Goal Setting

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Goal Setting

I know where I am.  Obese.
I know where I am going.  Healthy.


When you decide that you might want to go somewhere, the first thing you usually do is find it on a map, right?  You may do an internet search for photos of the place.  You may check out a book from the library or head out to have a cup of coffee at Barnes and Noble while you look at their books.  If you are like me you will check plane fares to see if the cost is something attainable.  No sense planning my 14 day Italian dream trip if I can't even afford to get there.

Getting healthy, for me started in much the same way. After tipping the scale at 200 pounds, I got scared. I decided I wanted to get healthy. I started a Pinterest board called Taking My Body Back. I checked out books from the library. I asked people what they do to be healthy. I researched the local gym (I live in a very rural area, so yes, we only have one). I calculated the cost to myself and to my family. I also calculated the cost of doing nothing.

Shortly after I made the decision to get healthy, something happened.  I was derailed by an unusually harsh allergy season.  It ended up being 10 weeks of sitting inside and trying not to move so I could breathe.  At an allergist appointment (after multiple GP visits) I was diagnosed with asthma.  The cost of doing nothing about my weight just went WAY up.  Did you know that obesity exacerbates asthma?

I had to get educated about asthma along with figuring out how to get my health back.  Once I did that, I made a body wish list, my reasons for change.  This will look different for each person, but for me it looks like this:
~I want to be strong.
~I want to feel healthy.
~I want to wear clothes that I like .
~I want to like what I see in the mirror.
~I want to kick asthma's butt.
~I want to live a long life.
~I want to be a good example to my children.

In order to get to those things I want, I need to plot out my course.  I chose the 12 week program Body For Life and based on that, I made some 12 week goals.
Within 12 weeks, I will:
~Lose 20# of fat and gain 10# of muscle. Achieved in Week Seven!
~Hike 5 miles without becoming winded. Achieved in Week Five!
~Lower BMI enough to be out of the obese range.
~Run a 5K.

There is a lifestyle that I have adopted in order to get to 200 pounds and sedentary.  In order to achieve my goals, there are some hinderances I will need to lay aside:
~My addiction to high calorie, low nutrition foods.
~Laziness (especially in skipping workouts).
~Fear of failure.
~Fear of success.

As I lay aside those things I am inviting new choices into my life:
~I choose to sleep enough by going to bed at 10:00 pm.
~I choose to rise early and run before the weather gets too hot and before my kids are up for the day.
~I choose to plan tomorrow's workout, meals and snacks.
~I choose to recognize and reject emotional eating.


So, today, I challenge you to make a wishlist, make goals from that wishlist and identify the behaviors that will get you there and ones that will hinder your progress.  It will be worth it, I promise!

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