Archive for the ‘Goals’ Category

Womp Womp

January 27th, 2012

So remember when I was on a workout streak? And said I was gonna power through the entire month of January?

Ha yeah… ’bout that. Womp Womp.

I made it 16 days in a row from the end of December to middle of January (WOOO!), took a much needed break and then got back on. I gave myself a few more rest days and was on track to power through this month. Until the Fatty Footy happened. And we’re still a few days from the end of the month, but I still can barely move. Waaahhh! So no more workouts this month.

We’re calling it a wash on January 24. :(

Despite not hitting my workout every day goal, I’m pretty proud of myself – I still got 18 days of sweating in this month and only 4 rest days from December 28 through January 23. And so far since my birthday (August 5th), I’ve worked out 100 days of the 175.

So BOOM. 2012, Ima own you! But please give me my foot back so I can get back to it in February… OR... I can keep milking this no workout thing which will just give me more reasons for Fro Yo…
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Thoughts on food and exercise

January 6th, 2012

One of my goals this month (and every month…) is to work out every day. Everyone’s talking about this “Running Streak,” but I cannot commit to running every. single. day (I’d shoot my eyeballs out), so I’m trying to do my own kind of streak – a workout streak. Just to move and be active for at least 30 minutes every day. I’ve had this goal for a number of months and I’ve never been able to fulfill it. The closest I got was in October with working out 17 days of the month.

But so far so good! Although it’s only the 6th day of the month, my work out streak is up to 10 days, the most days I’ve worked out in a row in a long time.. I’ve worked out every day since December 28, including NYE and Jan 1st.

And I had an interesting thought about healthy living the other day… Every day I need to eat dinner. Every day, no matter what. And some days I have more time and ingredients and can put in the work to come up with a delicious gourmet meal. Other days I’m tired or lazy or way to busy to cook much. But I still must eat. Those days become the cereal or quick salad or egg sandwich kinda nights. Whether I’m making a four course meal or an instant one, I’m always eating dinner. Every day. As long as I’m eating a real meal more often than the egg sandwiches, that’s a health win in my book.

That’s how my exercising has to be. Some days I’ll have the time and the gumption to hit the cardio and weights hard; to really put in a lot and get a lot out. And then there are some other days where a 30 minute walk is all I’m gonna get that night. So as long as I’m sweating and getting my heart rate up on more days than the 30 minute walks, then it’s another health win in my book.

So here’s to another 25 days hitting it (mostly) hard in January. In the meantime, I cooked yesterday. Looks like I’m off the hook in the kitchen tonight. Sorry Hus, you get leftovers or an egg sammy. ;)

Having a fun workout buddy always makes it easier
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February Goals

February 2nd, 2011

February – lovie dovies, candy hearts and gray slush in the midwest. Thank GOD I’m not there … I heard Michigan State University had their first snow day in like 60+ years, and the poor University of Michigan students STILL had to trek it through the snow! You’re my boy Blue!

Anyway, on to Februrary’s goals and a recap of January:

Workout 14 days this month…. Upping it from the 12 days last month! I actually HIT my workout goal in January! I worked out 13 days… which doesn’t seem like a lot, but I haven’t hit 13 days since August, so big accomplishment!

And on that note, I did not complete Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred. I’m pretty sure I hate that chick. I did the first couple days, and then the weather got warmer and I started hitting the pavement outside. I’d love to finish her DVD, but I get bored with workouts really quickly that I can’t commit to doing only that for a month. I also realized I HATE working out by myself. HATE IT. I lack the internal motivation needed to really kick my butt, I need an external motivator (like a running buddy)… so any of you lovely ladies wanna kick it with me? :) I promise I’ll give you sunny weather if you come out here. Sista Lista? Bueller? Bueller?

No soda, juice, or EtOH this month. Only aqua to drink.

Be more appreciative and respectful of the SCB. Boy, do I love that dude, but I don’t always show him very well. It’s hard with my school schedule to do the household tasks, but I still need to show him in little ways that I appreciate him. And as for not picking fights with him last month… I think it was ok (?). The last couple weeks of Janurary were a little stressful – school’s been picking up a lot and I ended up snapping at him a few too many times. So that’ll go into being more respectful of him this month… keep my yap shut (even when he’s driving me CRAZY!)

Pray more together. We’ve been slowly getting into that groove of our relationship, but it’s been difficult. We both have different schedules and different “styles” of praying and haven’t quite figured out how to do it together (aside from the 30 second prayer uttered out loud right before we fall asleep). Thoughts? Any recommendations for good couples devotionals or something out there?

No more chocolate. That’s just going to be a life long goal. BUT I did keep my food journal all month and I’m continuing it in Feb (and forever…)

Read the news every day. That’s another continuing goal… I read the news a few days this month, but when given the choice between reading E! News and Google News, I choose E! News every day.

And I’ll leave you with an OBG (Oldie But Goodie) from our first trip to Vegas back circa 2007
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New Year, new you!

January 3rd, 2011

Happy 2011! Can you believe the Y2K Decade is OVER??? Gosh how time flies!

I’ve got lotsa posts  – Christmas, New Years, etc etc, but in the meantime, I’ll leave you with the new 2011 Katie. Ya’ll know I don’t make New Years Resolutions but rather monthly goals (although I’ve been really bad at those the last couple months too…)

Here’s a look at a few Jan 2011 goals:

Work out 12 days this month. Do you know how many days I worked out in December? 3. THREE! Three measly days I worked out. That’s not even once per WEEK! I had a lofty goal of 20 days this past August and that month was the most I’ve worked out since I started these goals, and I still didn’t even make my 20 days. So 12 days is not only doable, but it’s the bare minimum required these days – 3x/week! There’s absolutely NO EXCUSE to not hit it!

and on that note…

Complete Jillian Michaels’ 30 Day Shred: I’ve started her stupid workout probably half a dozen times now. I always get about halfway through workout 2 and then I just…. give up. So this month I’m vowing to actually go through the full 30 days. I’m not guaranteeing I’ll do it 30 days in a row (and I’ve already guaranteed I don’t do NUTIN’ on my work days… so that already excludes 8 days of the month), but I just want to finish the dang thing! Day 1 completed today… 29 to go! And I remember why I hate her and never finish.

No mas chocolate! Take 3… third time’s the charm, right?

and to help me with that one…

Keep a daily food journal: I’ve been doing this for a while, but the minute I eat a bad thing, I don’t write it down (if it’s not written, I didn’t eat it, right?) and once I stop writing one bad thing, I stop writing for the rest of the week. Honestly, I’ve NEVER completed a whole week of food journaling. So this month is going to be the month (or even the week!) where I write it all down – the good, the bad and the fatty fats.

Read the news everyday: Yeah, time to be grown up and catch up on current events and political news. There’s no reason to not be educated.

No complaining: Take 2. This one’s a hard one, but a necessary one. It gets really easy to just gripe about work or school or my bod, but no one wants a negative Nancy. It’s gonna be a smiling, happy, sappy month.

No picking fights with my husband: Sometimes I just WANT to irritate him. I’m down or in a bad mood and misery loves company. But it’s not fair to him and it’s detrimental to our marriage. This month is going to be a lovie month. Hug, hug, kiss, kiss, lovie, lovie.

…I’m pretty certain we’ll be seeing these same goals pop up for multiple months in a row. But hey, at least I’m not acquiring any NEW sins! My vices are oldies but goodies! So here’s to a good January, a great 2011 and a lot of growth and change!

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October goals

October 1st, 2010

In my attempt to be a better person, I’m making monthly goals for this year. So here goes month 3, October:

-No more fast food: Why why WHY do I love everything bad for me?? Last month it was chocolate, this month it’s fast food. And it’s not even that I eat a lot of fast food or go out to eat often, but I do love it and I certainly wouldn’t pass it up if it just dropped in my hands (like the Taco Bell did last week… mmm thanks Casey!). Except this month, I’m going to have to resist it and I’m certain this month fast food will just be flying into my lap, of course.

-No chocolate: Take 2…

-Only drinking water: I’m considering including my Arnold Palmer’s in this category. Technically “vodka” in Russian means “little water,” so technically I’ll only be drinking a little water. And my iced tea is just powder that I mix in water, so I think that’s gonna count. But no more soda or juices this month. Only water and my “little water.”

-Show those who I love how much they mean to me: I’m not going to go into detail about this one until the end of the month’s recap. I have 4 specific events that will show people I love what they mean to me. I don’t want anyone whom I love to think I don’t love them if they’re not included in the 4 events. The people who are a part of these events will know it, but a note to those who aren’t included- if I love ya, I hope you already know!

-Run at least once a week: I’ve been pretty good at my workouts and have been spicing it up a bit to include walking, Jillian Michaels Shred and some other work out routines. But it’s high time I start including good old fashioned running back into my routine. So Ima be a runner again… at least once a week and at least for this month.

And the recap of August:

-No more canceling on my running buddy: Somehow this month seemed busier than others and my running buddy’s schedule was almost COMPLETELY opposite of each other. We ended up running together ONCE. One measly time, but I didn’t cancel on her! We were scheduled for 1 more time, but that day I was a sickie little bear and couldn’t even get myself out of bed. So I’m not counting that as a cancel because it was a legit reason.

-No chocolate: Well I had the best laid plans and the best of intentions for the first 2 weeks of the month. I said no to all the pudding and Hershey’s and Tootsie Rolls and all the other deliciousness that was in my house. Then I started getting THE CRAVE and not the White Castle’s CRAVE, this was the middle-of-the-month-emotional-”give-me-chocolate-or-die!” crave. So of course, I gave in. And then I couldn’t stop! Then there was chocolate EVERYWHERE. So we’ll just forget this month happened and start over with my “No chocolate” policy.

-No complaining: I think I did well on this one… my husband would beg to differ. I found it to surprisingly, be a conversation killer when you DON’T complain. People want to hear the drama. They don’t want to hear how everything is rainbows and butterflies. For example, coworkers would ask about school and I’d reply, “Oh it’s not too bad, I think I’ll like it…” and every time someone would respond, “Yeah, well just wait. You’ll be singing a different tune soon enough.” It was kind of a sad realization to see people feeding off of negativity. But it was good to actually realize how much I actually complain and make an effort to be more positive.

-No excuses: I’m eating more veggies and fruits and I’m still keeping track of my workouts. Some excuses were made, but I’m well on my way to being a better, healthier me!

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September Goals

September 1st, 2010

In my attempt to be a better person, I’m making monthly goals for this year. So here goes month 2, September:

-No more canceling on my running buddy: As mentioned here, whenever my running buddy cancels on me, I get ecstatic, using it as an excuse to not work out. Thing is, I cancel on her too. A lot. Last summer she and I were running like mad men – up to 9 miles and multiple times per week. This summer, I think we’ve run a total of 9 times and about 4 miles, while stopping and walking for most of it. But September is here and I promise you, Emily, I won’t cancel on you! (ugh, I already hate this month!)

-No chocolate: Yikes. This one’s gonna be a toughie. And I’m even going to try and take it one step further and say, no chocolate, no desserts, no extra sweeties. If you all find me stooped over the trash can crying, it’s because my husband was a meanie and threw out my secret stash. Wish me luck on my chocolate-less journey….sigh.

-No complaining: I have so so many blessings in my life that I am incredibly grateful for. However, I tend to get in the little, “Woe is me” stage and start complaining. This month will be a reflection on all the positive things in my life. Who cares that I had a really annoying day at work? I have a job that I love and that I’m good at. So what if my husband wants to watch 24 and I want to go to bed?  I married my best friend and he does so much for me all the time, I can suck it up and watch his show. This month is going to be learning about not sweating the small fries.

-No excuses: As it’s been said, there’s no excuse to not take care of my body. I’m going to continue with my goal of working out every day I’m not working (which will be more this month since I’m going part time). I’m going to try to continue to make healthy meals for my Hus and the roomie and I. I’m going to talk myself out of snacking on peanuts and grab some carrots. No excuses! (seriously, this month is going to suck! Boo on good life choices!)

And the recap of August:

-Work out 20 days this month: I made it 13 days. I missed a whole week in there, but 13 days is still 3+ days per week!

-Cook 4 new meals: I cooked 3. Pad Thai which was really yummy, just not exactly Pad Thai-y. Spinach and Blue Cheese Stuffed Chicken – AH-MAZING! And Vegetarian Mexican Lasagne which was good but a little “meh.”  I like me a little MEAT in my food.

-Stop swearing: Meh… still a work in progress. I think I was focused on the other goals a little more than this one

-Love my husband more: Oh and I looooved him, let me tell you! ;)

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Excuses

August 31st, 2010

I live in a place where it’s sunny 360 days of the year and always over 60 degrees. I’m 5 miles from the beach and about a mile away from various hiking trails.  I have NO excuse to not work out.

I have multiple workout dvd’s, a set of 3, 5 and 8lb free weights and 4 days off work a week. I really have no excuse not to work out.

I have a good job to pay for healthy produce and good food. I have a number of cookbooks and a kitchen complete with a blender (fruit smoothies, anyone?), KitchenAid mixer, food processor, tons of pots and pans, Pyrex dishes, beautiful new knives and cutting boards. (Aren’t wedding registries awesome?). We have a brand new stainless steel 2 door huge fridge with 3 drawers for produce. I have no excuse not to cook and eat healthy.

Still, I somehow come up with excuses every day.  Some of my favorite excuses are:

-“I’m tired/want to sleep in/want to go to bed.” Suck it up, Kate. You’ll get more energy after you work out, the paradoxical affect…

-“I worked today.” Like most responsible adults, yes I work. Work doesn’t stop other responsible adults from taking care of themselves.

-“My running buddy is either working or canceled on me.” This one really is my favorite… cuz when she cancels, I’m off the hook. But I’ve worked out alone plenty of times. That’s what ipods are for.

-“I want to spend time with my Hus.” This one really is a legitimate excuse, as our relationship is the most important thing in my life. BUT taking care of myself allows me to love and take care of HIM more. Again, a paradox. (I hate these dumb paradoxes!)

-“I don’t have time.” Blah blah blah. Everyone has time for a few crunches/push ups/cutting veggies instead of chips.

-“Just this ONE piece of chocolate/brownie/anything else covered in sugar/oil/fat deliciousness.” No dice.

-“I worked out today so I can reward myself with some goodies.” Why negate a workout with junk food? (Hmmm idea! I’m now going to reward myself with RETAIL THERAPY!… I wonder how my SCB will think of my new reward system… muahahaha)

-“It’s a gift. I have to accept a yummy gift, it’s rude not to!” Accept gifts. Just don’t drink the whole bottle/annihilate the entire plate. Everything in moderation.

-“It’s my one week a month I’m allowed to eat salty and sugary goodness cuz it’ll make my cramps feel better.” You know what also makes cramps feel better? Calcium (blah, hate milk!) and working out (Mr. Paradox, I now despise you.)

Clearly I’m fighting with myself here. :) And although, I really have ZERO.ZIP.NADA. NO actual legit excuses to not take care of my body, I unfortunately love everything bad for me. I love being lazy. I love junk food. I love desserts and cookies and peanuts and chips and mmm… I’m making my mouth water…

BUT (and there’s always a but, isn’t there…)

I have no excuse. No excuses to not work out every day that I’m not working. No excuses to eat crap. My body IS a temple. It’s one of the only things I can control in my life, so it’s high time to take control. It’s time to say, “Suck it up, Kate” and get my buns in gear.

So World, this is a shout out to you to be my accountability buddy. It’s September tomorrow, and in my effort to “Be a better person”, I’m including my “No excuses” policy and you, Internet World, to make a happier, healthier Katie.

Now excuse me while I go munch on some carrot sticks while trying to convince myself they’re pretzels dipped in chocolate… mmmm


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The Silver Year

August 18th, 2010

On the 13 day anniversary of my silver anniversary birthday, don’t you think it’s appropriate to finally reflect on my big 2-5?

I do. Actually, for the same reason I despise New Years resolutions, I also think ANY day is appropriate to reflect on anything.

BUT going against my reasons for disliking New Years resolutions, I actually AM doing a sort of “Year 25 makeover.” I was inspired by my dear mother who makes yearly goals beginning at her birthday. Her goals are very big and sort of vague, but still achievable. For example, this past year her goal was to compliment people more often. So whenever she’d be in the grocery store or library or ANYWHERE where she ran into someone deserving and likely needing a compliment (cuz seriously, when do we ever NOT need a compliment!), she’d just bust it out. “You have great hair.” or “Thank you for bagging my groceries like that” or other silly seemingly trivial things that you don’t think matter. But to the person on the receiving end of that compliment, it isn’t trivial at all and those random ones given to me are the ones that make my day and stick out in my mind later. (Isn’t my Mom awesome? I want to be her when I grow up… And I hate to admit it, but I’m closer to it than I think…. aaahh! I’m becoming my MOTHER! Please excuse me while I go dye my hair and change out of the same type of clothes she wears…)

Anyway, my goals for 25 are a little different. I’m going to be doing different monthly goals WITHOUT a larger year-end goal in mind. Although, I suppose all of these monthly goals could add up to a vague year-end goal like, “I’m going to be a better person this year.”

So here are my goals for month 1, August in my attempt to “be a better person:”

-Work out 20 days this month.Progress: On day 18, I’ve worked out 9 days. This was the one I totally thought I could hit but it’s proving to be harder than I thought! There are so many days I just DON’T want to do it. And it’s especially hard after working 12 hours on my feet (which I don’t count as a workout… a workout is any physical activity that is EXTRA than my daily activities). To be honest, I’ve only worked out after work twice. But there are 13 days left in the month and I have to work out 11 of those. I pretty much HAVE to put in the time after work for a couple days. Blah

-Cook 4 new meals this month. Progress: Zip. Zilch. Nada. Zero. I have not cooked ONE DAY this month! Not ONCE! But, similar to my lack of blogging, my lack of cooking is also due to the same reasons. I don’t do NOTHIN’ on my work days, which have been 8 so far this month, and the in between days (until today), we’ve been out of town. So I’m off today and I cooked a new meal. The verdict is still out how it turned out (Being the official taste tester of my food, I liked it… whether the boys in my house do, well… even if they don’t, too bad.) And I’m off for the next 2 days too, so hopefully this week I’ll knock out 3 out of the 4 new meals this month.

-Stop swearing. Progress: For the most part, I keep my mouth pretty clean. The problem still remains in my head. That’s right, I curse like a *@#$%’ing sailor in my mind. For silly things, like I drop a pencil and the whole dictionary of curse words run through my head. Thankfully, these do not make it out to the general public (often), otherwise I’m certain someone would test me for Turrets. Needless to say, this one also needs work… but only in my mind. Wierd, huh?

-Love my husband more. Progress: This one is going to be a lifelong goal. And it’s hard. Of course it’s easy to love him when he’s nice back or when things are all gravy baby, but it’s been difficult to not grumble when he asks me to clean up after a long day at work, or when I’m in a particularly menacing mood. Thing is with this one, instead of looking at how much farther I have to go to not be selfish, I count the good days and make note of the bad ones, and realize that’s what marriage does – make you less selfish. So in the year and some change we’ve been married, I think I’ve made some pretty good progress. And we have a lifetime ahead of us to keep working on loving each other more fully.

So there you have it, World. Now with me telling you my monthly goals, it is YOUR job to keep me accountable. You’re my accountability partner, World, how do you feel about that? Some big responsibility for ya there, huh! So to help get me through this year long personal Lent, I’m going to go have some chocolate. I did work out today, after all.

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