December Wrap Up & Things to do list for 2012

So how did I do in December 2011?

1.    Weightwise, I was aiming for the below 80 mark. But I weighed in at 81.5kg this morning. Not so bad? Eh?

2.    Exercise wise, I wanted to fit in a session of evening exercise at least twice a week. That went pretty smooth.

3.    Food journal. In one word –nope. But on a longer note, the reason I wanted to do this was because I seemed to have hit a plateau, and my weight was NOT budging. So I did journal for two weeks I think, and then the scale began to move down again, so I stopped. Frankly, no regret.

Moving on to the 2012 to do list:

1.    Hit target weight by August. (you can see my start weight, current weight and target weight in the sidebar)

2.    Begin to drive

3.    Resume dance - Bharatanatyam

4.    Plan and execute two vacations

5.    Professional goal A – complete something I started (LONG ago)

6.    Work on the blog

7.    Start a recipe blog for my healthy/SBD friendly recipes

8.    Manage sleep time

9.    Resume Improve reading habits

10. Plan our finances

Honestly I can convert this list into a never-ending one. But the above images my primary goals. These are things I need to desperately get done.

So I am going to busy myself already. Wish me luck!

Home Alone - Day 3 & Welcome to 2012

So, my three days of sanctioned loneliness comes to an end with today. I have loved being home alone, and am also looking forward to seeing Chittu this evening. As I said in my last post, its not like I have accomplished much in the days of solitude. But I feel calm and feel ready for 2012. When December started, I was in denial. I could not believe that time galloped by so fast. I still am amazed at how fast Chittu has grown from a tiny fellow who could not hold his head up to a little guy, who now repeats words after us. 

Life, in its own unkind ways taught me many lessons. But unkind or not, I have come further from where I stood at the threshold of 2011. I am now more "aware" of so many things.  I know that I am standing with the doors of 2012 thrown open to me. I am looking forward to it like never before. And I think, that is a step towards positiveness.  

Weight wise, I think I will accomplish the goal I have set, and that will mean many things. That will possibly be the biggest inner demon I have fought with, and will translate into improved self confidence and basically the feeling that I can do almost anything. Since I have struggled with weight loss all my life, reaching goal weight will mean many things both physically and mentally. 

I do a have a list of to-do things of 2012, that are not resolutions, but simply, things I want to do. That will be my next post.

Meanwhile, dear kind reader, what for you is different about the start of 2012? Have you done a post? Please let me know.

List 1 - My Support System

It’s less than ten days to the new year. New Year. While I have never written down resolutions before, or atleast as far as my memory goes, I shall do it this time. But that’s another post.

I am more than 15 kgs lighter today, than what I started off the year with. I have lost a total of 18.7 kgs from my highest weight in 2010. And I have reached here by adopting a healthy lifestyle. Yes, I ate many ice creams this year, and stuffed myself with Diwali sweets. But I have also understood how my body functions and how good it feels when I put the muscles to use.

So here is a list of the things that helped me so far on my weight loss journey:

1.    The fact that being obese crippled me. Literally. I just had to get this weight off.

2.    The South Beach Diet way of eating. It teaches me to balance out my meals. 

3.    Weighing in almost every day. I now know that if I drink I diet Soda during a movie tonight, I will bloat tomorrow, and the weight will increase. Although, technically what I had was calorie free.

4.    A supportive husband. Things he does – encouraging always, guiding me with the importance of stretches at the end of an intense cardio session, allowing me my “exercise time”, never being embarrassed to take me for a run, never said that I looked ugly when I was fat. He is the singular person, I owe my bit of success to.

5.    Having a home-help to take care of the toddler, and doing sundry home-chores to keep our home neat and tidy. Again this gave me time to exercise, without being worried that the house was in a mess.

6.    Stores like Namdharis, Nilgiris and Jaivik Organic Mall, where I get whole foods, a variety of healthy snacks and get introduced to new veggies and fruits. Seriously, I never thought that I will eat Brussels Sprouts.Ever.

7.    My elliptical machine, which has been the one, singular source of exercise.

8.    Web sites such as Kalyn’s Kitchen which has opened up a world of cooking ideas. I have come to learn that the simple act of roasting vegetables, makes them incredibly tasty.

9.    My South Beach Diet Yahoo group has taught me to be patient during a weight-plateau. I have understood that if I wait and keep at my healthy ways, the weight should go.

10. My wish to get back to Bharatanatyam, my true love.

The list can go on. But these are the defining elements supporting my weight loss journey so far.

Watch out this space for more such “listy” posts.