Day 14: Refocused Goals

So at the end of this emotional week, I have decided that I need to adjust my goals. I have been too focused on weight and clothing size, when those are really just side effects of my true goal to be healthier. While I will continue to weigh myself as a method of measuring my progress, I will not be so concerned with the number on the scale (well, I'm going to try at least). So what are my newly focused goals?

1. Exercise at least 3 times a week.
2. Eat vegetables every day.
3. Run a 5k in 30 minutes or less.
4. Only one sweet treat per week until Thanksgiving.

First of all, I want to truly become an active, healthy person. So I need to adopt a lifestyle in which I exercise on a regular and consistent basis. So I have a weekly goal of exercising at least three times (if I can get six, then I'll give myself a gold star, but as long as I do at least three consistently, I will be making a good change). Second, I need to eat better. Another lifestyle goal I have is to eat vegetables every day. I was definitely one of those kids that took advantage of my adulthood by deciding that I didn't need to eat vegetables if I didn't want to. Which means we didn't eat them very much the first couple years we were married. Now that I'm trying to be more mindful of my health, my goal is to include vegetables in at least one, but hopefully two meals every day.

My third goal is a milestone goal, something I can work toward and measure and definitively achieve. Running the 5k yesterday was a "short run" for me. I wasn't tired at all when I was done. Which means there is definitely room for me to push myself and improve. My best time ever was about 33 minutes. So I've set a goal for myself to run it in 30 minutes or less. I will be using the C25K (couch to  5k) program that I used to get running in the first place. But instead of jogging and walking, I will be running and jogging (or at least trying to). I want to sign up for a 5k on Thanksgiving day. My very first race was on December 1, 2012 -- so this race will be almost exactly one year later. I already can't believe the progress I have made since then, but improving my 5k time would really be neat.

My fourth goal is a short-term goal, in that I've set an end date for it. From now until Thanksgiving, I will only have one sweet treat per week. I know that sugar is my weakness, which makes things hard when baking is one of my favorite things to do. But as I've said before, I'm trying to adopt a healthier lifestyle I can maintain, so I don't want to entirely deprive myself. What I'm hoping this will do is train me to satisfy my sweet tooth with a piece of fruit, instead of a cookie or ice cream or candy bar. But once a week I can enjoy a single serving of dessert as a special treat. As I get closer to Thanksgiving, I'll think about what I'm going to do around the holidays.

I hope that with my refocused goals I will be more concerned with health than the number on the scale. Which means (I hope) I will make only good decisions, and not fall back on bad habits I am trying to break for good. I know I'm going to be disappointed at my weigh-in tomorrow, since I ate so terribly this week (read: 2000-2500 calories each day). I can't get this week back, but I can make tomorrow a good day. And day by day, make this next week a good one. And week by week, make this next month a great one!