Resolution Update

Have so far lost 10 lbs by making better food choices, weightlifting and doing the occasional jog. Not bad for a month and a half. Still on track with my DietBet and have just started the slow-carb diet, made famous by Tim Ferriss.

2014 Resolution: DietBet 10 Challenge

I have more or less made a good start on my intricate resolution plan for 2014, one which focuses on health, diet and reading (I have to have a little pleasure, right?!).

As for the weight loss portion, I have set up a few challenges and workout/eating plans to reach my goal. The main driver is the DietBet 10 Challenge, where you can win mullah if you lose 10% body weight in 6 months! You put money in the pot, which is motivating, but you can win a crap-ton more, which is even more motivating.

January Challenge

I'm not quite set on this yet, since the year already started (Happy New Year by the way!) and it's already passing me by.

For this month's challenge I will do a sampler so I can get back in the swing of things:

1. Lose 4 lbs
2. Make amigurumi turtle
3. Read 4 books
4. Make 4 new dishes

Wish me luck!

Engine 2 March

Starting tomorrow will be the next resolution - Engine 2 March. I will be attempting the Engine 2 Diet 28-day Challenge. It sounds pretty intense. Here's a link to the site for you curious folk: Engine 2

Here's the run down:
Week 1 - Cut dairy and white processed foods from diet
Week 2 - Cut meat (this includes egg)
Week 3 - Cut all oils
Week 4 - Tough it out

So by the third week I won't be able to eat dairy, meat or oil....and the book also mentions to cut caffeine...sigh. One thing's for sure, though - I will definitely be healthier and most likely smaller by the end of the month. Wish me luck!

Get Organized! February....or not...

Ugh...so I'll just come out and say it....this month's resolution - Get Organized! February - big, big fail. I got most of my personal paperwork in order but I am a total slob when it comes to continuous cleaning. My kitchen looked pretty good most of the time but every day before work I would throw clothes around and create huge shirt piles. And the stuff! I have a lot of....well, stuff. Books, clothes, trinkets....point is, February was not a successful resolution. I haven't thought of penalties or re-do's or if I should just resign it to history, but I'll think about it. March is Engine 2 March. Be ready.

Get Organized! February Week 1

If you looked at my place, you would not think I was very product - it still looks like a clothes and junk war took place in my living room and bedroom - but I divided areas to clean each day and set aside time in my schedule to actually 'DO.' That's the hardest part: Doing. All clothes not hanging I chunked in my closet and shut the door...quick fix and doesn't really count but it made me feel better! This coming week I will begin the true cleaning and organizing and paring down of STUFF.

Get Organized! February Begins

This month I will be attempting to clean up my apartment, paperwork, workspace, vehicle....anything and everything to constitute a more organized and efficiently, uh, clean lifestyle. Wish me luck!

No cokes January - Week 4

This was the last week and it was victorious - if only for that flipping orange Fanta last week I would have been golden. Sigh. I will say that I no longer want cokes and tomorrow I plan to buy a pack of Diet Coke so I don't try to revert  back to my old ways. 'Diet is bad for you." Hush up, fools. Drinking a pack of regular cokes a week is bad for you. Diet might not be much better but it is an improvement. And that is all. One resolution complete!

No cokes January - Week 3

Big Fail. I went to Family Dollar today and say this fantastic glass orange soda bottle that looked curiously like a lava lamp and had to have it - it was all about the bottle. After I opened it and took a swig in my truck, I knew I had taken a bite of the forbidden fruit....instant deflate. (Good?) news was it tasted like a mouthful of sugar and I no longer wanted or drank after that first gulp. So only small fail.

No cokes January - Week 2

Once again, no problems. I drink a bunch of tea now though....I've never really liked water so I've traded tea and tried to stick with unsweet for good measure. I will say, every once in a while I get a pang - "I really want a Dr. Pepper..." Mainly though, it hasn't been bad at all, only somewhat inconvenient. God forbid I think about what I eat and drink ;)

No cokes January - Week 1

I did excellent this week!! Not even a glimmer of wavering from my 30 day goal of no cokes - btw, in Texas, all carbonated drinks can be denoted as 'coke.' Really. Wish me luck the rest of the month!

New Year Resolution(s)

Instead of doing the typical resolution where I struggle for a month or two desperately and give up completely by March, this year I want to take a different approach to the old practice. Instead of having a year-long resolution, I plan to have 12 resolutions to last one month each. I know some of you are probably thinking, "you can't create a habit in 30 days!" I know. My reasoning is to instill encouragement that I can stick with something, like working out. Knowing that the slate starts again each month will create renewed strength. I have created a page to list my monthly resolutions, so if you're interested, keep up with me - or better yet, make some for yourself! Happy New Year, everyone ;)