Time to Reflect

A friend of mine posted a reflective statement on Facebook and it made me think. I've been very focused on where I want to be. Maybe I should take a little time to look back and see how far I've come. New Year's Day always seems to be a time to reflect on the previous year.

I just looked at pictures from Christmas last year and am shocked with what I see. I honestly didn't realize how big I was then. I guess I had just gotten used to it and didn't think about it. I knew I wasn't happy with how I looked, but I just wasn't willing to do anything about it. I didn't have a lot of energy, but then again, I didn't need a lot for as little as I did.

Finally in April, I had enough. I was ready to make a change. I was tired of not liking how I looked and felt. I started small and kept it quiet because I wasn't sure that I was going to be able to accomplish anything. But it worked and I kept working. I made changes and stepped up my physical activity. And I kept going! I didn't give up. I didn't quit.

So now I look at what I've accomplished:

• I have lost 79 pounds.
• I have competed in seven races: six 5Ks and one 4 mile.
• I have set my routine to workout at least five days a week.
• I am running when I do races now. Not the whole race, but some of it.
• I eat healthier and pay attention to what I'm eating.
• I am willing to share my journey with anyone who wants to hear about it.
• I do group workout classes when I always hated them before.
• I wake up in the mornings when I don't have to get up and workout, included Christmas and New Year's Eve and Day.
• I come home from work and workout as a way to get rid of stress.
• I have a new batch of healthy recipes that I love to make and that we love to eat.

That's what I've got for now and WOW does that make me feel proud of myself. I have accomplished so much and have even more left to accomplish.

Here are my goals for 2013:

• I want to lose another 21 pounds, at least. I'll re-evaluate when I reach that goal.
• I want to compete in a 10K race.
• I want to continue to do a race every month, though January is looking challenging.
• I want to continue to try new recipes and have a list of favorites for all seasons.
• I want to continue to blog on a regular basis.

So while I've accomplished so much, I still have further to go. It somehow seems less intimidating when I see how far I've come.

It's good to reflect as I'm sitting here in my workout clothes after having already done my workout for the day. :) Wow, how my life has changed! I know I wasn't in workout clothes this early, or honestly at all, last New Year's Day.

So I'm going to continue on my journey with the pride that comes from reflecting on where I've come from and the knowledge of where I am going.

Happy New Year! May 2013 be a blessed year for you!