Overweight going on 30.

In 14 months, I will be turning 30.

Darren will be nearing the end of his schooling for his Masters in Counseling.  Kaia will be beginning Preschool.  Tallie will probably be dictating novels.  Me?  Well, I want to not look like I do now.  I've been getting really bitter and negative towards myself, and I don't like where my body-image is right now!

So, I made a goal.  Between Nov 2013 and Nov 2014, I want to lose one pound a week.  That's it.  One measly pound a week.

I'm awesome at making goals.  I'm less awesome at meeting those goals.  And, I know this about myself.  As I mulled this over, and thought about how to work towards this goal and minimize my chances of failure, something happened that boosted my confidence and gave me a shot of creativity.

Darren and I are on a very strict budget.  But, I desperately needed a new outfit for work, so he gave me an amount I could spend, and I drove around town looking for the perfect dress.  Usually, when I go into the dressing room w/ my items, I try on my least favorite stuff first, in hopes of ending on a high note.  Instead, this time I tried on first the outfit that I liked the most and that I thought would fit the best.  And it was perfect, I loved it, and I didn't even try on the other 5 dresses I had brought back.  It dawned on me.  Turning 30 may stink...but dangit by now I have figured out what I like and what works for me!

I know this is sort of a dumb story (and totally First World)...but as I was looking in the mirror at my new dress, I realized that I have more power and self-awareness than I was giving myself credit for.  With this new realization and revived energy, I hatched my plan for the next 14 months.

Losing 52 pounds by 30, The PLAN

The Goals:

I will come up with umpteen precise, do-able goals.  Each goal will be something that I can reasonably expect myself to do for 7 days without fail.  Examples are:  No soda/pop.  75 squats each night.  No chocolate.  Go to bed hungry.  No white bread.    4, 30-second planks each night.  Say something nice/complimentary to yourself every morning.  3 miles, 4 mornings this week.

The Jar:

Each goal will be printed onto a slip of paper. The slips will be folded and placed into a jar.  

The Months:

On the first Sunday of the first full week of the month, I am going to pull out one slip.  That week, I will stick to whatever that slip says.  The next Sunday, I will pull out another slip; that week I will do both items for that week.  This continues, and the last week of the month I am doing four items.  At the end of the last week of the month, I will put all four slips back.  The first Sunday of the next month, it starts all over.

The Reasoning:

I get bored quickly-  With this plan, I have a new (do-able) challenge every 8 days!  

I get bogged down by guilt- I don't have reason to feel guilty for eating chocolate during a week when that isn't a goal.  I am following just that week's goal(s), without going crazy in other areas.

I get overwhelmed- The goals are small, precise, and the ones I hate I know will end at the most after a few weeks. (unless I draw it again, buwahaha)

I compare myself to others- This is MY plan, no one else has one like it.  So, I can't compare myself if I'm on my own track, with my own quirky goals.

I am pretty excited about this plan, and Darren is very supportive.  (He's always supportive, love that guy and so glad he puts up with me!)

I have already started to test out some things, so that I don't feel like I'm starting from scratch when I turn 29 in November and this all starts.  I am very proud to say that I have gone 5 days without pop!  At the end of day 2 I looked into Darren's eyes and said, I want a liter of Diet Pepsi, in a foam cup, with tiny ice chips, RIGHT NOW!  But, I hung on and I've avoided a few close calls/temptations.  I've also been running and doing some lower back strengthening exercises since I am doing a 5K in October.

I'm pretty excited about this plan.  I thought about saying that I was scared...but I think that doing the mini this year took away a lot of my fear about striving towards big goals.  But there is something else.  hmmm.  Not quite anxious.  I'm excited and ..... umm ..... edgy, maybe?  Kind of like I'm base-jumping and know I'm attached to safe apparatus...but it's still quite the leap.  I don't know.  Whatever.

Anyway, there you have it, people.  Feel free to hit me up in March and ask me what my goal(s) that week are- I could use the encouragement and accountability!