Sunday, January 1, 2012

Shrink Yo' Self in 2012

10KaDay Challenge

I've recently discovered a great online support group, The Sisterhood of Shrinking Jeans.  It's a support site that offers forums, chats and challenges.  Like their "Shrink Yo' Self in 2012"

The Assignment

What’s a challenge {and a new year!} without goals? We want you to think long and hard about this one. What do you hope to accomplish during the next 8 weeks? What do you hope to accomplish during 2012? List your goals out. Think of ways that you will make these goals reality. Don’t just say you hope to lose 20 pounds or that you want to run a marathon. HOW will you lose those 20 pounds? WHAT steps will you take? Will you follow a specific eating plan? Will you attend meetings? Details, people, DETAILS.

What do I want to accomplish?

My primary goal is to lose my next 10 pounds, getting me to 220.

How will I accomplish that?

I need to write down EVERY. SINGLE. THING. that I eat.  Because if I don't, it's too easy to slip, nibble on this, snack on that and the next thing I know I've just consumed twice my daily calorie intake.

By writing down everything I eat, I also count my calories on the My Fitness Pal website. So my plan for these next 8 weeks is to ensure that I stay at or below my goal of 1690 calories a day.  And no, this doesn't mean eating 7 chocolate bars and calling it a day.

I will not however, deny myself treats.  The fastest way for me to fail is to cut out all snacks and deserts completely.  I fully believe that they can still have a place in my diet, as long as it's in moderation.

I will not allow myself to have money for the vending machine at work.  I know that I have no self control when it comes to this.  I take a healthy packed lunch everyday.  I have no need for cash while I'm sitting at the office.

I really struggle with snacking on the days that I work from home.  It's too easy and too tempting to have unlimited access to a cupboard full of food.  So I will still pack my lunch for those days.  This is going to be a tough one.  I may have to put up signs in the cupboard and fridge to remind me why I don't want to graze all day long.

I am not an in-real-life meeting person.  My Mom has attended T.O.P.S. meetings for more then 30 years.  I've gone with her a few times and I just can't handle everyone standing in a circle saying their pledge together.  But the invention of the internet has been great for me!  I LOVE forums, chat groups, blogs.  These are my "meetings".  When I need to reach out to someone, there is always someone on line.  I love to read other peoples success stories and their trials.  If they can do it, maybe I can too.

I MUST focus on my goals every day.  All day.  As soon as I stop thinking about what I'm doing, and why, I will stray.

No amount of dieting, calorie counting or wishful thinking is going to make my goals happen if I don't find a way to get active.  I suck at this.  It's January on the Canadian East coast, which means getting outside requires 20 pounds of extra clothing and then you have to creep along the ice and try not to break any bones.  We own an exercise bike, but it makes odd clunky noises with every peddle that just gets annoying. I have a yoga mat.  No idea what to do with it.  I like the Wii Dance games but never seem to do them. .  The problem is MOTIVATION.  I don't seem to have any.  Intellectually I do.  I know that I need to get moving, pump up my heart rate, get sweating.   I just can't seem to get going.  It's hard; it takes time away from other things I want to do; I would have to change clothes; it hurts; I'm too out of shape to get into shape.   I can make excuses all day long.  So this is going to be the one area that I really need to work on. If I could just get out of the chair and go start working on it!


8 comments:

  1. You can do it! Taking that first step is the hardest! I've decided to workout first thing in the morning...it worked today! lol Hopefully it will work the rest of the month/year as well!
    Welcome to the Sisterhood! It's a great place to hang out and just be you!

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  2. I've been exercising for over a year now (running and bootcamp) and I still have problems with motivation. One thing that helps me is going to a scheduled class that I've already paid for. Someone is expecting me to show up, and I don't want to waste the money I've spent. Another thing that helps is to register for a race. Again, paying for it ahead of time and then knowing that I'll need to run xx miles by xx date keeps me training. If I'm not registered for a race, I have a hard time finding motivation to run.

    I'm glad you found us at the Sisterhood!! I promise someone will be around when you come looking for support and motivation!

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  3. Motivation can be hard, even for those of us who work out regularly. I lean on the ladies at the Sisterhood to give me a good ass-kicking or a pick-me-up when needed. Also, I ignore the voice in my head that tells me to skip the exercise on the really down days. I can say this- I never regret doing the exercise, even when I don't want to do it in the first place. I can say 100% that I do regret NOT doing it when I choose that route.

    Lean on us as we will lean on you, too.

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  4. i agree with ann when she says "you can do this"...!! the sisterhood of the shrinking jeans is an awesome site with an awesome support group and etc.!! i have to say when it comes to my healthy journey i get most of my support on-line too....i don't have the money to join weight watchers or T.O.P.S. and or go to a gym and etc. and even if i could i don't think that would be for me... these challenges have been really good for me to help me with my motivation and etc.
    however, i did kind of slide backwards these past two months...but i am ready to try to get back on track and start eating better and making myself do some exercise on a regular basis...!!
    so, we can do this...!! :)

    tracy c.

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  5. Don't wait for motivation. Even if you don't want to you just got to do it. But just in case you need a little something extra... http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lvv9tg2avp1r2kgb3o1_400.jpg

    There it is :)
    You can do it.

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  6. welcome to the sisterhood!! :) so many awesome ladies that are around to motivate us at just the right moment.

    i admire your goals + realism. i'm the same regarding treats verses being thoughtful. restriction is the best way to guarantee i do exactly what i don't want to do!

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  7. I am like you...I want to lose weight but lots of times I just don't have the motivation to get off the couch. i decided to take each day and do one thing that is exercise even if it's just marching in place while swinging my arms for 10 minutes. It gets the heart rate up and gets me off the couch. Good luck...you can do it!

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  8. This: "No amount of dieting, calorie counting or wishful thinking is going to make my goals happen if I don't find a way to get active."

    It rings true for everyone, motivation is so hard. It will come, and we will kick you in the butt. Welcome to the Sisterhood!

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