It's been such a long time since I've updated this blog. I had a silent self-celebration on Dec 3rd, as it was an anniversary, I stopped drinking five years ago! It remains one of the best decisions of my life. Just about every day something reminds me to be grateful for being sober. I can't even count the number of beautiful and amazing things that have happened, or that I've been able to do, since I put alcohol aside and made room for so much more in life!
Half a decade later, and as I approach half a century overall of life, I want to make some additional changes to further enjoy the opportunities and riches of life while also building strength to face life's challenges. I am returning to the blog to create and document my plan, and to document the journey. This will also be a tool for my own self-accountability.
Broadly, my goal is to increase health for me personally and also for my family. I am focused on physical health, spiritual health, and financial health.
Physical Health: I need to lose a lot of weight- about 40 pounds. In the past I've successfully lost up to 25 lbs using Weight Watchers and once again on low carb diets, but I have failed to keep them going. As my husband and I have gotten busier at our jobs, we have stopped having regular home cooked meals with non-processed foods. It's affecting me, my husband, and my son. My son remains a healthy weight likely due to his sports and youth, but it's only a matter of time. My job is also sedentary and I have not been exercising consistently.
Part A: Food
Goal: Have at least 4 home cooked meals each week.
Goal: Eat at least 5 servings of vegetables/fruits daily. Limit fruits and focus primarily on veggies.
Plan to achieve goal: Plan and prep meals on Sundays. Include:
- Plant-based breakfasts and lunches during Sunday planning/prep.
- Ensure cut up carrot/celery/peppers/broccoli/cauliflower are available as nightly munchies.
- Cook up soup and stocks to ensure plant/based soups are available for snacks, lunches, and dinner
Part B: Movement
Goal: Increase movement per Fitbit from 8k to 9k steps/day by the end of Feb and up to 10k the remaining months of the year
Goal: Complete at least one 5k with my son
Plan to achieve goal: Walk at least 20 minutes per day and complete a Couch to 5k program.
Spiritual Health: I've grown a lot in spiritual health over the last few years. I was able to circle the square in regards to Christianity in my head and decided to go with the main messages. I guess as part of Adulting, I've realized that having 100% agreement with anyone or any philosophy is a rare occurrence in real life. I believe Jesus walked the earth and I believe primarily in his message, that works for me. I grew up Catholic and haven't really read much of the Bible. I'd like to change that and I'd also like to learn how to meditate.
Goal: Increase knowledge and practice of spiritual texts and methods to generate feelings of peace and centeredness.
Plan to achieve goal: Read at least one spiritual chapter or text weekly
Plan to achieve goal: Meditate at least once weekly
Financial Health: This is a simple one (not easy, maybe not achievable, but the method is simple). I want to increase my retirement contributions. My husband takes off 6 consecutive weeks each year unpaid; this is required per his contract. We live on my salary clearly when he is not working. However, in 2020, our goal is to save my salary until we have a year's amount (bare bones) in cash. This will likely take the full year. We were able to save up 12 mortgage payments over the last two years; we'll have to double that to get to a full year's savings. Also, my take home will decrease since I'm increasing what is going into my retirement account. Glamorous, right?
Goal: Increase retirement to maximum allowed in 401k and increase savings to full year in savings account.
Plan to achieve goal: Automate paycheck settings to max 401k. Update paycheck/workplace settings once Husband has completed his 6 weeks off (around early Feb) to deposit check into savings instead of checking.
Plan to achieve goal: Review spending/savings/ budget at least weekly to ensure we are staying on track. Modify as needed.
Finances will start in Jan. But physical and spiritual can start today.
It's Sunday so I am off to work out meal planning. I'm off work tomorrow so will get meal prep done then.
