Gearing up for the New Year

Is there anyone else that would like a head start on their New Year's resolutions? Would you like to be able to look back on January 1 to this post and see that you already have a two month jump start on making the 2009 a healthier and happier year? I'm thinking that if we can look back and see progress, it will be easier to continue that progress through the rest of the winter.

Maybe this way we can avoid the holiday weight gain and be well on our way to a healthier 2009. If you're interested, please post your goals and check in occasionally to record your progress these next two months. 

Join me?

My goals:

• Log my calories each day - regardless!
• A minimum of 30 minutes exercise every day, with one day "rest" per week
• Try two new recipes every week - all healthy stuff
• Keep a positive attitude. Focus on what I CAN eat and enjoy instead of what I SHOULDN'T eat.
• Do whatever is within my power to make each day a good one

Sounds like a plan to me! For the last nine weeks I have done #1..........the other four have been sporadic.  I need a renewing burst of enthusiasm.  Count me in!

I'm up for any motivation I can get... I've been dating this wonderful guy (my first love) but that doesn't seem to be getting me going for real exercise, and somehow I don't think studying counts as burning cals to get me fitter.

• I want to lose 7lbs before new year (which is half my goal)
• Half an hours exercise each day seems doable for me
• Healthy food focus: be wheat free and dairy free for a whole week, I feel much better and more energetic without them
• Loggin calories... even the un-needed ones
• Not be too bothered when I put on my monthly water weight, which is anything up to 7lbs :( uuurrrghh

So thats a weeks goals so far and the week starts today!

Will report back on Sunday... good luck everybody!

Welcome bibsey and sweetigem!  Bibsey, I too am sporadic on some of my goals and consistent on others. I'm hoping this encourages all to greater consistency and gives us that extra little push. Here's to a great week for us all!

I need a big bulldozer push please.

One bulldozer ordered for Change. You can expect it at your house bright and early Monday morning!   

Yes!!  I like this thought :)  I don't want to have New Years regrets and huge new resolutions.  I'd much rather be continuing on a very healthy path by then. 

My not-yet-the-New-Year resolutions:

• Log calories EVERY day - if I lose track of a day, I have to add in a high number to cover what it might have been

• Exercise 30+ minutes per day, 6 days per week, including 2 weight-bearing sessions

That's probably enough for now.  One step at a time!  Have a good week everyone :)

Last New Years I said I wanted 20 pounds off by New Years 2009 well looks like I didn't make it and there is no way I can loose 20 pounds in two months.  And I did try but the summer sabotaged me.  I will be happy with anything I loose between now and New Years.

Well it looks like I was last to bed last night and first one up this morning.  Good morning ladies.

Good late afternoon, ladies. Guess we all get to check posts at different times.

My realization for today is that it's OK to be hungry. For the past few months, I've eaten whenever I felt (what I considered to be) hungry. I'm back to 3 balanced meals a day only - and if I get hungry in between...well, I'll live!

I'm trying to learn that a little hunger now and then is a whole lot less painful than lugging around this extra weight. Why, oh why does out "instant gratification" society extend even as far as food?

BTW: This is an open thread. Feel free to join anytime in the next few weeks.

Hey Everyone!

I feel ya on the prepping for New Years thing. I have made it my goal to lose 15 pounds by then, I have already lost about 2.5, so that leaves 12.5 from now until Dec 31st.

Logging my food into calorie count is so hard for me. I do not even know why. I log everything in up to dinner. I just hate all the measuring that goes into it. They don't have a one or two scoops option, its usually in cups or ounces. I have to stop being lazy. I have to make sure to get the right portions because I cannot portion it myself. That will go along with the weight loss goals. I need to portion everything and log it in. When I see the amount of calories, fat etc in the food, I do think twice about eating it. But I like to not see, lol, that way I don't feel bad.

My gym regiment is pretty constant, I got 4-5 times a week, about 15-20 minute strength training and then 30-45 minutes cardio. I switch it up, doing legs and abs one day then arms and back another. I switch the cardio too. I try and not do the same machines in a row. My machines of choice are the stair master, elliptical, treadmill and arc-trainer. I have lost 22 pounds since last New Year's. My resolution was to lose weight (no specific amount) and I did. So I am very happy with that. This next upcoming year I want to double that and lose 40 pounds. Summer was horrible for me, I had lost 30 pounds by June, but over summer gained 10, so I know I can do 40 throughout the year as long as I am constant. Well good luck to everyone and I hope to hear that you successfully completed your goals.

Hey Everyone!

I feel ya on the prepping for New Years thing. I have made it my goal to lose 15 pounds by then, I have already lost about 2.5, so that leaves 12.5 from now until Dec 31st.

Logging my food into calorie count is so hard for me. I do not even know why. I log everything in up to dinner. I just hate all the measuring that goes into it. They don't have a one or two scoops option, its usually in cups or ounces. I have to stop being lazy. I have to make sure to get the right portions because I cannot portion it myself. That will go along with the weight loss goals. I need to portion everything and log it in. When I see the amount of calories, fat etc in the food, I do think twice about eating it. But I like to not see, lol, that way I don't feel bad.

My gym regiment is pretty constant, I got 4-5 times a week, about 15-20 minute strength training and then 30-45 minutes cardio. I switch it up, doing legs and abs one day then arms and back another. I switch the cardio too. I try and not do the same machines in a row. My machines of choice are the stair master, elliptical, treadmill and arc-trainer. I have lost 22 pounds since last New Year's. My resolution was to lose weight (no specific amount) and I did. So I am very happy with that. This next upcoming year I want to double that and lose 40 pounds. Summer was horrible for me, I had lost 30 pounds by June, but over summer gained 10, so I know I can do 40 throughout the year as long as I am constant. Well good luck to everyone and I hope to hear that you successfully completed your goals.

I'll join in! This is exactly what I need to help me stay on track over the holidays. Sadly, this is the longest I've stayed "on the wagon" so to speak and its only been a month! Normally I get bored and give up after a couple weeks. So I really want to stay on the wagon this time and not give up.

My goals:

• Do the NROLFW workouts 3 times per week. Along with HIIT and some cardio.
• Drink at least 3 litres of water a day.
• Try one new healthy recipe or food each week.
• Stay within my calorie limits each day.
• Only drink one night a week.
• Be between 130-135lbs by New Years.

If I can do all that I will be extremely proud of myself, and well on my way to achieving my ultimate goal of being healthy and fit.

I'm on these forums alot, (I only work three days a week and since most of my friends are in busy at college, I'm bored at home quite a bit haha) so I will be checking in quite frequently.

Good luck everyone! Hopefully by the New Years we will all be healthier and happier!

Welcome, sharpdust and cellar-door. Glad you joined us. Think how good we'll feel on January 1 if we've LOST rather than gained over the holidays. I really want to start next summer feeling GREAT and being at my goal weight.

OK, so maybe it's dumb to post that I had a really good day yesterday, but I'm counting on that momentum to carry me through today as well. My 30 minutes of exercise was harder than I though. My tired legs are reminding me that EXERCISE MATTERS and that it's a good kind of fatigue...

jcr: It's not dumb to post that you had a good day! Hopefully we all will be able to post that today.

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Unfortunately, the last few days have been bad for me. Mainly due to drinking and then overeating unhealthy food afterwards. But I'm back on track today, and hopefully I don't give in to temptation tonight... there's tons of yummy ice cream in the freezer calling my name, but I will have to ignore it lol.

Ok JCR just to make you feel smarter I too had a good day today and I am  on day three of my new Belly Dancing DVD, it is great.  I am doing it after hubby leaves for work and I get my kitchen cleaned back up.  It is a really good work out and I am learning some new moves.

Hey, we're doing great here! Hope you avoided your ice cream, Cellar, was able to finish today strong. Change, we're all gonna be so jealous of those abs after all that belly dancing!

I finished Day 2 and am pleased with myself again. Did my 1/2 hour exercising and made a good choice at dinner. I went out shopping/dinner with a girlfriend and got the roast beef sandwich au jus with onions and mushrooms. Baked apples for a side. Since it was open faced I just ate the meat and left the bread. Felt satisfied but not stuffed. Think I'm well within my calorie range for the day.  (:

My goal is to keep eating well, exercising (plus add some more exercise), and esimating calories when I don't log. Most of all I don't want the December holidays to sabotage me. I want to reach January and NOT have my goal be to take off what I put on during the holidays.

lilad I can hear you, holidays seem to always be a bad time.  I try to limit yourself over the holidays to one treat, I know it is really hard to do but try having a fruit tray or something like that so you can also have something when others are.

We are going for a motorcycle ride this afternoon after hubby gets up if he is not to tired.  It may be the last ride for us and to be riding in November is a plus.  It is almost 60F here today but rain is coming for Friday and Saturday, wouldn't you figure.

I am amazed that I do not hurt from all the belly dancing.  I am very pleased with myself.

lilad - YES!  Imagine starting a year, and not being in the "take the weight off that I just regained" mode.  That sounds wonderful!

Change - you should be proud of the accomplishment!  It's great that you have a fun exercise that isn't making something hurt

I missed exercising on Monday, so my back is to the wall to exercise all the rest of the days this week if I'm going to get in 6 sessions.  Maybe I should go back and edit my goals ;)   Not really, though.  It made me squeeze in some time on the treadmill yesterday that I wouldn't ever have done otherwise.  It felt great!