Lent Update

It's Holy Week already!  Where does the time go?

This has been a less than stellar Lent for me.  It is usually a motivational time for me, but not this year.  There

are a few factors that impacted it:

• the reoccurring cold weather - I think I would have done better if had stayed cold and slowly warmed up.  The warm then cold was very demoralizing to me this year.  I'm not sure why it was worse to handle this year. 
• getting back into the swing after Texas - for whatever reason I have had a really hard time getting back into the swing of things since getting back home.   For example, the plants are still consolidated in the living room (to make it easier for my brother who was watering them), and have not made it back to their normal locations.  That makes the living room cluttered and the table unusable.  

In any case - let's review the Lent goals 

Lenten Promise #1 - run at least 1 mile for every Lent day

There are 46 days in Lent between Ash Wednesday and Holy Saturday.  Assuming my knees hold up this should be very doable, but still challenging for me, to get these miles in.  This is a new challenge; nothing like it last year.

• I totally forgot I had even made this promise.  I did run on and off this Lent, more off than on, but I didn't track my miles.  I'm sure I'm under 46.  I wish I had remembered this - I think it would have motivated me.

Lenten Promise #2 - attending or participating in 7 spiritual events this Lent

This is a repeat of last year but I'm bumping it up from 6 to 7 events - basically one per week, even the short week of Ash Wednesday.  There is such a wide variety of things to be counted - attending Stations of the Cross, Walking the Labyrinth, attending Vespers, going to confession, etc.   I hope one of my events will be the new movie Son of God, that has limited theater release.  I'm hoping to see it this weekend - either Friday night in place of Stations or else Sunday morning. Last year, my group of friends and I met up several times for Stations of the Cross.  It really added to my Lenten experience.  While we don't have anything planned yet, I do expect we will get together at least 2 or 3 times this Lent. 

• I knew I was failing at this.  This was indented for me to do something most weeks, instead almost all of it has been in the last 2 weeks of Lent

1. Attended the Acacia Theater Company 2 plays at St Dom's.  
2. Listening to the Mathew Kelly CD
3. Reading Killing Jesus book
4. Attended Elmbrook's Follow Me to the Cross: A Holy Week Experience
5. Participated in St Dom's Palm Sunday Procession 
6. Watching the Passion of the Christ movie on DVD - borrowed it from Library, still need to watch
7. TBD 

Lenten Promise #3 - consume no more than 1 bag of snack food per week.  I know what you are thinking.  For someone that is trying to lose weight and get in shape that is too much!  Last year I had a similar promise with a higher total allocation.   I do think this will be a challenge for me (and honestly that is true but sad to say and depresses me to post it publicly).

• No problem with this one.  I just haven't bought it.  If its not in the house I don't eat it ( I still want it and miss it but it's not there to eat)

Lenten Promise #4 - volunteer work

I'm not sure what to include here or how to quantify things.  I do know this is something I deeply feel I need to do.   I would really like it to be associated with feeding the hungry - and as a sign from God, this year's St Dom's Lenten Outreach program is the the "Hunger Games".   They are setting up volunteering at two different food shelters in Milwaukee.  But sadly there are not being very clear or publicly stating when these activities will take place.

• Totally blew this one.   And this may have been part of my tough Lent; I got so frustrated with St Dom's for not providing the information.   Still disappoints me.  
• So I just filled out a Hunger Task Force volunteer application.  Ever since my encounter with the Gypsy in the Rome train station I have had the hungry on my mind.  I need to take action and help. I am blessed and have acted on my opportunities, it's time to share.    

Overall this has been a less than stellar Lent given my past history Lenten experiences;  but the fact that I have Lent expectations put me on top.  It wasn't a great Lent, but at least I acknowledged Lent and did have some successes (promise 3 solid and with focus, promise 2 nearly met - and still with some time to get it, promise 4 - well it didn't happen for Lent, but I have signed up and that is a key first step).

Kick starting (again)

well hello!  it's certainly been a while since I posted.

I've had a tough time getting myself motivated to make the right long term choices.  My exercise is sporadic, my eating has been less than great, and my overall attitude could use a little work.

There are a multitude or real and fake reasons on why that was happening.   I'm not sure I'm going to go into any details - that's in the past and let's let it go!

I have a friend that is a coach for Beach Bodies and she has regularly checked in with me to see if I want to join.   Overall I think its a good program but the key thing I don't like about it is the shake replacement meal.  The shake is on an auto-renewal on your credit card -- I HATE that; it often so hard to cancel those deals.  I'm still fighting that with the old Bally's gym that was taken over by Blasts.   Anyway, the other main issue - it this is really nothing new -- I know what to do, I know what to eat and what not to eat.... but I don't do it.   That is my real problem - I know it but I don't act on it.   Yes, her coaching and being in the group would help my progress.  But is it really worth the cost?   I don't know.   If it didn't have the shake part then I would sign up, if nothing more than to support a friend.   But the shake and its auto-renewal are making me lean towards 'no' once again.  

Instead I did day one of Julian Michaels 30 Day Shred DVD today.  I figure I can do my own kick start on fitness.   I realized reading my friend's post on FB that she exercises almost every day to one of her Beach Body DVD programs.   I have enough exercise DVDs, and even some in VHS format,  that I don't really need a new one from Beach Bodies - and the other side of it is I am really so out of shape that I'm not sure I could even do a Beach Bodies program any justice.  Plus our library has 100s of exercise videos that I could borrow for free.  I have less than 20 days to Crazylegs (8K run) - I'm hoping the 'shredding' helps me get going again on the running.

I know I can do the distance.  That is not my issue at all - my main concern is reaching our goal of finishing it within 1 hour.   That's really only about a 12 minute mile - which I can do no problem when I run regularly.  But this last month has been so up and down for running that on those restart days my time can be at a 13+ minute pace.   That's the opposite of motivation and causes me to lose interest.   I hoping the shred helps keep my motivation high.

Yesterday I had a bad eating day - these have lately been hitting me in the post lunch time frame.  It's like my lunch never ends and I end up snacking from lunch till dinner time.  Sometimes I skip dinner because I'm full.  But it's not healthy and needs to be reigned in.  Yesterday I could actually feel my jeans getting tighter in the thighs.   It was the saddest of feelings.

And it may have been my rock bottom.  Today I feel like I need to do something, anything.   30 Day Shred is a good start.  Although it is demotivating to see how much I had to modify the exercises just to keep moving.   But Day One is always the hardest - I know it will get better.  

The nice thing is I already have several events that I hope will help motivate me - Crazylegs on April 26, BLS fun runs start (most Wednesdays starting April 23), Ice Age Half Marathon on May 10, HB Girls weekend in Milwaukee on May 16-18, and the June Arizona hiking trip.

I know this post is all over - but it shows my mindset - I'm all over and have a hard time completing and focusing on one thing at a time.

Wish me luck on this kick start.  I need to find my true north for fitness.

Lent 2014 Plans

I've posted about Lent before, this is a special time or me.   My plans for 2014 follow similar to 2013's plans - which means they are not the traditional "give one thing up for Lent" plans.  

Lenten Promise #1 - run at least 1 mile for every Lent day
There are 46 days in Lent between Ash Wednesday and Holy Saturday.  Assuming my knees hold up this should be very doable, but still challenging for me, to get these miles in.  This is a new challenge; nothing like it last year.

Lenten Promise #2 - attending or participating in 7 spiritual events this Lent
This is a repeat of last year but I'm bumping it up from 6 to 7 events - basically one per week, even the short week of Ash Wednesday.  There is such a wide variety of things to be counted - attending Stations of the Cross, Walking the Labyrinth, attending Vespers, going to confession, etc.   I hope one of my events will be the new movie Son of God, that has limited theater release.  I'm hoping to see it this weekend - either Friday night in place of Stations or else Sunday morning. Last year, my group of friends and I met up several times for Stations of the Cross.  It really added to my Lenten experience.  While we don't have anything planned yet, I do expect we will get together at least 2 or 3 times this Lent.

Lenten Promise #3 - consume no more than 1 bag of snack food per week.  I know what you are thinking.  For someone that is trying to lose weight and get in shape that is too much!  Last year I had a similar promise with a higher total allocation.   I do think this will be a challenge for me (and honestly that is true but sad to say and depresses me to post it publicly).

Lenten Promise #4 - volunteer work
I'm not sure what to include here or how to quantify things.  I do know this is something I deeply feel I need to do.   I would really like it to be associated with feeding the hungry - and as a sign from God, this year's St Dom's Lenten Outreach program is the the "Hunger Games".   They are setting up volunteering at two different food shelters in Milwaukee.  But sadly there are not being very clear or publicly stating when these activities will take place.

Same as last year, I'll try to do an update every Monday to let you know how I'm doing with it.  Wish me luck!

So happy I ran today

I'm starting to be a runner again.   It's come and gone multiple times within my adult life.  Luckily for me a few friends wanted to start doing the C25K program (coach to 5K).   It was the right re-start for me.  It's a slow and steady progression,  and our secrete group on facebook really helped keep us motivated and accountable.   I unofficially finished the program earlier this week - according to the app I'm ready for the 5K. LOL

The group is planning to do a 5K sometime in March.  We haven't picked a run yet.  I'm looking forward to it, and also to meeting some of these ladies in person for the first time.  I knew only two of them when we started the program.

Today I continued with the next program level C210K - with the hopes that will get me in shape to meet my Crazy Legs personal goal of finishing the 8K (4.96 miles) within 1 hour.  That's a 12 minute mile - which is considered pretty slow but it's faster than I am now.  
I have 2 friends running it and I think they are at about the 12 minute mile - so it should be good and fun to be able to run it together.  I really want to be in shape so that I'm not holding them back or they are dragging me along.  I want to be in shape and comfortable with that pace and enjoy the ability to run together and talk.

But I started this post because I was so glad I ran today.  The weather here in Austin, TX was in the high 70s - maybe a little warm.  But honestly I'm not complaining!  It's so cold back home I'll take the extra heat.
The run along Lady Bird Lake was very pleasant.  It's a nice trail, there are lots of people and it made me feel good.  

Just this week I switched out my reminder mantra to "Respect Yourself".  With that in mind, I have been making a few changes to take care of me, and respect myself,   Going for the run today was respecting myself.  It was a little longer than I would normally want to be away from work, but my team can manage it. It's time I take advantage of these opportunities I have.  Not in a negative opportunistic way, but in the venue that not everyone has these opportunities and I should take advantage of them when they come up

A few pictures from my run today - beautiful trail and beautiful weather.  Well work the extra 30 minutes at lunch!

January Update

This is the first of what's planned as monthly updates for my 2014 Resolutions.   The hope is that having a monthly checkpoint will keep me accountable to myself and help me from slipping off the desired track.

 the Year of Use It or (and) Lose It
and my goals are:

• Lose 14 pounds - I am down 1 pound.  I think that is a good start.  January was a stressful month and could have lead to a lot of stress eating.  Also I was trying to clear out the pantry and freezer to prepare for my month away, so that was not as healthy as fresh fruits and veggies.  Overall this is a good start.  
• Keep bank fees under $50 for the year - I'm under but I'm already over half way through this budget ($26.08) in the first month alone!  Yikes!  I knew I was letting my quicken and bill paying slip.  I have enough automatic transactions in place to no longer get the dreaded late payment fee - but since the automatic payment does not necessarily cover the full balance sometimes (as it happened here) I get the finance charges.   I need to keep a better eye on this one.  Still good, but I've burned a lot of the workload already.
• Average $30 or less per week on Groceries - I'm well under this for January ($82.72) - mainly because of trying to eat from the pantry and freezer to clean out those areas before my trip so that nothing goes bad.  I expect the February number to be much higher because of the lack of a pantry for the rental - plus eating more prepared foods.  So I'm expecting this to even more out by the end of February.
• Average $400 or less per month on Household - This one is also well under (only $95.63), and again I think it's an impact from the Texas trip.  I was doing less shopping and trying to use up more from home as I prepared for the house to be empty for a month.   But since then I spent around $360 for lawn services for the year (prepaid to get a small 3% discount, but every dollar counts) so I can see how this category will have big swings in it from month to month.   
• Do not purchase soap before Nov 11 - I did purchase the planned exception for the after Christmas Bath and Body Works sale.  Other than that, nothing!  and I'm making use of some good soap I had been 'saving'.  Saving for what, I'm not sure.  But I'm glad I'm using it now.  It smells good and brightens my day.  

Overall a very good start to the year.  My world is thrown off by living and renting in Austin, TX for a month - I can see it affected, mainly in a good way, my January numbers.   I can only guess what it will do for my February numbers.

more on 2014 goals

Time to continue the annual resolution process.

Start with one of the most common and traditional goals - lose 14 pounds.  I was reading that you should limit this goal to 5% of your current weight.  This is slightly more, but I like having the goal be 14 in '14.  While I would love to lose a lot more, this is more realistic.    We are redesigning the Light Weigh group to start in January with on line meetings.  This group helped me before (but I regained weight when we stopped).   I've also restarted the running in the right way - I'm dong the Couch to 5K program with some friends through a facebook private group - this has helped keep me accountable and motivated.  I've signed up for the Ice Age Half Marathon again.   I'm optimistic and positive about this change.

Another common and traditional goal is financial based.  Overall my finances are in good shape - thanks mainly to delegating much of that to my financial planner.   But where I get sloppy is the more routine day to day stuff.   Last year I wasted about $175 on bank fees mainly on late payments - very frustrating for me.  I had the money.  There is little to no excuse for this waste.   So I'm setting the 2014 goal to be no more than $50 in bank fees.   I've added a 45 minute tasks every other week to my calendar to keep track of bills and updating quicken -- hopefully this will help to keep things in sync.   Also on my 2014 list is to get a new personal laptop.   The one I have is old and slow, and to be honest I know I would update my quicken more frequently if it wasn't such a hassle to work with that old laptop.

A third goal for myself is pay closer attention to my food usage.  I've been trying to eat healthier and cleaner - with less processed foods.   I also find I sometimes overbuy when its a good deal and then the stuff gets wasted.   I'm going to set a 2014 goal to spend $30 per week on groceries - this comes to about $130 per month (and note in 2013 I averaged $32.50 per week so this is not a big change) .   This is a bit hard to track and qualify because I don't break out my purchases - anything purchased at Aldi or Pick n Save is "grocery" and often those purchases include non grocery items - for example I just purchased 80 pounds of water softener salt with my last Aldi stop.    And anything purchased at Target type stores are Household, even if it includes grocery food type items.  Plus as I try to move even further from packaged food to more unprocessed foods it could have an impact on this number.   The ongoing resolution to eat cleaner is a higher priority than the grocery totals so this goal by go by the way side.  The goal's main focus is really to help stop me from overbuying and wasting foods. 

Last goal set up this one - spend $400 per month on Household.   The Household category is a bit of a catch all for me.  In 2013 I averaged $417 per month - so again this is not a huge change.  But in this category I also tend to over purchase, and with my on going goal to declutter the house - the year of use it and/or lose it - another tracking point will be to watch how much I'm spending on Household.  This number can greatly be influenced by the category selected - so I have to be careful that I'm not just reclassifying things out of the catch all category.   And up front I'm going to exclude a planned TV purchase.  The current one is about 12+ years old and is starting to go.   Normally a TV purchase would fit into the Household category - but I don't want that large purchase made once every 10 years, or so, to impact these numbers.

And don't forget the weirdest resolution ...  for the next year I will not purchase soap until Nov 11, 2014.

That should do it for me - so in summary:  this is the Year of Use It or (and) Lose It
and my goals are:

1. Lose 14 pounds
2. Keep bank fees under $50 for the year
3. Average $30 or less per week on Groceries
4. Average $400 or less per month on Household
5. Do not purchase soap before Nov 11

Those are the measurable goals.  I will (try) to post an update each month - that will help keep me accountable and also help me focus on the on-going numbers so that I can see when I stagnate and need more focus or need to change things up.  I have a google doc spreadsheet going to help me track this.

The unmeasurable goals are to live a healthier life - need to get back in shape for the hiking trip and general overall better health and to prepare the house for selling (declutter, organize and stage, and landscape).  This second goal is a long term goal - 3 to 8 years out.  But I do want to keep a focus on it and to have my annual goals help lead up to it.   By reducing my Household purchases this should reduce the amount of 'stuff' in the house, etc.