2013: Time for some resolutions!

Happy New Year! I haven’t blogged a lot lately, and I’ve realized I NEED to blog to help keep me accountable on my wellness journey. So here goes! 

2012 in review: This time last year I was just beginning my fitness journey. As part of Covenant Health’sBiggest Winner Marathon Team I’d committed to competing in one of the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon events in April. Those of you who have known me throughout this entire journey know that that goal was COMPLETELY outside of my comfort zone! Well, I did it! I completed not only one half marathon in 2012, but two half marathons in 2012. Who would’ve thought?! Definitely, not me!

I logged into my HumanaFit account earlier today where I log all of my fitness activity, including my daily FitBit steps. I pulled a 2012 year-end summary. In 2012 (give or take a few steps/miles/etc.) I walked 1231.07 miles, which included 2,251,808 steps, 905 hours of activity, and over 425,312 calories burned. Definitely a far cry from the couch potato I was when I started this journey.

The past month has been tough. I was rear-ended while driving (actually while stopped) which took a minor toll on my back, and I’ve been battling sinus crap the past month off and on … so since Thanksgiving my activity has been somewhat limited. I can’t handle this level of inactivity much longer, so pray that my coughing spells are short-lived, and I’m back to my old self again soon!

Even though my aerobic activity has been somewhat limited, I’ve started easing back into my stretching routine, with a plan that come Saturday, come hell or high water … I’m back on track! I miss my teammates whom I’m used to seeing weekly! The holidays are great and all … but really can take their toll on the best of routines.

When thinking about my New Year’s resolutions, I looked back at my blog from this time last year. I never set definite resolutions, but set some guidelines… 

“Since it's New Year's day I'll wrap it up with this ... I want the rest of my year to be like yesterday. Not the pain, the fear or the anxiety that I might not make it back down the mountain in one piece, but that exhilarating feeling of finishing something I was determined to finish! I want to always make the choice to do something instead of do nothing. I want to continue to step outside of my comfort zone, knowing that is the only way I can grow. I want to continue to believe in me, and what I'm capable of achieving.”

I don’t think I could define my goals for 2013 any clearer that I did at this point a year ago. Instead of nit-picking things I want to change about myself, I want to continue to challenge myself, and grow myself. I don’t want to set my goals in a negative framework, like, “I need to quit doing this,” or “I need to start doing this,” implying that the way I’m living my life is not the way I intended to. 

 In 2012 I took charge of my own destiny. I wrote my own plan. I took care of my most valuable life-asset … me! And it felt great! Why not do it again in 2013?

As far as my fitness goals – I have signed up for the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon (Half Marathon) in April. I’m not 100% sure my body can take it again … but I’m going to try!

Thank you to everyone who continues to support me, and encourage me! Your words of kindness and encouragement mean more to me than any of you will ever know! Also, thank you to the amazing friends I’ve made along this journey! LeeAnn and Melody have kept me going physically and emotionally through many a rough patch, as well as all of the other folks on our team, and our coaches! 

The new Biggest Winner team has started their weight loss journey, and I see so much of us and our insecurities, but also our excitement, in them! Don’t get me wrong – they are their own group with their own identity, but I certainly hope that they embrace this challenge head-on! It’s worth it! Happy New Year! 

As always, a little closing inspiration from Pinterest!