iamnotdefeated

This Journal is as much about completing my resolutions as they are meeting my weight loss goals.  So that I see them and remind myself that I am indeed insane, I'm posting them up at the very top of the journal.  Consider this a call for cheerleading!  I am in need of someone (or several someones) who can cheerlead me through these resolutions!

As you can see, this post does not say "NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS as I'm writing this on April 30th of 2012. 2012 started rough with a brand new job followed by several rounds of bronchitis and recovering from the stress of my previous job. For the first time in many months I feel like I can actually begin the year like I should have back in January. For the first time, I also have some specific goal dates in mind for weight loss. I want to look good for my trip to New Zealand, but that means 100+ pounds down in 7 months, which is about 17 pounds a month. Its definitely doable, but from here on out, I will need not to lose track, period. I've also started on Weight Watchers online, but haven't up until this point seriously committed.

Onto the Resolutions:

Health:

• I want to lose 110 lbs and weigh under 200 by December 31st.
• I resolve to go to the gym at least twice a week and once during the weekend.--
• My goal is to go to the gym at least four times a week.
• I want to be more stringent on brushing my teeth after lunch!
• I'm limiting myself to 1 fast food meal during the week.
• I want to cook at least two dinners a week.
• Friday lunch and Saturdays are my not-so-stringent days - (if I'm good on Saturday though, I can be not-so-stringent on Sunday)
• I have to remember that going out to eat doesn't mean I have to be bad!
• I will absolutely stay on my diet track Monday through Thursday!
• I will treat myself to spa sessions on an as needed basis.
• I will learn to write all this down!!  And keep it organized!!

Education/Cultural:

• I want to read more: I'm going to strive for 20 books this year.
• I will complete Les Miserables this year (there are exactly 365 chapters in the book and its been on my to-do list for far too long)
• I will complete the Rosetta Stone Spanish Course I recieved for Christmas three years ago!

Organization:

• I will strive to keep my house clean!!
• I will do laundry more than once a week!
• My car-It will be clean!

Financial:

• I will continue to have great credit. Last credit check: April 2012 is great!
• I will become as debt free as possible (and put extra payments on my mortgage!).
• I will put money away for my vacation! (Retirement can wait until 2013)

Employment:

• Stay employed this year! (it sounds bad, but sometimes we never know in government contracting.)
• Keep my current salary range! (I really should hope it goes up, but I don't want to set my hopes up too high!)

So this is when I hold myself accountable, perhaps? How many people actually look deeply at the list and make judgements? This will most likely be my first.
 
2010 Resolutions:
Health:

• I want to lose 100lbs and weigh under 220 by December 31st.  I didn't even come close to this number; however I did actually lose weight.  I'm at 31 pounds loss since July 1st when I started a program.  The biggest win--I'm still with the program!
• I resolve to go to the gym at least twice a week and on Saturdays.  Yeah, this didn't happen at all.  The month of August I was great about the gym, until I realized that going to the gym was costing my body too many calories and it was refusing to lose weight even while on a strict eating plan. 
• My goal is to go to the gym at least four times a week. Ditto
• I want to be more stringent on brushing my teeth after lunch!  The fact I keep a toothbrush at work is about as successful as I got with this.
• I'm limiting myself to 1 fast food meal during the week.  This is getting even more difficult since I am leaving late from work and I feel like i'm literally starving halfway home.
• I want to cook at least two dinners a week. This is something Im actually somewhat successful with because of the supplements.  I will up this for next year.
• Friday lunch and Saturdays are my bad days - (if I'm good on Saturday though, I can be bad on Sunday)  This got better once I joined the program, but is slowly getting worse and worse.
• I have to remember that going out to eat doesn't mean I have to be bad!  Actually, I am somewhat better with this!
• I will make my lunch Monday through Thursday!  The program helps a lot with this, but I need to keep up with choosing to eat what I bring.
• I will treat myself to spa sessions on an as needed basis. Well, as needed was a very strong need, and I only treated myself once to a Brazilian Blowout, which is the most awesome hair treatment in the world, even if it does have formaldehyde in it.
• I will learn to write all this down!! And keep it organized!!  I started out totally awesome in July, and when I changed jobs, it went away.  I need to get back into the habit again.

Education/Cultural:

• I want to go to at least 2 lectures or seminars this year. Nope.
• I want to read more: I'm going to strive for 50 books this year50bookchallenge.  Not even close--but I did read a lot of Stargate, so that was awesome.
• I will complete Les Miserables this year (there are exactly 365 chapters in the book.).  Didn't even start it.
• I will go to at least 2 performances of fine arts this year. Yes!  I did a chamber music piece, saw Romeo and Juliet Ballet, and two BSO performances!
• I will complete the Rosetta Stone Spanish Course I recieved for Christmas!.  Didn't even load it this year.

Organization:

• I will strive to keep my house clean!!  Better, but there are moments its uncontrollable.  like now.
• I will do laundry more than once a week! Same
• My car-It will be clean! HA!!!!

Financial:

• I will continue to have great credit. Well Done!
• I will become as debt free as possible (and put extra payments on my mortgage!). No extra payments on my Mortgage, but I haven't been late on anything, and for a while I was very concerned about possible unemployment.
• I will put money away for my retirement. Started my 401k at my new job!

Employment:

• Get and keep a well paying job; I've got a job with a contract that ends in May. I hope to keep myself fully employed all year. I managed to stay off the Unemployment rolls, and outside of a short waiting for my start date, I was employed all year long!
• Keep my current salary range! YES!  I DID!!

In short, healthwise, I've made much more improvement in my body than I have done in years.  The goals I set in place would have helped me go further, but the movement is strong, and these are great goals for next year.  As for organization, living on one's own makes all the responsibilities in the house yours and yours alone, so needless to say i'm highly looking forward to a significant other who might possibly do my laundry for me?  Educational isn't nearly as far along as I'd like, but on the other hand, I've actually been working a lot, and I've taken on two new volunteer roles with my HOA and my Condo Association.  But I can actually get through Les Mis sometime.  I will!!  As to money, I'm holding my own, and this upcoming year with the stability of a permanent job will help everything further.  As to employment, I've landed a successful, somewhat well paying position that is intended to be permanent, which will allow me to plant a few more foundations and settle in.  Not to mention I'm settled in a much higher pay range than I was in September of 2008.  Its awesome.