Tag Archives: goals

Is Everyone Getting Skinny Except Me??

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Around March, I started noticing a few of my regular blog reads posting fitness goals and talking about eating healthy and exercising more. Cool, they want to get in shape; good for them! That was the extent of my thinking about healthy eating and fitness. But as I saw more and more postings showing up in my Bloglovin feed devoted to these two topics, it made me re-evaluate my own habits and body (as I shove two mini tootsie rolls in my mouth at once).

Blogs I didn’t expect to see posting about fitness and health were now all about it. These ladies were the reason I finally put my own foot down and am deciding to take control of my health and well being. So Kelly, Raven, Whitney, Melissa, and Tyler…thank you for giving me the push that I needed!

The summer skirts and shorts are feeling a little bit more snug and the super cute tanks don’t fit as nice when there’s a little extra in the mid section. As much as I would love a brand new wardrobe (and really, what girl wouldn’t??), I don’t have either the money or the ambition to buy a size bigger than my usual. Now if I was going a size down, I WOULD FIND the money but that’s a whole different conversation if it comes to that! (It will…right?)

Toward the beginning of this week, Lauren Conrad had a post on getting healthy and fit (see? I told you everyone is talking about this business everywhere these days) and after going through it probably 5 or 6 times (it takes time for me to comprehend not eating chips or ice cream), I’ve decided to incorporate her tips along with other ideas I already had planned to present to you…

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You guys. You know what I’m talking about right?! That inevitable food baby that comes after you eat too much. Except you eat too much every time and it’s permanently there now? Please please please tell me I’m not the only one with this problem! I suck it in really well but it’s getting a little old so I have spent DAYS preparing this plan for you! (Okay, maybe it was only two hours or so but saying days sounds so much better doesn’t it?) We all remember Tone It Up Tuesdays right? Yeah that series didn’t last long so don’t feel bad if this is your first time hearing about it. Unlike TiuT though, I am not going to give a weekly check-in with this fitness plan. That’s practically setting myself up for failure. Ohhhhh the pressure! Instead I’ll be checking in the first and third Monday of the month. I don’t want to go overboard with fitness posts but I do still want to keep myself accountable. I am not nor will I ever be a fitness guru. I’m not going to try to compete with all the other incredible fitness and health blogs out there that know WAY more than me but I do want to stay on track and be able to discuss my progress. Let’s hope there is actually some to discuss! Come to think of it, I started gaining weight when I made a huge blog change and this became Read, Eat, Create. Hmm…a little ironic dontcha think?!

So what exactly does this plan consist of? Here we go…

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Part One: Food

1. Drink lots of water! You’re supposed to consume half your body weight in ounces of water per day. We all know I have problems drinking water, so I am going to use the incentive of every day I reach this goal, I am putting a dollar into a jar. Mind tricks are fun!

2. Trading certain foods for a healthier option. This chart that my friend Stephanie made is terrific for this!

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3. Choosing healthier snack options. I work at an office job so I am constantly snacking throughout the day. Here’s a short list of things I’m going to trade my junk food snacks out for.

6cbe33ca31d52794b328d13da39ca3d74. Choose one meal from every category every day (this was one of the big parts I took from Lauren Conrad post…I love that she included this!).

Breakfast Options

Lunch & Dinner Options

**OR**

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I just bought this book and have been drooling over all the healthy living recipes Gwen shares so I’m sure I’ll be going back and forth between Gwen’s recipes and Lauren’s plan!

5. No soda.

6. No white bread or fried foods.

7. No sugar (candy, brownies, cookies, cakes…all the stuff that people bring to work all the time…this is going to be the worst one!).

8. Don’t lose sight of your goals. I am making a small goals list everyday so it will result in the big goal eventually!

9. Have one cheat day (this is definitely for me…I can’t do this without at least a little indulgence)!

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Part Two: Fitness

1. Have two different workouts. One per week and alternate so your body never gets used to the same routine (<- look at that, I almost know what I’m talking about).

  • I’m going to do this DVD. There’s three different levels on this workout plan so as you progress you’re going to be moving up levels.
  • Instead of doing this workout every day though, I’m going to do this four days a week and two days a week I will be running 45 minutes or biking for 90 minutes. I’m also going to be doing 50 sit ups in the morning and at night and 60 second plank every morning and night.

2. Have one rest day.

3. Stay consistent. Every time I think of not working out one day, I’m just going to repeat the first quote. I love the 4, 8, 12 rule! Never would have looked at it that way!

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Now that I’m reading through this again, I’m worried that I’m getting too ambitious. Eeks! I’m going to try my damn hardest and if I can do this for 12 weeks I’ll be fine. 12 weeks is nothing! I can do anything for 12 weeks! Good gracious I started the pep talks already! I plan on starting this on Monday (I have two concerts this weekend and a cookout…you better believe I’ll be indulging this weekend before this new plan of action) so at least I have the weekend to clean out my pantry and eat get rid of all the naughty foods! Once Monday comes, you can bet your bottom dollar I’ll be posting pictures throughout my journey. Follow along if you don’t yet, username readeatcreate!

I would love to hear if any of you are on any health or fitness plans to get bikini body ready! Maybe we can encourage each other!

March Goals

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Conceptional chalk drawing - SMART Goalsimage found here

I wish I could say I was incredibly successful with all of my goals in February.  But I would be lying.  Here’s a recap of this month and how it went down.

1) Start meal planning – I had good intentions behind this.  Really I did.  It just didn’t happen.  Between Mr. C. starting his new job and working late every night plus him taking grad school classes two nights a week and not getting home until 10pm at the earliest, I wasn’t finding meal planning to be very effective.  Now that he is getting home at a normal(ish) hour from work and is down to one night class this semester, I’ll give it another shot.
2) Workout/be active 4-6 times a week FOR REAL this time – I might as well not have this on my goals list anymore.  It just doesn’t happen for me.  That’s all on this one.
3) Make at least 10 DIY projects (and post them on here of course) – I made three.  That’s 30% of what I was supposed to do.  In all honesty, two of the three that I made were a huge disaster.  I think that’s what made me avoid the others.
4) Work on my Crossroad Career booklet on a more consistent basis – Not only did I do this, but I had a better outcome that I ever expected.  More on this exciting announcement next week!
5) Log 20+ miles on Daily Mile for #TeamFMF with Raechel – I didn’t quite hit my 20 mile goal but I did run 11.62 miles.  This month I know I’m going to have to run a lot more because I am participating in a 7K with my friend Wendy on the 16th and need to be (mostly ready) even though I know I won’t be able to run 5 miles straight if my life depended on it.

I’m starting to question why I do these goal posts every month.  It’s becoming clear that I’m not very good at fulfilling my goals.  I think I just need to hold myself more accountable for them.  On that note, I think you’ll appreciate my first goal of the month of March!!

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1)  Sucessfully complete all of my March goals :)
2)  Log 35+ miles for #TeamFMF before March 16 (7K day)
3) Participate in the #EncourageBeauty Challenge with Ana & Hilary
4) Start meal planning
5)  Read 3 books
6)  Finish the DIY projects from February and post them on the blog
7)  Start eating clean(er) with the 80/20 rule (began this February 28)

Now excuse me while I go run on the treadmill while planning out my meals for the week and hot glueing something.  Multi-tasking has got to happen if I’m going to accomplish goal number one!  Haha :)   Happy Monday loves!!

What Will You Accomplish in February?

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Now that it’s February, I thought I would take a look back at my January goals and see what I’ve accomplished (and fill you in on my new goals!). Let’s just say January didn’t go as planned. I’d done better than what life was like in 2012 but I certainly didn’t hit every goal like I hope I would. It’s okay though, there was still improvement and I’ll just keep pressing on in February.

Do you remember this post where I listed my goals for January? Here’s a little review of what they were and how I did.

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1) 365 Project – I did stick with this project and I plan on doing a post on Saturday whoing you all my pictures so far. I’m LOVING this project!

2) Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day – This didn’t happen. By a long shot. In fact, I think I only had that many glasses of water three time total last month. Really bad, I know. I did drink water on a regular basis though (even if it wasn’t very much) and I am planning on keeping this goal for February. Who are we kidding? I’ll probably have this goal on my list for the remainder of 2013. Eventually I will be up to 6-8 glass everyday (I hope).

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3) Keep up with my SheReadsTruth devotional and get back in touch with God – I played catch up a lot with this one. I found that if my notebook and Bible weren’t in a visible spot everyday, I would forget about it. This is going to stay on the list too for February.

4) Be active 4-6 times per week (walk Jack, gym, etc.) – Considering I was sick almost the entire month, I was very consistent with being active. The first week I got to the gym four time (I was proud!). The second week I started doing P90X and did that five times that week. Week three was when I started feeling really miserable and only worked out twice. Week four I worked out once and by the time week five came around, my only exercise was walking the dog (and we weren’t going very fast AT ALL). Like I said…not my month for this. Here’s to a better and HEALTHIER February though!

5) No soda (except our homemade Sprecher Root Beer) – I was really good about this one up until two week ago when I came down with the worst cold and cough of 2013 and I had a Sprite. Sprite just makes things better when your sick so I really don’t feel that bad about it. But aside from that, it was only Sprecher Root Beer. We make our own root beer and it’s so hard to say no (so why even try is my theory apparently!). I’m thinking about foing a post on how we make it in the upcoming weeks. It could be fun right?

6) Spend money wiser instead of just spending to spend – I started keeping a record of what I spent everyday in a little notebook I kept in my purse. It turned out to be really helpful because I could see where all my money was going. I definitely decreased spending money on senseless things but we didn’t end up saving as much as I wanted to by the end of the month because of doctor bill and vet bills (we just found out Jack has a food allergy…you can only imagine how fun that one is).

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7) Love stronger in my marriage – This is an ongoing goal. I’m never going to reach an end to it and God strengthens me everyday in out marriage. One thing that this past month did teach me is that there are always going to be struggles. Some might not be as big as other but with struggles come the rewards. God tested our patience and taught us acceptance in January and we could not have been more grateful for the way things turned out. I’m not going to put this on my goal list for February simply because this is a goal I will be continuing to strive for for the rest of my life. My marriage and God are always going to test me and it’s up to me how I am going to react.

Whew…see what I mean? Not the best month ever. So I’m convinced February will be the best month for goals since January was such a let down. February goals are broken into two parts.

Goals carried over from January
1) Continue to drink was (reach 6-8 glass per day)
2) Continue my daily devotional with SheReadsTruth and keep it somewhere I am going to see it all the time
3) Continue logging money spent

Goals for February
1) Start meal planning
2) Workout/be active 4-6 times a week FOR REAL this time
3) Make at least 10 DIY projects (and post them on here of course)
4) Work on my Crossroad Career booklet on a more consistent basis – I should probably explain this one…This is a class I have been taking every Saturday morning since January to help me figure out which direction I would like to see my career go. The more work you put into it, the more you get out of it but I need to start buckling down and putting more work in!
5) Log 20+ miles on Daily Mile for #TeamFMF with Raechel – Go Team Saffron!

How are you guys going with you new years resolutions or goals? Do you make month to month goals? I hope I’m not the only one who does this but the month to month goal setting keeps me more accountable. Plus then I actually remember what the goals were!

365

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It’s almost the new year!  Would you ever try a 365 project?  I have never done one before but heard about someone who tried it and it intrigued me.

It’s a project where you take a picture a day for 365 days.  I know it sounds like a lot, especially if you are narrowing it down to only one topic but it’s totally doable.  I feel like it is a really great way to get my creative juices flowing especially since I have gotten into photography a lot more since I started this blog.

My big picture goal is to become a better photographer so this is going to be perfect.  I’ve noticed lately that I tend to grab my camera any chance I get and it’s constantly at my side.  (And when the camera isn’t there, my phone camera is.)  I’m excited to see how my creativity will come out with using different angles and lighting when all the typical shots have been taken already.

Let’s just say I am ready for this challenge!  Is anyone else up to it??

This year, I am starting January 1st with the subject being my home!  I plan on using this blog and Instagram as a source to post pictures and at the end of the year, I’m hoping to make a book of it.  I’m sure there will be days that I will miss because I won’t be home but I can’t wait to see what this challenge will teach me!

Now the big question…who’s willing to try with me?!  It doesn’t have to be a photography challenge; it can be any kind of challenge!  I’d love to hear if you’ve tried this before or if you plan on starting a 365 challenge with me in 2013!

10 Things (Pinterest Style) Sunday

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1.  I know it’s not possible in the house we are in now, but I sure do want Jack to have aonther puppy friend sometime in the future!

2.  What a great idea for Thanksgiving!  Make out a menu so all your guests know what their stomachs will be up against!

3.  I’m going to do this for 2013.  Throughout the year, write down memories that make you smile.  On New Year’s Eve, open it and re-read all the good stuff that made the year…now THAT is a good resolution!

4.  Because who’s hands don’t get chilly when holding their drink right?!

5.  ‘Tis the season to have all your wrapping essentials before starting the wrapping party!

6.  I can’t wait to do our first Mr. and Mrs. Christmas card pictures!  They probably won’t look nearly as cute as this one but they will look pretty damn good :)

7.  Confetti filled balloons…great idea for all the birthdays I have coming up.

8.  Love Christmas mantles…I’m a big admirer probably because I don’t have a mantle but I have a growing list of looks for a mantle when I do have one someday!

9.  What an inspiration!  I have the worst trouble sticking with workouts but I’m really going to keep pushing myself in 2013 to make it the best year yet!  Hopefully my body doesn’t think otherwise ;)

10.  At this time last year, I was scarmbling because I onlt had 2.5 months left until Mr. C. and I got married!  These are just some of the details that I was hoping I would get right!

All these images were found on my Pinterest boards.  Hope you guys liked this 10 Things Sunday edition!  Sometimes a Pinterest edition is necessary…that place is just packed with too many awesome ideas!