I have been working on my New Years resolutions and goals for 2010 and this year I have sought out extra support for making them. I have been reading tons of articles on how to set reasonable goals and how to stay motivated to achieve them.
Since many of us set New Years resolutions I thought it might be helpful to post them here for others to benefit from. Good luck this year! I will be posting my progress as it goes along and I hope to hear about yours too!
Ideas for New Years resolutions:
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/motivation_articles.asp?id=1289
Step-by-step goal setting techniques:
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/motivation_articles.asp?id=103
Setting attainable goals article
http://exercise.about.com/cs/exbeginners/a/beggoals.htm
Sticking to new years resolutions, or goals made around this time of year:
http://caloriecount.about.com/blog/partners/make-new-years-resolutions-stick-b362567
31 tips to staying motivated for your goals:
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/calendar_2007-01.pdf
Top 10 strategies for success:
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/motivation_articles.asp?id=518
Optimism and the Power of Positive Thinking:
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/wellness_articles.asp?id=835
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
Thinspo for 2010
Since I haven't posted any thinspo in a while I thought I would post a few of my inspiration pictures for my 2010 weight loss and beauty goals. I really all about legs at the moment. "Fawne legs" as my friend calls them; the ones that don't touch in the middle. Enjoy.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
"It'sss Thaaat...Time of year..."
So it has been a while since I've posted. Here's the month of December in a nutshell:
- Had my choir concert and received a school credit for the course
- Wrote my stats and music finals...bombed one, aced the latter, but did really well on my overall marks
- Began Dialectical Behaviour Therapy which will continue for 5 more months
- Mood has been very stable
- Came home from school for Christmas on the 20th
- Fulfilled Christmas traditions: Christmas Eve and a million perogies at Grandma's, Christmas morning presents and steak and egg breakfast with Aunt and Uncle and then Christmas day dinner with Turkey and all the fixins at Aunt and Uncle's ( I am perma-stuffed)
- Santa was very good to me...everything I asked for I got! :)
One thing I got that is excellent is a recipe book called "Hungry Girl: 200 under 200", which is 200 recipes under 200 calories. I have looked at most of it and it was definitely a good gift to ask for. I know I will get a lot of use out of it in the new year. Now I want the first book that is all recipes by Hungry Girl.
Now I have a week until I go back to school. Have plans to get together with a few friends while I'm home and then going back to School for New Years.
Now I am reevaluating previous goals I have set and I am finalizing New Years resolutions. I am excited to get on this weight loss bandwagon and start back on the right track with school and my music writing.
How is your holidays?
- Had my choir concert and received a school credit for the course
- Wrote my stats and music finals...bombed one, aced the latter, but did really well on my overall marks
- Began Dialectical Behaviour Therapy which will continue for 5 more months
- Mood has been very stable
- Came home from school for Christmas on the 20th
- Fulfilled Christmas traditions: Christmas Eve and a million perogies at Grandma's, Christmas morning presents and steak and egg breakfast with Aunt and Uncle and then Christmas day dinner with Turkey and all the fixins at Aunt and Uncle's ( I am perma-stuffed)
- Santa was very good to me...everything I asked for I got! :)
One thing I got that is excellent is a recipe book called "Hungry Girl: 200 under 200", which is 200 recipes under 200 calories. I have looked at most of it and it was definitely a good gift to ask for. I know I will get a lot of use out of it in the new year. Now I want the first book that is all recipes by Hungry Girl.
Now I have a week until I go back to school. Have plans to get together with a few friends while I'm home and then going back to School for New Years.
Now I am reevaluating previous goals I have set and I am finalizing New Years resolutions. I am excited to get on this weight loss bandwagon and start back on the right track with school and my music writing.
How is your holidays?
Friday, November 27, 2009
"Challenges" for the new year...
Yes, I am aware it isn't even December yet, but I feel motivated to set goals at this very moment. haha
I just started on a new weight loss website called "Calorie Count" and it focuses on calorie intake versus calorie output. I think I like this better than Weight Watchers, thus Weight Watchers is no longer in the works. In the past, I tend to starve myself when I am counting calories, so I pose this as my first challenge/goal:
#1. Eat 1500 cals on days when exercised, and 1300 on days without exercise.
The calorie calculator on the site says I should be getting in around 1400 cals per day in order to lose 2 lbs a week, so those goals should be just about right. It is going to be challenging for me to not go below my recommended calories for the day so I am kind of excited to see if I can actually do this without losing my mind in the process.
#2. Go to the gym MINIMUM 3 days per week; Weight lifting - min. 2 days per week
With the exercise, I am going to do what I had planned on doing these past three months, I am going to schedule my workouts into my life like a course I am taking at school. It will just be part of my weekly routine to get to combat class every Wednesday night, for example.
#3. Eat a more balanced diet; ie. eat more protein and veggies, substitute fruit for junk.
I have found that this term I have been eating like shit. I am either eating only negative calorie foods, with no concept at all for nutritionally based meals, or I am binging on junk food and then not eating dinner because I've gone over my calories for the day. It turns out that my last blood test came back saying that my hemoglobin is low, which is a sign of anemia. This makes a lot of sense because I feel like shit all the time and I sleep constantly cause I am so tired, not to mention I never eat meat or drink milk and it hasn't been sunny for weeks, so I am not getting very much iron or vitamin D in my diet. As a partial goal,3i)becoming non-anemic would be good.
#4. Doing something that is outside of my comfort zone at least once a week.
This can be going to a spin class (which I detest because I feel I am not in good enough shape to do it), volunteering to present first in class, taking a music lesson, singing for friends, giving up my seat on the bus and having to stand, etc. Just something to stop my life from becoming complacent.
#5. Live life more authentically.
I live by this already, I just don't always put it into practice. What I mean is, doing what you say, and saying what you mean. Being fully honest to yourself and others. Obviously, you need to use your judgment, it isn't an excuse to be rude or harsh, just truthful. I think being more mindful in general would help accomplish this.
#6. Be 140lbs by my birthday on May 20th, 2010.
#7. Follow through with my goals.
I think this one is the most important. I have a tendency to make goals all the time and go hardcore for a week and then stop. I need to make these things habits. I read some where it takes 21days to form a habit. So if I can stick to my new healthy way of eating, and counting calories for 21days, then it should be easy to keep doing it. I think the first month is going to be a huge focus for me. Actually, I think what I am going to do is re-evaluate my goals and celebrate my successes at the beginning of every month, just as a new set point to stay on track. Earlier this year I managed to go to the gym almost every day, and write down every thing I ate for a month, then my depression hit and I fell off the wagon hard and took months to get back on.
#8. Do everything in my power to not let my winter depression set in (Februaryish)
This means taking my meds a prescribed, going to therapy, getting out in the sun or taking vitamin d pills, getting to the gym regularly and eating well. Also, keeping a regular sleep routine. I think I am going to take to my psychiatrist about what more I could be doing to stop it. This will be the key to keeping #1-7.
Maybe that is enough for now. Since I made these goals a month before the official start date, I think I am going to attempt to start them now. Also, I am going to put a lot of planning into it so that I don't go into it half-hazardly.
Any goals for the new year yet?
I just started on a new weight loss website called "Calorie Count" and it focuses on calorie intake versus calorie output. I think I like this better than Weight Watchers, thus Weight Watchers is no longer in the works. In the past, I tend to starve myself when I am counting calories, so I pose this as my first challenge/goal:
#1. Eat 1500 cals on days when exercised, and 1300 on days without exercise.
The calorie calculator on the site says I should be getting in around 1400 cals per day in order to lose 2 lbs a week, so those goals should be just about right. It is going to be challenging for me to not go below my recommended calories for the day so I am kind of excited to see if I can actually do this without losing my mind in the process.
#2. Go to the gym MINIMUM 3 days per week; Weight lifting - min. 2 days per week
With the exercise, I am going to do what I had planned on doing these past three months, I am going to schedule my workouts into my life like a course I am taking at school. It will just be part of my weekly routine to get to combat class every Wednesday night, for example.
#3. Eat a more balanced diet; ie. eat more protein and veggies, substitute fruit for junk.
I have found that this term I have been eating like shit. I am either eating only negative calorie foods, with no concept at all for nutritionally based meals, or I am binging on junk food and then not eating dinner because I've gone over my calories for the day. It turns out that my last blood test came back saying that my hemoglobin is low, which is a sign of anemia. This makes a lot of sense because I feel like shit all the time and I sleep constantly cause I am so tired, not to mention I never eat meat or drink milk and it hasn't been sunny for weeks, so I am not getting very much iron or vitamin D in my diet. As a partial goal,3i)becoming non-anemic would be good.
#4. Doing something that is outside of my comfort zone at least once a week.
This can be going to a spin class (which I detest because I feel I am not in good enough shape to do it), volunteering to present first in class, taking a music lesson, singing for friends, giving up my seat on the bus and having to stand, etc. Just something to stop my life from becoming complacent.
#5. Live life more authentically.
I live by this already, I just don't always put it into practice. What I mean is, doing what you say, and saying what you mean. Being fully honest to yourself and others. Obviously, you need to use your judgment, it isn't an excuse to be rude or harsh, just truthful. I think being more mindful in general would help accomplish this.
#6. Be 140lbs by my birthday on May 20th, 2010.
#7. Follow through with my goals.
I think this one is the most important. I have a tendency to make goals all the time and go hardcore for a week and then stop. I need to make these things habits. I read some where it takes 21days to form a habit. So if I can stick to my new healthy way of eating, and counting calories for 21days, then it should be easy to keep doing it. I think the first month is going to be a huge focus for me. Actually, I think what I am going to do is re-evaluate my goals and celebrate my successes at the beginning of every month, just as a new set point to stay on track. Earlier this year I managed to go to the gym almost every day, and write down every thing I ate for a month, then my depression hit and I fell off the wagon hard and took months to get back on.
#8. Do everything in my power to not let my winter depression set in (Februaryish)
This means taking my meds a prescribed, going to therapy, getting out in the sun or taking vitamin d pills, getting to the gym regularly and eating well. Also, keeping a regular sleep routine. I think I am going to take to my psychiatrist about what more I could be doing to stop it. This will be the key to keeping #1-7.
Maybe that is enough for now. Since I made these goals a month before the official start date, I think I am going to attempt to start them now. Also, I am going to put a lot of planning into it so that I don't go into it half-hazardly.
Any goals for the new year yet?
Thursday, November 26, 2009
I never thought I'd say this...
So I decided a week or so ago that I was going to try and lose weight in a healthy fashion. So far...I have gained a pound. I have not been watching, I was in the hospital, I have had cravings for chocolate constantly, and then in the last three days I have basically just been on one big binge.
This needs to stop. Weight should be going down, NOT up.
So...to assist my new healthy eating and get it going in the right direction...I can't believe I am saying this, but I am going to try weight watchers.
My friend and I go to weight watchers meetings every week on Wednesday and there are so many success stories in there. My friend started weight watchers two weeks ago and she has already lost 6.6lbs. This week alone she lost 4! I was really impressed and now I need to get on this weight loss bandwagon.
It is funny because I have been on so many diets. I was first put on a diet by my parents when I was 11. I have done the weight watchers thing before and it worked so why not give it a go again? Ya I am not going to be dropping 5lbs a week like I could if I fasted, but I will be healthy and strong while still losing 2lbs a week.
My parents are coming up this weekend and my mom is going to bring me all the weight watchers books and stuff that she has from the years she did it. SO I plan on starting on Sunday. I am not joining the actual weight watchers I am just going to be doing the points system and following the program on my own. In the meantime, I am going to do the following:
- write down everything I eat
- No junkfood. Fruit as treats.
- Eat more vegetables
- Eat more protein
- Drink lots of water
- Get my ass in the gym!
- Not getting on the scale until next wednesday (weight watchers meeting weigh in day)
Ugh, I feel like shit. Damn you binge days!
This needs to stop. Weight should be going down, NOT up.
So...to assist my new healthy eating and get it going in the right direction...I can't believe I am saying this, but I am going to try weight watchers.
My friend and I go to weight watchers meetings every week on Wednesday and there are so many success stories in there. My friend started weight watchers two weeks ago and she has already lost 6.6lbs. This week alone she lost 4! I was really impressed and now I need to get on this weight loss bandwagon.
It is funny because I have been on so many diets. I was first put on a diet by my parents when I was 11. I have done the weight watchers thing before and it worked so why not give it a go again? Ya I am not going to be dropping 5lbs a week like I could if I fasted, but I will be healthy and strong while still losing 2lbs a week.
My parents are coming up this weekend and my mom is going to bring me all the weight watchers books and stuff that she has from the years she did it. SO I plan on starting on Sunday. I am not joining the actual weight watchers I am just going to be doing the points system and following the program on my own. In the meantime, I am going to do the following:
- write down everything I eat
- No junkfood. Fruit as treats.
- Eat more vegetables
- Eat more protein
- Drink lots of water
- Get my ass in the gym!
- Not getting on the scale until next wednesday (weight watchers meeting weigh in day)
Ugh, I feel like shit. Damn you binge days!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
...all our songs will be lullabies in no time...
Since the overdose I have been feeling really confused. When I was in the hospital I was feeling happy and still in an unshakable good mood but that has changed dramatically since. I feel low...I am confused as to why the overdose even happened. I know why I did it in the moment but maybe there were underlying reasons...
I had a dream on Saturday night and in it I had taken an overdose and the reason was because I was trying to get the attention of my parents. Fucked up. That couldn't have been the reason for the actual overdose last week because I didn't even tell my parents about that and I don't plan to. I don't think I would have done it for attention because I firmly believe you ask for attention, you don't demand it through your actions.
The dream got me thinking though...I have always had this belief that once you are an adult you are no longer as important as you were when you were a child. It is like there is an expiry date on your importance. When things happen to children it is tragic, when they happen to adults it's life. I have always feared growing up and I think a lot of it had to do with feeling like I was going to soon be part of the masses, left to fend for myself with no sympathy from anyone. I don't want sympathy, I want understanding and validation. That concept lead me to think about the hospital and its role. When you are in the hospital you are suddenly important. There are people watching over you and making sure you are ok. Maybe underneath it all, I was seeking to feel worth while. I feel like I am worth less in society because I am an adult. I thought I was over these feelings of worthlessness so they have caught me by surprise.
Ugh, I miss feeling happy. Last week, prior to the hospital part, was so fun and exciting. Now I am back down to earth...maybe a little bit below the surface, either way, I am no longer on a cloud.
Currently listening to:
Artist: Emily Haines and the Soft Skeleton
Album: Knives Don't Have Your Back
Song: Winning
This album is beautifully depressing. It was the soundtrack to my first breakdown and the first time I was in the psych ward. Winning has the most personal significance, but the whole album is good. If you are looking for some eery, gorgeous, sad songs, this is your ticket.
I had a dream on Saturday night and in it I had taken an overdose and the reason was because I was trying to get the attention of my parents. Fucked up. That couldn't have been the reason for the actual overdose last week because I didn't even tell my parents about that and I don't plan to. I don't think I would have done it for attention because I firmly believe you ask for attention, you don't demand it through your actions.
The dream got me thinking though...I have always had this belief that once you are an adult you are no longer as important as you were when you were a child. It is like there is an expiry date on your importance. When things happen to children it is tragic, when they happen to adults it's life. I have always feared growing up and I think a lot of it had to do with feeling like I was going to soon be part of the masses, left to fend for myself with no sympathy from anyone. I don't want sympathy, I want understanding and validation. That concept lead me to think about the hospital and its role. When you are in the hospital you are suddenly important. There are people watching over you and making sure you are ok. Maybe underneath it all, I was seeking to feel worth while. I feel like I am worth less in society because I am an adult. I thought I was over these feelings of worthlessness so they have caught me by surprise.
Ugh, I miss feeling happy. Last week, prior to the hospital part, was so fun and exciting. Now I am back down to earth...maybe a little bit below the surface, either way, I am no longer on a cloud.
Currently listening to:
Artist: Emily Haines and the Soft Skeleton
Album: Knives Don't Have Your Back
Song: Winning
This album is beautifully depressing. It was the soundtrack to my first breakdown and the first time I was in the psych ward. Winning has the most personal significance, but the whole album is good. If you are looking for some eery, gorgeous, sad songs, this is your ticket.
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