Updating goals

As they always do, today's doctor appointments prompted a little review and reorganization of the goals I have listed to the right. I am refocusing the list to goals that I would primarily like to achieve within the next year:

1. Focus on weight loss and being healthy! My goal is to lose 15 lbs by 12/31/09, and to get down to 165 within the next year.
2. Continue running. I would like to be able to run 3 miles in 30 minutes, and be able to do so on a regular basis.
3. Build savings. I am feeling the need to have a cushion, and would like to have three months of living expenses saved by the end of next year.
4. Travel to one of these destinations within the next year: Italy, the Florida Keys, New York, Boston, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Catalina, Caribbean, Olympic National Forest, Costa Rica, Bolivia.
5. Cook, bake and try more recipes (and post them on the blog).
6. Visit a hot spring.
7. Treat myself to a spa day.
8. Buy a new camera.
9. Take up swimming during my lunch hour.
10. Go sailing in the summer.
11. Find someone to take a crazy class with me. (A living 'out of the box' kind of experience)
12. Soak in a hot tub in the snow.
13. Spend at least 5 weekends next summer hiking.
14. Camp.
15. Visit a new winery.
16. Work in at least 5 long bike rides.
17. Make my own Christmas cards.
18. Make a new friend.
19. Shop at the Ballard Farmers Market.
20. Try at least 5 new restaurants within the next year.

I have to tell you, I like this new list!
What are some of your goals for the coming year?

Poking and Proding

All cancers/disease scare the crap out of me, but breast cancer hits a bit too close to home. My Mom is a breast cancer survivor, and so each year we compare appointment dates and keep our fingers crossed for the outcome.
I am surprised by how many of my friends and their families have dealt with breast cancer, they say 1 in 1,000 will get some kind of breast cancer during their lifetime, and really the only way to fight back is to go to those annual exams.

Early detection increases your rate of survival to 95%!

So, I know is isn't National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I know that the 'girly doctor' is NOT a fun place to visit, but go. Make an appointment, get your annual exam, and if breast cancer runs in your family, don't be afraid to get a mammogram. Survival is always worth a day of poking and proding.
lol... After you do it, send me an email, we can bitch about it together. :)

Weekend Hill/Stair Climb

Two weekends into age 31, two weekends of canceled plans, but this weekend we took off for some urban hiking - exploring the hills and stairs of Queen Anne!

I'm not sure we found any of the stairs featured in the September 2009 Sunset magazine article, but I had no idea there were so many to be found on Queen Anne! We had a great time exploring, shared a coffee and pumpkin spice gelatto, lusted after brick mansions and at every turn exclaimed over the views!

Could you imagine having a view of the space needle from half of the rooms in you house?
... I just kept thinking that maybe at 31 I will learn to take things as they come. It was a great day!

Goals - Weight loss!

Since December 2007, I have lost 65 lbs. I have lost 30 since May (some of which were repeat pounds), but wanted to loose 50. Trying to do it on my own and even with the help of my boyfriend is tough, and often times I feel that my weight issues are more emotional issues than they are weight issues.
Here is where I give all of that up: I would like to loose 15 lbs by the end of the year.
This is not the end of the road for me, I will be setting a new goal after reaching this one, but small achievable goals = victory, and motivation!

I have made a list of things to help me along the way:

• Cut out excess calories. I eat several tasty snacks a day, and lately have been allowing myself a coffee a day and maybe even a piece of candy (like March madness, there is candy madness in our office with daily voting and everything!). That coffee a day business started while having to work 6am shifts and just hasn't stopped. From here on out I am going to limit myself to one coffee per week, no candy, and pack LOTS of fruits and veggies for snacks - no excuses, no falling back into the rut!
• Gym. Go, and often! I have been pretty good in this area, but need to keep it up, especially with the aforementioned nasty weather brewing! I would like to continue pushing myself to go 5 days a week.
• Run. I have a goal: Run 3 miles in 30 minutes by the end of the month. I have run for 30 mins, I just need to speed it up and keep it up!
• Drink more water. I have a water bottle at work and am going to try to drink two full bottles per day = 64 oz (during work hours). I may also add green tea, or chai tea, but those are extra!
• AM workout video. I would like to work this in 2 - 3 times per week, I need a little direction and endorphin boost in the am.
• Keep eliminating clothing as it gets too big. I do better when I can't slide back, and though I bought myself some new jeans this month, I should have bought new work pants too!
• Post a full body pic and goal updates at least once a month. Like I said, I have been reading quite a few weight loss/healthy eating/running blogs, and they all have said this makes you more accountable, and I can see it - I WANT to see changes - that is motivating!

I also really need to work on my menu planning. Come up with some new ideas for lunch, and really make sure that I have lots of veggie snacks available for workplace stress cravings.
So we'll see how this works posting everything online, I can hardly wait to reach that goal!
(Oh, and if I do? I am going to buy myself a present!)

Goal update - 30 mins = 2.46 miles

I am just back from the gym, and have to brag a bit! I ran 30:06 minutes this evening, equaling 2.46 miles! I am going to have to speed it up a bit to make my goal of 3 miles in 30 minutes, but I am well on my way, and today convinced me that I can do this!

I forgot!

I forgot to mention - October 29th was national oatmeal day! Did you eat your oatmeal?
I am happy to report pumpkin and almonds are TASTY additions! Give it a shot! :)

Birthdays and baking

Long ago I heard an old saying that I have since also heard applied to New Year's Day: Be careful how you spend your birthday, what you do on this day will determine how you spend the following year. Now, I am kind of superstitious, so each year I try to make my birthday weekend FUN, relaxing, and filled with people I love.
We were slated to spend the weekend hiking in the mountains, but after battling work places filled with illness, David came down with a sickness that wasn't messing around. Thankfully our B&B reservations were easily canceled (they didn't want our sickness any more than we did!) and I took myself shopping (for a size smaller jeans!) to compensate.
So, maybe this coming year wont contain the most vacations, but I did get to spend the day getting massaged and manicured, in smaller clothes, with tasty takeout, roses, and a VERY supportive and understanding boyfriend. I think it will be okay.

Oh, and check out my birthday loot! In the first pic, our fish Winston is checking out the new blue competition in town! lol... He was quite fascinated!
What should we name our new mixer? I'm kind of partial to Whirly. lol...
I opened presents on Thursday (Mom, I had an excuse, we were going on vacation!), and promptly made David whipped mashed potatoes. Friday I ended up playing around with a few bread recipes, we made two loaves of rye bread and two of cinnamon raisin. This mixer will take some getting used to - I made a few mistakes with the breads, but I love it already! (I will post recipes once I smooth out the process)

I have also taken to reading a few diet/healthy eating/running blogs. I am going to update the links to the right with some of my favorites - they have quickly replaced my health magazine addiction, these are real people making over their lives, and it is inspiring to read each day.
Many of the women from these blogs, and most recently my Mom have recommended eating oatmeal for breakfast each morning - you should check out some of their oatmeal toppings! When grocery shopping, David and I picked up some pumpkin to give one version a try:

We have been making bulgar wheat for breakfast a couple times a week, and I love it, but was excited to try new additions! I found bulgar with pumpkin and raisins too sweet, but will try pumpkin and nuts tomorrow!