January 14, 2010
resolution schmesolution
491 days ago (roughly) I started exercising. I exercised for 10 minutes. T. E. N. I climbed on the elliptical machine in our lodge room, huffed and puffed for 10 minutes (rather pathetically I might add), and climbed back off. I was completely alone and it was good and humiliating at the same time. And then I didn't exercise for 7 days. Didn't feel up to it at all. Seven whole days of moping around the house feeling tired and glancing angrily at the elliptical machine. Finally I got back on the machine the following week and I exercised for 10 minutes. Yep. Ten again. Good again. Humiliating again.
I wasn't motivated by a new year. Nope. I was motivated by my very first cancer scare, my children, and the belief that it was time to become the person I wanted to be. [You can think of it as a version of the 40-year-old mini-mid-life crisis if you'd like. I won't be offended.] I clung to those things during those first days and weeks when I didn't want to do it, when I was still tired and sore and miserable, when it all felt so pointless.
I'm 30 pounds lighter (some days, and other days I'm not); I can run 8 miles for the first time in my life; I can swim 1/2 mile (on a good day, when I'm not panicking about my breathing, or lack thereof); and I can ride my "road bike" 15 miles without wanting to die in the middle. I like all of those things. A lot. This is not a challenge to you but an encouragement. Whatever it is you want to do, well, you can do it if you really, really want it. If you don't really, really want it you can still do it but I don't know if you will.
Here's some advice you didn't ask for and probably don't want:
- Although we are a generation and a nation of immediate gratification types you don't need to do everything today. In fact I believe that if you do just one thing today (rather than 30 or 12 or even 3) you will do better in the long run. Pick something easy. How about replacing your calorie beverages with water? Or getting 1/2 hour more sleep tonight? Or walking around the block right now? Sure, it might feel pathetic. Do whatever it is anyway. Call the doctor. Write that letter. Buy yourself a journal or a calendar or some post-it notes or a new pair of sneakers.* Go outside and stare at the sky for a while. But remember: just one thing. There's time for all of those things you want to get to and you don't want to lose your focus on the very first day, do you?
- Create a little support network, even a super duper tiny one. These things are more fun with other people to whine at, right? And then they whine back at you which oddly doubles the fun. Make yourself accountable to at least one person (and that person may not reside in your own head with you).
- Make a promise to yourself, give yourself a little treat right this minute, make a list of things to bribe yourself with, put your goals on the bathroom mirror, make a brand new playlist, recruit a buddy, bookmark something you really, really, really, really want.
- If you just can't get going on something you know you want to do think about the part of you that really wants to move forward. And then think about the part of you that doesn't, and figure out what's going on over there. There's a reason you aren't moving forward—what is it?
That wasn't too bad, right? The resolutions, the naval gazing, the new beginnings, they're all cliche. But at the same time isn't a brand new year a good time to start over, motivate yourself, or admit something big to yourself? Well, isn't it? If you need more time the Lunar New Year begins on Valentine's Day this year. That's 31 more days to relax before you start your new beginning.
I've got more goals this year than usual. I suppose if you set a goal and accomplish it it's easier to set the next goal. Plus I'm a freaky freak now who has a big, crazy goal which will take years to accomplish. And the New Year makes me a little giddy some days. Giddy like insane.
- I want to run 10 miles for the first time ever this year.
- I want to ride my bike 30 miles at least once this year.
- I want to swim 1/2 mile in the lake (not the lagoon) without feeling like I am in the process of drowning.
- I want to get a better time in my triathlon this year than I did last year.
- I want to get closer to taking 365 photos in a row than I did last year.
- I want to get my yellow belt.
- I want to keep the blog going for 12 months, even through the summer, this year.
- I want to dye my hair pink.
If you've read this far and you aren't completely annoyed with me I have a little surprise for you. Free stuff that's already bought and ready to go. A little care package just for you. New Year's resolutions type of stuff. Leave a comment. You can tell me one of your resolutions, tell me you hate resolutions, make funny faces, or just say hi and you're entered just like that.
*If your goal is exercise related I'm very serious about the sneakers (or insert appropriate footwear here). New, properly fitting, made-specifically-for-your-sport-of-choice footwear is important. It will make you feel perky and you will prevent injuries and foot problems and you might even cause a new star to be born. And if you are going to run I'm even more serious. Find yourself a good running shop if at all possible. Get the new shoes no matter what.
I'm working toward no artificial sweeteners this year. I miss my beloved diet coke! ;)
Posted by: Jamie at January 14, 2010 4:31 PMMy goal this year is to lose the thyroid weight I have gained and get back to my pre-pregnancy weight. My youngest child is 5.5... I think it is time.
And I am glad you are back!
I've given up my multiple bottled mocha Frappucinos per day. Now I have one once every few days, or once a week. An amazing side effect is that I no longer have stuffy Eustachian tubes any more, and a lot less sinusy stuff.
I need to get back into exercising; I was doing quite well previously, then overworked my knees and stopped. :-(
Posted by: OmegaMom at January 14, 2010 4:38 PMTwo of my goals for this year are to run at least twice a week and learn linear algebra (not at the same time).
Welcome back!
Posted by: k2 at January 14, 2010 5:07 PMYellow belt? I'm assuming martial arts--what sort? This summer, my husband and I started at an "American Karate" dojo that's based on tae kwon do. (Our daughter has been doing it since she turned five, almost two and a half years, and thinks it's very cool that we have to call her ma'am in the dojo.)
So one of my resolutions is to get myself to the dojo pretty regularly, even when I'm tired. My other one is to keep an open mind about people and stop being so freaking judgmental.
Posted by: Jess at January 14, 2010 5:37 PMI'm working on losing weight and having a healthier lifestyle. I've made similiar resolutions in years past but this year it feels different. I feel much more confident that I will do it this time. It feels much the way I felt when I quit smoking cigarettes 18 years ago...difficult but I was going to do it and I did! Here we go again. Thanks for the inspiring post.
Posted by: Sparky at January 14, 2010 5:44 PMGood for you! I love the idea that just one step, even a tiny one, is enough to get you moving on to other steps. Thanks for that perspective.
Posted by: dee at January 14, 2010 6:06 PMVery inspiring, and good for you! Very glad you're back.
I've lost 40 lbs by (mostly) changing my eating habits. -t's not progressing though, and I need to exercise. Working on that.
Also, reducing stress, moving towards adopting other children during The Big Wait (maybe SN), and continue my progress to completing my degree.
Congratulations on making such progress in the past year! Best wishes on your new goals.
Posted by: Angela at January 14, 2010 9:02 PMHey there! Glad to see you back! I'm very proud of your accomplishments! Good for you!
I really need to lose 10-20 pounds and tone up and I really don't have a plan at all. I really hate exercising. So I guess my New Year's resolution is to figure out why I am so opposed to exercising and try to fix that.
Posted by: Lisa at January 14, 2010 9:10 PMi would like to stop putting everything off... to just DO something in a timely fashion...
Posted by: kris at January 14, 2010 10:45 PMOne of my resolutions was to be more active. I would like it to turn into a weight loss goal but that's too much for me to think about right now so I'm starting with this.
Posted by: michelle at January 15, 2010 12:37 AMk2: I got a C in linear algebra in college. It's one of my worst memories from that time, as I was planning on a math minor.
Jess: We started E. in karate last fall and I was immediately smitten. I started in November. I'm learning Tang Soo Do, which is Korean in origin. I wish it was Chinese karate but you can't have everything, and I've been told you can switch from one to the other with time. I am completely in love with karate and you'll be hearing much more about it.
Lisa: Exercising sucks a lot of the time. I hope you can find something you enjoy.
Kris: You made me laugh. I say that to myself all the time.
Michelle: I couldn't face the thought of "losing weight" so I began with exercising. It made the whole process a lot easier for me. Backing into it worked wonders.
Posted by: Amy/grrlTravels at January 15, 2010 2:45 PMOh PLEASE dye your hair pink! That would be so fun. All good resolutions but that is my fav. So proud of you for all that you did last year and excited for all you will do this year.
Posted by: prettydecoratorgirl at January 15, 2010 3:17 PMYay! I think tang soon do is kind of related to what we're doing. So glad you like it! I tell pretty much everybody to do martial arts.
My husband is already planning to try another discipline when we make black belt--which is, admittedly, not going to happen for over two years, but still.
Posted by: Jess at January 15, 2010 4:17 PMOh~I love the idea of pink hair too. Somewhere in the back of my not-so-mini-midlife crisis mind, I want red dreads and a tree tattoo. There is a greater chance that my other goal of becoming a better and healthier cook will happen first.
I love this post. I have missed you.
Posted by: Tracie at January 16, 2010 7:53 AMThis year I vow to be healthier- eat better, exercise more. I have been pretty good about exercising for the last 10 months but I need to improve my eating habits in a big way.
Posted by: suzanne at January 16, 2010 6:21 PMLosing weight is my resolution.
Posted by: Kikilia at January 16, 2010 7:02 PMI want to get back into the 150s this year. I need to get into better shape but don't have a idea of what that involves.
I also intend on completing our first adoption this year ~ a beautiful little girl from Eastern Europe :)
Blessings,
Grace
Oh great you're back! I missed your writing. So positive to read about your year .. just great. I want to start preparing to go back to school and get another Degree and something else that is so scary and important to me that I can't write it here .. I'll just whisper it.. but I'll start it again. There is an arabic saying I like ... it sounds like .."shweye shweye".. little by little.
Posted by: Joanne at January 29, 2010 10:14 PMMy oh my I keep forgetting you're here too! I have this awful habit of leaving things out in the hopes of putting them back later. Like coffee creamer. Do you know how short of a trek it is back to the fridge? So, my rez is to put things away within 15 minutes of using them. And get an tattoo of a Victorian umbrella on my back. And get sunlight.
I know. Strange.
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