~a new beginning~

I am so tired of making excuses for the things that I am not accomplishing in my life. I need to learn, once and for all, to put myself first. It is my desire that I become the best that I can be...health being the most important thing on my list of things I would like to change.

I have decided that I am going to accomplish this new quest by breaking it down into three phases. Phase One will focus mainly on weight loss, Phase Two will focus mainly on increasing muscle and improving fitness, and Phase Three will mainly focus on working on a complete and throrough makeover (hair, clothes, makeup..the works).

I realise that all of the goals of these phases will intermingle, but I will focus on the main goal at hand in each phases.

Phase One: April 1st 2010- June 12th 2010

Phase Two: June 13th 2010- August 26th 2010

Phase Three: August 27th 2010- December 25th

All of these dates are important to me. I am starting my journey on April 1st 2010. My goal is to lose 65 lbs. I am hoping to lose more than 2/3 of my weight by August 26th, 2010.
I have read a great deal of information regarding weight loss and recently found an article that stated that is next to impossible to lose fat while gaining muscle....that made a lot of sense to me...hence the three phases. The other thing I read that spoke to me is that diet is more than 80% of weight loss success.

I am very excited for this personal challenge.

Phase One:

• I will exercise for 30-45 min 6 days/week (moderate pace)


• I will completely revamp my eating habits. Increased veggies/fruit, increased protein, decreased carbs.


• I will pack my meals to go on the road and to go to work.


• I will drink enough water based on my body weight requirements.


• I will limit my diet coke intake to one/week.


• I will take vitamins.


• I will practice my skin care regime.


• I will practice good oral hygiene (including flossing my teeth).


• I will put my makeup on when I go out and go to work.


• I will stop lounging in workout clothes and only use them to work out in...there is a thought.


• I will wear nice, flattering clothes.


• I will start practicing self praise.

Phase Two: stay tuned:)

2010
~a new year~

I have no complaints regarding 2009.

2009 was a wonderful year. My daughter graduated from high school, she moved into her own apartment, she is furthering her education...she is fulfilling her goals...this makes me happy.

My relationship has grown, not without its bumps, but we are closer for them.

I was able to check several things off of my bucket list...always good.

I believe that this next year will bring even more promise...here's to 2010!

"After awhile"....everyone needs to read this.

"After a while you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul. And you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning and company isn’t security. Kisses aren’t contracts and presents aren’t promises.

After awhile you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes open, with the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child. And you learn to build your roads on today because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain and the inevitable has a way of crumbling in mid-flight.

After a while you learn that even sunshine burns if you stand too long in one place. So, you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul instead of waiting for someone else to bring you flowers. And you learn you really can endure, that you really do have worth. You learn that with every good-bye comes the dawn." ~Author Unknown

quotes for life...they are not mine, but I think they have so much to teach and remind us of...

The Quote ~"Our deepest fear is NOT that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are POWERFUL beyond measure. It is our LIGHT, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light SHINE, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." Marianne Williamson in Return to Love~


"Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion, or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. It doesn't matter whether you are the lion or the gazelle - when the sun comes up, you’d better be running."~

"Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Choose your words, for they become actions. Understand your actions, for they become habits. Study your habits, for they will become your character. Develop your character, for it becomes your destiny" ~ by anonymous

Accountability

Twelve Classic Movies
1. Breakfast at Tiffany's
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

100 things that make me happy

001. Sleeping in on my day off
002. Cuddling on the couch or in bed with Simon
003. Cooking with Simon
004. Spending time with M
005. Crossing something off my "Bucket List"
006. Christmas shopping
007. Travelling
008. Planning a trip
009. Decorating
010. Photography
011. Alli ( everything about her)
012. Making love
013. Going out for lunch
014. The smell of freshly cut grass
015. Going to sleep when its raining
016. Violets
017. Having Bellini’s at the airport Milestones lounge before leaving on a trip
018. Decorating the Christmas Tree
019. Petting Frank & Jane
020. Lingerie
021. First snowfall
022. Accents (English, Aussie, East Indian, etc)
023. Kissing in the kitchen
024. The color pink
025. Dark chocolate (especially Lindt)
026. Freshly washed sheets
027. Flirting
028. Having my feet massaged
029. Playing in the water (especially the sea)
030. Spicy food
031. Taking photographs
032. Accomplishing a goal
033. Poppies
034. Old fashioned gardens (veggie or flower)
035. Wrapping gifts
036. Sunshine
037. Blue skies
038. Bubble baths with a drink & a book
039. Having a pedicure
040. Easter, Thanksgiving & Christmas dinner @ Mom's
041. Shopping with M
042. Margaritas on the rocks
043. Going out dancing (especially with M)
044. Hearing my mom laugh
045. Hitting the heavy bag
046. Roses
047. Ladybugs
048. Shoes
049. Flamingos
050. Costume jewelry
051. My watch
052. Dinner with friends
053. Christmas Eve
054. Indian food
055. Thai food
056. Castles
057. Coral jewelry
058. Robes
059. Ginger Peach oil diffuser
060. Matcha frozen yogurt
061. Working out hard
062. Finishing hard workout
063. Candles
064. Travel books
065. A&E's Pride & Prejudice
066. Tea & toast (especially after getting home from trip abroad)
067. Iced Americanos
068. Pink grapefruit gelato
069. The Thomas Crown Affair
070. Learning
071. Family BBQ's
072. GI Jane
073. Having long manicured nails
074. Eggs Benedict
075. Setting new goals
076. Afternoon naps
077. Cheeseburgers & fries
078. Tugboats
079. Dolphins
080. Whales (especially Orcas)
081. Sea turtles
082. Listening to or reading Wayne Dyer
083. The Secret
084. Thunderstorms
085. Sunflowers (the giant ones)
086. Butter Tarts @ Christmas (Mom's)
087. Champagne on Christmas Eve
088. Mimosa's on Christmas morning
089. Singing in my car
090. Playing Scrabble
091. Watching the expression on someones face when they open a much desired gift from me
092. Love or naughty texts
093. Fresh fruit
094. Homemade lemonade
095. Flip flops
096. Body Shop Mango body scrub and butter
097. Egg nog
098. Sushi
099. Apple orchards in bloom or @ harvest
100. My iPhone

101 in 1001

101 in 1001

I will italicize and date each goal that I complete...and they will be in purple.
Goals in progress will be in pink.


health, nutrition & fitness

001. lose 50 lbs (2/50)
002. learn pilates
003. take a yoga class
004. quit drinking diet coke 
005.  educate myself regarding vitamins and nutritional supplements
006. do a liver cleanse 
007. take swimming lessons to improve my stroke and breathing technique
008. do a colon cleanse
009. run 30 min 2 days/week for two months (no excuses)
010. do the "20 chinups challenge"
011. run a 10k (0/1)
012. do the “100 push ups challenge” (0/1)
013. take beginner fencing lessons
014. take boxing lessons
015. learn karate
016. start playing tennis again, improve my game


home

017. create spa feeling or energy in bathroom
018. plant herb garden (on patio) (0/1)
019. create sensual escape in our bedroom
020. create relaxing seating area on our patio (completed August 8th, 2009)

beauty

021. build a functional wardrobe. I am using "The little Black Book of Style" for a reference and guidance.
022. follow skin care regime
023. get regular dental checkups and floss teeth 1/week
024. grow & maintain my nails
025. get a makeover

acquire

026. 12 mega pixel or better SLR camera
027. Mac book
028. 42” or larger plasma TV
029. Bose stereo system
030. buy jewelry from Tiffany’s (1/1). June 5/09


cooking

031. make pesto from scratch with mortar and pestle. September 4th 2009
032. learn to pair food & wine
033. learn to make matcha frozen yogurt
034. learn to make a “wicked” roast chicken
035. learn to sharpen knives
036. learn to carve meat properly
037. learn to make 12 new homemade soup recipes (0/12)
038. learn to make yogurt from scratch
039. learn to grill or broil a perfect medium rare steak
040. learn to make bread

romance

041. carve our names/initials into tree
042. Go on twelve local adventures together. Explore our city with each other...be tourists in our own town (0/12)
043. take one vacation together/year (1/3) Thailand Nov 7/09
044. take one mini vacation together/year (four day minimum) (0/3)
045. make 4 candle-lit dinners / year (one for each season) (0/11)
046. make breakfast in bed twice/year (0/7)
047. go on two picnics each summer (0/4)

relationships with family & friends

048. teach my daughter to drive
049. make a snowman with my daughter this coming winter (Dec 2010) (0/1)
050. throw a tea party for my sisters and mom (0/3)
051. do one mother & daughter lunch or dinner once a month (4/33) eleven of them with my mom (1/11)
052. teach my daughter to cook the basics
053. go on three “girl only” road trips with “M” (0/3)
054. maintain friendships in hometown
055. make 5 new friends (0/5)


education

061. get my BSN
062. learn another language (French I think) french it is
063. learn to play piano
064. get my open water dive certificate
065. learn calligraphy
066. take photography course
067. learn 12 constellations (2/12)
068. take a philosophy course
069. learn some basic massage technique
070. learn to play chess




adventure

071. ride an elephant (1/1) November 17th 2009
072. sail Phang Nga Bay in a Junk (1/1) in a long boat actually November 14th 2009
073. go rock climbing in Krabi
074. go hot air ballooning (0/1)
075. go to a Muay Thai fight or go to UFC fight (0/1)
076. go white water rafting. completed with A. May 30/09. loved it.
077. learn to kayak
078. go cold water diving off BC’s west coast (best cold water diving in the world) (0/1)
079. do a shark encounter(0/1)
080. swim with sea turtles (0/1)
081. ride horses on the beach
082. go whale watching (0/1)
083. try para sailing (0/1)
084. go skydiving (0/1)
085. fly in helicopter (in Hawaii, Alaska, or Grand Canyon) (0/1)
086. go on Alaskan cruise
087. mush team of dogs (0/1)
088. go to Tiger temple
089. swim with dolphins again


general self improvement & misc.

090. get laser eye surgery
091. see Cirque de Soleil (0/1)
092. finish England, Greece, & Mexico scrapbooks
093. identify & write down 100 things that make me happy. June 2/09
094. learn about Buddhism
095. learn to meditate
096. learn to play poker
097. improve at pool
098. complete the list of “75 skills every woman should master” (28/75)
099. read 10 classic novels (0/10)
100. watch 12 classic movies (1/10)
101. complete and start next 101 in 1001 when this challenge is finished.