the winds are a changing

Taking a few minutes for a quick status update and adding a personal (read secrete goal).

The plan is beginning to work; part of what I desired was a change in me in how I approached food and exercise.  I saw that change in action today - and in the venue of celebrating small victories I want to do a shout out and help encourage me to continue on this road.

Today I had the upset stomach from eating too little for breakfast and drinking too much coffee (caffeine) - I get that occasionally.   As per my usual behavior I started poking around the kitchen for something to eat.  Eating balances out the food to caffeine ratio in my stomach and resolves the upset stomach feeling.

I looked around and nothing looked good.  I considered making popcorn, as that is my usual substitution for chips, which is what I really wanted.  I considered having a ridiculously early lunch, which was a bad idea since dinner will be a bit later tonight.  But instead I ate some fruit (oranges) and veggies (the edamame pea pods).

That is EXACTLY how I want to change - going from wanting chips to instead eating fruits and veggies.

Yeah, this is day 3 so it's not that the battle is over. But this is a victory and it does need to be shouted out and celebrated.  Yea for me!

Secrete goal is the number 14.5 -- I'm not telling how this fits, what that measures, or giving you any other clue.  I'll keep this posted and updated as the progress goes.  It's not exactly what I would like - I'd love to blow past this goal and exceed it.  But I'm sticking with something that is both challenging and still realistic.   And I'll keep dreaming and pushing for even more!

Lent 2015 - working on transforming my world

I'm not sure where this will take me, but the journey always begins with a simple step - so here goes with some simple steps.....

I know I titled this Lent 2015 but these challenges are steps to a bigger change for me.  These may start with Lent and give me a time frame to track things, but this is bigger, much bigger than Lent for me.  Some challenges are more Lent specific than others.  All are steps in the right direction for me.

So here goes!

There are 6 and half weeks in Lent - 40 days if you don't count the Sundays.

1) Participate in 7 Lenten / Spiritual activities.
There are a ton of things that fit into this category - Stations of the Cross, walking a labyrinth, attending the Zion Passion Play, going to confession, etc
I think I can average one a week if I focus and make this a priority.

2) No purchasing of chips 

This is hard for me, and to be clear this is not no eating chips - it's no purchasing chips.  I can eat chips if it comes with a meal or at a party, etc -- but I can't buy them and bring them into my house.

3) Limited candy to the skittles on hand
I split the skittles into 7 containers and I can have one a week through Lent.  No purchasing of new candy - with the exception of some things for St Patrick's day.

4) 9 bags of frozen veggies 

This is a crazy non standard Lent challenge.  But like most Americans I don't eat enough vegetables. I first thought 2 bags per week but 12 bags in 6 weeks sound crazy, especially when it's just me eating them and a bag of peas can easily have 6 to 8 servings.   So I compromised and went with 1 1/2 bags per week - total of 9 over that Lent period.  Still a lot, but the point is to try to add them into more and more of my meals - replace snacks with veggies.  And to be clear, listing these as frozen veggies is just an easy way to count - but fresh veggies will count towards the total.

5) Be good to myself at least 7 times
Similar to the first challenge, I'll try to average one per week.   I tend to be too hard on myself and too cheap on spending on myself.   This is one of those longer term goals about needing to be good to myself and celebrate the small victories and celebrate the now (celebrate the season).  I need to make sure this is not only food treats and special meals, etc - just needs to be something I like to do or want to try.  

• There is at list one that is a food item I want to include - having a shamrock shake.  It's been years (maybe 10 years or more) since I had one.  I hear they are really different and very good.  Its time for me to try one and not worry about the calories - just to enjoy the very infrequent treat.  
• I also want to include a couple of movies - aiming to going to the theater 3 times.  That seams like too much and I'm not sure I can fit it 

5) Training

This is is the big one for changing my lifestyle into the type of person I want to be.  And is so very critical for the June hike with Luann.   I'm not sure how to start this.  I worry if I do too little I won't be prepared, and I worry if I try do too much I'll injury my knees and not be able to do anything.  So I'm taking a leap and committing to 4 times per week - that is 3 times with the Couch to 5K program and then 1 additional activity.  I think that is doable, if I keep focus on it.

So that's the plan - wish me good luck

I'll keep you posted on progress as time flies,

 

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).

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!