New Year, New Life, New Me...New Thread!

[StrongEnough]

Wow, I really want to lock out my old thread. It is just filled with doubts and negativity. I have made the choice for myself not to be that person anymore. It's a new year and it's time for a new me.

So, I am going to set some *me* goals here:
1) I am going to commit to exercising 4 times a week, eating healthier, knowing my dietary no-no's and avoiding those things.
END RESULT: Lose 20 pounds.

2) I am detaching myself from the drama that has become my life. All of the family BS is out of control now but I will keep plugging forward regardless.
END RESULT: Less stressful life.

3) I am tired of being a WAHM. I will seek out p/t employment outside the house but still keep my at-home business going.
END RESULT: Some time away from home.

4) Get my house on the market and get it sold.
END RESULT: New house.

So, these are the things I am going to be working on. These are the things that I know I have to do in order to be happy with myself.

I have spent so many, many months lost, miserable and confused. Not sure what I wanted out my life or my M. So, I am starting over, setting new goals and becoming once again the person I was before I got buried underneath all the drama and emotion. I am stepping out of it now, and walking away leaving it behind me.

I don't expect every day to be roses and sunshine, that's just not life, but I do expect to become happier and feel whole again. I have to do this for me. H can follow or do his own thing. I can't control him, and I am not going to try to.

Let the new journey begin!!!!!!!!

~StrongEnough----> Yes, I am!

[always_14]

YAY!!!!!!!

You sound like a powerful, talented, respectable woman on the task! I am so happy to hear you like this--also glad that you started a new post for it! I'll raise a glass of beer to toast you on your new journey of goals and rediscovering your wonderful self!

Funny, we might be on the same plane here. I'm coming to the same conclusion. I'm still hoping for something bright, but I cannot control it. It sure feels good to LET GO of what you can't control--hey, it appeals to my lazy side...less work & worry!!! I feel good about ME, and want to also be that person that I was before.

Girls Rule!

Best of luck to you in 2006--may all your dreams come true!

[Keyster43]

SE,
Thats a ditto from me. We should still plan on getting togther with C4H and Sven. Anothr lady contaacted me and is interested as well. Lets see if we can all get together soon. I have two more wekends to work and then go to Mon-Wed. We could do something fun.

AK

[StrongEnough]

THanks for the encouragement Always and AK.

I guess you just get to the point where you need to take back control of your own life and happiness, or stay lost forever in the drama and BS. Sad to say it took me all this time to realize that. I guess I just wasn't ready to be strong before.

I know that my actions aren't without consequence. Now that I refuse to fight and argue with my mom, she has turned to my dad to take her anger out on. I feel bad for him, but then again he is an adult and he can decide how he deals with it.

So, sometime today I am going to find time to exercise. I think as far as dieting, I am going to again do weight watcher's with my MIL.

H isn't working today, so hopefully we can get more done towards getting the house ready for the market. There are a few unfinished projects to be completed. (How typical is THAT?) Nothing major though, so I expect it should only take us a week or less to get everything ready. The biggest problem is de-cluttering the years of junk in the basement. The sanitation workers are not going to like us much next week!!

AK- The get-together sounds good. So, someone contacted you? Do you now have a "mystery" woman too??

~SE

[always_14]

Hey, girl!!! You sound great, and hope your day is filled with lots of productivity with the house. Your attitude sounds great, and all you can do is take care of you, and your role in the R, the rest is up to others.

In response to our offer on my thread, I would LOVE to do online accountability. I need to get in shape, toned and cardio. I am a flunky with exercise, but eat like a Saint. I'm getting to the gym about 4x/week and alternate cardio and weights, and I feel stronger and see the tone. Also, it's one hell of an antidepressant, and I gotta say, that keeps me at it. Remember, I'm a bit of an exercise beginner...so laugh all ya want

Always: 2/24: Cardio--17 min on Elliptical.

How about you?

Some things I do for diet...I have no sense of moderation. So, it's easier to identify foods that are bad that I love and make a promise to never keep them in the house. I can only have it when I go out and have as much as I want THERE, but not bring leftovers back home. Ex: Ice cream...if I crave it, I go out, get some, eat there. Same with bacon, chips, etc. You'll be surprised at how you stop missing what you don't have--YIKES...does this sound like advice for our life, too??!!

I'm also trying to eat lighter lunches (I figure I sit for 8 hours at work, I don't need a big lunch). I also started doing this rule that I read about from people in the South Pacific who were all 100+ yrs old: stop eating when you are 3/4 full. Works great. You get used to that too.

You probably already do all of this, sorry if it's a repeat.

Good luck! WW is a great program! You should have much success!

[StrongEnough]

Always...thanks!! I have to say that you sound pretty high in spirits yourself. What a great feeling to have that positive PMA regardless of anything else, huh?

Well, as for the exercise. You may be a beginner but I am the flunkie when it comes to that. I have the Bowtech here collecting dust, numerous exercise videos and an awesome treadmill that is at my FIl's house. I am a smoker, so my idea of cardio is walking up the stairs!!

As far as the diet goes.....that is my biggest downfall. I don't eat all day...then I will eat dinner and a snack at night. I have tried WW's so many times in the past only to stop because I couldn't eat as much as I was supposed to. The only good thing I do is I am a Poland Spring water addict, so I drink tons of water daily.

As far as not keeping trigger foods in the house, that's pretty easy with me. I am not one for sweets, so cookies and all that is not a problem and the kids love them. My biggest downfalls are nachos with that really fattening cheese on them and spicy salsa. When it comes to ice cream, I could pass it up....but I buy fat free frozen yogurt instead. LOL.....well, I could go on and on and on, but I won't.

So, when do we start the accountability thing? How about we weigh and measure ourselves tomorrow morning, and every Friday night or Saturday am post our results?

Let me know. I'm excited now!! I have an accountability partner!!!!

~SE

[always_14]

OK...you know I love ya, so I gotta add one more thing to the accountability thing....smoking. I know that times are stressful, and going to get more stressed with moving and all, but can you think of ways to reduce this too? Just small steps.

I know you live in the Boston area, I used to some time ago. I know the Boston Community Health Center (in South Boston) had a GREAT smoking cessation program through hypnosis. You might think it's weird, but it really worked for my roommate. She went through some really stressful times and did not have the urge to smoke.

OK...off the soap box.

I'm not doing weight loss, so I'll keep the post with exercise--should I tell ya tonight then? I love this idea. It's gonna be great. We can add anything else we want to be accountable for (even behaviors, etc)...I like that.

[StrongEnough]

Always-

I love about an hour and a half from Boston. That's with no traffic. There is a hypnotist here in RI that C4H was successful with. Starting an exercise program is going to make me cut down unless I do it with an O2 tank strapped to me!

Ok, so you aren't looking to lose pounds, just tone up? Ok, let's get a set plan for what we will monitor and post. Here are my suggestions:

Amount of daily water intake
Healthy eating habits
# of minutes spent exercising x days exercised
for me: pounds lost, inches lost, etc. (if you want to post these you can...I WILL not post my starting weight, if I lie on my loss, I am lying to myself as well)
Food finds- Anything we have come across like last night I found Diet Snapple Popsicles.....they are awesome!

Here is my email: [e-mail] YOu can email me if you want to do this off-board. Also, we can use email for low-fat, reduced calorie recipes.

Anything you want to add/change?

~SE

[Keyster43]

SE,
No mystery woman yet, but then I am not looking very hard . The person that contacted, via email, is from the BB. Looks like she may live in Conn., closer to you. Take care.

AK

[StrongEnough]

Ok, just let us know when you are going to join C4H with the mystery woman stuff. Please be specific though, that it isn't anyone from piecing, been a problem already!!!!

~SE