A new goal to achieve for New Year...

"So hold this feeling like a newborn
All the freedom surging through your veins
You have opened up a new door
So bring on the wind, fire and rain..."
~Missy Higgins, Steer


Having a short term goal is important and my new one is multifaceted. Goals, I think, help me to stay motivated and on track. When the times come where I want to say, "Screw this!" and blow off my plan for a week, it is helpful for me to think about what it is I'm trying to achieve. That actually may have more to do with long term goals but setting short term goals helps me to get there. But just to be clear...what are my long term goals? Let me give you a list:
-lose 65 pounds (yes, this has changed...originally it was 50)
-establish long term exercise plan (ideally, I'd like to run 3 miles in 35 mins 5x a week and practice yoga 5x a week)
-establish a healthy lifelong eating plan
-fit in a size 7 pair of True Religion jeans (my goal jeans!)

So my short term goal? 175lb at New Year. At my last weigh in (on Friday morning), I was at 181. That's 1.5 lbs a week. Doable, I'd say but considering I was loosing a pound a week for a while there, it is going to take a little more effort to hit 1.5 a week. Thus, the circuit workout.

I started doing circuit training this morning. We have a small home gym in the basement and it is perfect for the circuit training that Jillian Michaels suggests on her website. I've tried to incorporate it at the gym but they just aren't set up for that kind of workout there. At home, I have an elliptical that I can hop on for the aerobic portion of each circuit. And there's space right beside it for me to do the floor exercises/weight exercises of each circuit.

So why crank up the intensity? I would like to say because I am just feeling like now is the time. But there's probably more to it...

I have had a taste of success...losing a significant portion of weight...10% is no mean feat! By the way, I took two measurements this morning and I've lost 3 inches in both my waist and hips. So this taste of success is motivating to me. I want to get fitter! And I think upping the intensity is going to bring more success.

But I'm also starting the circuit training because it really makes me feel strong. And I want to start seeing some definition in my arms and legs. And I want to give my metabolism a boost. AND, when I work out in the mornings, it sets a positive intention for the day...I feel better. I haven't been getting to the gym in the mornings to treadmill, so I thought just getting up and going down to the basement gym is something that is completely doable. (And wouldn't you know it...I woke up to snow on the ground this morning...great incentive to stay home and not go outside).

The other piece of the workout...cardio, I will still do at the gym because guess what? I like the treadmill. I always have and have always been most successful at keeping a long term exercise plan when I've used the treadmill. So I'm still going to do that but will go in the evenings after work. My goal this week is to hit my 500 calorie burn through it (with the circuit as bonus calories burned).

And there's another piece to my workout puzzle...it's yoga. So yesterday I met with this lady, Tiffany, who is a yin yoga teacher. She came to the house to give me a personal yoga class. (Believe me! It was a really good deal because she's currently between yoga gigs after just having a baby!). I'd really like to see if she's interested in trading massage for a yoga class once a month but that's a whole other post! So the yoga class was really good. It's the kind of restorative yoga practice that I've been wanting to develop and reminds me of those days so long ago (I was about 12-13 years old) when I would stretch and luxuriate in my flexibility. So I am excited about having finally found a practice that resonates with me.

I'm not looking much beyond this short term goal. I will re-evaluate come January 1st. Getting through the holidays losing weight rather than gaining will be a true testament to my plan! But...just maybe I'll be fitting into those goal jeans by my 46th birthday...