A new year is upon us. Time to reflect on what last year brought us and what is in store for the future.
I must say, I am quite surprised with what I have accomplished over this past year. I have lost over 100 lbs. in one year. I dropped my pants size from a 54" waist to 46" waist. I dropped an "X" from my shirt size. I now feel comfortable in most 2XL shirts. I no longer have to buy my wardrobe from one particular specialty clothing store. Now I can shop just about anywhere. And the biggest surprise to me is that I STILL want to workout and exercise. I have taken a break in order to get a few other things in order right now, but I still can't wait until I can start exercising again. I love the feeling of accomplishment afterwards plus the soreness that lingers for a few days. It may sound weird, but later on in the day I feel I breathe better. It's hard to describe that feeling, that feeling of "being healthy." I still have a ways before I reach my ultimate goal, but I feel healthier than ever before. That is a good feeling I have not felt in a long time.
So what's in store for 2011?
1) I'm starting off the same way I started last year, with a simple challenge. I want to lose 30 lbs. in two months. This one is going to be a bit more of a challenge. I don't have that much more to lose as compared to a year ago. If I lose 30 lbs. I will be more than half-way to my ultimate goal. But this is a challenge I will not take lightly. I know how to do it. I know what needs to be done. Once again, the main part of this challenge will not be the exercise but the food intake. I need to do some serious calorie counting and managing if I am going to lose anything.
2) I want to take my workouts outside. I have been doing my workouts either in my living room or in my garage. Now I want to take it to the open road. I want to fix up my bike, buy a new pair of running shoes and get moving. I've done some research into a few areas I can cover. I mapped out a 5-mile trek around my neighborhood. I mapped out a marathon distance trek along Ocean Dr. I also did some research on-line on various running websites. A few friends on Facebook have tried Couch to 5k program. This gives you a regular routine that will have you running a 5k (about 3 miles) in about two months. I also looked into races available in the area through Runner's World magazine. There are not that many here in town, but there are several here throughout the state of Texas.
3) The motto of the P90X program is not "I can't" but "I currently struggle with." For me, I currently struggle with doing chin ups. That is one thing I have NEVER been able to do. EVER! I want to change that. I currently struggle with doing regular push-ups. I can do about 12 - 15, but then I have to switch to the modified version and drop to my knees. I want to change that. I currently struggle with sit ups. I cannot complete the entire Ab Ripper X workout. I do as much as I can and modify when needed. I want to change that.
4) Getting back to the food and calorie intake, I need to take in healthier choices and cut out as much of the bad stuff as possible. This is the time when every calorie counts. I don't drink a lot of water when I'm at home. I usually drink Kool-Aid or Crystal Light Lemonade. It's not much but each 8 oz. serving is 5 calories. But I don't drink just one cup, I drink it all. One container makes a total of 48 servings. That's 240 calories of nothing. Like I said, I know it's not much but every calorie counts. That's not the only thing. I'm not huge on fruits and vegetables. My fruit intake is limited to apples and bananas. My vegetable intake is practically zero. Sometimes I'll have corn, carrots or green beans with my meal. But that's usually when I go out. I don't prepare many vegetables at home. It may be easier nor the healthiest choice, but I have looked into frozen packages of vegetables from the store. I have some baby broccoli for my chicken alfredo meals, cans of unsalted corn, lettuce and pickles for burgers and sandwiches, but that's it. That is the extent of my vegetable intake. That needs to change and on a more regular basis.
5) I now feel my big goal is finally within my reach: to weigh 250 lbs. This is the big one. This is the goal I have been working for all this time. I would like to reach this goal in six months in time for my birthday, but if I have to reach it by the end of the year, so be it. But I WILL reach my goal this year.
So that's what I have in front of me for the new year. I do have more goals but that is for another blog.
