April Book Goals

Finish Parenting From the Inside Out and read two chapters of The Hobbit.

April Fitness Goal

1000 mins exercise

April Diet and Nutrition Goal

I just want to keep eating cleanly, focusing on as little processing as possible.

April Weight Loss Goal

Lose 1.5 kg if possible.

I exercised for 1309 mins in April, but otherwise didn’t achieve my goals.  I’m not 100% certain about the weight loss goal since I haven’t actually weighed myself but I don’t think I’ve lost that weight.  But that’s ok.  Moving on to May!

May Book Goals

• Finish reading Leviticus.
• Finish the last few devotions in Made to Crave.
• Read two books.

May Fitness Goals

• 1200 mins exercise
• 1000 body weight squats.  Weighted squats (ie squats where I’m holding extra weights) count for 2 squats.

May Diet/Nutrition/Weight Loss

• I’ve slacked off a little of late, so I’d like to get back to simpler, cleaner eating.  Real food.  Minimal sugar.
• I’d like to make sure I maintain my weight (ie don’t put any on) or lose up to 1.5kg.  I’m happy with either .

• I’ve EASILY been achieving my mins of exercise goal the last few months, even without the “easy” exercise of walking with the kids each day
• I have lost weight (although at this point I’m not sure how much)
• I’m changing my body shape (and others are noticing!)
• I’ve had to intentionally up the intensity of my Zumba workouts, because I’m getting fitter
• I’ve tried – and come back to – a boxing and bootcamp style class called Tuff Stuff
• I’ve started working out twice a week with weights (legs one day, chest-shoulders-triceps another day)
• I can squat like a boss!
• I’ve cut out most of the refined food and almost all of the refined sugar from my diet, and I’m not missing it!
• I’m eating better than ever before
• I’ve dropped two sizes on the bottom half
• I’ve dropped one to two sizes on the top half (breastfeeding plays a part in not having lost as many sizes up top)
• Although I don’t have the figures, I know I’ve increased my muscle mass and lost a lot of fat – something the scales don’t recognise
• I’m finding that I can just have a taste of something (a bite of Nana’s Cherry Ripe Slice, one chip) and not feel deprived but also I stop at just that one taste, don’t over do it and have no need to feel guilty
• I just don’t crave the junk I used to crave
• I don’t even buy junk to have in the house 90% of the time, and a half eaten tub of ice cream (from family dessert) can sit untouched for weeks.
• Hey, I even skip dessert or have some frozen berries instead and don’t feel deprived.
• I don’t even like chocolate that much anymore.
• I tend to crave exercise, water and sleep more than anything else!
• I don’t have a guilt-based relationship with food.  I can have a treat, treat it as a treat, and not feel guilty or not turn it into a junk-binge.
• I’ve basically “broken up” with my scales – they now live in the garage.  The scales weren’t telling me how much my body shape was changing, how much fat I was losing, what clothes size I was wearing…

No I’m not at my ideal size/weight.  Yet.  Yes, I have a long way to go.  But I’m making changes, making progress.  And I’m NOT GIVING UP!

I have goals.  I need to improve my core strength.  Increase the weights I’m lifting.  Add in one more day of weights per week (biceps and back).  And the day to day challenge of staying on track.

My book goals were:

March Goals

Book goals:

• I’d like to finish the books I am currently reading: Jeremiah, my Made to Crave Devotional, Quirkology, Foreign Correspondent by Geraldine Brooks.

• I’d like to finish the chapter we’re readin and get three more chapters of The Hobbit read to the children – we’re going away during this month so I hope to take it on holidays with us.

I finished reading everything in my list (plus Stress and Your Child that I’d forgotten to add to the list) except for Made to Crave Devotional because it was a 60 Day Devotional that I’d started, not the 40 Days I thought it was, so it wasn’t a realistic expectation!  I also read The Midwife Trilogy – Call The Midwife, Shadows of the Workhouse and Farewell to the Docklands.  We read more chapters of The Hobbit.  I think we finished the chapter we were on and read two more but I can’t be certain!

I’ve read over 20 books so far (21 I think) with a pile more to read!

Fitness goals:

• I’m going to up the ante here and aim for 800mins of exercise – a 200min increase on my February goal, instead of my planned 100mins.  March is longer, and I exercised over 800mins in February anyway so it should still be achievable.
• I’m aiming for 45mins hooping this month and 30mins skipping (with a skipping rope).

In March I exercised for 1604 mins!!! Just over TWICE my goal!  I didn’t end up doing 45mins of hooping and 30mins of skipping though.  I spent a lot of time at my new gym.  I also held a plank for 2mins – I can do it for 2mins when I’m just starting my workout, or about 1min if I’ve been working out.

Diet and nutrition goals:

• I’ve purchased an ebook called 42 Days to Fit.  I’m going to try to follow this, starting Monday 4th March.  It sets diet and nutrition goals for each week.  I will tell you in advance though that the first week’s goal is NO SUGAR.  I will be eating sugar.  Monday, 4th March is my birthday and I will be sharing some ice cream with Mark as my birthday dessert.  However, I’m planning to keep it clean and sugar free for the rest of the week.  Just letting you all know in advance!
• Because 42 days is six weeks, the 42 day challenge will cross over into April.  I *may* take a week’s break from the challenge, due to aforementioned holiday, but I will still be exercising and still be trying to eat really well, I just won’t be progressing in the challenge that week.

Weight loss goal:

• OK, I don’t usually put weight loss goals out there, but I’d like to do one this month.  I’d like to lose two kilos in March, which I feel is realistic given we have a holiday and my birthday in there!  My current weight ends with a 4 and if I get back to ending with a 2, I’ll have finally lost all my pregnancy weight from my last pregnancy!

I started following 42 Days to Fit.  I’ve pretty much given up sugar since the start of Feb, and really the nutrition goals were a bit basic (eat a decent breakfast for example) whereas the exercise challenges were a bit much.  Not my cup of tea.  But I am eating “clean” – a diet of lean protein, fresh fruit and vegetables, some low fat dairy and some grains, nuts and seeds.  Barely anything processed.  I’ve had a few exceptions (holiday dessert, birthday celebration) where I’ve eaten something with added sugar but on the whole I just don’t anymore.  I don’t even really enjoy it anymore.

As for weight loss, a few days after I wrote out my goal I realised I was getting too obsessive about weight loss, and so we (well Mark) hid the scales away for the month.  A few days before the end of the month (before we went away) I weighed in at a number ending with a 1.5 (therefore achieving my goal of having lost all the pregnancy weight) and by the time we got back from holiday (a few days after the end of the month) it was ending with a 0.5.

April Book Goals

I started reading Parenting From the Inside Out before we went away and I’d like to finish that before the end of the month, and read two more chapters of The Hobbit (Chapters 8 and 9) with the kids.

April Fitness Goal

I want to keep up my exercise, although I can’t guarantee 1600 mins again this month!  I’m aiming for 1000 for April and at least that for the rest of the months of the year.

April Diet and Nutrition Goal

I just want to keep eating cleanly, focusing on as little processing as possible.

April Weight Loss Goal

My focus is not going to be on weight loss – it’s possible that I won’t lose any weight since I’m lifting weights and doing body weight exercises so I’m building up muscle.  If I don’t lose this month it will be because I have gained muscle, not because I am slacking off with the exercise or eating lots of junk.  All that said, if I could lose one and a half kilos this month, it would get me down into the next “decade” and will mean I will have lost a total of ten kilos since Ariadne was born.  That would be awesome if I could get to that point by the end of the month!

So, a week into the month, here are my April goals!

The idea is to hold a plank position (not to be confused with planking) for as long as possible.

I’m doing a modified plank on elbows and knees.  And I’m an absolute novice so don’t act shocked by my time.

Twenty books in total.

• Two books about the Bible/God
• A book about marriage
• A book about parenting
• A book about home education
• A book about healthy living
• A fiction book
• A Spanish book (ie a learning Spanish book, although reading a book written in Spanish would be good also)
• A devotions book
• A history book or biography
• A book for PTC (Preliminary Theological Certificate through Moore College)
• A read aloud with the kids (ie finish reading The Hobbit to them)

The rest… I’ll read what I want.

So far I have read:

• One book about the Bible/God. (What is Reformed Theology)
• A book about marriage.  (Safe Haven Marriage)
• Almost finished a book about parenting. (Stress and Your Child)
• A book about home education. (The Rights of the Reader)
• A book about healthy living.  (Trim Healthy Mama)
• A fiction book. (People of the Book, amongst others)
• A Spanish book (A la rueda, rueda…)
• A devotions book (Out of the Spin Cycle)
• A biography (The Duggars, 20 and Counting)
• Several chapters of The Hobbit

I’ve actually lost count of how many books I’ve read.  I think it’s twelve so far.  So, if twelve is accurate, I have one book about God/the Bible to read, a book for PTC and the remainder of The Hobbit, plus five other books to read.  By the time I finish the three I have on the go at the moment (not counting Jeremiah) I’ll only have two more books to read to reach my goal for the year!

My February Goals were:

Book Goals

• Reading three more chapters of The Hobbit to the kids – read alouds are a slow process here
• Finish reading my Spanish book
• Read one other book

Fitness Goals

• 600 mins of exercise for the month (and a shorter month makes it 21m30s on average each day to reach the goal)
• Spend at least 30mins of that 600mins hooping.

New – Diet and Nutrition Focus

In February I’m going to focus on what I drink, aiming to drink almost exclusively water.

How did I go?

Book goals:

• We’re currently part-way through the third (rather long) chapter of The Hobbit for the month.  I’m fairly happy with that .
• I’ve read through my Spanish book, although I haven’t understood/translated as much of it as I would have liked.
• I’ve read four other books (plus started or read parts of others)!

Fitness goals:

• With a day and a half left of February, I’ve exercised for 863.5mins – totally smashing my 600min goal!
• I’ve hooped for 42 mins so far, and have seen a HUGE improvement in my hooping!

Diet and Nutrition Focus:

• I’ve not been perfect but I really have succeeded in changing my drinking habits to be drinking almost solely water.

March Goals

Book goals:

• I’d like to finish the books I am currently reading: Jeremiah, my Made to Crave Devotional, Quirkology, Foreign Correspondent by Geraldine Brooks.
• I’d like to finish the chapter we’re readin and get three more chapters of The Hobbit read to the children – we’re going away during this month so I hope to take it on holidays with us.

Fitness goals:

• I’m going to up the ante here and aim for 800mins of exercise – a 200min increase on my February goal, instead of my planned 100mins.  March is longer, and I exercised over 800mins in February anyway so it should still be achievable.
• I’m aiming for 45mins hooping this month and 30mins skipping (with a skipping rope).

Diet and nutrition goals:

• I’ve purchased an ebook called 42 Days to Fit.  I’m going to try to follow this, starting Monday 4th March.  It sets diet and nutrition goals for each week.  I will tell you in advance though that the first week’s goal is NO SUGAR.  I will be eating sugar.  Monday, 4th March is my birthday and I will be sharing some ice cream with Mark as my birthday dessert.  However, I’m planning to keep it clean and sugar free for the rest of the week.  Just letting you all know in advance!
• Because 42 days is six weeks, the 42 day challenge will cross over into April.  I *may* take a week’s break from the challenge, due to aforementioned holiday, but I will still be exercising and still be trying to eat really well, I just won’t be progressing in the challenge that week.

Weight loss goal:

• OK, I don’t usually put weight loss goals out there, but I’d like to do one this month.  I’d like to lose two kilos in March, which I feel is realistic given we have a holiday and my birthday in there!  My current weight ends with a 4 and if I get back to ending with a 2, I’ll have finally lost all my pregnancy weight from my last pregnancy!

So, there you have it!  My goals and plans for March 2013.  Here’s to it!

So, for the up and coming week, I thought I’d share with you my menu plans and work out plans for the week and then during the week try to keep tabs on what I *actually* eat and what exercise I do, and compare at the end of the week.

I’m hoping to lose a kilo next week. We’ll see how that goes too.  I’m 2kg down, 18kg to go in my weight loss goal for the year.

Grumpy Day by Stephanie Carmichael and Jessica Green, is a lovely book reminding us that God is in control.  It tells the story of three children and their mother who are stuck inside on a rainy day.  While Mum can help make two of her children happy, Luke just wants to kick his ball outside.  In the end, Luke sits down with his Mum and chats about how God is in control of the weather and that, even if the rain is inconvenient for us, God knows best.

I love that the book imparts these spiritual truths without being preachy or forced.  I’m keen to get copies of the other books: The Birthday Party, Over the Fence and The Rag Doll.   All four of the books are currently on special for $5.97 each, down from their usual price of $9.95!

• Read Twenty books (I’ve read eight so far)

• Two books about the Bible/God
• A book about marriage
• A book about parenting
• A book about home education
• A book about healthy living
• A fiction book
• A Spanish book (in progress)
• A devotions book – in progress
• A history book or biography
• A book for PTC (Preliminary Theological Certificate through Moore College)
• A read aloud with the kids (ie finish reading The Hobbit to them)

Having read (at least) eight from twenty, and four of my other specific goal-books, I’m well on the way to achieving my goal for the year.

January Fitness Goal

My fitness goal for January was to exercise for 500mins in January.  As of last night (25th Jan) I crossed the line and am currently sitting on 511mins.  I will keep exercising this month though!

February Goals

In February I’d like to achieve:

Book Goals

• Reading three more chapters of The Hobbit to the kids – read alouds are a slow process here
• Finish reading my Spanish book
• Read one other book

Fitness Goals

• 600 mins of exercise for the month (and a shorter month makes it 21m30s on average each day to reach the goal)
• Spend at least 30mins of that 600mins hooping.

New – Diet and Nutrition Focus

• In February I’m going to focus on what I drink, aiming to drink almost exclusively water.  The rules are as follows.

1. Acceptable drinks are water and herbal tea.  My morning Berocca is also fine (5cal and it’s a vitamin!)
2. Allowable exceptions for this are: I am allowed to have a smoothie if I make a smoothie as my snack (morning or afternoon tea) and don’t eat anything else. I am also allowed to have a glass of flavoured milk OR a glass of powerade after a heavy workout of at least 45mins.

Basically, the idea is that I’m generally not consuming calories by what I drink.  This is a focus for the month, rather than a goal of achieving this for “x” days or not breaking the rules at all in February, it’s just something I’m going to try to be conscious about and diligent at making wise choices.

I’ll let you know how I go!

• Read Twenty books (I’ve read seven so far)

• Two books about the Bible/God
• A book about marriage
• A book about parenting
• A book about home education
• A book about healthy living
• A fiction book
• A Spanish book (ie a learning Spanish book, although reading a book written in Spanish would be good also)
• A devotions book – in progress
• A history book or biography
• A book for PTC (Preliminary Theological Certificate through Moore College)
• A read aloud with the kids (ie finish reading The Hobbit to them)

Also, I posted a fitness goal to start 1st Jan.  As as lunchtime on 10th Jan I have exercised for 217mins, almost half way to my 500min goal!

Updated 16.1.13 to cross off more books and to say that I’ve completed 332mins of exercise.