Do Over!!

Surely, you remember that?! When we were younger, we'd engaged in some competition, but the moment someone didn't like the outcome, they'd yell, "Do over!" and a second chance was automatically granted.

So why don't we adults allow ourselves Do Overs?

I started a diet today... ugh. I loathe that word. I gained 6.5 lbs over the holidays and a recent vacation, and though that might not sound like a lot, next year, my holiday +5 will equal 11. Better to nip this in the bud pronto!

The day started off well... some coffee and a whole grain English muffin with spreadable fruit. I worked legs at the gym, followed by a yummy Pilate's class {and yes, exercise classes can, too, be yummy! }.

But then, the day got away from me and I got awfully hungry. I stopped at the store for my dinner ingredients, and guess what I found there? The last box of my favorite Christmas cookies... Danish Wedding Cookies.... melt-in-your-mouth, buttery shortbread cookies rolled in confectionery sugar. Simply divine.

I'm claiming that what happened in the car was not my fault. I seemed to loose all sense of myself, and while listening to some news talk radio, I mindlessly dipped into the cookies. That's not so bad, except... I didn't stop. Confectionery sugar everywhere. One huge cloud of it, contained within the confines of my car. I ate probably half of the box. Yuck.

Disappointed in myself, I snacked all day and refused to measure my dinner, and just consumed mindlessly again.

Why didn't my skinny self yell out Do over!! ?? Why are we so unforgiving of ourselves?

DOUBLE-DOG DARE: I dare you to allow yourself Do-Overs. The only rule for Do Overs are this: you must do-over immediately. You can't wait until next Monday to Do Over today's diet. As soon as you realize your goof, Do Over. Be patient with yourself, but be committed to your goal. Remember, forgiveness is divine, too.... it's just not as yummy as Danish Wedding Cookies.

I'm allowing it. For the sake of our younger selves.

Finding What Works

Have you set your goals?

'Cause it's a new week!

Mondays are great days to start... a clean, fresh beginning!

But if this is not Monday when you are reading it, don't wait! There's no moment like the present! Pull up your bootstraps & let's begin!!

You have to find what works for you. What exercises, what diets, what snacks, what patterns. It's different for all of us. And because what works for me just might work for you, I thought I'd share. But you think about you when you read this, 'cause we're different, with different likes and dislikes, different time constraints, different social desires... {And that's okay! We can still be friends!}

I'm not a good independent exerciser. I like classes. Maybe I'm just a social bug, but if I get to the gym, I'll work out. At home, there are

> too.many.distractions <

and I'll likely get side-tracked.

However.

One of my dearest friends is a runner. She's very good independently and would never need a gym to exercise. We both like the outdoors, but I'd rather be laying in the sun with a tall tea, thank-you very much, than running through the Great Smoky Mountains in which I live.

Knowing this, I never try to kid myself with thoughts like

I'll stay home today and go for a run later,

because I just know later will never be now and that run will never happen.

You might like running, or gym classes, or sports like tennis, or bicycling, or evening walks with your spouse, or other wellness classes like kickboxing, yoga or dance.

Find what works for you, and {borrowing from Nike}:

just do it.

It takes 6-8 weeks to develop a habit.

Start now!

DOUBLE-DOG DARE: Explore your community. Find activities, classes, sports that interest you. Try them! Find what works for you, then commit to it! Remember, cross-training is best for your body. Try to include activities that require strength, cardiovascular training, flexibility, and agility into a weekly schedule. Go for it!

Establishing Goals

{I have so many ideas for this blog that I've found them bottle necking in my throat, blocking the exit so that none can come out! I finally decided we should start at the beginning... figuring out what you want.}

'Cheshire Puss,' she began, rather timidly,as she did not at all know whether it would like the name: however, it only grinned a little wider. `Come, it's pleased so far,' thought Alice, and she went on. `Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?'

'That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,' said the Cat.

~Lewis Caroll, Alice in Wonderland*

Where do you want to go? Who do you want to be? How are you going to get there?

"People with goals succeed because they know where they are going. It's as simple as that."

- Earl Nightingale

Over the next few days, give some serious thought as to where you would like to be this time next year. Then shape those ideas into goals. Let's do that in steps...

First, make your ultimate objective your long-term goal. Then, divide it into mini-steps for several short-term goals. Your goals need to be reasonable (attainable), objective and measurable. So, for example: "I want to loose weight," is a great idea, and reasonable, too, but it is neither objective nor measurable. "I want to loose 20 lbs by this time next year, " is better. "I will go to the gym 3x/week; I will stop eating ice cream at 10:30 at night; I will develop a healthy eating plan in the next 30 days," are all possible short-term goals that will help you attain your long-term goal.

Then, (drum-roll, please...), commit to your goals. Believe in it, want it, live it.

DOUBLE-DOG DARE: Write down 3 reasonable, objective and measurable goals. They can be long-term with short-term goals that will help you get to where you want to be.

*Taken from Susan Heathfield's The Awesome Power of Goal Setting: Ten Tips for Triumph

Let's Get Started

Get ready to dive in... It's gonna be a good year!

As I travel the blog world these days, I can't help but notice all the goals to loose weight. I shouldn't be surprised, as I see this every year at the gym. I read posts and want to run with my arms out, head tossed back, screaming yes, yes, yes! But i also want to sneak up on the blogger

{from behind, you know, for the total startle-affect ~ I'm mean that way}

and tap her on the shoulder and whisper in her ear, but you're really missing the point.

The true goal should be to be healthy.

As we make healthier choices, one of the huge side-affects can be weight loss.

And better health.

And happiness.

And peace.

{And good-fitting jeans. Did I mention that one?}

I started this blog to share tips and secrets to living a healthier life. I plan to write about fitness and diet, emotional well-being, and spirituality.

Some days, I might post a recipe, or a photo that reflects healthy living, or let you know that Target is having a sale on work-out gear.

Or, I might rant over some health-related issue that has me fired up, like someone's crazy idea to suggest mammographys starting AFTER the age of 50, and then only every 2 years. Oh. Yeah. Go read about that! :)

Sometimes, I'll give you a little insight to make your weight-lifting more affective. And if you don't lift weights, but keep reading my tips, maybe ~just maybe!~ you'll be inspired to try weight lifting.

And because I'm a mom, and I have a daughter {I have two sons, too}, I might touch {only slightly} on positive parenting, only in how it affects the health of our children. And their self-esteem. And their eating habits. And their sense of worth. So yeah, maybe a little more than a little on parenting.

I'm no expert in any of these fields. I do have extensive background in fitness and physical health. And I have personal experience with loosing weight and WANTING to loose weight.

I also have personal experience with self-doubt, inability to spell, a wicked sweet-tooth, insomnia, and jeans that don't fit.

I promise to not pretend like I know something when I don't, and I will reference facts whenever I can. Some stuff I just know from graduate school or training courses and might not be able to properly reference. In those cases, I'll just write "IDKWIGT", or I Don't Know Where I Got That, or "IDKWIGTBIKIT" I Don't Know Where I Got That But I Know It's True.

I will also do weekly challenges {"Double Dog Dares"}. Look for them at the end of the posts. This is to motivate you to slowly incorporate healthy habits into your way of living.

Like I said, I'm a mom. And a wife. Sometimes my balance gets outa balance and I have to withdraw, but usually no more than a few extra days. I promise I'll never leave you.

C'mon. Let's start.