#Reverb13, Day 31: Bye

Throughout the month of December, I’ll be participating in #reverb13: Reverb is a way to reflect on the past year and project into the next year with a prompt a day for 31 days.  December is the perfect time to reflect on 2013 and start to create intentions for 2014.

Day 31: Farewell

At the finish | What’s next for you?

One of the best things about a new year is the potential it holds.  So many possibilities stretched out before me.  Endless hope.

These are the things I know for sure, in terms of 2014:

• I’m going to enjoy something about each and every day, even if it’s just a song on the radio or a flower I see on my walk with Sofi.
• I will reach my goal weight in 2014.
• I’m excited about dating and what my romantic future might hold.
• I can’t wait to see what else happens!

I saw this on Pinterest and think it’s the ideal sentiment for January 1, 2014:

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#Reverb13, Day 30: Relationships

Throughout the month of December, I’ll be participating in #reverb13: Reverb is a way to reflect on the past year and project into the next year with a prompt a day for 31 days.  December is the perfect time to reflect on 2013 and start to create intentions for 2014.

Day 30: Relationships

Relationships | Did you find a new best friend?  Delve deeper into a relationship?  Break up?  Get back together?  Tell us about who you added – or subtracted – from your life.  Why?

My friendships are so important to me, and I try to nurture them as much as possible.  Now that we’re in our 40s and busy with jobs, families, and other obligations, getting together is a lot more challenging.  Still, I try to make sure I get together with each of my friends (and sometimes a few of them at once) for coffee or something at least once a month.  Most of my friends are girls I’ve known since high school, and it’s really fantastic to know people that long.  These are tried-and-true friends.  Ride or die chicks.  Girls who have seen me through everything, and me them. We’ll always be in each other’s lives.  One major goal I have in 2014, which I started at the end of 2013 is to get together with them much more often.  To do things together, not just coffee and convo, but getting out and about and doing fun things, too.

One friendship that has blossomed in 2013 is with Tinkerbell.  She and I really started to hang out at the very beginning of January 2013, and our friendship has grown so much over the course of this year.  We have so much in common, including both getting the VSG. It’s fantastic having someone in real life to discuss all the issues that come up with having had weight loss surgery.  But beyond that, we have similar values, live in the same neighborhood (within 5 minutes driving), and like to do the same things. Tinkerbell is incredible supportive, so generous, and absolutely inspiring.  Whenever I see her post about her long runs on MyFitnessPal, I get motivated to do my walk/run intervals.  We have a great time shopping, getting our hair blown out, and delving into more serious topics, too.  I’m so grateful that we’ve become so close, and consider her one of my best friends.

A few of my most cherished friends are women who have moved far from me, but the distance doesn’t inhibit our friendship because of this great age of technology.  It’s not quite the same as being in the same room, but being able to check in on Facebook share our daily smiles through photos and statuses helps us stay connected.  Plus, with things like Facetime and texting, we can keep up with each other as if we did live in the same city.

And then there are the blogging buddies, pals on MFP, and WLS peeps on YouTube and FB  who have offered me so much support, encouragement, and happiness that they are definitely people I count among my friends, even though we’ve never met.  I am so thankful to have them in my lives.

In terms of romantic relationships, I recently signed up for Match.com, and while I find the entire process terribly slow, it has given me a bit of a boost to know that some of these men find me attractive enough to email, wink at, or contact.  I haven’t dated in years, and now that I’ve put myself back out there, I’m really hoping that 2014 brings me some fun dates (or maybe something even more serious) in the love department.

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#Reverb13, Day 29: List It – Review of 2013 Goals

Throughout the month of December, I’ll be participating in #reverb13: Reverb is a way to reflect on the past year and project into the next year with a prompt a day for 31 days.  December is the perfect time to reflect on 2013 and start to create intentions for 2014.

Day 29: List It

List it | List posts are everywhere.  Top 10 Ways to be Happier Today.  Three Tips for More Energy.  Seven Ideas to Stay Focused.  Give us a list.  Of anything.  Your to-do list for the day.  Your grocery list.  A Buzzfeed inspired list.  Anything.

This post is actually perfect, because it’s time to review the goals I set for myself for 2013. Let’s see how I did:

1. Qualify for WLS. I met this goal in mid-March, just as I’d hoped.  I had my WLS on May 20th, and life has gotten better with each passing day.
2. Read 35 books. I did terrible on this goal.  I’ve only read 11 books in 2013, which is pathetic, especially for someone who loves to read as much as I do.  I blame this on social media, because I’ve gotten in the bad habit of watching YouTube videos before bed, instead of reading.  Definitely something to improve for 2014.

#3 and #4 were a way for me to fit working out into my school days:
3. A Days: gym (elliptical, bike, swimming).
4. B Days: grade until 4pm, one Group exercise class per weekday.
I did great on hitting the gym on my early A days.  I wasn’t so good about going to the one group X class, though.  Still I’m happy with the way I met this goal.

5. Saturday: Zumba, then 2 hours grading. I went to Zumba up until my surgery, and then haven’t been going since.  I just got out of the habit and replaced it with other exercises.  I also wasn’t good about going to grade regularly on Saturdays.  This is a good goal to revisit in 2014
6. Sundays: Lululemon yoga. I didn’t do this one very often.  I went to the free Lululemon classes a few times, but then fell out of the habit.
7. Try 6 Pinterest crafts; learn to art journal. I didn’t do this goal at all.  Although I did start scrapbooking, so I think that’s a decent start. Another one to revisit in 2014, because I really want to.
8. Keep up with Google Reader/blogs. I wasn’t great about this at all, which is upsetting.  I get so many supportive comments from my blogging buddies, and I need to be better about reciprocating.
9. Do something fun with other people every other weekend. I did great on this goal, especially beginning in the summer and continuing all the way through the rest of the year.  I think part of this is feeling more comfortable in my own skin, and how I look in clothes, so I’ve been more apt to want to go out and be seen.
10. Go to bed by 10pm. Didn’t do this at all. Maybe for one week in early January.  I’m such a nightowl, and going to bed late is a hard habit to break.  I don’t know if I even want to try to do this one in 2014, because I don’t think I can change.
11. Begin researching becoming a health educator. I didn’t do any research on this at all.  I’m still very interested in it, though, and will spend time this summer looking into it.
12. Take monthly progress photos, begin measurements. Another thing I didn’t really follow up on.  It’s difficult to find time to take the pictures because my sis is so busy. I have no excuse for not taking measurements, because I can do that on my own.  I need to do this in 2014.

And now, for #13, the big, scary, outside-the-comfort-zone goal…
13. Sign up Match.com in the fall; go on dates by December.  I signed up for Match.com in December with a Groupon that I’d purchased.  I got plenty of emails, winks, etc., but no one asked me out, so no dates as of yet.  There haven’t been many guys I’m interested in, maybe 2-3.  Everything seems to move really slowly on Match.  It’s been alright, but I’d much rather meet someone in real life and let it happen naturally.  I am ready to date, so hopefully 2014 brings some love my way.

Not too shabby.  I have a long way to go on some of them, but I did well with others.  When I make my goals for 2014, I’m going to keep things a bit simpler, because I think I set too many goals for myself that weren’t enough of a priority.  Something to work on.

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#Reverb13, Day 28: Tears

Throughout the month of December, I’ll be participating in #reverb13: Reverb is a way to reflect on the past year and project into the next year with a prompt a day for 31 days.  December is the perfect time to reflect on 2013 and start to create intentions for 2014.

Day 28: Tears

Cry it out | What moment in 2013 brought tears to your eyes?  Are you usually a crier?  Or did tearing up take you by surprise?

I’m definitely an emotional person, and there were tons of times this year that I found myself with tears in my eyes.  Most of them were tears of happiness or pride in the things I was accomplishing:

• I hit the 100 pounds lost mark
• I completed the Santa Run 5K at my personal PR of 48 minutes.
• I made it to Onederland

Other times they were because I was so moved by a story someone else was telling me, which happens all the time in my WLS support group that I attend the third Wednesday of the month.  Hearing about how WLS has changed other people’s lives for the better in amazing ways always gets me, especially if they get emotional, too.

Of course, there were plenty of times when I was watching a show on TV and got teary-eyed.  I don’t think I’ve ever made it through an episode of Biggest Loser without tearing up.  LOL.  What can I say, I’m a sap?

I’m happy to say that there were very few times when I cried tears of sadness, but even those moments are necessary in the course of a year.  Crying is a release, and we all need to release our feelings from time to time.  I’m not one to bottle up any of my emotions, so if that means having a good cry from time to time, I think it’s healthy.

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#Reverb13, Day 27: Laugh

Throughout the month of December, I’ll be participating in #reverb13: Reverb is a way to reflect on the past year and project into the next year with a prompt a day for 31 days.  December is the perfect time to reflect on 2013 and start to create intentions for 2014.

Day 27: Laugh
Pee your pants funny | What was the funniest thing that happened this year?  Was it funny when it happened?  Or was it one of those things you laughed about later?

When I think of this prompt, no specific event comes to mind, but when I look back at 2013, there were lots of small moments filled with smile and laughter.

• Sofi does things on a daily basis that make me chuckle to myself
• My nieces are full of life and they constantly make me giggle
• My family and I get along so well with each other, and we’ve been through so much.  We can die laughing recalling an old story.
• My students are hilarious and I love how often they make me laugh out loud.
• My friends and I are constantly cracking each other up.

I’m so lucky to have laughter in my life all the time.

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#Reverb13, Day 26: 5 Moments

Throughout the month of December, I’ll be participating in #reverb13: Reverb is a way to reflect on the past year and project into the next year with a prompt a day for 31 days.  December is the perfect time to reflect on 2013 and start to create intentions for 2014.

Day 26: 5 Moments

Five Moments | Tell us about five moments you don’t want to forget from 2013.

1. Reaching my pre-op weight loss goal.
2. Having VSG surgery on May 20th.
3. Losing 100 pounds.
4. My first walk/run 5K and a hitting a new PR.
5. Making it to Onederland.

The  common thread between all of these moments is about weight loss, and by extension fitness, which is fitting, since it is my main accomplishment of 2013.  I’m proud of each of these moments, and I will always look back on them with a smile.

 

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#Reverb13, Day 25: Covet

Throughout the month of December, I’ll be participating in #reverb13: Reverb is a way to reflect on the past year and project into the next year with a prompt a day for 31 days.  December is the perfect time to reflect on 2013 and start to create intentions for 2014.

Day 25: Covet

Covet | What did you covet this year?  Are you working towards getting that or just admiring it from afar?  Is it a tangible thing or just an idea?  Tell us about what you’ve got your sights on.

This year was all about wanting to lose weight and all the things that come with a healthier body – health benefits like good blood pressure; the ability to do so much more in terms of fitness; and of course new, smaller clothes.

I definitely did everything it took to get what a wanted, and I’m proud to say that I’m ending 2013 much lighter and happier than I began.  I’ve transformed myself, both body and mind, and I can’t wait to see what this new me is capable of.

In 2014 I’m coveting getting to my ultimate weight loss goal of weighing 150 pounds.

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#Reverb13, Day 24: Driving Me Crazy

Throughout the month of December, I’ll be participating in #reverb13: Reverb is a way to reflect on the past year and project into the next year with a prompt a day for 31 days.  December is the perfect time to reflect on 2013 and start to create intentions for 2014.

Day 24: Driving Me Crazy

Crazy | What one little thing drove you crazy this year?  Was it unique to this past year or has it been buggin’ you for a while?  How do you intend to get rid of it or resolve it in 2014?

I wish this wasn’t the prompt for Christmas Eve, because I want to keep things positive, but here goes.

The main thing that drives me crazy is when people are insincere or inauthentic.  Pretending to be something you’re not is just an ugly look.  I have a few “Facebook friends” who portray themselves in such a different light than they actually live, and it gets to me.  I’m not one to complain on FB, because I don’t see much point in that, and I do like to keep things positive, but these people are fictionalizing everything. Either that or they’re just incredibly clueless and un-self-aware about how snarky and negative they are in real life. So much so that I’ve hidden their posts because I just couldn’t take the fake anymore.

I think it upsets me because I live my life so out in the open and with such honesty.  I’ve worked really hard to change myself, inside and out, and to become a better person. But, I know that each person lives their own journey, and it shouldn’t affect me. These people are unhappy but unable to make the change.  I truly hope that they’ll be able to see themselves as everyone else sees them, and make the changes they need to so they can start being real.  So, I do resolve to stop letting it bother me.  I may go so far as to “unfriend” the people because I really don’t need them in my life or my newsfeed.

On a more positive note, I’m going to continue to live authentically.

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#Reverb13, Day 23: Ready, Set, Go!

Throughout the month of December, I’ll be participating in #reverb13: Reverb is a way to reflect on the past year and project into the next year with a prompt a day for 31 days.  December is the perfect time to reflect on 2013 and start to create intentions for 2014.

Day 23: Ready, Set, Go!
The race set out for you | Tell us about how you’ve been running along in 2013 and the race(s) you intend to run in 2014.  These can be literal races or just the road of life.  What did your path look like this year, and are you choosing the same for 2014?

This year my path has been all about health and fitness.  I’ve always been interested in moving my body and pushing myself as far as I could go, but this year, after all of my weight loss, I’ve been able to really see what I’m capable of.

I love speed – I drive fast, I talk fast, I think fast, and I want to move fast.  So running is something I’ve always wanted to do, but until very recently, never been able to.  Not anymore!  As I’ve mentioned in many previous posts, I’m one month into a walk/run program and I’m up to running 5 minutes in a row.  Each time I set out to run I get an incredible feeling of accomplishment.  I don’t know if I’ve experienced any endorphin rush yet, but I’ll look forward to that.

I’ve already begun participating in monthly 5Ks, and plan to continue that in 2014.  And who knows, maybe I’ll up the ante to 10Ks and beyond as the year continues.  The sky’s the limit!

I first heard this phrase from the Mermaid Run series. At the time I hadn’t experienced it yet, but now that I have, I love it even more.

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#Reverb13, Day 22: Uphill Battle

Throughout the month of December, I’ll be participating in #reverb13: Reverb is a way to reflect on the past year and project into the next year with a prompt a day for 31 days.  December is the perfect time to reflect on 2013 and start to create intentions for 2014.

Day 22: Is the battle worth the struggle?
Uphill | What uphill battle did you keep fighting and fighting in 2013?  Are you going to keep fighting or let it go?  Why?

This post can practically write itself.  The battle that I fought and am WINNING is with my weight.  I’ve been overweight most of my life, and obese since my mid-20s.  After years of unsuccessfully trying to lose weight, I made the decision to get weight loss surgery.  It was both a blessing and a curse that Kaiser required that I lose over 10% of my weight before I could qualify for surgery.  I also had to quit smoking.  I gave up cigs pretty easily, but gained over 20 pounds in the process, and realized I was giving into emotional eating.  My weight skyrocketed to 315 pounds until I finally just made the decision that enough was enough.  When I finally refused to keep making the myriad of excuses I’d become so accustomed to, I started losing weight.  It wasn’t easy, but I just kept at it and didn’t give up.
By April I’d met the surgery requirement after 2 1/2 years of battling, and from there I knew I’d win the war. I had my surgery on May 20, 2013, and it’s been all “downhill” from there.

I’ve lost a total of 112.8 pounds, and I’m not stopping until I reach every one of my goals. It’s been a fantastic year, and I know 2014 is going to be even better!

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