Progress and Assess

So it's been 4 weeks since I've started this journey and I'm feeling pretty good about my progress so far.

I lost another pound last week, which means I'm .4 pounds away from my 5% goal. And I'm already planning a weekend trip to see some friends in Johnson City, TN as a result of this level-up! Thanks for the motivation kick, guys!

So the total weight lost? Drum roll please?! 9.2 pounds!! Incredible progress for the first month. I didn't expect that at all, especially so fast. I think it will slow down eventually, though. This really interesting motion graphic video explains why:

Neat, huh? Stupid metabolic adaptation! Oh well. Those Epipheo video production guys are pretty awesome, though, right?

Anyways, onwards with vigilance! So this week I've taken some time, as planned, to reassess my plan. (You should see the massive spreadsheet I'm dealing with. It's got at least 8 tabs. If you're interested, I'll show you...just ask.) I've learned this month that I really like circuit strength training with people in a class, with a friend. Having a specific plan and someone(s) working with me is really motivating, and having a routine and an expectation of fulfilling it is really important.

So, instead of 20-minute daily workouts (which haven't been working at all lately), I'm scheduling 4 workouts a week this month (and maybe next month, too). Tuesdays are Body Pump, Thursdays are ZUMBA!, and Mondays are for working out with a friend. Finally, I have a flexible workout scheduled for the weekend. It can be anything, with anyone or anywhere. As long as it happens! I'd prefer a Saturday morning gym class, but it will depend on what's happening. I'm also going to buy a new electronic tool from Weight Watchers called Active Link. It's sort of like a pedometer but it tracks all activity and syncs to the WW account! It's supposed to be a really motivational tool to help you level-up your activity.

Let's see, what else? Oh yes, meditation. I haven't been meditating the past two weeks. So I'm going to get back into that. I'm working on increasing my wake-up time to 7am every morning. I think that'll give me more time to meditiate and perhaps work on personal projects and prepare for the day's events. Plus, hopefully I'll remember to make my own coffee in the morning so I don't buy any at the crappy spot near my office. This also means, though, I need to be better about going to sleep earlier. And I've set an alarm on my phone to remind me at nighttime. :) #nerdface

I think I've been pretty good about journaling this month, but I do want to blog more than once a week! A friend was talking to me about making this blog more relevant to YOU guys and less about me, me, me. So I want to start sharing more things that will engage and inform you all. And maybe make you laugh?

I have a series of links (mostly from Lifehacker) that I'm going to start sharing more of. They helped me develop my plan and understand how to (and how not to) achieve goals! Maybe they'll help you, too. By the way---how are all of you doing on your resolutions so far? Also, if you see something relevant to this blog, please share it with me! Email me, facebook me, or type it up in the comments section. I'm also excited to potentially have some guest posts....more to come on that!

And then there's planning and organizing! Two things I love.love.love! I'm going to start grocery shopping on weekdays when fewer people are at the grocery store. I'm sooo sick of going with the masses to the grocery stores on weekends. It takes too much time out of the weekend, waiting in line and all, and I'd really like to use my weekend time a little differently for some other professional goals I have. (I'm freelancing now!!)

Finally, in my original plan I set out to design motivational/affirmational posters for myself. I still want to do this, but it's not something that is *crucial*. It's still in my goal list, but if I don't get to it I'm not going to feel guilty or punish myself. I'm a busy girl so squeezing in a workout and food prep/planning is pretty much good for me!

So, this month, I'm going to continue meditating, logging the food I eat and workouts I do, plus workout 4 times a week with people/friends. I'm giving myself 1 reward a week, and a bonus award to look forward to at the end of a successful month: a new office chair! (Dave will be so happy when I stop stealing his!) My next 5% goal (which would be 10%), should be reached by June or July. That seems to be FOREVER away, so I'm hoping my month-end goal will push me further!!