The Project

I recently finished Gretchen Rubin's book, The Happiness Project, and I am BLOWN AWAY by her and am setting out to be a better ME. I've set some of my own goals for the coming year and am following her lead and choosing specific monthly themes to focus on. For January, she chose Vitality and I'm doing the same. But, I'm taking it a step further and pursuing a passion (something she does in a later month) and am embarking on my own 365-day Healthiness Project. Health and fitness are passions of mine and I'm ready to make 2013 the best, healthiest and happiest year yet!


Workout Goals

• Workout 7 days a week for one hour min.
• 3 days of cardio
• 3 days of weight training
• 3 days of abs
• 1 day of stretching

I also need to lose some weight. For the purpose of this blog, I'm going to focus on inches and percentages, NOT pounds lost. I think it's easy to get discouraged when checking in on a scale every week. Some weeks, I work my butt off and the results aren't reflected on the scale. I want this to be a POSITIVE and SUCCESSFUL journey, so I'll just weigh in every couple weeks and figure out what percentage I've lost. I'll weigh in first thing tomorrow, January 1 and also take my measurements. It's gonna be ugly, but it's gotta be done. 

Eating Goals

• Daily calorie range of 1200-1600 (When I reach my measurements/percentage lost goal, I'll up this range by 300 calories).
• Drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water per day.
• Eat more fruits and veggies. I know, "more" is vague, but I'm trying to be realistic here. If I can just eat some every day, then that will be more than I get on many days!
• Take my vitamins! I have a love-hate relationship with vitamins. I get tired of popping pills, but I really think that they're one of the keys of optimal health.

Sleep Goal

• GET MORE! Except for tonight (It's NYE, for crying out loud!) I will try to be in bed by 10p at night. This allows me to get up to exercise at 6 and still gives me time with my honey at night. Currently we have a standing date together watching Burn Notice on Netflix. LOVE that show! And, by the way, that actress is SUPER fit. Sheesh.

Although technically tomorrow is the first day of January, I started my KILLER workout routine today! I'll log that in my next entry. I'm not worrying about my food today and instead am enjoying some festive, high-calorie treats.

Finally, I want to say that I'm excited to start this blog and begin a year committed to my health. As I watch friends and family members who struggle with debilitating health issues, I'm reminded what a gift good health really is. Sometimes, there's nothing to prevent sickness and disease from plaguing us. It can be an overwhelming fight against all odds and still end in tragedy. I hope I'm spared from such a difficult trial and pray my loved ones are too, but since this is never a guarantee, I want to take advantage of the good health I have today. I'm the type of person who stays fit enough to hike with the kids and bike on Saturdays. I consistently weigh about 20 lbs heavier than I should and I eat quasi-healthy. I go on alternating binges of uber-good health and super-bad-for-you junk food eating. My abs are squishy. My arms look pretty good- I do lift weights fairly regularly- but they're thicker than they need to be. All in all, I'd say I'm about 60% of who I could be, health-wise. I want to reach 100% this year. I can do it. I WILL. This is my 365 day healthiness project.