel you should be. So, how am I going to do this? I'm going to do my study daily. I'm going to re-examine my food choices, and I'm going to start updating (again) the myfitnesspal.com website. I've also made a calendar appointment to update this blog every week (generally when I write the week's devotions). Hopefully that will help keep me accountable. I want to bring you along on this journey with me. Honestly, I'm NOT the after picture. I'm a struggling, picky eater with the emotional ties to food that most people have. I'm on this journey with you. I want you to know that. I'm with you on this. What other goals can I make this year? Hmmm....Well, There are 52 weeks in the year. I'd like to lose 100 pounds. If I break it down to a SMART goal, that would be about 1-2 pounds loss per week. That's a first goal. My next goal is to spend more time in the gym. I've redone my schedule, and removed myself from several commitments (outside of my full-time job). I need to take advantage of the time I've put back into my life and get myself into shape. My SMART goal would be to work my way up to 4 days of week in the gym. Minimum. How will I do this? Put myself in the gym at least 1-2 days to start, then work my way up to 3-4 days NO LATER than the end of February. My next goal, and this is a big one, is to FINALLY run a 5K. I keep seeing people that have achieved this, and dag nabit, I want to do one! How will I achieve this? Well first, I need to achieve that goal of the gym (above). Then I will reasonably look at 5K's further along in the year so that I can realistically build up to a 5K status. Probably October time-frame. Then I will work to get a good time to achieve this goal by building up to it and using tools such as the Couch Potato-to-5K plans/strategies. Finally, nutrition. I know I have an aversion to fruit. I know it. My nutrition goal isn't to suddenly become a fruit addict. It just won't happen. But I will look to incorporate new meal ideas into my daily life. That means a LOT less fast food, (watch the Chick-fil-a stock prices go down!) and a lot more eating at home, cooking at home, etc. I'll seek advice from others/websites to help me create more balanced, nutritious meals. I'll share what I learn here......once I learn it. :) Well, I think that's enough for now. I welcome your comments/feedback, but please, know that I appreciate POSITIVE comments more than negative. Negative comments do not do anyone any good so please keep them to yourself. God Bless, Liz