Tag: resolutions

February 22 Mother’s Birthday celebration

Feb 22

So last week little steps

10 min to 12 min of elliptical

Money-credit cards are still paid off.  Sold some clothes for 38.00. Got a reimbursement check for 25.00. half is going to Vegas fund (6 weeks away) and half is going to Paris Olympics fund (3 years away)

Health-parked farther away in parking lot again-did elliptical 5 times this week Realized that I feel puffy even thought I am eating low carb/keto so need to rejigger my diet a bit (see post below about tiny habits in reverse)

Work-Wrote for blog many days this week but am not feeling any desire to work on fiction so did not work on that.

Home-pulled comforter up on bed, washed dishes out from lunch at school, did laundry. donated 3 bags of clothes that couldnt be sold and took 2 coolers back to my parents.

Tiny steps in reverse. I was eating handfuls of keto crunch for last 3 weeks. It’s keto. Must be fine. Well just like small steps in the right direction can help, small steps in the wrong direction are not helping. I feel puffy. As you know I don’t weigh myself. I have been eating keto and I feel as though it isn’t working. So going to be more purposeful with the keto crunch. Going to spread it on yogurt. Use it as a topping. See if that helps. Only packing my lunch with the essentials and no “back up food” in lunch or car. Except almonds.

Also going to be stricter on keto and reduce carbs down a bit more. I had been doing moderate carbs at dinner. Going to go lower carbs for dinner and see what happens. 

Mental- read articles about rewards-am reading Drive by Daniel Pink right now. Its talking about motivation.

Other– goal was to compliment two people. Only complimented one. Will try again this week for two.

Bursts-had a burst to clean out my car. As soon as I dropped off the clothes to be sold, I wanted everything out of my car and cleaned. Car wash. (didn’t vaccuum-its winter in Michigan so no point). My car looks awesome but now my bedroom is a mess LOL.

Missteps

Didn’t have anything big this week but I feel puffy so I need to reevaluate how much keto crunch I am eating.

Next steps

Try for 13-15 min on elliptical (trying to prepare for Vegas and tennis season so I am pushing a little harder). Also need to lift weights. Arms are very weak.

Money-have a budget of 50.00 to get me through a short 3 day week. Going to eat food at home and only buy gas.

Health-bought my fancy chocolate bars. Allowed one per week from now until Vegas. I have 6 total in my cupboard. Goal is only 1 per week. Also cleaned out car so there is nothing but almonds to grab and snack on. Remember my tough time is 1-5 pm each day

Work-notes each day for the blog. Also asked to shadow some other teachers at school so I can work on becoming a better teacher. (they have agreed so need to find a time to book that)

Home-keep dishes out of sink and put away everything I brought in from my car.

Others: compliment 2 people this week.

No matter how slowly, keep moving

Feb 7 (Superbowl Sunday)

Last week felt like a bit of a failure, hence the title of the post.

So last week’s little steps

7:30 min of elliptical to 8:30 min of elliptical

Money-used cash that I had in my coat for a few purchases so I didn’t put much on my credit card. Credit card balance is zero right now (hoping to keep it that way so that I can buy a house in the next few months)  However, it is Michigan so I use it at the gas pump because it is so cold out (13 degrees today)

Health-parked farther away in parking lot again-did elliptical 3 times this week. Not as much as usual but more than not doing it at all.

Work-Wrote for blog before work today about 10 min-did that 4 days in a row, also wrote some fiction-I have  a book idea I am working on, graded papers during my planning period at school (this may seem like an obvious task but a lot of times a teacher’s planning period gets taken away by meetings or things that have to be done that have nothing to do with teaching)

Home-pulled comforter up on bed, wash dishes out from lunch at school. On Friday I had a snow day so Thursday night I left a lot of dishes in the sink. (below are my thoughts on how that was a bad idea and why)

130 seconds of dishes while my coffee was brewing. I saw a woman on youtube, speed cleaning her house. It was huge. Twins and toddler. Giant house. So much stuff. I’m not telling anyone how to live but I will tell my story about this morning. My one coffee mug was in the sink and dirty. I had to wash it. So I solved two problems. Less clutter in sink and one more dish washed. In contrast, her speed cleaning video was amazing. It was awesome.  Super motivating.  However a small part of me wondered if she let it get that way so that she could have the big moment of cleaning it all or if she lives like that every single day. And I’m not judging! Lord knows I am not Mrs. Susie cleaning pants, but if she did a little each day would it not be so overwhelming and require an entire Saturday to clean the living room and kitchen and dining room and all the things she cleaned? By the way, during my second cup coffee, I finished washing the dishes in the sink. I also know the principle- like attracts like. When you have one cup and one spoon in the sink you feel like you can wash them quickly and move on. As soon as you start piling up dishes in the sink (which is what I did yesterday) then I just kept piling because I thought well I will get to them all later. The problem is then later I didn’t want to do it either so I just kept piling dishes in the sink and the more you pile the bigger problem it becomes. It’s kind of like losing weight-if you wait till you have 30 pounds to lose, it seems like a huge arduous task; if you start when you have five extra pounds to lose it’s a little less difficult. However, losing weight is always hard so I will just stick with my dish washing for now!

Mental-read an article about how journaling your feelings can be just as effective as taking anti-depressants

Other– Wrote a letter of thanks to a former friend of mine

Bursts-cleaned off dresser and desk in room. Cleaned out underwear drawer.  Vacuumed. 

Missteps

Didn’t have a single day that was “NO SUGAR” and that is disappointing.  6, 4, 5,2,0  Thats the last 5 weeks of “no sugar days”  Clearly, I wasn’t ready for it. I went “too fast” and then I crashed and burned when I hit stress. That is exactly what I am trying to prevent with my tiny steps and tiny habits-making the task seem so doable that I accomplish it every day.  So as I look at next week, I will try for one day of not eating sugar.  I wanted to go “full keto” and think that is a bad idea because if I cant give up sugar, then I am not ready to give up sugar AND carbs. I really think this is why diets fail so many people. We go way too big and then crash and burn at the first sign of stress/trouble/failure/disappointment/etc…

Next steps

Try for 9:30  or 10min on elliptical (trying to prepare for Vegas-it is a lot of walking around and so it helps to be in good physical shape)

Move money for “no sugar days” into a separate account (going to be a Vegas account now that we have booked that) (trying this as a reward system for eating well)

Health-9000 steps a day, ONE day of no sugar and be proud if I do that

Work-notes each day, purchase a blog site and post this post (I did that and am posting again this week. Sunday will be my post day)

Home-put away clean clothes. Put sheets on bed Clean off dresser. (did all that) Home is pretty clean right now so will just maintain this week.

Others write a letter to Grandma (she is 96 and loves getting mail)

Start now

Sunday Jan 31 2021

A lot of people have given up their resolutions already. I live in Michigan so its cold and blowing and snowing and ugh feeling. The sun has been hiding from us. I can see the appeal of just putting on a comfortable sweater and some leggings or stretchy pants and riding out the winter.  However, eventually spring will  arrive and I (we) will all wish that we had worked a little harder in the winter. The key here is a LITTLE.  This blog is all about the little tiny steps I take each week to accomplish my goals. And when I say LITTLE TINY steps, I mean very very tiny. You see, I feel like I have figured out the secret of getting things accomplished. This blog will be my attempt at sharing my methods with you.

So last week’s little steps Jan 24-Jan 30. (each Sunday I will post about my progress from the following week)

Money-sold some protein bars that I wasnt eating (25.00), returned a pair of boots that didnt fit right. Used a gift card for my hair appointment so was able to stock up on some products. Instead of buying a humidifier or new candle, I am using my diffuser and essential oils. 

Health-parked farther away in parking lot. Took two laps in hallway. Brought in half container of cookies so I didn’t eat them, walked to mail box, increased from 6.5 min on elliptical to 7.5 min, no sugar 3/6 days, good snack (fruit) after school. 

Work-Wrote for blog before work today about 10 min, graded papers during planning period, set laptop on lap when got home.

Home-pulled comforter up on bed, washed dishes out from lunch at school. Washed sheets and laundry. 

Mental-watched 2 “Google talks” about choice and meditation

Other– Wrote a letter of thanks to Debbie Macomber for writing a delightful book.

The “bursts” are not little steps. They are moments of motivation/inspiration in which I feel like doing more than the “little bit.”

Bursts-selling 3 bags of clothes and jewlery and shoes and cleaned out front seat of car. Also cleaned off my desk at school (completely)

Missteps (This is where I need improvement)

I was doing fine and then my husband had a bad day at work. So in order to handle what he told me, I ate rice for dinner (for comfort) and an entire chocolate bar (the trader joe dark chocolate kind but still it was an entire bar)

Next steps

Try for 8:30 min on elliptical

Move money for “no sugar days” into a separate account (trying a reward system as motivation to eat properly)

Health-9000 steps a day

Work-notes on tiny little habits each day, purchase a blog site and post my first post

Home-Put away clean clothes. Put sheets on bed. Clean off dresser. 

Other- write a letter to N.M. (a thank you letter for some kind words)