Showing posts with label Goals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Goals. Show all posts
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Top 10 Steps to a New You in 2013

Do you remember December 31, 1999 when everyone said the world would change at the stroke of midnight and all our technology would go to hell?   What about just a few days ago when the world was going to end, yet again? Well this year, 2013, I am going to stick my neck out on a limb and say this is the year you succeed!

Here are the top 10 steps I took in 2012 - I'm happier, focused and going to be even more successful in 2013.  You can be too!

1.  Find your happy and do it.  What do you truly live for? What gives you that tingly feeling?
2. Discover an exercise you really enjoy or look forward to.  If it's playing catch in the back yard or   dancing to your favorite music, do it!  Exercise doesn't have to be painful. As long as you're moving, you're burning calories.
3.  Quit looking for the "why" - the why doesn't matter. It can provide insight but the answer will never fix the problem.
4.  Choose your thoughts.  If you focus on the positive, your behavior will follow.  What you think affects how you feel and what you do.
5.  Find your comfort.  Food is not it.  As a child, I was comforted by my mother with food while my father would be raging drunk in the other room.  I associated food with comfort.  As an adult when ever I needed comfort, I turned to food.  It's a vicious cycle and a learned behavior.  Find other ways to comfort yourself.  If you're feeling alone, get with friends.  If you're angry, go for a walk and clear your mind.  Don't turn to food.  Food is not your friend and will never give you comfort.
6.  Love yourself.  No one will ever love you like you should love yourself.  Be kind to yourself.
7.  You only have to worry about today.  If that's too much do it by the hour and so on.  Sometimes the focus on "the rest of your life" can drown you.  As the days add up, you'll have created new habits and a new way of life,.
8.  Take responsibility and stop making excuses.  An excuse is only a way to permit yourself to have a certain behavior.  You're an adult - admit your shortfall and be responsible.
9.  Don't worry about what others are saying or thinking.  First, they're probably not thinking what you think they are and second, they're going to do it any way.  From now on, your give a damn is busted.
10.  Nurture yourself with what makes you feel good.  Is it make up? Is it jewelry? Maybe it's a long hot bubble bath.  Take care of you.

Remember, There is nothing selfish about taking care of YOU.  

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The Token Resolutions Post

The new year is fast approaching.  Everyone is in a rush to finish up the year or make their resolutions for next year.  I, too, have goals for the upcoming year.  Are you setting goals, making your lists and checking them twice?

I would like to quit smoking again.  I quit prior to my WLS surgery and continued as a non-smoker for 9 months.  I really thought I had the habit kicked and then I did a really stupid thing and tried an electronic cigarette. What was I thinking? I never associated it with being "like" a cigarette. I heard her say, "Try this, you won't believe how real it tastes!" I didn't associate it with how real it really would taste.  I fought the urge to go back for about two weeks.  Hubby had quit for 7 months and we were both being strong for each other until that 3rd Saturday when we'd spent the day at the beach with the kids. We got into the car and I said, "Let's do something fun like rent movies and smoke!" and that was all it took. Pretty lame story but that's what did it.  We spent the next week telling each other one more pack, one more pack. And then we bought a carton. I sit here struggling with a winter cold either my daughter shared with me or my father-in-law during our Christmas celebration and can't help but kick myself in the rear because I never had a cold all last winter when I was a non-smoker.   I know I can kick this again and I won't be a smoker in 2013.

My second goal is to go to Onederland in 2013.  To type that phrase is so surreal to me after weighing over 400 pounds.  I can't tell you when I weighed in at a number that started with a 1.  I know that I graduated high school weighing 208.  For years and years, it felt like impossible to even lose 30 pounds and I'm excited that I only have 80 or so to go.  I will be in Onederland in 2013.

Those are my goals for the year.  You will probably find me setting more as the year goes by but I find that I'm more successful setting small goals.  I need to see results fast to keep my momentum going.

Having that "I want it now" attitude can be a handicap and make it easy to "to throw the towel in".  For example, let's say you typically set a goal of 10 pounds a month.  That's roughly 2-3 pounds a week, which is considered a safe weight loss to have.  However, if your body isn't willing to lose that 10 pounds that month no matter how "on plan" you've been, it can be devastating to your mindset.  I suggest setting the goal for 5 pounds a month and if you reach 8 pounds in the month, imagine what the extra 3 pounds does to your mindset? Under promise and Over deliver!

What are your goals and how to plan to reach them?

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