The older I get, the less I am interested in New Year’s Resolutions. I like making lists, I like having goals. I definitely set personal goals for myself and the new year seems like a good time to reflect on those. But I also feel like New Year’s Resolutions are a way to set people up for high expectations and disappointment if we don’t meet those goals (right away!!).
New Year’s Resolutions have been synonymus with weight loss goals. I am still trying to lose the baby weight, and who knows, I may be fighting that fight for awhile! But I am making slow progress on that and at least moving in the right direction.
I’ve said it a few times, but the low carb diet is not a diet for me. It’s too hard for me to maintain for very long. It’s definitely difficult with my workout schedule. I see a big difference in my energy levels when I run during low carb days. It’s HARD.
With that being said, I am not going to swear it off entirely. I think it might be a good way, short term, to jump start weight loss after plateaus. So I will probably try it again in the future, but I will not be beating myself up when I can’t continue the diet for long term. I am ok with that.
One thing I did learn with the low carb diet attempts in 2017, cutting out SUGAR made the bigger difference on the scale for me. IF there is one New Year’s Resolution goal that I might be focusing on, it’s trying to cut out sugar!
2017 was a really hard year for me personally. There was a lot of heavy, hard stuff that happened that weighed on me for a long time. My hope is that 2018 will be a better year for me and my family.
I want to be a better person. I want to be happier with where I am in my life, what size clothes I wear, etc. I want to focus less on things that don’t really matter. I want to be better at self-care and resting when I need to. I want to drink more water.
We have a few vacations and road trips that we’ve planned. I am really looking forward to those. I’m excited about showing Logan different things and now that he’s getting older and can participate more, it will be fun to make family memories!
Some things I’ve already started:
I started 2018 off right with a workout on New Year’s Day. 😀
A few months ago, Michael and I started a tradition of family dinners at the dining room table Monday-Thursday nights. No TV, no phones, just family time. It’s going well and I am happy that we are doing that.
I’ve been toying with the idea of ending this blog and perhaps starting one entirely dedicated to book reviews. I don’t know if I will, but it’s a thought I’ve had for awhile. Stay tuned. 😉
QUESTION: Do you have any goals for the new year?
Lori
You could still do book reviews on this blog. Maybe just renaming this one or tweaking the name? I like having things to work on for the year. I don’t beat myself up if I don’t get them done and I don’t consider it a failure, per se. It’s nice to check halfway through the year and see how I’m doing.
Lisa Eirene
That’s a good idea!
I also like the idea of doing a 6 month check in!
Beth Sher
Hey Lisa – I’d be bummed if you stopped blogging!
My goals are:
1. Cooking and eating dinner at home more – less going out
2. Workout 5 out of 7 days (I’ve already broken this one this week)
3. Increase water
4. Read 1 book a month – I know that sounds crazy to you such an avid book reader! In 2017 I think I read 5 books total. I don’t know where you find the time!
Lisa Eirene
Thank you Beth 🙂
I love your goals! I think they are great. Cooking and eating at home is a great goal!
Joanne
Reading your book reviews is fun, but hearing about the family and activities you do is quite fun, too. It would be great if you could continue to do both!
Lisa Eirene
Thank you for the feedback! I appreciate it. 🙂
Eilonwy
After losing my own extra weight, I began looking for blogs that modeled what I want to do–of course, that includes keeping it off. There aren’t many out there, but there are even fewer that showcase a whole and integrated life. Yours does. Food and exercise and weight are part of what you write about, but by no means the whole blog–family, books, community, photography, outdoors adventures–you present yourself in a rich context.
I don’t want “maintaining my weight” to be the center of my existence. I know finding the patterns that enable me to keep it lower on my list will take time, but I have so appreciated seeing how someone else does it well–you.
If just book blogging is what is best for you, then that is what you should do. At the same time, I do want to make sure to acknowledge how brave and unique your blog has been! I hope 2018 is a lovely year for you.
My own goals:
Keep the weight off
Keep building regular, healthy eating patterns
Learn some new ways to exercise (I am currently a champion walker but not much good at anything else).
Read without guilt for awhile every day (i.e. without feeling I “should” be doing something else more productive).
Travel to visit two friends in two places who now live far from me.
Lisa Eirene
I really appreciate your feedback and comment! It’s nice to hear that people are still reading and enjoying what I write. 🙂
It is really hard to stand out in the blog world and I always felt like my blog was different. It wasn’t really a weight loss blog because I lost the weight before. It was more of a maintenance blog. I am really disappointed that a lot of the weight loss bloggers/maintainers that had blogs I loved stopped blogging or gained all the weight back. It’s definitely a hard journey for sure!
I love your goals for the new year. Don’t feel guilty reading–it’s good for you! Enriches your life, keeps your brain active as you age and is a great stress reliever. 😀
Paula C
My goals:
1. Get to my goal weight & maintain it .
2. Run my first 1/2 marathon (signed up for one in May)
3. Be/act like I wish the world did. (Kindness/ courtesy/pleasant)
4. Try/do new things. Keep learning.
Lisa Eirene
I love those goals! Those are all great ones.