Monday Motivation - Week 1 - Setting Small Goals

Since this is the first Monday Motivation post I guess I should tell you a little about my background and goals. 

BACKGROUND: 

When I was younger I was crazy active. I’ve played almost every sport around and have always considered myself athletic. My favorite sports to play were basketball, volleyball and softball. I’m pretty sure that I still hold the record for my high school track & field team in both shotput and discus as well. When I went to college I continued my active lifestyle (thank you volleyball court at the dorm). It wasn’t until I left college that my active lifestyle seemed to be a thing of the past. 

I began working immediately. Let’s just say I have always been someone who works a lot. That added to having to feed my adult self led to terrible eating habits. So not only have I stopped excersing, but I’ve also started to put terrible terrible things in my body. 

I’m going to jump forward about ten years here to present day. I want to be clear, I have not been what most would call skinny since I was about 12. I am 6 feet tall and have a family history of obesity. Please note that I’m not making excuses here. Just laying out the facts. I had my gallbladder removed about three weeks ago which has effected both eating and excersise. I have to keep a low fat diet as of right now and take it semi-easy on the working out front. I believe in the next week or so I will go back to being able to work out regularly.

GOAL:

My goal is to be healthy and fit. With my bone structure “skinny” is probably not in the cards, and I’m not sure it’s my goal. I know I’m six feet tall, but I don’t think modeling is ever going to happen ;). Although I do not want this journey to be all about the numbers, I do have numeric goals. But more so, I’d like to go on a five mile hike without feeling like my body is exploding and I’d like to play a game of sand volleyball without feeling like I am going to have a heart attack. This is not going to be a short or quick fix. It’s going to be a long journey and this is officially week 1!!!

 CURRENT:

As of my doctor’s appointment on October 29th, I am 300.2 lbs. As this is the start of week 1, it is the number I will be using. I have also taken all of my measurements.

WEEK 1 GOALS:

This week I want to start small goals. They say it takes 21 days too create new habits so here goes the first seven days. Here are the habits that I have tried to start this week:

1. Morning bells are ringing! This is what Winter sings(yells) at people when she wants them to wake up. I have gotten in the terrible habit of just waking up when I wake up. So this week I will set and alarm everyday at 8:00 a.m. and I will wake up! Seems small, right? Not to me. I have NEVER been a morning person. Have you used the Bedtime setting on your iPhone? It’s pretty great! 

2. Drink Up! Water, that is. I have a goal of at least a 1/2 gallon of water daily. Lucky for me I have a water bottle that actually holds this. I hope to get this up to a gallon daily. 

3. Excersise. Daily. This is a must for me as I am rebuilding strength from surgery as well as coming off from a couple months of not excersising. I may not do a full hour long intense week out, but my goal is to do 30 minutes of excersise every day this week.

For the first week these will be the things I will be focusing on. For me they are also important as they will begin to motivate me to get to the even bigger things. 

Come back and see me next Monday for my Week 1 recap and Week 2 goals! 

- Laura Herrmann