Tag: fitness

My word for 2019

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It’s that time of year.  Resolutions and planning.  If you are into that sort of thing.  (I am into that sort of thing.)  If you don’t think January is an arbitrary start time.  If you find planning and goal setting helpful.

I initially thought that this would not be a big goal year for me.  We’re having a baby any day now.  My main goal is enjoying the baby and figuring out how three kids works.  Seeing if we can move from surviving to thriving in this new scenario.

BUT, after some discussion with a fellow resolution loving friend, I started to think that this could be EXACTLY the time to have some clear goals.  Things are going to get a little crazy.  If there is anything I can be doing to clarify mission, that is probably good.

I put together some priorities for the year and noticed a theme.  Are you ready for the word?  It’s . . .

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18 for 2018

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Argh.  This annoys me.  I was writing this post and it somehow didn’t save.  So I’m trying again, but whatever I’m writing probably won’t be as good at all.  This is just a haphazard, sloppy second effort.

Or MAYBE it will be even better because I’ve had time to think on the topic more.  Really craft my sentences in a way that will be pleasing to all of your senses.  Sadly, we’ll never know because I can’t ever show you the posts side by side.

Let’s get this one published before it somehow deletes again, shall we?  Moving on.

This is one of my favorite times of year.  I love love love talking about goals, resolutions, dreams, and all that stuff.  I like to talk about these things any time, but in January most people also want to talk about that stuff too.

As we all know, there are about a million ways you can do resolutions.  A one word theme for the year.  A straight up list.  Monthly goals or themes.  Quarterly goals.  You name it.  Someone is doing it.

On a recent Happier podcast, Gretchen Rubin and Elizabeth Craft talked about a list of 18 for 2018.  (You can see their lists and hear the episode here.)  I like this.  18 is manageable.  You can have a mix of big things and little things.  Fun things and serious things.

It took me longer than I expected to put my list together.  (You’ve already seen some of mine if you follow me on Instagram.)  I have TONS of things I want to do, but I realized that I didn’t want to put something on the list unless I actually want to do it.  Maybe want isn’t the right word.  I want to do all of these things.  But if it’s on the list, I’m GOING to do it.

I also wanted to only put things on the list in my control.  For example, “Get a Book Deal” does NOT belong on the list.  I can work on this, but I can’t control the outcome.  You’ll notice for some of my fitness stuff that I’m just trying to work on it.  I wanted to put “nose to the ground in a pancake straddle stretch,” but I can’t control that.  I’ll work really hard on it.  Hopefully it will get better.  And THAT’S the goal.  That’s all I can do.

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I want to be a health coach but . . .

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Health coach

So I’ve been saying for awhile that I need to figure out my next thing.  What I want to do when I grow up.  What I’m going to do now that our old way of life will never be the same.  (I mean OBVIOUSLY.  But some things take longer to get there in my head.)

My head is pinging with ideas.  The two buckets seem to be writing and health related.  On the writing side, I’ve thought about working on a book proposal.  Or really optimizing/monetizing this blog and writing more regularly.  Or doing a podcast.  (This one doesn’t quite fit into either bucket.)

For health, I’d like to be a health coach.  I’d also like to learn more about fitness.  Either to be a personal trainer or to be a more sort of full service health coach package.

I definitely have more time now that the kids are in school.  (Although it does seem like things are always coming up.)  But I will need to be more focused to make something happen.  Right now I feel like I’m making an inch of progress in twenty different directions.  I need to pick a lane.  Which currently feels intimidating on top of settling in to our new home, travel planning, and general life stuff.

In the spirit of picking a lane, I’m doing a brain dump on all the reasons I’m scared to try to be a health coach.  Here we go.

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Two Month Ta Da list

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So we are closing in on two months in our new home.  We’re starting to feel settled.  It’s a work in progress, but it feels good.  Even if the kids do still ask when we are going back to Rome.

The other day I mentioned Gretchen Rubin’s Ta Da list.  The idea being that instead of focusing on the never ending To Dos, to reflect on everything you have accomplished.  Ta Da!

Especially because I worry we are never doing enough or trying enough, I thought it would be fun to look back on everything we HAVE done.

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ICYMI: All the Feels Edition

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3.18_ICYMI

This is pretty much my life right now.

On the Blog:

Thanks for all of your support on my Quitters Story and my freak out on the future.  You guys are awesome.  I totally owe you a cappuccino.

The blog’s most popular feature by far.  I should just cut the middle man and have Henry do all the writing here.  #1 blog of all time.  Done.

I’m still doing a little running and still doing a little paleo.  Looking to change up your own habits?  Try this trick.

Looking for your next read?  Check out my 2015 list.

It’s Friday!  You know what I’m doing tonight.  Henry has already called “all the Octonauts.”  Huzzah!

On the Internets:

The baffling reason many millennials don’t eat cereal.  Hint:  it isn’t because they’ve all gone paleo and started eating eggs.

Over at MMD, Anne is talking about fashion in the thirties.  I agree with it all, and loved this:  How a Closet Cleanse Helped Me Embrace My Thirties.

I need to remind myself of this frequently.  Yes, it is only a season.

Hey there West Wing fans.  I’ve got the podcast for you!   (More podcast shenanigans here.)

I’m a little obsessed with Bower Power’s faux wood laminate backsplash.  #kitchengoals

We’ve got an Easter egg hunt this weekend.  Will also see if we can pull off any Palm Sunday capers.  I mean, we are in the right city for it after all.  How about you?  Big plans?

ICYMI: Jet Lag Edition

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Hi friend!  How are you?  Are you having a good February?  Also terrified of puppy monkey baby?

Sorry for the radio silence ’round these parts.  We’ve been battling jet lag, and I feel like we are just kind of mostly getting back to normal.

I’ve been kind of insufferable lately.  I have so many things I want to do that I feel like I’m going to jump out of my skin.  We did have excellent family time in January, but it was hard to get going on things while on the road.  Then the jet lag is setting us back.  I know it will just take time.  But I never claimed to be a patient person.  I want it ALL.  And I want it NOW.

I should give myself a little credit.  We have booked 2/3 of a Sicily trip for this spring.  I won my January Diet Bet, and I’ve been sticking to fairly strict paleo.  I just signed up for the Spartan Run in April (EEP!), but I still need to get officially signed up for the half marathon in March.  And then train for it.  NBD.

We are psyched to be back in Italy.  Carnival has been in full effect.  Confetti on all the playgrounds.  Children in costume on the reg.  We hit up the parade in Piazza Navona this past Saturday.  It was quite the classy affair compared to our raucous Tuscan Carnevale last year.  Picture lots of people on horses and in period costumes.

We are also in the throes of trying to apply for Italian public preschool.  I’m still not sure if we want to do it, but we are trying to even see if we can get a space before we have to decide.  Let’s just say the process has been VERY Italian.  I promise to share more on this later in case it helps anyone else who wants to try it.

On the Blog:

What I was into in January.  I should have also mentioned seasonal squash.  They don’t really have winter squash here, and I was LOVING all the butternut and spaghetti squash.

I also finally got around to putting pen to paper on 2016 resolutions.

After an awesome free first Sunday museum in December, you’d think we’d have hit one last Sunday, but not.  😦

Those boys keep saying the darndest things.

I threw down the fitness gauntlet.  But then I did some thinking on how to feel good without diet or exercise changes.

On the Internets:

My latest stroller obsession.  I’m very tempted by the fact that my friend says this fits on Roman buses and trams.

Anyone want to buy Michelangelo’s Tuscan Villa?  (Hat tip PK)

Want to see where Beyonce (apparently) stayed for the Super Bowl?  (Hat tip JRW)

Hope to be back more frequently soon.  In the meantime, anyone have any cruise line recommendations?

Welcome to the SPRING OF FITNESS

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Happy New Year everyone!  Did I ever tell you about that time I lost weight and made $50?  No?  (Hang on, checking the archives.)  No, you’re right, I didn’t.

Here’s the skinny.  (heh)  Around this time last year, Roo announced a Diet Bet.  I was planning on buckling down on my fitness anyway, and I was definitely intrigued about a competition.  A competition where you can make money?   Yes please!

To inaugurate 2016, I have announced to everyone who will listen (and some that won’t) the commencement of the Spring of Fitness.  But Melissa, it is pretty much winter.  You are really jumping the gun on this one.  Shhshhshh, there now, quiet, it’s OK.  For whatever reason, spring is stuck in my head and this is what we are going with.  You’re probably sick of winter by now anyway.

Actually, it is has been really hot.  Like unseasonably warm where I live.  I’d enjoy a little winter!

You guys!  If you don’t stop hijacking this post, I’ll never get around to telling you about that thing I want to tell you before the kids wake up from their naps.

Which is . . . . this year I’m hosting my own DietBet.  Just a little friendly weight loss competition where you have the opportunity to make some cash.  (Did I tell you I made $50 on my last one?  I did already?  All for doing something I was planning on doing anyway.)

What is the diet challenge?  DietBet sums it up better than me, but here are the highlights:

  • The game kicks off on January 4.  You can weigh in starting tomorrow, and you can join until Day 14.
  • You do weigh ins at home by taking a picture of yourself in a mirror on the scale.  You upload the photos and DietBet verifies.
  • You DO NOT have to share your weight with any of the group participants.
  • Weigh out for the game is on February 1 or 2.
  • If you miss the goal (4% lost in the month), you have to pay $25.  If you hit it, you pay nothing and get to split the pot from the losers.
That’s it.  If you’d like to play along, JOIN HERE.  This is more fun with friends!
You may see fitness and health type posts hijacking the blog here for awhile, but I promise to squeeze in some travel shenanigans and you know I’ll keep it weird.
Here’s to our best SPRING OF FITNESS EVAH!