Weekly Goals

Two weeks ago I issued a challenge..... What do you want to accomplish over the summer?

Well, how has it been going?  Have you made any steps toward your end goals?  Have you completed any?  Do you still need to make some of those goals?

So far we've been camping (one of my goals).  And I'm down 1.6 lbs so far this month. 

It feels good to get some of these goals done.  I'm feeling a sense of accomplishment and I like it!

How have you been doing?

Weekly Goals

Last week I caught up on almost everything I've been behind on.  My house is actually still nearly-clean.  It's a Thanksgiving miracle (not quite as amazing as a Christmas miracle, but a bigger deal than Arbor Day).

This week my goals include journaling my food, making sure said food is healthy, hitting the gym 4 or 5 times this week, and surviving the last full week of the school year.  The last projects are due this week and I'm more ready to have the school year over than the kids are.  Maybe because they only have one project due each, so I have three due. 

What about your week?  Are you ready for the end of the school year?  Any final goals to accomplish before kids are home from school all day, every day, all week long? 

Weekly Goals

Last week I issued a challenge: Do something impossible.

Did you do it?  Did you succeed or was it a noble attempt?

My impossible feat took a major shift this week.  It started out with me trying to get the energy to do everything I've been puting off for the last several weeks -- things that it seemed I'd never get around to doing.  I was going to be so productive that I knocked my socks off.

Then came Tuesday.

I was wondering if I could do this, if I could actually do all the things I wanted to do, especially since I was battling the worst stomach flu of my life and a sinus cold that Millie so graciously shared with me.

Tuesday night, a different ailment struck me.  I miscarried the pregnancy I'd known about for about five days.  Second one in 6 months.  I didn't know if I'd mention this on here.  After all, it's my family tragedy, not necessarily a health issue we generally deal with on this site.  But it goes along with my goal for the week.

My new impossible feat became:  Heal.

I'm healing physically.  And much quicker than six months ago.  I'm healing emotionally.  Again, much quicker than six months ago. 

There's a big difference this time.  First of all, I received a blessing that brought more peace to my soul than I anticipated.  Second, I'm in a good place in my life.  I had a routine that I enjoyed and I'm happy to get back into it.  Third, I have a wonderful family that I love and adore and I don't want to lose any time with them being sad over things I can't control.

I'm healing.  And it's liberating.  No guilt, no torment, no regret.

I have peace.  Something I never expected to have so soon after a tragedy.  It is my impossible feat.

What is yours?

Weekly Goals

How did your week and goals go?  Any great successes or particular challenges?

My biggest obstacle is getting to bed at a decent time.  It was my goal last week.  It needs to be my goal again this week. 

This week's challenge:  Do something you once thought impossible to do.  And then tell us about it.

Some of the world's greatest feats were accomplished by people not smart enough to know they were impossible.  ~Doug Larson

Here's to us!
Think you can do it?  Sometimes the hardest part is realizing what the goal ought to be.

Weekly Goals

How did your Easter eating go?  Candy, chocolate, deviled eggs, ham, side salads, dinner rolls, you name it I most likely taste tested it.

I did try to prepare for Easter dinner.  I saved my calories for dinnertime and worked out a little extra Friday.  It truly felt like a Good Friday (I ran 3.25 miles and did my strength training class, whew!)

I'm switching things up a little this week.  My weigh in days have been Monday mornings.  However, I've begun justifying why my weight may not be where I want it to be:  "I didn't drink enough on Sunday.  "I didn't get a work out in on Sunday."  "I could be retaining water."  So I'm switching my weigh in days to Tuesday.  That way I have no excuses.  What it is, is what it is.  Plus, I get a sort of Last Chance workout on Monday and maybe I can boost my self-satisfaction a little more.

As for my goals from last week, I did okay.  I didn't overeat except on the day we got some Papa John's pizza.  I think it would've been easier to not eat three pieces of pizza if it had been cheaper pizza that doesn't make my mouth water just thinking about it.  Oh well.  Next time I'll try to listen to my body better.

This week I plan to go to the gym 4 to 5 days.  I'm watching my nephews a few days this week and I'm not sure how that's going to play into my routine.  I'll keep up on my food journal and drink plenty of water.  And I'm going to try to be in my bed (teeth brushed, prayers said, etc) by 10:30pm.  Earlier, if possible.  My food and exercise are becoming habits.  But my sleeping is suffering.

What are your goals and how did you do last week?  (All Easter-eating-related confessions welcome!)

Weekly Goals

This week my goal is to be much less naughty than last week.  Just because my oldest daughter turned double digits, doesn't mean I had to eat like I did and drink soda (gasp!) for the first time in weeks.  Stupid me.  I shouldn't have.  I worked hard all week at the gym and ended up only losing half a pound.  I'm hoping that most of that is due to retaining water.  The Naive Shelly would like to believe that.

So this week I'm going to go to the gym five days, drink lots of water, NOT eat pizza or drink pop, and very carefully chose if I will eat Easter candy, specifically which candy.  It's gotta be worth it.

How about you?  How did this week go?  Any changes you'll be making this week?

Weekly Goals

How did your week of goals go?  Did you do all you wanted to?

I had a great week.  I went to the gym 5 days last week.  I did my classes and ran three days.  I walked anytime I could.  I even dragged everyone out for a family walk yesterday.  It would've been much better if I had forced Millie to ride in her stroller.  Instead she decided to push her baby stroller (complete with a baby) and wanted to be carried about 1/3 of the walk. Maybe we'll try again next Sunday.

I journaled my food, let myself have a little slack and still ended up losing nearly 3.5 lbs.  I'm now at the weight I get to when I can't move the scale anymore.  I'm hoping for a much better result this time around.  Josh and I have started eating dinner-lunches.  I think this shift of calorie consumption helped me out this week.  Plus it's been nice having a good and quiet meal with Josh. 

This week I plan to keep up on my classes, either walk or run everyday, journal my food, and keep going!

(To Mindy: I think this is your first full week of exercising, if I remember right.  I hope you do well, but if I may, I'd like to give a little Been-there-done-that advice.  Take it easy this week.  It's been 6 weeks, but you're still healing.  An emergency c-section is much harder to recover from than a natural birth or even a planned c-section.  Make sure you listen to your body and don't be too disappointed if you can't do everything you want to do right away or if you tire too quickly.  You'll get there!)

How did you do?  What do you want to do this week?

Weekly Goals

Time to think about last week.  How did your goals go?  What did you do?

I went to the gym and tried out the classes.  They are very fun and I look forward to keeping them up.  During each class we use an entire song as we focus on different areas.  In the strength training class we work our shoulders for an entire song, our legs, arms, abs, etc.  The Combat class uses martial art and kickboxing moves.  We did sword training to one of the songs off the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack.  I loved it!

Despite all my training, healthy eating, and water consumption, I didn't lose any weight.  Not even an ounce.  I have to remember that I'm doing something new and this week should be better.

New goals: keep eating well, go to the gym 5 days a week, drink plenty of water. 

Here's to a new week, and even better results next week!

Weekly Goals

How was this week?  Did you attain your goals?

Last week I checked out the gym.  It's going to be interesting.  I opted not to pay the millions of dollars for a personal trainer (not the real price, just an approximation) but the classes will be fun and I'm looking forward to really getting into it. 

My eating went okay.  I did eat some of my simple carbs when I made calzone with Pillsbury pizza dough.  I don't really feel too bad about it, though, because it was a fun new recipe and it tasted good.  But overall, it was a good week. 

And I'm hoping next week is even better: 3 days at the gym, journal my food, drink lots of water, and get plenty of sleep.

How did you do?  Any new/standing goals?

Weekly Goals

How did your week go?  I can tell you that I survived my week, which was my only goal.  I knew I'd eat like junk (and I did) and I knew I'd skip my exercising (and I did) and I knew my whole routine would be off (and it was).  But the bathtub is in place.  Now we just have to find the time to finish the tiling.

This week I have a different goal.  Change is supposed to be good, right?

About a week ago I bought a gym pass from a friend of mine.  It's a 3 month pass and it cost me $20.  Since a single month costs $29, I thought this would be a great opportunity to try something new and shake things up. 

So tomorrow I'm going to the gym for the first time.  It's the beginning of my 3 month weight loss stint.  While I become a gym-goer I'm also going to cut stuff out of my diet.  I did this a while ago and had great success in eating so much healthier.  So during the next three months my goals are: go to the gym regularly (this week we'll see what "regularly" might mean), and cut out simple carbs, pop, and fatty foods.  I've learned that I need strict structure to lose weight and I haven't had that lately.  It's time for change.  And I think I'm ready.

What about you?  What are your goals this week?  How did you do last week?

Weekly Goals

Two weeks ago I made some specific goals.  Seeing as how it's taken me an extra week to get back into Blog Land, you may be able to imagine how my last two weeks went. 

Really, I tried to accomplish all my goals, but I just didn't get to everything.  Then I got sick last week.  We're talking zombie sick.  Night of the living dead/I can't fully open my eyes/I sound like a modern-day-Kathleen-Turner-as-Chandler-Bing's-dad sort of sick.

So sick I still haven't even seen last week's the Biggest Loser episode. 

I know.

So this week is different.  This week is our vacation week where we are devoting all of our childless hours to fixing a bathroom we didn't want to fix.

My goal this week is a daily goal: Survive. 

Maybe the word is even Endure.  I'm not sure yet.  If I come away from this week with a new tub, an intact marriage, and kids I'm happy to see, I'll be very happy.

How were your two weeks?  What's your goal for this week?

Weekly Goals

I just realized that I did not make any goals last week.  I think that may be one reason I had a rough week.  That and the fact that I had cruddy news in one form or another nearly every day. 

I think I need some specificity this week. 

1.  Spiritual -- read the scriptures daily, pray twice a day (at least), and read at least one General Conference talk a day.

2.  Physical -- get up between 6:00 and 6:15 am and exercise, whether I go running or do one of my boring videos at home.  And maybe buy a new video to get past my boredom.

3.  Emotional -- have a good cry.  I need the catharsis and a good chick flick might just do the trick.  But I'll have to watch it alone.  I can really use a good, loud sob and I can't really do that with other people around.

4.  Mental -- get organized.  I need to organize my coupons.  Might sound stupid, but the thought of that mess is stressing me out.  Also, I need to organize our budget, some paperwork for Josh's work, and prep for our new stupid bathroom.  Our bathroom is going to be very pretty, but that doesn't mean I have to like it right now.  Maybe I'll go into that more on my home blog tomorrow.  If I get some of my other things organized I'll get on that.

How did your goals go?  And any suggestions for my Goal 3?

Weekly Goals

How did your goals go this week?  What did you work on and did you succeed?

I missed my workout yesterday, but otherwise did a pretty good job of keeping my goal for exercising.  My morning routine is turning into more of a morning necessity everyday.  I'm happy about that. 

So tell me how it went: success, failure, and the gray areas in between. 

Weekly Goals

Short and simple: I did very little exercising this week.  Crud.

This week's goals include my morning ritual and beginning the training program I found online for a 10k.  I found this a few months ago, but didn't get past the second or third day.  So I'm going to try it again.  Why?  Because I need to feel accomplished.  I have no race I'm training for, but I think it would be amazing to run around the block -- an 8 mile feat.  For no other reason than "I can." 

What I like about the program is that it's a combo of running, strength training, and cross training.  It suggests resting on Friday, but running on Sunday.  I'm going to put my rest day on Sunday.  I have to make whatever changes are in my best interest or I won't succeed.

How did you do?  What are your goals this week?

Weekly Goals

Yes, I'm only one day late in posting this.  Ha ha!  I'm getting back on my game.  But, in truth, my laptop was about to die yesterday and it was only because of my gracious BIL that it has been revived.

So, how did your goals go this week? 

I feel the need to explain how my goal to exercise 30 minutes every day was completed.

The first few days of the week were great.  Running, biking, weight lifting.  It was very ideal.

Then Thursday hit.

At 11:30 Thursday afternoon I had to rush to pick up my nephew from the bus.  I had to grab the two babies (Millie and her cousin Ashton) so we could brave the cold and drive to the bus stop.

As the bus rounded the corner, the engine on the van sputtered and I officially ran out of gas.  Crap.

We live in a HOA area and I was worried about leaving the van parked in a bike lane. If I can't park on the street in front of my house, how many tickets could I rack up in the middle of a bike lane?  So I ran home.  Literally.  Luckily, it's not very far and I was able to grab the car and return to get everyone very quickly.  Then we went and filled up the gas can and returned to the van.  Then I played Vehicle Leap Frog as I drove the car, parked along the street, ran to the van, drove it around the car, parked, ran to the car, drove around van, parked, ran to the van, drove around the car.... you get it.  I'm pretty sure I got my 30 minutes, although not consecutively. 

And then I spent hours grocery shopping on Friday.  Lots of walking.  And I saved over 50% off my grocery bill.  Yee-haw.

So this week, my goal is the same.  Start my mornings off right (scriptures and prayers) and exercise for 30 minutes every day.  If I can just keep these two goals going, I'll be doing great.

How did you do?

Weekly Goals

How did you do with your goals this week?

I have to admit that by my obvious lateness in posting this, it's pretty clear that I've had one of those weeks.  It's as if my cold went away but left me with fatigue and a periodic runny nose.  Which is rough because it's such a great excuse as to why I can't fulfill any of my daily goals and why I think I must eat so badly. 

So it's time to evaluate and refigure.

My accomplishments this week were so-so. 

And so I try again.

Keep up my morning routine, exercise at least 30 minutes a day, and I'm having some fun with changing what and how much I eat at different times of the day.  I'm going for a larger lunch and a smaller dinner.  It's an experiment just to see if it makes a difference in my energy, how I feel, and my attempt at weight loss. 

How did you do?

Weekly Goals

Yes, I'm two days late with asking you to check your progress on your goals from last week.  I've been sick.  And it has messed with my brain.  I think I can finally use my brain for something other than a skull-filler. 

Back to business.

How did your goals go last week?  I had determined to wake up earlier to have some spiritual time before getting the kids up and going.  And really, before this cold knocked me down, I did really well.  My days were not perfect and the kids still argued and got into trouble.  But I was able to handle it so much better.  It felt so good and I'm pretty sure it was the goal I needed.

This goal is still a work in progress.  Unfortunately, habits cannot form in seven days.  And according to This Article from PSYBLOG, even the idea of 21 days is just an old wives' tale.  And none of us are old wives.  One study showed it took an average of 66 days to create a new habit. 

So, my goal this week is to continue my scriptural mornings (complete with prayer) and to exercise as soon as I can physically handle it.  Maybe by Wednesday or Thursday.  No need to aggravate my cold and make it last even longer than it has.

What are your goals for this week and how did last week go?

Weekly Goals

Looking back on your week, how did your goal setting/achieving go? 

I had decided to exericise at least 4 times during the week, and I did.  Yet I don't feel especially good about myself.

So I have to wonder, did I set the right goal?  If I had only one goal to accomplish for an enire week, what would it be?  It would have to be something that truly gives me a sense of joy as I fulfill it.  And another sense of joy when I finish fulfilling it.  It would have to be something specific, because generalities are impossible to complete.

So again I wonder, did I set the right goal?

Nope.  Don't think I did.  I didn't need exercise to feel good about myself this week.  I needed something else.  Something a lot more important.

This week I want to focus on the beginning of my day.  It seems that most days I press snooze for as long as I think I can get away with and then I run in a scramble to get kids dressed and fed, lunches thrown together, and kids out the door to the bus.  It's hectic.  It's messy.  It often includes tempers and whining. 

How am I supposed to want to do anything good with my life if that's how I start my day?  And my children's day as well?

So to truly find some happiness, my goal this week is to wake up half an hour before I "have to".  I want to take time in the quiet to read my scriptures and actually kneel to say my morning prayers instead of murmuring something as I'm running around because I know it's the only chance I'll have to pray in the morning.  If I can feel good about my spiritual efforts, hopefully I will feel better in many of my other efforts as well. 

Well.  That was longer than I intended.

What are your goals for the week?
Shelly

Weekly Goals

Okay, so it's that time of the week to realize that the weekend is over and it's time to get serious again.

Really, I think long term goals are important and necessary.  But they can't be fulfilled without the accomplishment of smaller, more manageable goals.  I encourage you to think of those things that you want to do in the long run: lose weight, eat healthily, not gain too much pregnancy weight, sleep more, etc. 

I've been trying to get back on the weight loss wagon, but I seem to lose steam by the end of the week.  I'm hoping if I have a forum to report to, I might be more conscientious of how I spend every day and what I do (or don't do).  If I will help me, maybe it can help you too.

What do you want to accomplish this week?  Just think of one goal that will help you feel good/healthy/invigorated.

This week I plan to exercise AT LEAST four times.  That includes running and/or videos.  I don't have a gym membership.  And until they are free and a lot closer to my house, I probably will continue my makeshift exercise programs for a long time.

What do you hope to do this week?

Bloggest Loser Day 42 and Weekly Goals

This week's Bloggest Loser winner was....

Carina with a loss of 1.37%!

Congratulations, Carina.  And congrats to everyone who actually LOST weight last week. 

I, for one, did not lose weight.  I'm not supposed to be gaining baby weight yet.  No, no.  I'm gaining Birthday weight.  We have yet to learn how NOT to pig out on birthdays.  Last week was Josh's.  Lots of excuses to overeat.  And then Josh got sick.  He had no appetite.  I had no real appetite.  Why the heck would I cook an actual meal that no one was going to eat?  But I have to eat something.  So I eat the ready-made junk food that I shouldn't have bought, but did anyway.  Another wrench thrown in my efforts to be healthy.

Also, this week I completed my Couch to 5k program.  I'm very happy about this.  You may have picked up on that fact since I mentioned it on my other blog and Facebook.  I just need to figure out what to do about it. 

As far as my goals for last week go, besides the cruddy eating and not enough water consuming, I did pretty well.

Goals for this week: Eat more fruit and less junk.  Drink more water.  I feel like I should be wearing a cow costume and holding a sign that reads "Drink mor watr" instead of the usual "Eat mor chikin."  But I don't need to imagine myself as a cow.  Not yet.

So tell me.  How'd you do?  Calculate your weight lost.  Successes?  Challenges?  You know, the drill...