Weekly Wishes #4 - Fight This Fatigue!

Last week I decided I needed to declutter my apartment, and I think I did a pretty good job! For the most part, anyway. All of the stuff I no longer want is sitting in a pile still, but it's gotten bigger and I have a yard sale planned for this coming up Saturday. It's even listed in the newspaper now, and we have signs to put up later this week. I'm hoping to make at least $100. Anything that doesn't sell will simply get donated. Only then is last week's Weekly Wish complete!

 

As for this week, I have a few goals in mind. And a lot of it has to do with how I've been feeling lately which is tired! I am tired all the time.

 

1. Stop putting it off and get blood work done! My doctor instructed me to get some blood work done in July sometime and I still haven't. It could explain why I'm so tired though. So, even though I hate getting blood taken I'm going to get it done!

 

2. Walking every day has been nice, but I think it's time to add in some more intense workouts. This week I plan on using my workout DVDs to exercise at least 3 times.

 

3. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Eat less processed foods. I've been too tired to cook proper meals lately, which might be adding to my fatigue. Everyone knows that eating healthy is the best way to fight fatigue, right?

 

And that's the plan, to conquer this never ending fatigue once in for all!

What are some of your goals for the upcoming week?

 

Thanks,
Cole

Weekly Wishes #2 - Organize My Room

 

Last week I set a goal for myself to get out and walk/jog every day for at least a half an hour. To be honest, I did get outside every day but I didn't quite do it for the exercise. I don't even own running shoes!

 

Hear me out though!

 

• Monday was spent at the beach swimming. 
• I walked to the library (which is a good 40 minutes there and back) on Tuesday.
• I walked to the grocery store (definitely half an hour) on Wednesday.
• Thursday we went to Soper Park and walked around where I took pictures of flowers, including the one here, and played in the stream. 
• My mom took Sidney out on Friday and I caught up on reading and cleaning - but I didn't get outside much.
• Yesterday, which was Saturday, I was out all day! My Grandma picked us up and we took Sidney plus my two nieces to an indoor playground because it was raining, so again I didn't get out to walk around.
• I would like to think I made up for that today (Sunday) though. Nick, Sid and I went for a two hour long walk through the woods, came home for supper and then out to the park for half an hour. We had to leave early because it started to rain.

 

Maybe not my best effort, but I'm definitely going to continue to try and get out to walk more this next week.

 

Weekly Wishes #2: Organize My Bedroom!

 

I moved into my current apartment back in May of this year. I fell in love with it's century old charm and I couldn't wait to get settled in.

 

However, I still haven't really done anything with this place! My apartment is a big, unorganized mess and one of my goals for this summer is to get things organized before school starts.

 

Unfortunately what I lack is furniture and money to buy furniture. I've been thrift store shopping and yard sale hopping but I haven't found anything that I like enough to spend money on. I can't even find anything curbside worth picking up.

 

Since my living room is kind of small, my computer desk, books and hobby supplies have to fit in my bedroom. It's a big old junk fest in there right now. Well, for $30 I can pick up a bookshelf for my bedroom to help get my books and craft supplies organized. So that is my goal for the week!

 

 

I've been putting off this daunting task for three months! I'll be super proud of myself once it's completed. Seriously! I am a huge procrastinator which is why I was so eager to start linking up for these Weekly Wishes over at The Nectar Collective. Having to post my results is a huge motivator.

 

 

I had a blast reading what other people wrote last week and can't wait to see how they did, and what their next Weekly Wish will be!

 

Do you have a weekly goal you would like to accomplish? What is it?

 

Thanks,
Cole

Weekly Wishes #1 - Walk/Jog Every Day

I was really excited when I discovered Weekly Wishes over at The Nectar Collective!

 

It's about working towards your goals, one small step at a time, by making weekly goals that are easy to stick to. It's somewhat similar to my post 5 Steps to Simplify Your Goals, which was about taking your huge goals and breaking them down into smaller, more achievable goals to start you off. However, by only committing to one goal for 7 full days instead of a lifetime, it's a little less intimidating and a lot easier to accomplish.

 

For my very first Weekly Wish: Walk/jog every day for at least half an hour.

 

The past couple of years have been stressful and with stress came laziness, binge eating and weight gain! Being overweight is fine by me, but being unhealthy and out of shape isn't. I feel sluggish, tired and to be honest - ugly. And this lifestyle isn't any good for anyone.

 

Knowing I can't just jump back in to my old workout routine, I have to take it slow. And forcing myself to get outside and walk/jog would be a great start!

 

I'm registered to begin college this September. I want to begin school feeling great physically, emotionally and spiritually (whatever that means). Incorporating a regular exercise routine into my daily life would be a great way to start!

 

 

If you're interested in linking up a Weekly Wish, head on over to The Nectar Collective!

 

I will be keeping track of my Weekly Wishes every Sunday night from now on :)

Thanks,
Cole

Friday Fitness - New Year Resolutions and Bad Eating Habits

Well it's December 21, 2012 and the world hasn't ended (obviously). But we already knew everything would be fine, right?

With Christmas just a few more days away our house is filling up with food and presents, and our freezer is filling up with baked goods (mmm, banana bread!). I've never been one to "deprive" myself on holidays, or any other day actually, but I know that once it's the New Year it will be time to make some resolutions, or goals I should say.

Every year my resolutions are quite similar: lose weight, get organized, make more money blah blah blah. And even though my "goals" are usually achieved it's never for very long. I can manage to lose weight, but I can't manage to keep it off. I can manage to get things organized, but I can't manage to stay organized. I can manage to make more money, at least for a little while - until I get laid off, or end up quitting. 

I guess that means I should be rethinking my resolutions (or goals). I know now that losing weight isn't an issue. Instead I need to focus more on being healthy.

But for some people, like myself, it feels so difficult when in reality it isn't. I know that eating fast food is a no-no. That you need regular exercise; a combination or cardio, strength training and stretching to be healthy. I know which foods are good and which ones should be avoided. Don't we all? I mean really, it's not that complicated.

What I lack is self control. When I really want fries it consumes me. If I get the idea of chocolate in my head it will drive me insane until I finally get it. My food cravings can last a week or more.

I have struggled with maintaining a healthy weight for as long as I can remember. And I actually believe I may be addicted to food, and eating. I'm an emotional eater. I eat when I'm bored. I make plans to go out to eat with my friends instead of other activities. Life isn't about eating.

One of my New Year's resolutions will be to gain a better relationship with food, and to try and break my bad eating habits.

Thanks,
Cole

Fitness Fridays

As a mother, or a parent really, I think that my health is extremely important for several reasons. 

• I want to set a good example.
• I want to be able to keep up with Sid.
• I want to be alive and well for a long time to be with Sid.
• I want to have enough energy to get everything done.
• I want to feel good about myself.

 

My Weight Struggles

Well, here is the problem; I have allowed myself to gain weight and get out of shape (again). Like a lot of people I struggle with my weight. Well, the weight really is not an issue for me, it’s the way I feel and lately I feel like CRAP! 

I’ve been eating junk, I haven’t been exercising and I’ve even been slacking on personal hygiene. I’m not sure why, or how this happened all I know is that I need to switch things around and get back to where I was over a year ago. 

I used to workout multiple times a week; jogging, yoga, aerobics DVDs, lifting weights and a lot of walking, walking every where! 

I ate healthy; on schedule, tons of fruits and vegetables, mostly vegan foods, whole wheat everything and barely ever ate out. 

After I had Sidney I went all out and completely changed my lifestyle. It was hard work, I had never lost weight in a healthy way before. I had to learn everything, because I didn’t know anything about being healthy! It was a great experience and I loved how I felt. Now it’s time to get that  back.

The Obstacles

Clearly things need to change in my life if I want to be healthy, energetic and a good example for Sidney. My problem is I often get overwhelmed when I try to change things too quickly. I get so worked up and thinking, “Why bother, I know I’m just going to fail again?” that lately I don’t even want to try! 

I’m also kind of scared that I am so out of shape that if I start working out I’ll hurt myself. Which is possible. I hurt something in my side when I leaned over to talk to Sidney last week… 

Well, if you read my Monday post, you’d know I’m following The Magic which is all about gratitude and positive thinking. I feel that with The Magic, I can conquer these feelings of failure and work towards a healthy lifestyle again. It will be hard, I have a lot of bad habits I need to switch around, but I know I can do it. I did it before, I can do it again. 

My one and only obstacle is my mindset. Once I overcome that I can do anything.

The Changes

I’m going to have to take baby steps if I want this to work. My eating habits have gotten so out of control I don’t really know where to start first. My exercise routine (or extreme lack of) will need work, too. 

So, I’ve decided that each week I will work on one goal, one switcheroo for both eating habits, and exercise habits. And hopefully by next Friday that will be better and I can move onto another one, but if not there’s no shame in continuing to work on it for another week (or two?).

This week I want to eat healthier breakfasts. My usual breakfasts lately consist of coffee… and sometimes pop tarts, but usually I don’t remember to eat until noon.

Healthy breakfast options:

• Oatmeal with fruit and almonds
• Smoothies
• Yogurt with granola and berries
• One egg omelette with veggies OR
• Scrambled tofu (if I can get Nick to make it for me)
• Whole wheat toast with peanut butter and grapefruit
• Cottage cheese with fruit
• Home-made whole wheat muffins

Now, as I said above, I’m terrified of hurting myself due to being extremely out of shape and not exercising for months. I want to start going for walks at least three times a week, and do some simple stretching in the mornings. 

Well, I guess that's it for now. I'll update on my progress next Friday. 

What are some of your healthy tips? Favourite health/fitness blog?

Thanks,