Out with the old, in with the new!

Here it is, 2010, quickly approaching. Why is it that the end of a year brings so much introspection and the beginning of a year brings so much hope? Does the changing of the date make that much difference? Could we possibly throw out the old and replace it with new?

If we are throwing out the old, how do we know just what to throw out?
I learned a while back that if you want to improve a system you must plan, do and review on a regular basis. Applying this to a year, I would say that we are at the point when we must review first.
What did I do well and what can I do differently? Did I make some improvements where they were needed? How can work smarter, rather than harder?
These are just some of the questions I have been asking myself the last couple of weeks. The process can be overwhelming, but if we never ask ourselves these things, we will never grow and improve.

The next step is to plan. How will I integrate the necessary changes into my life in the coming year? I have a whole year to work on this - I don't have to get it right immediately. I do have some time to work on it.

The final step is to do it. To borrow the phrase from Nike, "just do it!". Another phrase makes an excellent point - "You'll never know until you try." How true is that? So many times we desperately desire to make changes in our lives. We will never know if something works unless we step out and try it. So what if you fail! At least you'll know what works and what doesn't.

I promised myself last year that I would work on my running speed. I did that. I am still doing that. It has not been easy, but I stuck to it. I ran lower mileage and worked a consistent schedule. Guess what. I am faster than I was a year ago. That plan worked. It worked so well that I am still working it and plan to continue. Not all of my goals were reached. Some were unrealistic and others just fell by the wayside.

I will be more intentional this year. I will have a shorter "to do" list. I am going to categorize my goals - one business related, one marriage related, one parenting related and one personal. I'll have to think about if I am going to share them on here or not ;-) Maybe I should for accountability purposes.

These are my new year (and old year) thoughts. 2010, I am ready for you. It is going to be a good year. It is going to be a busy year. It is going to be a year of many changes for the Simpson household as I send TWO of my children off to college and I train for my 4th marathon.

Goodbye 2009, it has been a year, that is for sure. It has been a challenging year. It has been a year for growth. It has held times of deep sadness and profound anger. Curious? Maybe I'll share later. It has been a time of great joy and excitement, too. 2009, a year of extremes, I guess. All in all, I am grateful for a year filled with laughter, love, family and friends (new and old).

Welcome 2010 :-)

Holiday Running

I am often asked how to survive the holidays without "falling off of the wagon" - the exercise, healthy eating wagon, that is. After you have worked hard to lose weight and get healthy, heading into a period of time when you are surrounded by temptation can be difficult, to say the least!

I believe the keyword is expectations. What are your expectations? If you are expecting to lose weight, you probably need to step back and revise your expectations. If you don't, you will see temptation at every turn. There are so many opportunities to eat our favorite foods - parties, family gatherings and gifts from friends, family and neighbors. Depriving yourself during this time can lead to overeating later.

Instead, expect to maintain a good, moderate level of activity and plan to indulge a bit more than normal. If you are going to a party - contribute a healthy dish or eat something healthy before you go so that you are not as tempted when you get there. When faced with a buffet style situation, eat mainly what's healthy - fruits, veggies, proteins and eat smaller portions of the more indulgent foods.

As far as activity, keep a regular schedule - get out there and stay active. If you miss a day, don't beat yourself up, just be sure to get in some time the next day. Exercising through the holidays is a wonderful way to combat the added stress that a lot of people feel during this time.

Most of all, remember - everything in moderation.