New year's resolutions?

I recently read a post on resolutions (or intentions, I think the lady called them). The funny thing was, her list was very like mine.

My 3 resolutions, with detail!

1. Plan food & exercise - I already do this pretty well, but it will become more important since a subgoal here is to complete the couch to 5K and do an actual 5K. I must not just plan, but follow through.

2. Log Food & exercise. Not good at this one, but since I plan to join WW at work, it becomes important!

3. Interrupt negative self talk. A couple of things I've read recently: "What has happened in our past does not have to dictate our future. We can choose if we want to move forward. We can choose if we are worth it. We can choose if we want to be stuck." In other words, the only thing holding me back is me.

I have been working on this one a while, and I still struggle, but I continue to strive to understand why.

Not blogger savvy!

I tried changing my template, but wasn't happy with the way it moved all the stuff on the left to the right and didn't give it enough space, so I left it. i tried to figure out who my followers are, but couldn't figure out how to look & see! Grrr. Blogger is easy, but apprently not simplistic enough for me!

Procrastinating. Le sigh.

Had good workouts this week so far. Did a Gilad video with my new workout buddy Tuesday, yesterday we worked out with the personal trainer at work for a total body sculpt class, today we are doing cardio kickboxing - the trainer is going to help us get started. And do some stretching. So that's going well. New session of classes should be starting soon, although it sounds like he won't be having the lunchtime bodysculpt (grrr) - lunch classes aren't as popular here, but I'd rather not stay super late. I'll figure it out.

It's beginning to feel a lot like christmas, er, not so much!

It is a very weird thing to be driving home from work, listening to Christmas music and blasting the AC cause it's 85 degrees! However, last night a "cold snap" came in - it was 58 when I woke up! I had to turn the AC off!!! :-)

Weird as it may be, I understand why folks move here for the weather. You know those mornings you get mid-spring or early fall - the ones where the sky is just this preternatural blue, the air is a mix of gentle warmth with a touch of crisp breeze, and the smell is so clean that you have an overwhelming desire to lace up your sneakers and go for a long walk - oh, to Montana maybe? Do you know what I mean? Well, pretty much every morning here is like that!

I've also tried to cultivate the mindset of going to the carnival freak show every time I leave my house. It helps. (Ive never been to a carnival freak show in real life, but go with it). The other day (in the same drive home from the grocery), mom and I watched "dueling cars" - the guy in the straight lane wanted to go left and the guy in the left turn lane wanted to go straight - then as a double feature we watched someone slow down in the right turn lane, and then execute a U turn across 3 lanes of road. Mom said "I know some of them are old, but do you think that some come from countries that don't really have traffic rules???" Telling you: carnival freak show, with fabulous weather.

My stepbrother is headed out tomorrow - mom and the boy are going to visit my step sister and drop him at a friend's house (he's doing some tile work for them). It's been a nice visit, but we need to get back to our normal chaos.

I've thoroughly enjoyed the 2 weeks of quiet at the office (I've worked 3 days each week) - not sure I'm ready for that to get hectic again!

It's been a good holiday.

Happy holidays!

Just a quick note to wish anyone still reading happy holidays. Lots of stuff is going on around here - including healthwise, so I have a lot of catching up to do!

Highlights:

I am starting the couch to 5 k program as soon as my gift from hub arrives - a Timex Ironman watch with intervals you can set - perfect to doing walk/jog alternates of varying lengths! :-)

With the new year, work is offering Weight Watchers at work for free! I am willing to give it another shot since I've heard good stuff about the new program. In the past I tended to save points for junk food, but I understand the program has been redesigned to promote more balanced eating.

I gave up on my Omega juicer - there were fruits & veggies it didn't do well and the opening was so small that it took forever to chop everything! I bought a Jack Lalane at a very reasonable price and I am back to juicing pretty much every day! I find my hunger and cravings are much lower when I drink at least a pint of fresh juice every day.

Hub is home from NC - he is finally done working up there. Hurray! We have a weekend getaway planned (just the 2 of us) for the weekend of the 7th. :-)

Not sure what the new session of fitness classes at work will bring - right now I'm doing 1 stretch, 2 yogas, and 2 weight sessions in addition to my neighborhood walking. Hub and I agreed now isn't a good time to join a gym ($$) so walking will be our main cardio and I'll continue to use the fitness center at work.

I am trying to make healthier foods in more reasonable portions at home. Hub needs so badly to do something about his weight and I know I can't force him to, but I can at least offer healthy meals - well, healthy being relative. There are foods he & the boy refuse to give up, so I'm doing my best in those parameters. It's frustrating.

Mom is on board and she is walking with me some which is great. She is also drinking fresh juice, which is helping with her acid reflux, so that's good.

I've lost 12 pounds from my high weight. I have a way to go, but going in the right direction!

I'm excited that some good changes are coming - not just weight, but in other areas as well!

Ugh

Tuesday I received a portion of my grandmother's ashes in the mail, along with a note from my aunt. She had asked if we would scatter a portion of grandma's ashes on her parents' graves here in Ft. Lauderdale, which of course we will. She also let us know the date for my grandmother's memorial service in Arden and asked if I wanted to say a few words.

I doubt any of my half siblings will be there, but I'm pretty sure my dad will be. But I didn't get to say good-bye, I didn't go to the funeral, and dangit I want to be at the memorial service. My aunt said she felt like an outsider at the funeral - she isn't close to my dad and doesn't know any of my half siblings really. So it would be nice to be there for her as well. And I would like to see my aunt - grandma asked her not to speak to me or mom when grandma quit speaking to us (I don't know why and that's a whole other story). Good lord that side of the family is chock full o' disfunction.

Anyway, my aunt feels badly about that. I think she also realizes that my mom, son, and me are her best shot at family. My dad is a selfish person and they aren't close. His other kids are pretty self absorbed (my aunt asked my half sister for a ride from the bus stop to the train station in High Point - myabe 15 miles. My half sister (an episcopalian priest) refused because it wasn't convenient.)

Anyway, there isn't really anyone else. My grandma wasn't speaking to her oldest sister, who took all their mother's stuff when Nana died - included what was intended for everyone else. So, my aunt has us and 2 cousins she doesn't really know and that's about it.

I'd like to go - it would be a nice chance to see soem friends up in Asheville and re-connect with my aunt. But dealing with my dad is the stuff of nightmares. Well, the service is end of March so I have a while to think about it.