2012 - New Year, New Trust

So, last year, I resolved to memorize Philippians 4....that did not happen. I didn't even attempt to do it. I actually forgot about it. I did this because I couldn't come up with my one word (www.myoneword.org).

This year, my one word is trust. There are so many people and things to trust in, I need to put my trust in the right people and things. Trust... where do you put your trust? what are you trusting in?

Since 2012 has already started and, I'm sure, many of you have your resolutions all ready to go and have started working on them already. I am still working through mine. I know what I'm already working on. So, without further adieu...

Part of my problem with New Year's resolutions is that I set too many goals all at once and lose sight of those goals. I'm not letting that happen again this year. I'm tired of gaining and losing the same 10 lbs., starting the year exercising and then stopping three weeks in, doing a daily devotion and skipping an entire week, etc. This year I'm making 30-day goals and then adding to them. After all, doesn't it take 30 days to form a habit? (or something like that?) Hopefully this will help me work through them and build up the habits I want for a healthy lifestyle change.

I saw this on Pinterest and thought it was appropriate to put in this post. 

Here is another one that I may attempt one month.

 2012 Goals
January: tracking my calories daily. I use the MyFitnessPal app on my iPod. i usually only track breakfast and lunch and skip writing down dinner, but this year, I'm doing it all (breakfast, lunch and dinner...even that one Frango Mint). While tracking my calories, one calorie item I am working on weaning myself off of is added table sugar. I usually take 2 tsp. of sugar in my coffee, since the beginning of January, I have only been doing 1 tsp. My goal is to work my way down to 0 added table sugar in my coffee.

February: pray and get up earlier - maybe the same time as my husband (since he gets in the shower first, this time would be uninterrupted). I have a daily devotion that I do through the youversion Bible app on my iPod, but I severely lack in my prayer time. I'm not consistent. I would like to set aside at least 15 minutes/day to spend praying about what's going on in my life, the lives of my family and friends, as well as the world and what I'm learning about in God's Word.

Lent: February 22-April 5 is Lent. I am not Catholic, but I find that it is a good practice to give up something. After all, Jesus gave himself for me, the least I can do is give up something I enjoy during this time. So, during the Lent season, I will not be drinking soda. (And, hopefully, I will have given up added sugar to my coffee be then too.)

March: exercise...daily. Every day I must do some form of exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes per day. I need to decide if I'm doing this in the morning or evening, but whichever i decide, it will always be the same. I will update this post with the time of day at a later date (before February). I am looking into getting a treadmill - so if you know anyone with a foldable treadmill for a good price, keep me in mind. :)

April: Eat one vegetarian meal per week...besides pasta.

May: goal

June: goal

July: goal

August: goal

September: goal

October: goal

November: goal

December: goal

Analyze what may be behind bad eating habits and lack of exercise and address those issues as you come up with your weight loss plan. Observe and write down certain circumstances, attitudes and habits in your life that may threaten your maintaining a healthy weight. As you create a diet and exercise plan, consider changing certain variables that may be a hindrance to you, or come up with coping mechanisms for things you can’t control.  - Source

Original Publish Date: 1/15/2012

Cutting back on sugary beverages

That is one of my goals. I actually just finished reading an article about that and it had a link to a new initiative sponsored by: the American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, and a ton more (those are just the big names everybody's heard of). Anyway, Life is Sweeter is where you can go to find out more and/or participate in cutting back on sugary drinks, such as soda and energy drinks.

I found the following statistic on the site and it kind of surprised me:More than two-thirds of American adults and one in three children are overweight or obese.

I that America is now the fatest nation, we used to be second to Australia. But with the way food companies are regulated (or not), we continue to gain weight and not do anything about it. Well, I don't know about you, but I'm sick of sitting on my butt and not doing anything about being overweight. That's why I started the 30 Day Shred with Jillian Michaels. I also continue to walk the dog, although his max is about 1 mile.

One thing I'm trying to work on eliminating, is coffee creamer (I do buy the sugar free version -less calories than the fat free version) - I take 2 Tbsp. in my coffee every morning and I don't like drinking my calories. One alternative, which I usually do in the winter, is drink green tea. I just did a google search for flavored creamer substitutes and came up with this recipe (not sure how the calories break out, but I'm willing to try it and do the math to find out about reducing my calorie intake in this way.