2012 !

HAPPY NEW YEAR! This is the time of year that most of us um... "larger folk" make a resolution to lose weight. Yep, i have probably done this since I was 12 years old! So this year i'm not going to make a "New years resolution" because frankly they always fail. For this year, I am going to make some goals. Some of these goals are  for 2012, but the ultimate thing I am going after is a lifestyle change. So yes, I am going to make a list, :) but this isn't just for the new year... It is for the rest of my life. These are some steps that I hope will help lead me down the road to health and fitness..

And the Goals Are... 

1. Run 365 miles in 2012! ~ Will be tracking via dailymile.com 
2. Finish a 5k race
3. Complete a Jillian Michaels 30 day challenge (30 days straight! complete with before and after pictures and measurements ;)   ) 
4. Incorporate more veggies into my diet!
5. Reduce my sugar intake
6. Do something EVERYDAY.. even if it means just going for a short walk. 

Yippie :) So far things have been going pretty well and i'm excited to start the new year. It is been awesome to have support. 

Christmas Vacation

 As I expected Christmas vacation has presented me with quite a bit of challenges. I'm in Brooklyn with my family for the holidays and it has been hard to find the motivation to get out and exercise. The weather had been kinda meh as well and I think that has been affecting my mood.   I think that what I am going to start doing is there is a water aerobics class 3 days a week at one of the local  high schools. Generally it is a bunch of older ladies that do it but water aerobics can be a good workout if you put enough effort into it. I honestly am just ready to get back to Houghton where I have more options for exercise and cook for myself.

It has also been difficult to make good food choices. My dad is an absolutely amazing cook and of course I got chocolate in my stocking. I'm trying my best to go through it slowly but sweets have always been one of my weak areas. Just something I need to work on :) I'm starting to look for healthier options for whenever I have a sweet tooth. Well, one step at a time a guess. I knew it wasn't going to be easy, I just have to keep going. :)

Psalm 139:14

Today I started thinking about my own self view. I realized that I really am selling myself short. Whenever somebody calls me beautiful or pretty I always just shrug them off thinking that they are just "being nice". I find it hard to be proud of my accomplishments because there was always something that I made a mistake on or could have done better. The thing that shocked me the most was when I started to think of things that I didn't like about myself. The list seemed to go on forever.... I'm too short, my head is too small, my body is too big, I have man calves,and the list just seemed to go on and on.. Despite my negative attitude about myself I need to realize that this is NOT the truth. 


In order to be successful in this journey toward heath and fitness I need to both understand and believe the truth 


The truth is:


I AM beautiful


I AM fearfully and and wonderfully made


I AM strong


God does NOT make junk


I CAN be successful 


I AM LOVED 


:) The journey toward health and fitness isn't just working out and eating better. It requires a mental determination as well. I think this has been where I have failed in the past. I start doubting myself and then things begin to fall apart after that. I need to stay strong and believe the truths above. I'm going to make this time different!  

First few days...

So a few days have passed and I think that I have been doing ok. I have started tracking calories both going in and going out. The main goal of tracking my calories has been to try to make sure I have an overall deficit for the day. According to the "science" if I have a 1000 calorie deficit everyday that should equal to two pounds a week.

During these first few days I have found it pretty hard to fit in exercise. Part of that is because it was final exam week but part was because I just need to learn to manage my time better. Now I am home for the holiday. This means that I need to be more "creative" in finding ways to move more. I can't just go to the gym like I could do up in houghton. Well, it's a process :) Just taking one step at a time.

A new beginning

Today I guess I would say that I had a wake-up call. I got up today and got ready for an interview with michigan tech summer youth programs. As usual before an interview I started to think about how I wanted to come across as a person. I wanted to appear happy, healthy, energetic, excited about life. That is when it hit me. I am for the most part a happy person, but I am NOT healthy, NOT energetic, and I wasn't excited about what the day would bring.

I got ready for my interview. It was on campus and I usually walk because parking is nearly impossible. I live about a 1/2 mile away. During my walk to campus I noticed that I was getting passed by many other people. This is normal for me and I usually just blow it off saying it's because I have short legs. Today it started to bother me a little, and I decided to try to walk faster. I seemed that no matter what I was still getting passed by other students! I arrived at my interview a little flustered and sweaty, despite the fact that it was 5 degrees outside during my walk. I put on my smile, and told them how I would be a good counselor for them this summer.

After my interview I started thinking.... Yes, I believe that I am a good choice as a counselor, but I could be much better if I got my health and weight under control. Wouldn't I be so much more fun if I wasn't huffing and puffing after just a short walk or small hill? What if they want to play basketball or soccer? Oh yeah, I have some work to do!

So here it is!! I have decided that it is time to actually do something about this! Physically I just am not the person who I want to be. So it's time to make a change. It's time to start moving more. It's time to start watching what I eat, and learning more about my body. I am ready to do this. It's time for a new beginning.

I have tried doing this before, and have always gotten discouraged, given up, and fallen back into my old habits. Here is where I am asking you guys to come in. I would absolutely love prayers, advice, and support from anybody willing to give it. I want this time to be different. I am not going to do this alone. :)