SMART Goals and Day 1

SMART Goals
I learned about SMART Goals 4 years ago when I was an EFY Counselor.  SMART is an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely.  SMART goals are awesome because when a goal has these characteristics the goal is much easier to achieve.  A Commonly set goal is to "Lose Weight,"  But this doesn't really meet any of the criteria above.  That said, my goals for this portion of my journey are:

I hope to lose at least 20 pounds* by July 31, 2014.

By the beginning of September (9 weeks) I will be ready to run a 5K. (I hope to find a register for a specific one, but haven't found one yet.  Let me know if you know of one around that time...If I don't find one I'll run it on the Jordan River Parkway Trail.)

I will follow the TSFL Program each day, including eating my 5 replacement meals and my one Lean and Green Meal as well as drinking at least 64oz.

*I just did some research about healthy weight loss rates and found that most sources say the 1-2 pounds per week is a healthy weight loss rate.  I realize that 20 pounds/month is much more than 1-2 pounds/week.  Knowing my body and from some previous experience I feel that this is both attainable and a healthy rate for me for the first month of this journey.

6/30/14 Report
Today was so good. I was completely blown away by all the support and encouragement that I have received, especially from friends on Facebook. I was really curious to see how people would respond and I was overwhelmed by the love that I felt.  It's amazing.  Thank you so much!

This morning I took a walk with my sister and my nephew.  The goal for today was to walk at least 3 miles. Here are screenshots from my phone from the App RunKeeper that show the activity:

 

We walked 3.75 miles!  The duration is a bit high because we stopped and found a caterpillar, looked at the ducks, played on two bridges, and tried to feed a horse (usually we're successful, but this time the horse was not interested in what we had to offer while he was munching on his hay).

My lean and green meal consisted of about 5(ish)oz baked salmon lightly seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic, and lemon pepper seasoning; 1/2 cup asparagus lightly seasoned with salt and pepper; 1/2 cup Eggplant (a first time making experience for me) seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic, and chili powder; and  1/2 cup of quick pickle cucumber.  A pretty tasty meal!

I'm feeling very good about today!  I've done a lot of "first day" healthier living days before, but never one quite like this. I really hope that I can keep it up!

Beginning of a Journey

(Tl;dr - I need your help as I begin a journey to live a healthier lifestyle)

From Dictionary.com

jour·ney

  [jur-nee]  Show IPA

noun, plural jour·neys.

1.

a traveling from one place to another, usually taking a rather long time; trip:      a six-day journey across the desert.

2.

a distance, course, or area traveled or suitable for traveling: a desert journey.

3.

a period of travel: a week's journey.

4.

passage or progress from one stage to another: the journey to success.

verb (used without object), jour·neyed, jour·ney·ing.

5.

to make a journey; travel.

Perhaps the title of this post and of this blog is presumptuous.  It could be argued quite easily that most of my life I have been on a weight gain journey.  But as the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."  Here is my first, single step on this part of my journey.  Though I seem to have taken this first step innumerable times before... and I'm not sure why this time will be any different.

Ultimately that is why I'm creating this blog: to set this first step apart from all the other first steps I have taken on similar abandoned journeys in the past.  I intended to document my journey here and I hope to get encouragement and support from my family and friends.  I hope that this will help me to be more accountable and driven in my journey.  Many of my past failures on the start of this journey came because I was only accountable to me, and I'm really good at talking myself in to throwing myself off the proverbial cliff of breaking diets.

Maybe it's just semantics, but I'm not planning on going on a diet.  I want to change my lifestyle to that of a healthier one.  Part of that is changing what I eat and the way I eat.  Another part of living a healthier lifestyle is being more active.  I plan to document both parts on this blog.  Healthy eating and an active lifestyle are the vehicles I am using to achieve the destination of a healthier life.  Similar to a road trip, this weight loss journey will help me arrive at my destination.

I have found that when I put things in writing it makes them more real to me.  Additionally, when I tell others about my plans, I become not only accountable to myself, but I also become accountable to those whom I tell.  My sincere, heartfelt gratitude goes out in advance to those who will help me on this journey.

The Goals:
I believe in SMART goals.  Goals should be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely.  I'm still developing my SMART goals and will update this section as I do so.  The non-SMART, general goal is to enjoy a healthy life.

The Plan:
To eat healthier I plan to participate in the program Take Shape For Life.  My intent is not to promote or endorse this program, but it's a program that I've used in the past and I saw and felt the benefits of it while I was committed to it.

Ideally I'd like to participate more in casual sporting activities, but the opportunities to do so haven't been available to me.  My tentative plan is to try out the program The Couch-to-5K. I need to learn more about it and then determine how I will implement it into my life.

Future Updates:
I plan to make daily(ish) updates to my progress.  I want to post what I learn, both my successes and my failures, and my thoughts about the journey.  Part of the Take Shape for Life program is to eat, what is called, a "Lean and Green" meal everyday.  This meal consists of a healthy(ier) protein and 3 servings of vegetables.  It won't turn in to a food blog, but I plan to post about these meals on occasion as well.  Simply put, I want to document my journey to what will be a healthier life.

Your Part (my shameless plea):
In an attempt to help make this first step different from similar ones in the past I need your (yes YOU) help in doing so.  I plead with you to help me in my journey by commenting on this blog, sharing, and/or liking my posts.  Also, please share your helpful feedback and encouragement.  Please!