Saturday, January 02, 2010

Happy New Year to Me!

New Year's Resolutions are common. They are shared by many. They happen at least once a year (sorry, I'm a little tired and slap-happy right now. Excuse my strange humor). And I think they are made fun of way too often. Oh, sure, I make fun of 'em, too. Of course I do! Why not? I do this because just like everybody else I feel guilt, guilt, guilt and shame, shame, shame for not accomplishing my goals. I hate that I get to February and I'm still in 1st Nephi. I hate that I get to March and I haven't lost those pounds (although one year I did it! Except that year I started the July before. That system totally works, you know). Sometimes I get to April and I forget what "resolution" even means. But you know what? I'm gonna try something different. Instead of thinking of my goal as a New Year's Resolution, I'm going to think of this as the...

(drum roll please)

...I Am Doing This Because I Just Ate So Much Junk for The Last Three Months Goal!

I mean, think about it. The "I'm going to lose weight for my new year's resolution" is so over-used and under-met that it has become such a joke. The running joke. Except nobody is running (bwa-hahahahaha! Ha! Ha. Sigh). But I want to change this because I don't want losing weight to become an unfulfilled goal or a joke. The stigma of a new year's resolution tends to just shift the weight loss thing from "I need it because I had a baby or I have no self-control or I mourn by eating or if I wasn't eating I would be drinking or insert-favorite-reason-for-eating-too-much-and-exercising-too-little"
to
"just something I say to appease the masses as well as the mass that resides in my behind."

See, dear reader, we are affronted with food and candy and more food from October through December. Just when we think we are over the Halloween candy (or if we've given it away or thrown it out), Thanksgiving kicks in. Once the turkey sandwiches are gone and the leftover pie is eaten (or gone bad), the Christmas goodies start piling up. Fabulous food for a month! The whole month! From November 25th to January 1st it's just food, food, food!
That's how I gained 6 pounds in one week, dear reader. In fact, it was last week. I was weak. Very, very, very weak. Although I exercised like crazy the week before Christmas, I couldn't seem to stop my desire for sugar and carbs.
Curse my desires for sugar and carbs!

But enough with the "why" I got fat again (besides having a baby and what-not), let's focus on the I Am Doing This Because I Just Ate So Much Junk for The Last Three Months Goal!

Here's the plan --and PAY ATTENTION, because you are going to be joining me! --on Tuesday, January 5th, I will be watching the premiere of The Biggest Loser. Sometime during the show, I will be weighing myself in on my own scale in my kitchen. I will then take a picture of my weight. On Wednesday (or late Tuesday night, depending upon how I am feeling at the time), I will post the picture. I will then talk about what I'm going to do that week to make some changes.
The following Tuesday, during the show, I will weigh myself again and take a picture again. And post it.
The next Tuesday, same thing.
The goal is to force myself to be accountable. It worked while I went to Weight Watchers! I believe it will work now.

Where do you come in? No need for lengthy explanation, dear reader. If you have weight to lose, you will be joining me. You will weigh in and in the comments on The Biggest Loser posts, you will post your weight loss for the week. If you want, you can send me photos of your scale and I will be happy to post them alongside my pictures! Then during the week, we exercise, we eat healthy, we resist temptation and we find a way to change our lives (not quite unlike how I did it here). And we do this as friends, with a common goal: HEALTH!

Now, I'm not going to make this a competition, though (like The Biggest Loser does). I'm not good at math, and so I'm not going to figure out percentage of weight loss. However, I do want you guys to tell me your goal for weight loss (how many pounds to a healthy BMI), and I want us to talk about our desires, our personal rewards we give ourselves (I sure will!), and how we are making it work. I have a feeling you guys need support as much as I do, right?

So, whaddya say? Wanna join me?

7 comments:

Amanda D said...

I think your plan sounds great. Good luck and I'm in. :)

Here's my take on resolutions. People make the resolution that they are going to, for example, quit drinking caffiene. They do good for a week and then they have a can of Coke. They realize that they weren't supposed to so they give up, and go back to drink it multiple times daily. BUT. A New Year's Resolution (to me) is a YEAR long goal. You fall, you pick yourself and keep working on it. I think we just gotta stick it out and keep trying!

Unknown said...

I'm in. I don't think I'll lose any pounds, but I want to be lean. Plus, I don't own a scale. But, I do have a goal, I want to run a 27 minute 5K this year. My plan is to run 3 days a week and do workout videos the other 2 days. Thanks for making me accountable, Cheryl. I need it!

TaLaisa said...

I'm in. I was in when I got your email. But I'm glad to read the clarification that you're talking about taking the picture of the numbers on the scale and not the person. I'm ashamed to admit I thought about 'what would I wear? sports bra, shorts? a tight outfit? during this weekly picture taking . . . . at church. I believe I entertained the horrifying thought for 10 minutes. I was prepared to post a picture of myself in order to participate.

The number on the scale is oh so much better. I'll have to get back to you on the goal. After I do my initial weigh in. But I'm thinking that losing 50 pounds sounds like a starting point.

Cardalls said...

I am in....A.B. (after baby) in June!

Annette Lyon said...

My new year's resolution for losing weight includes getting off one stupid migraine drug that put on 10 lbs. I'm hoping that if I can do that with my neurologist's blessing (and my head's blessing) then I'll drop the weight. Crossing fingers on all counts!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like fun!

Cheryl said...

Bythelbs-
It does, doesn't it? Why don't you join! You could...exercise. And get...muscle-like. Since you don't have any poundage to lose!

Annette-
My fingers are crossed, too!

Cardalls-
I like that (A.B.), although I have to admit that I hope I'm not still trying to lose the weight when you're ready to start, you know? :)

TaLaisa-
What a trooper! I could never do a body shot; too much trauma for me. And everyone who read this blog. So, no worries on that one! ;)

Jill-
I like this! A lot, actually. I think making goals like that works really well when there isn't weight to necessarily lose. Maybe after this I could do the same thing? And then Cardalls (Cheryl) could join in!

Amanda-
YES! I love that description of resolutions; taking a year to accomplish them. Fabulous idea! I'm alwasy getting down on myself for not finishing sooner. But habits take what, 28 days? So, having 365 should be a cinch. :)