A New Year

Well another couple of months have went by and I have yet to really make a true effort in my weight loss. I have spent the last few months in a bit of a frenzy because I haven't been able to find a job. I finally (after four interviews) was offered the position at Kaplan. I start on January 12th. Finally getting things in order made me stop and really think about why weight loss is so imperative. I want so many things out of life and continuing to be unhealthy is not going to get any of them for me. The reasons just seem to be mounting and yet still I haven't been able to make the changes I know I desperately need to make. We are currently in Michigan visiting for Christmas, but I have put some plans in place for when we return home. On Monday, I'm going to our local gym to sign up for a membership there. I have a new reward system, which I will type up below and I am really ready to continue my weight loss journey. I have so many reasons and 30 is approaching so fast. I will be in Florida in a little less than two months where I'll be walking approximately 9 miles a day for 6 straight days. We will be starting to try for a baby once we get home from that and with my current weight and just the way my body feels pregnancy will be difficult, if not impossible. I know that we probably won't get pregnant right away or anything, so I'll still have time to work on weight loss. I want to be as healthy as possible during my pregnancy so there's no reason not to start that now. I have never been able to stick with anything before, but I'm starting to grasp the concept of time and I think that is giving me the kick I needed. This new reward system is pretty great too.

I am going to do a "star chart." I purchased a black poster board, some markers and some star stickers and I made a list of all of the things I can do to earn a star. Then I made a list of rewards I can get when I reach x number of stars (it's basically a reward for every 100 stars I earn). I have the potential to earn about 27 stars a week, which means I can get a reward about every month (IF I stick to the program). I didn't want to make the rewards about the pounds I lost, but instead I wanted to focus on making healthier choices. I did throw in that I'll get a star for every 5 pounds I lose though. So here is my new plan and we will see how things work:)

My Healthy Choices Reward System

1 star for a 30+ minute workout

1 star for working out 4+ times in one week

1 star for walking outside in temperatures below 20 or above 80

2 stars for drinking 64 ounces of water or more per day

1 star for tracking my daily calories and staying at or below my limit

1 star for every 5 pounds lost

Harry Potter Candle when I reach 100 stars

$20 Lush Purchase when I reach 200 stars

Pedicure when I reach 300 stars

Massage when I reach 400 stars

Facial when I reach 500 stars

$75 Makeup purchase from Ulta/Sephora/Mac when I reach 600 stars

Tattoo when I reach 700 stars

I know I have said it before, but things feel different this time. I feel as though I'm going to make this happen. The things I really want in life seem to be hinging on me getting healthy and I am starting to run out of time. The good thing about this system is that I can still keep to it if I do get pregnant (obviously I would take out some of the star earning choices, like the star for weight loss and the walking outside), but its great to know I don't have to just stop doing it if I get pregnant. Well I hope everyone has a wonderful day! :) 

xoxo, 

Melissa