Ch, Ch, Ch, Changes...

I have decided that I am going to lose weight this year and keep it off. I will. I lost over 30 pounds last year but managed to put 15 back on. Granted, I no longer have 50" hips (and I never want to again). And yes, I am back in to my Buckle jeans (Hall-le-lu-jah!). But I want more. I want a 2-piece bathing suit. You know, I haven't worn one of those in... hold on... carry the one... 13 years. At first, it was because I blossomed like an orchid on steroids and my dad was on the brink of becoming homicidal (lots of attention from older boys; Daddy did not approve). But around senior year in high school, it was because I hated my stomach. Still do actually. My sister, Natalie, has the flattest, tightest stomach I, you, or anyone has ever seen. (Except for maybe Tina Turner's).

The point of all this is that I am going to do things right this time. Last time, I put my success on someone else's shoulders. Was it fair? Hell Yes! You have no idea how much I was paying him. But at the same time, no it wasn't fair for me to take no responsibility for my achievements.

And I'm setting mini goals this time too. Milestones even. With little rewards for myself here and there. Something to keep me going. I'm even going to provide myself with steps to show me the path to my goals. I know it seems basic but I need this. I'm not good when left to my own devices. I need someone to show me the way.

Knowing this, I've decided to join Weight Watchers. The flip side of this coin is that I will be cancelling my gym membership. I know what you're thinking. That not going to the gym is ludicrous and counter-productive. But it's not. I hate the gym. Literally. I hate the smell, the look, the feel, the fact that 70% of the people there are not there to get a workout. Trust me. I know this. I witness it three times a week when I go with my friends.

Plus, I love the outdoors. I used to run while staring out the windows because I really wanted to be outside. So, I'm going to do that. I'm going to go outside and work out in the fresh air (when it becomes less frigid).

And while I'm waiting, I will be in my office working out to one of the many videos and DVDs I have that are collecting dust.

I promise to keep you updated on my progress. Hopefully, we'll succeed together.

Where Has the Time Gone?

We are less than two weeks into the new year and I'm not making much progress on my resolutions. Firstly, I can't begin to tell you if I'm losing weight because I have yet to go and purchase a scale. And it's been so long since I've been to the gym that I'm afraid to show my face because the last thing I said to my trainer was, "It's winter. Who cares if I get fat? No one can see it". But I know he'll see it. I SEE IT! I can't fit into my jeans. My $100 jeans!! Dios Mio! What have I become?

On the bank front, I have begun some research. And let me just say that banks, as a whole, suck major butt. It's like none of them are any good anymore. And credit unions are ass hats too. They want to be major players (and charge like they are) but they don't have half the perks of the big boys. So, I've got it narrowed down from the hundreds of options out there to like... 6. 6! Sigh...

Travel is looking up. I've decided that my trip will be to visit both my Grandmothers. They live in the same city, less than 15 miles from each other. I just can't stand Grandma S. She's so mean. But with my bro as a buffer, I should be fine. And I want to visit Ethan in Oki. But we'll see on that. I don't think my pockets are deep enough for that.

On the craftiness front, I am ahead of the game. I'm working on this winter wolf cross stitch that is going to be bad ass when I'm finished. Someone offered me $5 for it. I told her to save her breath. The materials cost $15 and I'll have major hours in it. And I bought a calligraphy kit.

I wanted to go to church yesterday but I was sick. I still am sick. But that's still a priority and I'm hoping to make it to a mid-week service of some sort. I'll keep you updated.

Love? NFL is gone. He lied. We didn't spend NYE together. I yelled. He hasn't called since. 'Nuf said.

To revisit the idea of having a theme day. I will make mine on Wednesday and it will be my day to weigh in. I have decided to keep track of my progress on this blog. Only God can help us now.

Well, TTFN.

Resolutions

Last year was all about my finances. Making more money while pinching pennies to pay down your college indiscretions is hard work. It will also stress you out to the brink of no return and cause you to make some (sometimes very) bad decisions. Although I didn't reach my goal of being completely debt free I did manage to get extremely close and will be debt free by April 2010. My credit? Well, that still needs some time to recover.

This year, I have decided that I am going to work on Physical Me. Or at least the Me on paper. You know? Dating Profile Me? That needs some work. Because men can't see that you have paid off all your student loans. They don't notice that there's only one credit card in your wallet and it has no account balance. It's not obvious to them that you learned to knit and became disarmingly familiar with $1 movie rentals so that you could one day wake up and owe nothing to everyone. Instead, men have a tendency to look at your ass as you walk by, and mine has been widening steadily.

So, here are my resolutions in order of importance to me.

1. Lose 50 pounds ~ roughly 1 lb a week. Which is more than reasonable and can be done with sufficient strength training.

2. Save $300+ a month (starting April 2010). I'm already living without it as I'm pouring all of my income into debt reduction. And really $300 is less than half of what I'm putting into my debts, so really... this is no thing.

3. Find a new, better bank. This will involve research on my part. But it's necessary because I'm getting the shaft by my current bank. I enrolled through work and I'm getting no perks. None. Not to mention they were bought out in last years fiscal crisis, so basically, I'm getting it royally with no vaseline.

4. Budget wisely (and follow) in an effort to live better and prepare for the future. The biggest mistake I made this year was not thinking and planning before I leapt into my debt reduction program. I did not save or leave any room for error. Thankfully, I haven't had any 911s (yet).

5. Become more crafty. Yes, I'm already a young June Cleaver. Go ahead. Mock me. I find peace in crafts. Not to mention that people love hand-made gifts. One of the girls at work had her miracle baby and I made her a birth announcement. For me, it was solace. For her, it was... More. I can't even explain the light in her eyes but it made me feel good. So, I want to do more of that this year.

6. Join a church and begin giving again. This is another selfish one. A) It will get Grammy off my back. B) It will allow me to meet more people and network. C) I will feel like I belong somewhere again. D) Mr. Right may actually be there (I've already looked everywhere else).

7. Open myself up to receive love. Let's just say that I was "cautiously optimistic" in 2009.

8. Look for a more fulfilling career. I feel like I am at a stand still at my current place of employment and I can't stop wondering if there is more out there.

9. Buy new furniture. I still have my 13" tv from college and a hand-me-down bed that even the dogs can't get a good night's sleep on. It's time.

10. Go on at least one real vacation out of this state.

11. Get my car working properly. (Maybe I should move this one up?)

12. Work my MLM business.

There you have it! My goals for 2010. I'll keep you posted on how this all works out.