Health and fitness goals for 2013

Since my last post was about my 2012 accomplishments, it seems only right that I also post about my goals for 2013.  I've decided against resolutions...never kept them anyway.  Goals give me something to work towards and are much more positive.  So with an explanation why these are goals, here goes!

1.  Run 12 races.  I ran 9 races in 2012, so I'm sure I can fit 3 more in.  Actually, it will be a little more difficult because I am now working every other weekend, but that just makes it a little more challenging.  I'm already signed up for 3 races in January and February so I'm off to a good start.

2.  Run 600 miles.  I gave a lot of thought to this one.  One of my friends on Facebook posted her total for the year.  Once I stopped to think about it, it was astounding...over 1400 miles!  Not sure if I could even get over 1000.  But I know, if I push myself, I can get to 600.  That's between 11-12 miles a week, so it will be tough for me.  But I'm going to try.

3.  Get under 30% body fat.  When I started at the gym, I was at 40%.  I got down to 34.6% this year, so this is definitely achievable.  But it's still going to require some dedication and hard work on my part.

4.  Get my BMI under 30.  This should be my easiest goal, since my BMI is at 31.1 right now.  I think I have to lose about 8 pounds to get under 30.  But it's significant because I will FINALLY be out of the obese BMI category.  I'll "just" be overweight.  That's a big milestone for sure.

5.  And the last one is to get to my goal weight.  I have just about 25 pounds to get there.  Losing half a pound a week will get me there.  Definitely achievable.  And MAJOR.  Exciting that it's within my grasp!

My top 10 accomplishments for 2012!

I saw a post on MyFitnessPal with people listing their top 10 accomplishments of the past year.  I love that idea so I had to do it too!  So in random order, here's mine.

1)  Lost 32 pounds and 5% body fat
2)  Was able to stop taking medication for high blood pressure
3)  Ran my first 5K in February, and then ran 7 more throughout the year
4)  Ran the Warrior Dash, didn't stop once and completed ALL the obstacles!
5)  Had blood work done in March and my cholesterol was under 200 for the first time since I've had it first checked, well over 10 years ago
6)  Was able to leg press 500 pounds, 3 times in a row!
7)  Had my longest run yet at 7.6 miles
8)  Now wearing size 10/12 pants and medium/large tops (after starting at 22/24 and XXL)
9)  Felt good about putting my picture on our Christmas card this year.  First time EVER!
10)  Reached 100 pounds lost

The closer I get to my goal weight, the harder this gets.  So this is a GREAT reminder of what I've accomplished this year.

Now on to 2013!

More progression pictures

Again, the scale is stuck.  Hasn't moved down in almost 2 months.  So I thought I'd go back to my tried and true way of seeing progress...pictures!

This first picture is from about 4 months/10 pounds ago.

This next picture is today.  Quite a difference, I think! (excuse the mess I am...just home from the gym)

Not bad for a 10 pound change!

100 pounds down, in pictures

Today was a BIG day.  I got to the 100 pound mark.  Exactly.  188.4.  Still have some weight to lose, some goals to accomplish, but what a milestone this was.  And I thought I'd post some pictures, mostly to remind myself of how far I've come, and how I don't EVER want to go back.

This first one is January, 2010.  Yes, Jenna is completely adorable.  Me, not so much.

This next one is probably May, 2010.  Helping Jenna at the petting zoo.  Again, not good.

This next one might be the worst picture EVER taken of me.  To me, it's rock bottom.  I hate posting it, but then again, I need to remember how rock bottom looked.  June 2010, right before I started this weight loss journey.

Fast forward about 6 months.  I had lost about 35 pounds, but then we moved and I started a new job.  I think I gained almost all of that 35 pounds back.  This is December, 2010.

In June 2011, I started using MyFitnessPal.com.  That website has been instrumental for me, in being accountable with logging my food and exercise to helping me see exactly how many calories I was eating.  When I started there, I weighed 268 pounds.

November 2011, I was having quite a bit of success with my better eating and exercising.  This next picture, I was around 220 or 225 pounds.

Kept it up, and by February (this picture is from my birthday), I was probably around 210 pounds.

July 2012.  I had finally made it under 200 pounds.

And then this picture is from today.  188.4.  100 pounds lost.

So there's my weight loss journey, in pictures.  So far.  I know there's more to come!

More progression pictures

Just curious to see the differences in workout gear from January of this year until now.

January 2012

July 2012

Not bad.  I'll take it.  :)

Goals

As I continue on my weight loss journey, I'm starting to think about goals I want to attain.  I want to shift my thinking so I'm not so obsessed with the scale and instead I'm focused on my goals.

So first, of course, have to be weight loss goals.  The first weight loss goal will be 188 pounds, because that will be 100 pounds lost.  I'm 4 pounds away.  Sometimes, I step back and think about it, and 100 pounds?  That's unreal.

After 188 pounds, 163 pounds will be the next weight loss goal.  That's 125 pounds lost, and originally, that was my ultimate goal.   I was around that when I met Jason, the last time I was really healthy and in shape.

From there, I'm not sure what my ultimate weight loss goal will be.  Depending on how tough it is to get to 163, I might stop there.  But I'll be honest, I'd love to be under 150.  I'm 5'5", and weighing in the 140s for my body type would be amazing.  Haven't been that since high school.  144 would be truly amazing because that would be half my original weight.  But like I said, not sure if I'll be able to get there.  We'll see.

Then I have fitness goals.  First, running.  I want to run a 5K in under 30 minutes.  That's not very fast but it will be a big improvement from where I am now.  I also want to beat my husband in a 5K.  I'll admit it, I'll gloat when I do.

In February, I plan on running The Cowtown 10K.  This past February, the Cowtown 5K was the first one I ran, so a year later, it makes sense to go further.  And since my birthday is in February, it's a good birthday present to myself.  Then the following February, I plan on running The Cowtown Half Marathon.

Other fitness goals?  I want to be able to actually complete the 30 Day Shred without stopping.  Silly, but I still haven't gone past Level 1, so I need to work on it.  And I think when I get to my original goal weight (163), I'll get the Insanity series.  That thing blows my mind.

Oh, and one more purely self involved goal.  Those who know me well know I LOVE People magazine.  I've had a subscription for years, and the day that I get it in the mail is affectionately referred to as "People day."  Well, they've had an issue every year for people who have lost a lot of weight...regular people whom they profile and share their stories.  I want to be in that issue.  It's a silly little goal, but I'm going for it.

Updated scrub pictures!

I got a BUNCH of scrubs from one of my coworkers who has also lost a lot of weight.  Finally fitting into them well.  The first picture is from December 2011.  The second, from tonight.  I didn't think there would be such a big difference but there definitely is!