Resolutions, Reflections, and Looking Forward

New Year's Resolution #1: Write in this blog more regularly!

Seriously though. I know, it's been awhile. I had like, 10 entry ideas piling up, then things got busy, then I was out of town, then I got too overwhelmed to write one entry because I had too many entry ideas...

So let's try for once a week in the new year, mmkay?


Reflections: This set of questions came from someone's post on a Weight Watchers message board that I visit and sometimes contribute to. It comes from Trish Blackwell, who does the "Confidence on the Go" podcasts. I thought it would be a nice way to reflect on the past year. So, here are "14 Questions to Answer Before 2014":

1. What one thing did you do best in 2013?

Do my best (most of the time) to take control of my health, nutrition and exercise-wise.


2. What area of your life in 2013 got the least amount of focus?

I guess money and budgeting? I am hoping to work on getting more money in savings in the new year, and possibly budgeting with mint.com, or another site.


3. What was the greatest challenge you overcame in 2013?

I ran two half marathons! I think that was a pretty big challenge.

4. What did 2013 teach you about yourself?

A lot of things - that I can set goals and meet them, especially. That I am capable of making changes when they need to happen to ensure that I'm happy.


5. What is one word to describe the theme of your life in 2013?

Health? I'm not good at one-word answers.


6. What did you not do well in 2013 that you must do better in the future?

I am still working on keeping a healthy relationship with food in balance with maintaining weight.

7. What habits did you create in 2013?

I have formed a lot of healthier habits with food - measuring, keeping track, planning meals for the week when possible.


8. What was the best book your read in 2013?

May I recommend:

- Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Stempel
- Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan
- Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight
- The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
- The Middlesteins by Jami Attenberg


Again, I'm not capable of answering with one answer only!


9. What most motivated you in 2013?

Working towards the goal of running my first (and second!) half marathon.

10. What is your favorite memory of 2013?

So many! The day of my first half marathon, making goal weight at Weight Watchers, reuniting with some amazing people in New York City, spending time with my family, my first date (and several subsequent dates) with A.

11. What will you cherish the most about 2013?

A lot has happened this year, but without a doubt, the thing I'll cherish most about 2013 is meeting and beginning my relationship with my amazing boyfriend. (Yeah, I know, sappy, barf - no more of that, I promise.)

12. What scary things did you do in 2013?

Started a new job, initiated a breakup (not with A - this was before that!!), rode a "turbo" jet ski with a race car driver at the helm, and got rid of my "fat clothes" from my closet.


13. What are you most proud of that you did in 2013?

Everything! It was a pretty good year.


14. What did you learn about life in 2013?

See the rest of this blog :)



So - many good things. I guess I should conclude with the rest of my resolutions and some possible upcoming events of the new year.

Resolution #2: Maintain my weight as I have been, and improve my relationship with food.

Resolution #3: Work on budgeting more, and put more $$ into my savings account (and less into jcrew.com).

I think that's enough in terms of resolutions. I more want to keep up what I've already been doing, and not make huge promises that I won't be able to keep.



Now, in terms of looking forward, there are a few running events that I'm already looking at doing this coming year.

1. Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon, San Francisco

One of my family members has been increasing her running mileage, and she and I may do this half marathon in San Francisco in April!

2. Pacific Crest Marathon/Half Marathon

This weekend of events (triathalon, duathalon, marathon, half marathon, 10k, 5k, etc.) happens in June in Sunriver, OR, which is where A's family has a house. We went last summer and I'm going in two days for a little last minute time away before returning to work. It could be fun to do a half up there this summer, and maybe eventually to do the marathon! Team in Training also does these events, so if I want to get involved with Team in Training at some point (perhaps when I decide to train for a marathon?) I could do this one!

3. San Francisco Marathon's 52 Club and Half It All Challenge

So, I've heard the SF Marathon is a very well-organized race and a lot of fun. They split it up into halves so you can complete the first half or the second half at 13.1, or do the full marathon! If you do all three (first half, second half, full) in three consecutive years, you get to be part of the "52 Club," which is pretty cool, and you get a special medal for completing the first and second halves in consecutive years. Sounds like a doable challenge to me - so perhaps first marathon in 3 years?! It could be 26.2 in 2016!

Okay everyone, I'm going to crack open the sparkling wine and watch the ball drop on TV with A (our very exciting NYE plans this year). Woooooot. HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone, have an amazing 2014!

xoxo,
Sarah

Turkey Trotting

This year was the second year that my family took part in Sacramento's annual Turkey Trot, Run to Feed the Hungry! This year was the 20th anniversary of the race, the proceeds of which go to the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services.

Family and friends gathered at our house bright and early, bundled up, and took some pictures before the run in our matching race t-shirts.

My goal this year was to do the 10K run in less than an hour. Aaaaaaaaaand... I did!

Results:

Time: 58:57
Pace: 9:30/mile

Overall in the 10K, I was 1,192nd out of 2,330 participants - and 418th of 1,128 women, and 81st of 188 women from 25-29!

It was also awesome to run with family, including my mom's goddaughter Kate, who has been increasing her running mileage a lot lately! She and her husband, Conor, both finished the 10K in under an hour as well! I missed my sister, who had to stay at school for law school finals, but I'm hoping next year (like last year) we will do the race together.

Being silly after the race - we were sad Anne was not there.

Although it was crowded and the starting line was insane, the event is such an awesome one that hopefully we'll continue to do it each year!

A Different Approach?

So, I went to a nutritionist for the first time last Tuesday, with some questions like the following:

- Am I eating enough or too many calories per day to maintain my weight?
- How many calories/day should I eat to maintain my weight?
- How many more calories/day should I eat when I exercise or run?

And here are some questions that my nutritionist asked me:

- How hungry are you when you eat?
- Do you find you eat really quickly or overeat when you get too hungry?
- Were you really hungry when you were eating too many snacks on the weekends, when you were using extra "points?"
- Why do you get diet/sugar-free jell-o and pudding instead of regular?
- Why did you just eat half an english muffin with breakfast, instead of the whole thing?
- Do you feel full or satisfied when you're done eating most meals?

Very, very interesting. I was told that I'm very focused on the numbers, and perhaps focusing on satiating hunger while eating balanced meals would help me get in touch with what my body needs. The nutritionist also told me that perhaps this approach would stop my "I have extra weekly points so I can eat what I want" thing.

Here's my problem with the mindful eating thing - I found that NOT focusing on the numbers made me less accountable. Granted, maybe I shouldn't have made Thanksgiving the week that I tried it for the first time, because that brought a whole host of other "It's Thanksgiving whateva whateva I do what I want" excuses along. But still. I feel like I can't just switch away from the "numbers" yet, as I may not hold myself to making good decisions about my diet without weight watchers.

Aaaaaand that is how I gained 3 pounds over Thanksgiving!

I know, I know. I'm being slightly ridiculous. I'll be fine. I'm back on track. There's no need to be silly about a few pounds...

Maybe I'll try some Kalteen bars? They make you burn carbs like crazy.

No, but like... perhaps this is just not my approach right now.

Then, I had two awesome conversations with people that are awesome. Lots of awesome. Awesome awesome awesome.

First, I talked to my accountability buddy (i.e. one of my besties from college) today, who told me that she also had a bad week - but she wasn't going to let it completely derail her. I know I've told other people to do just that - don't let a bad situation ruin your entire weight loss or maintenance. It won't ruin everything. So I decided to take my own advice. It's awesome to have a person (or multiple people) who understand what you are going through. I am really lucky to have her!

Second, I have the best boyfriend ever. I talked to him this past weekend about how I didn't think the mindful eating on its own would work for me, and the following conversation ensued:

A: Why don't you track your food at the end of the day?
S: Hmm, that's one idea.
A: Well, you want to make sure you're full, right? But are you tracking what you eat after every meal right now?
S: Yes...
A: But you probably plan out your last meal of the day based on how many points you have left?
S: Yes...
A: So if you track at the end of the day, you could eat your healthy meals and eat until you're full, but you'd still have the...
S: Accountability?
A: Yep, that.
S: I like it.

So first, my boyfriend knows me better than I do, and is generally wonderful. (I know, BARF, okay, I'll stop now.) Second, I'm going to try it that way, and see how it goes! I want to start making changes in my relationship with food... but not too fast! Third, I'm lucky to have ALL the wonderful and supportive people in my life that I do.

So, wish me luck this week - getting a cold and starting a new job generally do not go together well, but I'm doing my best! Is it the weekend/winter break yet? Now? No? Mmk. Back to it.