Setting the Goals (Part 3 of 4)

 

This image came across my newsfeed a few days ago, and it spoke to me so much. It was the perfect way to start part 3 of 4, so I borrowed it. 

See, about 15 years ago, at age 25, I set my last new years resolution. That resolution was never to set another one. Instead, I started setting goals. In the past few years, do I really focus on setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound) goals. What this means is I can track my progress. I can see if I am making it or not. This year I made hella progress on many little goals that lead to my bigger goal of getting fit and healthy. I invested in a tool that helped me with the blog, and I invested in myself building a small home/apartment-friendly gym. 

This year I can say that I changed mentally and physically. I started the year at 306.9 pounds with 54.4% body fat and a BMI of 53. I gained the covid 20, and by June, I weighed in at 328.6 pounds and 57.4% (BMI hit 56.8). As of Christmas Eve, I am down to 291.1, and 50.8% body fat and BMI back down to 50.3. 

My confidence has skyrocketed, and I am rocking selfies almost daily. I am also on the verge of truly joining Tik Tok and not just a bystander/supporter of those on the app. I am dressing my size and not hiding behind clothes that are 2-3 sizes too big. I worked hard for the current shape I have, and I am no longer hiding to make others feel comfortable. 

The above statements scare the f'outta me! Like seriously, they are way outside of my comfort zone. I am cool posting photo's. I am totally on board with sharing my journey-I mean; I have been writing about it for the last 8 years (HOLY CRAP!!). But putting out a video...Ummm, yeah, that scares me a bit, but it is also exciting to me. It is exciting because I have the confidence to do something in public for the first time in a long time that may or may not get me noticed. I used to karaoke almost every night of the week, and doing this is about the closest I will ever come to that again-I am seriously too old for that mess anymore. I need 7-10 business days to recover from a night out. 

So as I sit here contemplating it all, a question comes to mind...WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO LOSE? The answer is currently NOTHING! Let me repeat this... I have nothing to lose by doing this for my journey. I am no longer interested in losing weight. See, when you lose something, you tend to find it. Much like every year, find some or all of the 50-60 pounds I have lost on this 5 year plus journey. So, I did not lose 33.7 pounds; I dropped, shed, removed...whatever you want to look at it-them bitches are gone and not coming back. 

This year I also hit 100+ plus yes. Fit races completed with my outside races. I am now at 112 virtual races completed! My new goal is to hit 150, yes. Fit and add in a few outsides to help bring the total closer to 175; if not, hit that number by the end of 2021! 

I also have the goal of hitting 10,000 blog views. I can only do this by growing and finding all avenues to share. I am also going to be changing it up a bit next year. I am not just writing about the fitness journey. I am writing about being a Mom, wife, grad student...learning to create a balance as I move into a full-time career one interview at a time while being in retail management. I am tired of trying to compartmentalize my life...my life is organized chaos, and all of it, from chronic conditions to being married, impacts that journey, so I am done trying to hide it. 

This mindset is one that took years...yes, YEARS to not only find but adhere to. I am proud of all the applications and actions I took on my coaching this year. I found a WOE (way of eating) that does not trigger my food addiction/ed behavior. I found a solution to my fibro fog, but that is the next blog (hint, it is not found in a drug store or a doctor's office). I have adopted a new mindset. Life is about every choice we make. From the time our feet hit the floor in the morning, every one of our decisions till we lay our heads down at night. So, my way of surviving this crazy chaotic thing that is my life. I am simplifying things (some of the decisions are no longer in my hands-this will be explained in the next blog, too); all I have to do is make sure my next decision is better than my last one. By simplifying this process, I no longer make to-do lists that are 3 days long. I don't over complicate the WOE; I do not feel like I have to do this one workout all the way through as long as I intentionally move my body; then, Dude, I did a workout that day. 

Another thing this year taught me, specifically with all the time at home where I was like, oh, I will get to it...stop putting it off. A task is only daunting if you allow it to be. There were so many things I had a plan for quarantine that did not get accomplished because I was not motivated to handle it. As we moved in the last half of the 5 years of 2020, I learned a new trick-discipline. I am still working on it as not every day is perfect, but every day has some perfect moments. I have spent the last month tweaking plans and daily routines to find the one that works the best for me when school resumes the week of Jan 4th for mini and me. By practicing and playing with the choices and the options, I am creating a balance of work, play, time for me and ensuring that my mental health remains at the forefront of every choice. 

Wrapping this up, 2021 is not about a new year, new me attitude. It is about MAXIMIZING on the amazing progress of the back half. Specifically, the last month of 2020 has brought me. It is about keeping one foot outside of a comfort zone and getting truly comfortable being uncomfortable. It is about having FUN and getting fit and healthy in progress! It is about using the tools in front of me and not chasing new and shiny till I have used the current ones. It is about being accountable to me and doing the next right thing to get me to where I want to be. 

So y'all, the chaos calls-till next time, 

Audie!