2014 Resolutions

With the New Year quickly approaching, I decided to put together my list of resolutions, and while some people may scoff at resolution lists, I find that they bring purpose and they give a sense of direction for the year.  Resolutions help to keep me grounded, focused, determined... and when accomplished they bring such a sense of well-being and success.  I like to look back on a list and see if I did what I set out to do.

I didn't make a resolution list for 2013, but I did for 2012 so I will reference that for this time of looking back.  2013 was a year in which I saw a lot of strength in myself.  I continue to do well in school, I have only made one B in 4 semesters.  One thing that has plagued my resolution lists since 2008 has been finding a great church... we found a church where the entire family feels at home.  A HUGE accomplishment has been my fitness; in the last 4 months of 2013 I shed 27 lbs and reached the weight that I had set and failed to achieve for 2012. On a more superficial note, I am still keeping my hair longer than chin length (which is a big deal, I like to chop it boy short).  While there were a few things that I didn't accomplish, overall, I feel pretty good about 2013.

2014 has a lot in store for me and I need to accomplish a lot.  Here is my list:

2014 NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS

1. Apply and get accepted to nursing school and do awesome!

2. I still have at least 10 lbs to lose.  By the end of 2014 I want to see the scale read 115 lbs.

3. I want to run some 5k's and 10k's.  I can already run 6 miles straight, so I want to keep myself fit and keep running.

4. Blog more, even if it is just for me.

5. Do more mommy-daughter stuff with Lindsey.

6. Do better at making sure that my husband knows that I love and respect him.

7. Keep "Taco Tuesday" as a tradition and stay-in date night with Davis. (Taco Tuesday is when Dave and I order take-out tacos and watch either Sons of Anarchy or some show on netflix with each other).

8. Make as much time for friends as I can with my busy school life.

9. Potty-train Avery.  I don't want her to turn 3 and still be in diapers.  That's just because I am sick of paying for diapers.

10. Get Silver Dollar City passes and spend some time with my mom during 2014.

... That's it.  Some goals are more frivolous than others.  I am excited for this year.  Before we know it, it will be Christmas time again, and I will be looking back at this list to see if I did what I set out to do.

An open letter to anyone with weight goals for 2014,

Good luck to all of you making resolutions.  I want to give encouragement and advice to anyone who is making weight goals.  Don't make it more complicated than it needs to be.  First of all, you have to comitt to the process of losing weight.  Unrealistic expectations of quick weight loss will surely thwart your efforts; be patient and 1 - 2 lbs a week is a healthy steady weight loss pace.  To start out, focus on calories in v. calories out.  You can use apps like My Fitness Pal to help you track how many calories you need to stick to to lose weight.  When you exercise you can eat some of those calories back, so think of exercise as earning your treats.  Don't make it about dietary restrictions as much as about calorie consumption.  Keep track of what you eat and your exercise.  Exercise an hour a day.  Start out easy and then gradually push yourself further.  Don't feel like you have to do things you don't like to do to work out.  Find what you like and do that.  I like to run and do the elliptical, so that's what I do.  Once you start shedding the pounds, THEN you can start worrying about the dietary restrictions, but when you tell yourself you can't eat ice cream or can't have a hamburger, you will get frustrated and give up.  WORK for that ice cream, WORK for that hamburger.  If you put too many restrictions on yourself you set yourself up for failure.  Just work out and watch how much you consume... then you can fine tune as you go along.  Some people might disagree with me, but this is what has worked for me.  Most importantly... YOU CAN DO IT!