A Road Block (and Getting Ready to Leave)

Just a quick post.  I'm sorry I'm failing at the challenge posts... I feel like I've been failing at everything that even remotely involves being healthy, dieting, losing weight, twitter, #7daychip, or this blog lately and I am really sorry and feel pretty bad about it.  I feel like every time I go to start something or set a goal with the first hiccup it all falls to pieces and I'm back to where I've started.  Like the first mistake or misstep turns into a road block that keeps me from getting back on track and doing what I said I would do.  I never used to feel like this, why now?

That said, I hope to get back on the horse starting tomorrow.  Not going to write any goals right now because I don't want to let myself down again, I just really want to survive the next (get ready for it) 6 days before I fly home to America!!!  I've been busily packing and getting my affairs in order... and letting my eating and exercise slag in a big way.  It's really caught up with me all of a sudden today and I've been really bummed out and feeling huge and disgusting all day.  After I post this, I'm off to bed so I can MAKE MYSELF get up and RUN tomorrow before work.  I'm going to do it.  I am. I am. I am.

This week I've also really started thinking about going back to WeightWatchers when I get home, more specifically for the summer.  I checked my loan repayment plan (I'm trying to REALLY accelerate it to be out of debt ASAP) and paying for 4 months of the monthly pass change the end date of my new plan at all.  So, I'm currently thinking I'll sign up with a goal of doing it for the summer.  If at the end of summer, I'm not taking advantage of it and I'm not at least 10lbs down... then I'll stop my subscription when we move and go back to using CalorieCount for free... What do you guys think?  I think that with this plateau and the way I've been feeling, I really need my meetings (and my AWESOME leader at home) back.  Something needs to change and I need to kick myself in gear since Jon and our friends have a packed schedule of fun races and other event we want to do.

Anyway, sorry for the rambling post, just wanted to put out how I'm feeling to the blogosphere and remind you all that I'm still here.  I'm working on a few posts right now: moving out (with photos), a new challenge post, a plan for the summer, etc.  Stay tuned!

Update: For the first time in I think all of 2011 so far, I actually DID get up at 6am and go for a run after this post.  I hope that this is the start of me being back on track, one mile at a time.  Stay tuned for the next post, I just saw it's going to be my 200TH!!!

While I was sleeping... #7daychip Weekly Twitter Chat

If you follow me on Twitter, I'm sure you've seen that I'm now really excited about being part of the #7daychip community on Twitter and Facebook. Since coming to France, one thing I've missed most is my weekly WW meetings and having the #7daychip community has really been like having all of that support and more at home. I still haven't reached my first chip, but I'm looking forward to hitting that first milestone and continuing to grow with the community!

That said, sadly the weekly chats happen between 3 and 4am France time, so I have to miss them. Another chipper mentioned replying on her blog the next day, so that's going to be the plan for Fridays until I come home!

Without further ado, my responses to this weeks #7daychip chat! If you haven't checked out the group, I HIGHLY recommend it!

Q1: What is your present "primary" goal? How long have you been trying to achieve it?

My present "primary" goal in my 'healthiness journey' is to get down to my goal weight of 140-145 pounds. I know I should have an exact number, but I want to hit 145 and see how I look and feel and go from there. I've been working on this goal since June 2009, and with renewed vigor since the beginning of March 2011.

Q2: Do you have any other goals (secondary) you are working towards? What are they?

I have a bunch of other goals I'm working towards as far as health is concerned:

-Not oversleeping and aiming to get 7.5 hours a night

-Run a half marathon on 2011 (started running in 2010)

-Tone up

-My newest goal (from yesterday): To speed up my average running pace to someday hit a 9 minute/mile average.

Q3: Can you give any examples of goals that you have been successful reaching?

Back when I started my blog, my goal was to finish C25K, I passed that with flying colors and haven't looked back! In my 'professional' life, I also reached my goal of graduating summa cum laude from my university in 2010 and successfully applied for graduate programs and was awarded a fellowship to continue my studies.

Q4: Why were you successful reaching those goals?

I have been successful with my running and my academic career for a few reasons: Never allowing myself to give up, keeping my eyes on the prize, and by having the constant support of my family and friends. I know I wouldn't have started this blog, started running or even KEPT running without Jon by my side at the time to help push me to run on days that I was lacking in motivation.

Q5: What can you bring from your successful goal attempts to your present struggles?

These three reasons totally apply to my new goals. I think talking about your goals so more people can hold you accountable is really important. Furthermore, I just need to keep my head down and keep trudging on. NEVER give up.

Q6: Do you have any tricks/tips that help you to reach your goals?

I set myself mini, weekly goals and try and use my blog to log them and keep myself accountable on a weekly basis. This is a long-term journey, not a crash diet, so it's easy to get demotivated without seeing progress or if you're not able to "restart" at some point each week.

Q7: Do you have any thoughts why your longstanding goals are so hard to achieve?

Anything work having is hard to have and is worth working hard for: relationships, health, success in general. My weight loss goal is so hard to achieve because I'm trying to not deprive myself too much because I'm not just trying to lose the weight, I'm trying to completely change my lifestyle and there's no way I can maintain a lifestyle without red wine and chocolate.

Q8: If you could give yourself goal reaching advice from “the outside” what would it be??

Keep your chin up and keep pushing on. Try not to compare your journey to that of other people. Your WL journey is your own.

Q9: Do you think you will reach your most challenging goals eventually?

I know I will, I just need to be prepared for a) it to take a while and b) the lifelong commitment and struggle to stay at goal weight once I get there.

Alrighty, off to work to make up from taking off on Monday! Have a great day, chippers and bloggers!!! :)