Goals Setting - Month 2

Wow... a whole month has gone by... amazing! I'm still VERY pleased about my weigh in this morning.

Counting Calories works.... I know this... Its been done and proved before.

Should you (yes YOU) ever read that I am too (insert excuse here) to count calories anymore I would like you (yes YOU!!) to leave me a comment to tell me to stop being such a (insert any other word you would like!!).

Today I'm going to set my new goals. I have been mulling it over for some time... life is up in the air with potential new start date for new job, Mr.Tamzin is traveling for for work and of course, the slacker mentality creeping in to try and get to go easy on myself...

I've been procrastinating because I'm afraid to set goals that I might not meet, the alternative of "no structure" is a lot less desirable then missing some goals. Fail to plan is planning to fail. So, here we go.

Here are my new Monthly Goals:

Running - Mon/Wed/Fri - 3x 30min, 1x 5min, 1 min rest between sets
Yoga -2x week for 30min or more (anytime before dinner on Sunday evening)

All other exercise is extra - and I will still try to get to my step class Tuesdays, but as with last month - it isn't my top priority... getting in my runs and yoga at home is. I've added in an extra 5min of running to my time and 2 sessions of 30min yoga (I really need to work on my flexibility and strength).

Well. There you go. I've tried to not mess with it too much, and although I've struggled occasionally with getting/making the time to do this - I think that this is solid, and achievable!

Right... now to perv on some other blogs and see what YOU are up to! Better be good... Or Else!!! :)

For posterity:
Month 1 Goals - Completed
10min running x 3 with 1 min rest between

Dec 18 - done
Dec 21 - Done
Dec 23 - Sick
Dec 25 - Done
Dec 28 - Walked
Dec 30 - Done
Jan 1(2)- Done
Jan 4 - Done
Jan 6 - Done
Jan 8 - Done
Jan 11 - Done
Jan 13(14) - Done
Jan 15 - Done!

D-Day!

Today is D Day!!! Decision melt down coming......

Today I will finally complete the goal that I set for myself to run three days a week for 4 weeks (today's run will be this afternoon with happy-happy-joy-joy celebration post to come!). I will admit that there were times and days when I really didn't want to go... but I did. And near the end, there were times where it was really really enjoyable.

I'm now struggling with how to set and organize my next challenge... scary stuff for me to be honest.

Obligatory whining: I've not heard back from my new job about a start date - or a start time in the mornings... I'm stuck as to what to do about that. Mornings... not great about getting up and I've been using the gym more and more instead of running outside. I need to stop that. Last night I did put some elevation on the machine to simulate outdoors... but its not really the same as making yourself move on the trail. ...back on track here...

What goals to set....so many choices.....

Monday/Tuesday - Step Class? Running?

Wednesday - yoga at home? Running?

Thursday - Running? Yoga?

Friday - Weights?

Saturday - Step class?

Exercise on weekends has been really inconstant so I don't want to force something on the weekend. Weekdays are more regular and easier to control... does anyone else like weekdays because of that too?? I just find that I can really control myself better when there is a timeline... Saturday rolls around and its bed until 10 and then... late coffee and not really motivated to get my butt anywhere....

I also know from my first goal post that IF I set too much and make this too hard... I will give up and not complete it at all. I have a very long history of doing just that (which has been documented over the last year + in this blog)...NOT that I'm proud of being a quitter... in fact its quite hard to deal with, which is why I give up... bad cycle really. *sigh*

Need to get making some lists and decide... what am I going to do here.....

Thirsty

RIGHT NOW... I have not had any water today!!! OMG.... I am getting up and getting water before I go any further with my day. Ahh. Much better.

Warning: This Post is a collection of random shittery.

Food:

This morning I was gripped by the pancake monster - and I was trying to think of some ways that I could work "healthy" & "pancake" together to justify getting pancakes (and syrup) for breakfast. I even started to wash the pan to cook them in, and then I woke up and got out my Red Mill 10 grain hot breakfast cereal, put in some oats, and then stuck that it the nuker for 4 minutes with water! Viola!!! Added a small banana, 1 T of natural peanut butter and 1 T of honey and breakfast was completed. I'm only just starting to get hungry now.

Lunch today is going to be toasted open faced mozz & tomato sandwiches on my double fibre bread with Amys Tomato Bisque soup, with a couple of dill pickles. If you have not tried Amys Tomato Bisque soup, you are missing out! It is outstanding!

Soreness:

I woke up this morning and by the gawds was I sore from yesterdays raking adventure!!! I could ACTUALLY feel an abdominal muscle!! (they are there...somewhere deep in there). I am feeling good though, well worn out and my foot is getting better. I have my acuball-mini out for some stretching.

Activities:

Looking for things to do yesterday I found a couple of organizations that do group hikes in Houston/Texas area. I have a few leads on some weekend activities that will get us up and out of the house.

I'm also thinking about perhaps joining a Dragon boating group. Not too sure on that one yet. I still have no job, so that limits me, as I refuse to buy a car before I get a pay cheque... and of course, no disposable cash without income. So there might be some waiting on that. I'm really missing a social/physical life that I got from sports.

Exercise:

Today I will either 1. go for a walk or 2. go to the gym. Step class is cancelled for the holidays, so that is out. But I will get in something today. I may even attempt my yoga dvd again!

Now, I have had over 1liter of water!!!! and my next task is to start perving on your blogs to see how everyone else is doing. I'm still formulating my plan on what to do about my massive weight gain! I should be dusting off my old excel spreadsheet for food tracking very soon and getting started back into that for one!

What I'm going to give myself for christmas this year....

This year I'm going to give myself a really great gift for Christmas.

This Christmas I'm re-gifting the "I cant's" and I'm giving myself a whole box of the "I wills". This Christmas I'm giving me the freedom to succeed.

This is something that I have not done for 2 years. Succeed. I'm been talking about it, and half heartily attempting it.

Today I am going to spend time setting out my plan and making sure that I have the tools to achieve it. AND... I'm going to SET and TRACK an ACTUAL GOAL. I've been shying away from the G word for a loooong time. Because I've been unwilling to actually TRY.

So here it is:

SMART Goal: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic & Timely

One month goal:

Monday, Wednesday & Friday
7am
3x 10min jogging, 1 min resting between each set

Everything else that I may or may not do in the week is "gravy"...or.. Anti-gravy! HAHA I love it. Anti-gravy! Tuesday step class, yoga at home, walking on weekend, any gym time with hubby. All that is the extra bit that will or won't happen - no sweat. but I WILL RUN THREE TIMES A WEEK IN THE MORNINGS AT 7AM.

Goals....

Well its about that time again. After some epic failing at blogging and weight management for the last few months, I need to get back onto some goals and try to get somewhere.

Although I consistently set and fail to reach any goal I have set on here for myself, I am still compelled to do it again. I guess I'm hoping that one of these times I will achieve a goal and then be so flooded with good feelings that I will do it again...and then again...and then all of a sudden it will be a habit and presto chango...I will start to head in the right direction and get close to achieving my penultimate goal.

Anyway....here is the short term set of weight goals that I have made:

May 18, 2009 - GOAL - 274
May 25, 2009 - GOAL - 272
June 1, 2009 - GOAL - 270 (move out of condo)
June 8, 2009 - GOAL - 269 (live with friends like a student! ha)
June 15, 2009 - GOAL - 267 (job ends...2 weeks of holiday to pack, visit friends/family)
June 22, 2009 - GOAL - 265
June 29, 2009 - GOAL - 263
July 6, 2009 - GOAL 261 (move to the US completed)

July 1st is my potential (fingers crossed) moving date to the US. It would be nice to start job hunting when feeling a little bit better about my size and the way my business clothing looks on me.

261lbs would also put me at 20lbs down from my starting weight and that would be nice!

Anyway - Now that its on here! Thats the first step. Now...I need to get a daily plan on how I am going to get this done! I'll leave that for the next post.

April Goals!

Well I've been spending a fair amount of brain resources over the last day thinking on some goals for April….I'm not going to lie, its been hard… too many, too few, too easy, too hard…

So I'm going to focus on a few things that I think will make the biggest bang for the buck.

1. Eat Breakfast.
I will get up and eat/drink a breakfast every morning BEFORE I leave for work. I have enough protein shakes and almond milk to have at least one of those two things every morning before I go to the office. Most days its 10am before I eat something and that is just not good for the old body, I think that having a shake at 7.30am is going to be quite good for me.

2. Walk to work.
I have been slacking on the morning walk to work… for over a year. I have to start again. That 35min every morning really makes a big difference, not just physically, but mentally. Now that its April I should not encounter much in the way of really terrible weather. One month of walking to work in the mornings will be great on the belly and great on the brain!

3. Be in bed at 11.30pm or earlier Sunday through Thursday.
I never get enough sleep - lucky to get 7 hours (and typically its more like 6) and this is effecting both goals 1 and 2 since I roll out from under the covers with 20min to spare before I HAVE to get to bus to be on time to work. **motivation** I am going to keep a piggy bank at the office and every morning I walk I'm going to put my bus fair in there…$2.50 a day 5 days a week…I should have $50 at the end of the month!!

4. Weekend Adventure.
Every weekend I need to spend both Saturday and Sunday doing something OUTSIDE and fun for at least 60min. Walk, hike, throw a ball, kick a can, go for a run. Any thing - but I need to be sweaty after and have a smile on my face.

5. Push up Challenge
This is just something fun for me. I am going to (attempt) to do a push up equal to (or as close to) the days date every day. No time set - just whenever I have the time. i.e. tonight, April 1…I have to do 1 push up. Then I can see over the next few months just how far I can go up the calendar! Plus I will get sexy shoulders!!

I think that this is enough. Of course, these are on top of - eat sensibley, drink lots of water, try to get in more time at the gym, etc etc. How do you think I did?? Too hard? too easy? … not specific enough?

Goal setting my goal setting

well... I just posted, but I think that while I'm on here I need to get myself moving in the right direction again.

I had to note that I missed my "goal weight" for end of march again. I had set a goal of 259lbs and I'm not even close, again.

But I look back at my blog for the last couple of months and its been lackadaisical and effortless pretty much. Whatever was the easy road, I was on it.. hitchhiking.

I need to get some goals set for April and REALLY do the things that I set out. Perhaps I've been over keen and made more plans then I could action, or perhaps unrealistically high activity and effort goals that leave me too tired to think about doing that much. I'm not too sure, whatever it is. I've not met any goals set out at all. That's pretty poor on my behalf.

So for April - I need to set out some goals. Real ones that are manageable and enjoyable, and *gasp* even a bit challenging. But for this month, I need to do them. Really really need to make myself them.

50/50 is not good enough

I just updated my weight on the sidebar(inches will be done tonight).... and this is an all new fail for me. Three weeks in a row gaining. Totally.Brutal.

Of the 14weeks that I've been blogging, 50% of the time my weight has gone down and 50% of the time my weight has gone up. The downs are more then the ups, but still, that just not good enough.

In 14weeks I could have healthily lost 28lbs, with an average of 2lbs a week - which is both reasonable, realistic and manageable. That nearly 30lbs!! COME ON TAMZIN... pull your head out of the feed bag!!

Right now I'm averaging a loss of .55 lbs a week. Not that this is bad is still moving in the right direction, but holy hell I could be doing miles better. I'm trying to imagine what 28lbs less would be like right now. It would be pretty effing sweet to be 25lbs lighter....instead of 7lbs.

Time to get goal setting again and start getting my lists... I also need to get my gym gear in a bag and to the office so that I can get in my lunchtime workouts again.

If I am going to lose 100lbs, then I'm going to have to start working a LOT harder then this.

5 outa 10 today

I'm going to give today 5 stars out of 10.

Work was crap, umm more like extreme crap. But it is "work", they DO have to pay me to be there soooo there are going to be times that I'm not as jazzed about being there all the time.

Regardless my eating was better then yesterday - but I was so busy that I didn't get a chance to log my food and track my calories and I would have been very curious. I shall attempt to reconstruct it here ... memory is slightly foggy....

bfast:
pot of yogurt that expired on Feb 3.... it was still good (I think.hope) - 100c
1/4c Good for your mango granola - 100c
coffee with cream x2 - 75c

Lunch:
2 pita bread sammiches with the following split between them - 250c
6oz turkey breast (deli style) - 140c
2T mustard - 5c
2c mixed greens - 25c
2 lite Laughing Cow cheeses - 45c
1/2 can diet coke - 1c
1 pot pineapple custard (from the Asian market) kind of strange - but yummy - 74c
Snack1:
Large half sweet skim milk mocha with whip - 275c
Dinner:
2c autumn squash mix soup - 400c
4 v.small slices rye bread (end bits) - 120c
1T becel - 30c
3oz mozzarella cheese - 100c
3 med dill pickles - 65c

So around 1850 calories (I'm guess at some of these numbers but it should all round its self out).

I feel good even though I was sooo hungry when I got home that I scarfed my food and even ended up drinking the soup out of the bowl because the spoon was too slow. HA!! No piccies today for that reason. teehee

Water: 2.5L today so far. Getting better, but my one calf muscle has been sore and crampy so I know that I have to get more water ASAP!

Exercise: 468 stairs...I haven't done those in a while!! Then power walked home 5km! woot!

So I'm a little sore and tired in the legs today - I do need to get some more sleep and more water. That will help with my mood and my stiffness.

Tomorrow is another running night and... I'm looking forward to jiggling my butt around!

Darth Cookie

My last week has been summed up with total lack of respect for myself and my goals. I have gone to the dark side, its not good.

I have been eating 'whatever' and pretending like I'm having normal sized portions and I'm not. It's been proven to me time and times again, that when I stop really paying attention to what I'm eating that my old tricks resurface. This blogger said it best yesterday, and what he put to paper resonated with me.

I am not really at a place where I can manage my eating without being totally conscious. I'm not maintaining, and when I stop being vigilant I start gaining.

However, last nights dinner was both yummy for the tummy and good for the soul. It was a great gab session with two of my girlfriends and we enjoyed the evening a lot, not to mention that I hadn't had any good fish for a while - get in my omegas from the salmon!! I'm feeling puffy today, but I'm not surprised...I haven't had any water yet this morning...going to get some NOW.

The house is a total mess again.. I've been perpetually half cleaning the kitchen and leaving a sink full of dishes that pile up and up and up, while the dishwasher sits full of clean dishes. Its bad for cooking, not very motivating if I have to wash dishes before I can get to my dinner. I need to get that under control again ASAP.

Sleep….well, this is a goal that I set and I have yet to get over 7 hours in a single night in the last 2 weeks - apart from weekends where I sleep like a dead thing for 10 or 11 hours straight. So VERY unhealthy, yet such a very difficult pattern for me to break.

Bfast:
1coffee with cream
1 raison bran muffin
1 coffee with cream
Snack1:
Orange
Lunch:
Salad (spinach leaves, chickpeas, mushrooms, beets, cucumber, sprouts, tomato, ham, egg, cheese, 1T ranch dressing)
Whole grain bun
1 pat butter
Snack2:
Kiwi edit:: Went and got a mocha and DID NOT eat my kiwi (fug)
Snack3:
1 pot Activia yogurt
Snack4:
Orange

Dinner:
edit:: 3" slice of garlic bread (this was eaten while standing in the kitchen like a wild animal!)
2T extravirgin oliveoil
2T balsamic vinegar 4 small slices rye bread
3/4 avocado
1 can tuna in water
2oz swiss cheese

Tonight I'm going to get my sweat on at the gym and do an hour on the elliptical or on the treadmill, plus walking home and stairs. WEEEE!

PS - did you see.... NO MOCHA TODAY!! I got to break my whip cream morning habit.

PPS - I did end up getting a mocha (brutal) and then I did not walk down the stairs and I took the bus home... it was too bloody cold out.

Top 10 (David Letterman Style)

I was tagged at Getting Healthy and given the task of listing off my top 10 reasons to burn off 10(or more) pounds. I had been reading them as they went through the circle of blogs I frequent, and thinking that I should do it, so thank you for the push. Nothing wrong with a little nudge into some introspection.

My Top Ten (in no particular order):

1. Buy clothes off the rack from any store;
2. Fit into an airplane seat without encroaching on the person sat next to me;
3. Get fitter, stronger, healthier;
4. I told my husband that I wouldn't get pregnant at this weight, I want to be fit and healthy and strong to carry a baby (see associated reasons #3, #5, #6, #8). I want to enjoy the experience and not lay around eating junk because "I'm hormonal" complaining about my fat ankles, swollen feet and a sore back…although I'm sure that all of those will happen… but I want to try and mitigate them as much as possible;
5. So that I can participate in regular activities without worrying about how out of breath I'll be/sweaty I'll get;
6. Better sex (I stole that one from someone else… don't get me wrong the sex is great - but I still have issues with how I look neked in the belly area!! );
7. Enjoy looking at and having pictures taken of myself;
8. To learn to eat and enjoy food (good and bad) without the crazy binges - so that any children we might have don't end up with my monstrous food issues;
9. Hair cuts…I hate going for haircuts right now - squeeze into the little chair while Ms.Skinnystylist pumps away at it like a freaken Sherpa trying to get the chair up to a reasonable height, and then get out the cape, desperately trying to get it to snap shut and thereby accentuating and adding to my chins and choking me. Then sitting there, in a room full of mirrors, while trying to not move my neck and pop open said cape, and be even more embarrassed. (hello, my name is Tamzin and I have issues with hair cuts); and
10. So that I can cross the "I'm too fat/out of shape" excuse from my list of excuses.

well... most of these are pretty superficial, and I suppose that since the fat that I'm carrying around is superfluous then it shouldn't be a surprise. I occationally get concerned that most of my get "fit/burn fat" goals are really "get thin/beautiful" goals...but I can save that exploration for another day.

Anyway, I can think of 100 reasons why I don't want to be fat anymore, but these are the ones that are foremost in my mind at this point in time. I'm actually looking forward to reading this in a year and seeing how far I've come from this.

I'm also not going to tag anyone. Seems that this one has been getting around a lot, so I'll leave it as this. Unless someone WANTS to get tagged. Then just poke me and let me know and I'll amend this.

Saturday Goal Met

Confession....I ate ice cream last night.......and I didn't like it. HAHAHA Holy karmic joke on me. 'Tis funny to have ice cream in the house that I can take or leave, instead of fantasize about eating out of the carton with a spoon with the freezer door open, but also good - since I will be able to tell myself I can't buy anymore while there is ice cream already at home. Win Win!

I got up today and went to the office for a couple hours, then left and went to the gym.
10 min warm up on elliptical machine.
Leg Press - 195x10 4 set of 295 x 6 reps
Calf Press - 195 x10, 295 4s x 5 reps
Hamstring Curls - 60x10 2s 100x 7r, 2s 105 x6r
Leg Extensions - 60x10 4s 100x 6rep
Lat Pull downs - 60x10 2r 90x 6r, 2r 95 x 6r
Military Press - 20 x10, 4s 25 x 6r
Bicep curls - 5s 20lbs x6r
Abs - 4 x 20r various crunches.
Lots of stretching!! I need it.

I'm really pleased with this session, I lifted more weights and generally felt a stronger. Even in one short week I've been noticing that with my increased activity I'm sleeping better. Its a good feeling.

I'm totally nervous about my weight in on Monday. The desire to lose weight is only eclipsed by the fear that I will take (again) the attitude that "this is easy pease lemon squeezey, why am I trying so hard". Well... I guess this is where the blog comes into play. Remaining ever vigilent!

Also a very quick thank you to the kind companions that have commented here! Thank you - its good to know that someone is watching!!!

Tonight I have a very late American Thanksgiving dinner. I'm bringing this amazing sprout recipe (except no cheese) and after getting to read all the posts from the blogoshere about every ones struggles, I'm going to have a healthy snack before I arrive, and then take small portion and eat slow and enjoy my food... there is always more if I need some.

I have also just posted a goal with another blogger Carolyn, 15lbs to shed from December 1st to February 1st. 2 Months. I can do it!!

Goals....

Mizfit ... you caught me and I thank you for it! I have yet to post up any goals. I KNOW that I need to set some and make a plan and start working towards it.

I get nervous since I have this horrible habit of not meeting goals. In fact I have often wonder how low I will have to set the bar before I can no longer fit underneath it and will be forced to meet a goal.

I have giving it some thought and here is what I have for the next 5 weeks (as my gym membership is done on December 31st and then I will have to find a new place to go).

Monday - walk home from the office (1.5-1.75km/1 mile**)/ pseudo rest day
Tuesday - weights/walk h.f.t.o.
Wednesday - long walk home + 1 hill (approx 5km)
Thursday - weights/walk h.f.t.o.
Fridays - long walk h.f.t.o + 1 hill (approx 5km)
Saturday - weights and walk (approx 3km)
Sunday - Run (3-5km) OR walk (7.5km)
**1km = .6 miles

My Xmas contingency plan is to break out the 30 day Shred DVD by Mistress of Pain errr Jillian Michael's if the gym is closed on a weights day (December 25th and January 1st). Its just 30min...even if its Christmas I should be able to do that!?

My basic plan was to make lump goals (i.e. lost 10lbs, lost 20 lbs etc) and then just post the date that I meet them on... I'm not sure that this is the right way to go, since then they is no time pressure to get me motivated? I've been toying with SMART goal setting...

S - Specific
M - Measurable
A - Achievable
R - Realistic
T - Time based

I guess my mental exercise today is to think on this. My struggle now is how to set a goals that I'm going to be able to meet? This I know is going to be a problem for me.... any links/ suggestions/ ideas....