Starting Fresh: Week #1, Take Two

I am back.  I can't believe 7 months have passed since I've updated here.  It's been a busy 7 months, a stressful time, and lots has happened.  Let me just catch you up and then I fully intend to leave the last 7 months in the past!

It's a new year, 2011, which means that it's a good chance to look back on 2010.  2010 was a hard year for me.  I would say overall that my career really started taking off this year, which is a big positive.  My family life was less than great and my social life was just okay.  The biggest issue and weight obstacle I faced this past year was STRESS.  The stress monster is a real problem for me.  It all started when I was working 2 jobs to make ends meet.  The stress of handling two sets of people, crazy work hours, and big simultaneous events just about killed me.  In June, my dad also came to visit and the stress of it all lead to a near mental breakdown.  At that time, I transitioned to full time at one job, quit the other, and developed alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder that causes my hair to fall out.  I'm pretty convinced that the alopecia was a direct result to being overstressed.

At the same time, I headed up a Weight Watchers at Work session at my job.  I thought it would be awesome since I hated driving to the meetings, but as it turns out, the At Work meetings didn't go over so well at my company and it was more of a dreaded thing than an encouraging meeting.  I felt obligated to go because I set it up, and I started to resent my leader and WW.  I lost a net amount of 0, I believe. 

The fall rounded out with a ton of big work events.  I got a ton more responsibility and enjoyed being in the spotlight for a season, but the stress of it all was hard on me.  I took up yoga for a month or two and that really helped me to endure, but the cost of it deterred me from continuing.  By the end of the year, I just said forget it and decided that I would start fresh come January.

Here I am!  I know that my reflections on last year sound pretty negative, but I am actually very optimistic about 2011.  I want to do this for ME!  I've made some changes in my life to counteract the stress:  I have started to say "no" more often and I've relinquished control of some things I was leading.  I'm committed to spend more time reflecting and meditating every day, and I joined a new gym that I am motivated to attend.  I am still working out the balance of being social and being a good friend to those around me.  I really let that go last year when the work stress hit.  I'm also in a new relationship, which is exciting and fun. 

My motivations for losing weight are that I want to feel comfortable with myself.  I also am very concerned about my health.  I know that if I continue on this road, that along with stress, my health is really going to suffer.  I want to live a long and happy life, so I've got to make a change.

Here's a list of reasons that I want to lose weight and get fit:

1. To have more energy
2. To fit into my clothes and look cute!
3. To improve my health
4. To look and feel sexy!
5. To travel more comfortably
6. To take control of my life and not sit around waiting for life to come to me

Some goals that I am setting for myself:

Short-term: 

*Be under 230 by Valentine's Day 2011.  That will mean a lot of hard work for me, but I know I can do it.

*Stay OP for 100 days.  From tomorrow, that means Wednesday, April 13, 2011. 

Long-term:

*Be under 200 by June 1, 2011, which is also the 150 day mark.

I know that I can do this, but I have to do it one day at a time.  I didn't gain the weight overnight, and I know that a long-term series of good choices will help me to turn the tide.  I am worth it!!