Step Away From the Cake

Here it is. The end of 2011. I have to say 2011 was not the greatest year ever. It was tough in many, many ways. I'm not unhappy to see it end. I have a feeling 2012 is going to be pretty awesome. I was looking back on last year's posts and I don't remember posting them at all. Interesting because I usually remember at least part of what I write. I think I was writing in automatic mode. I so look forward to new years that I was trying to force it. I didn't even come close to following through on my goals because I didn't remember making them. Interesting. By December of last year things were getting pretty tough for us. I was worried about money and wasn't quite sure how we were going to pull this off. Things have changed a lot this year. For the coming year my really big goal is to get my thesis done. That will be the main focus of the first few months of the year. Towards that end, I have to say I haven't accomplished a lot on this break. But...

I'm in one. I have never been the most organized person. Left to my own devices my areas; desk, room, house, etc; would look like a cyclone came through. You've seen those comedies where someone comes into a home and says to the resident "OMG you've been robbed" because it looks like someone ransacked the place? Okay, that would be me if I didn't keep a tight rein on things. And I have kept it fairly under control. The problem is that I do let some things pile up, like the mail, until I need something. Then I spend 20 minutes searching for it and swear to get things organized. I will then make a good effort, usually spending a day or so getting things set up, only to not follow through and let it happen again. This year I am determined to change things. It's not so hard to keep things organized, I just need to find a system that works for me. Yesterday I went to Office Max and got some new hanging folders and file folders all color coordinated. My i...

As I've said in a previous post , I love new beginnings. New Years the kind of the mother of all new starts. People make a lot of grand resolutions and promises for New Years. Lots of them fall by the wayside. I think New Years is a good time for trying to improve your health and general well-being. Lots of people vow to lose weight, get more active, eat healthier, etc. I think a lot of people vow to quit smoking too, and I think it's a fabulous time to do that. As I've said, a new year is like a book that has nothing written in it. You can orchestrate the year anyway you want it to be. It's like a house that hasn't been decorated. Fix it up. Add things you like. Make it your own. That's what a new year is like. So about 18 years ago I quit smoking, and though I've wanted a cigarette a time or two, it was the best move I ever made. Not only did I save a lot of money, but I know my health is so much better for it. About 15 years ago Hubby qu...

Today I did Bob's Ultimate Cardio Challenge and I rocked it. I can definitely feel myself getting stronger. Usually about 1/4 of the way through the workout I have a couple of moments where I am beat and not sure I can go the whole way. Today I didn't have that. Today I even wanted to use heavier weights but the ones I had were awkward and wouldn't work right for the pass-thrus, kind of like this: Except for that arm in the air thing. Anyway, the heavier weights I kept smacking myself in the leg so I decided that wasn't the best idea and switched to the lighter weights. On Friday though, I will be ready with heavy weights that will work. So I am pleased and I am starting to feel different. In any workout video or class I've ever done, the instructor or trainer always says tighten your abs. When I first start working out after some time off, I can never do this. I can try but it doesn't feel right. Today I could do it again. When I tightened my abs ...

There are lots of things I'm thinking about for the new year. I want to lose this weight. I want to get back into running and doing races. I want to finish my thesis and start on my PhD. And I want to be a better teacher. It's a matter now of prioritizing and deciding how much effort I need (or want) to put into each. Finishing my thesis is going to take a lot of work and that is non-negotiable. I have to finish that by May. So there's that. Starting my PhD is something that can wait for awhile. If I do it this year it won't be until September so that's further down on the list. Losing weight is definitely high priority, but something else that will take time and committed focus. But that also has no deadline so that's good. Running and doing races...That one is a bigger problem then it appears. I have zero running base right now. I am basically starting from the beginning and that sucks. Also, since I'll be giving up my car next week, running ra...

I've said this repeatedly but I'll say it again, I love new beginnings. New years. New months. New weeks. New days. Every new start is a chance for something. It could be anything but it's a new chance. I particularly like new years because I like lines of demarcation. This is where something ends and this is where something else starts. Since I'm not perfect in anything I do, I like places where things end. If I've been eating out of control I will pick a day or an hour where it ends. That provides a clear and definite end to something I want to stop. On the other hand, if I have to do something I'm not looking forward to, having a set beginning helps me prepare. So yes, I'm all about beginnings and endings. I should state too that for me beginnings and/or endings can happen anytime. It can be a minute where I just stop and say enough. It can be a day, this happens in school a lot. I will not like how something is going so I will change everyth...