Life Goals in 2012

Hello 2012 and Happy New Year friends!

I start this new year off very different from the beginning of last year. For the first time, I am going to tell you all how much I weighed in January 2011. Now, remember, I've said before that I wasn't exactly sure how much I weighed at my biggest point because I was too scared to get on the scale and find out for sure. But after having dropped weight and knowing how much I weighed in May when I started running, I've been able to make an educated guess and I'm going to give you the number that I now use as my "starting weight"...215 pounds. Even as I type that, I still have a hard time accepting it and I've had a lot longer to process that number than you have. However, today, I sit here 51 pounds lighter than I was at this very time last year and I feel great.

January 2011

Taken today before church...photo by Abigail

While everyone is out there making and probably already breaking New Years Resolutions, I am confident in the fact that I've made a lifestyle change. Yes, at the beginning of this new year, I still have goals to meet in losing weight but I'm not just starting out, I'm continuing on a life long journey. I hope to meet my goal weight before the year end, that is, if the world doesn't end first! Ha!

I am excited to embark on some new lifestyle changes this year that don't involve my weight. I'll do this the same way I've done the other...with baby steps and setting short term goals to reach long term goals.

Here are a few of my new goals for the year (weight loss ones included):

1. Lose around 40 pounds - I say "around" because I'm not 100% sure about that number. 40 pounds puts me at the weight I want to be but I'm not sure if that number is actually possible or not. I'll figure that out as I get closer. To help me reach this goal, I've set smaller goals...

• Lose five more pounds by the end of 2011 (you'll remember that this is the goal I set just after Thanksgiving) - I missed meeting that goal by one pound! I'm pretty thrilled with that! So that already puts my 40lbs down to 36lbs! :) Sounds like a great way to start off the new year to me!
• Lose 30 pounds by my 29th birthday - my birthday is at the end of April and when I initially set this goal after Thanksgiving that gave me a total of 5 months to lose 30 pounds (and I've already lost 4).
• Focus on strength training
• Focus on my tummy and strengthening my core
• Run a 10K (I began training for this after Thanksgiving with my friend Mary. We've been off training for about two weeks for the Christmas holiday but we should be back at it this week. If all goes well, we should be running that 10K Easter weekend)
• Ride my bike 2-3 times a week - my parent's bought me a bike for Christmas and I hope to get as much use out of it as possible. Plus it's always a good thing to change up your routine and try new things. It keeps things entertaining and challenging which is a must for getting a good workout.

2. Be more organized - this has NEVER been a strong suit for me. But I know doing this will make my life better, will reduce stress which will benefit the overall health of my family, and ultimately will help me meet my weight loss goals. 

• De clutter and get rid of "stuff" - I plan to spend a week or so really going through our things and getting rid of what we don't need. This will also help whenever we have to move again because that seems to be something we do every year or so whether it's across town or somewhere new.
• Rearrange our living spaces to get the most benefit out of them
• Make a daily schedule and stick to it - this will include school time for Abigail, exercise, play time, household chores, etc.

3. Finish my novel - I've only been working and reworking on this thing for about six years. It's time to quit being afraid of succeeding in this and finally finish it. 

• Create a writing space - this involves #2
• Write every day - this also involves #2

4. Make my blog better - not really sure how I want to do this but there are a few things I'd like to accomplish with my blog... 

• A better design 
• More user friendly
• Increase readership
• Make money
• More reader feedback - it makes blogging all worthwhile hearing about how I've helped someone. That's the whole purpose of writing about my weight loss struggles and victories. I also would like to hear your suggestions about what types of posts you want to see in the future. Your thoughts and comments are always welcome.

There you have it folks. The above is some of the things that I want out of 2012. What do you want?

Peace, Love, and Healthy Living,

Jessica