I am planning some changes in my daily routine. First of all, I need to exercise more. I am aiming to go 5 times a week, and in order to do this, I need to get up at 5:30 am each weekday. I am going to sleep by 10 in order to make this remotely possible. I need to finally shed the last 10 pounds that I have been working on, in vain, for about the last 6 months. My goal: to lose it by the time we go to Charleston, SC in about a month. This is slightly ridiculous since I've been trying to do just this for 6 months, and now I think I can do it in 4 weeks. I think my problem is that I'm placated with mediocrity. I'm below my pre-pregnancy weight, and I'm not really fat anymore so even though I'm not really where I want to be, I am satisfied enough to not try very hard. Does that make sense? Apparently I am okay with not being "so fat". (Family joke- my aunt Patricia once replied that her son was "not SO fat" when we simply asked how he was doing. Hmm.) I wonder how much I let myself get by with this in my life- just getting by because I'm doing okay. I'm not really doing badly, nor doing really well, but being satisfied with mediocrity, I go merrily along my way.
Hence the need for my second moderately extreme lifestyle change: Timm and I are going to have prayers and scriptures together each morning before he leaves for work at 7:30. WE used to do this together at night before bed, but that plan had several pitfalls. Firstly, we are usually so tired or lazy that we don't feel like it and often don't finish a chapter. More often that than, Timm comes home from work once I am already asleep, and we end up skipping it altogether. Not good. So after visiting Denise (dpw) last week, I was inspired to do it in the morning. She has a busy family life, and they get together to do it at 6:30 each morning. I figured if they can do it with their hectic lives, so can we. This requires some cooperation from Timm to carve out s few minutes in his morning routine, but I think it will be good for us as a family, and a great start to our days.
In keeping with that change, I have another goal that will consequently help bring the Spirit into our home more, and make me less of a slothful drone. I am making a concerted effort to watch less tv. I admit it, I am addicted to tv. I have it on almost the entire day. (Correction- I used to have in on the entire day.) I am not necessarily watching it, I just have ti on for company. And there are also several things I enjoy watching. It is a huge problem for productivity, lethargy, and stupidity (especially if Lifetime is involved) and I am becoming ever more aware as Bella begins to get older. I really don't want my kids to be the couch-potato type as I am, so I know I need to find alternatives. Plus it's only so long before Bella will be able to recite what she heard on Oprah, and unless it's one of her Favorite Things shows, that can't be a good thing. So today I had it on very little, and instead I listened to one of Sheri L. Dew's talks on cd while I cleaned, Norah Jones, the Primary Hymns on cd, and even tried- *gasp!* silence for a while. I know when I have more kids I will long for days of silence, but for now I like the company during the day.
So far these changes have been met with, well, moderate success. I went to the gym early yesterday morning. Today I opted to stay in bed- although Bella still woke me up at 6:30.
Yesterday and today Timm and I had prayers and scriptures in the morning.
Yesterday and today I watched considerably less tv.
BTW, I happened across a hilarious blog a couple of days ago, and have gone through and read a lot of her stuff. It is definitely worth looking at. I make no guarantees however- I am fairly positive I do not agree with the girl politically, but she is really witty and interesting! Check it out!
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
12 comments:
I love that you're doing a moderately extreme lifestyle makeover. Pretty much any lifestyle makeover is extreme isn't it? Anything that fights resistance and involves getting up early is rough. I'm mighty impressed with your goals. They are loftier than mine for sure.
I don't think your weightloss plan can be called settling for mediocrity if you weigh less than your prepregnancy weight. Where are you getting this desired weight number anyway? What if you didn't really have 10 pounds to lose? Perhaps the gym is a good lifestyle/health choice but doesn't have to involve actual weightloss. Just a thought, you skinny minnie you.
I love this whole post! It was so awesome to hear you today telling me about your little cleaning deal with yourself to get to watch Oprah at 4- just made me smile 'cause that is such a Jessie thing to do. If you don't want silence, call someone to chat while you do whatever. You know I love listening to Bella doing her thing in the background :)
Does your personal trainer know about your weightloss goal? Do they think it is doable? I am glad you are starting to acknowledge the skinny girl you are! Good luck!
I admire you so much for your goals Jessie. I'm totally cheering for you as you work at them.
And I'm with Hannah, feel free to call and chat whenever. Even if I am at work. I'm always up for a little respite from working on the computer ;) Another idea - you should seriously do iTunes. Gather up all of your cds, and any cds you want to copy from friends, and copy them onto there in a playlist. That way, you can mix it up all you want, you never know what song is coming up next, and if you are feeling selective - well, you just crank that Prince! I love iTunes, seriously. I too, am a total "background noise" person. You remember how I was at LP. ;)
I loved your blog today. Completely up my alley. It is hard to feel compelled to trim off those extra pounds when it isn't really necessary, but a preference. Aye- the horrors of weight loss.
I too watch far too much TV. I am most happy it is the summer because everything is now over for the season and I can reassess my TV addiction and hopefully trim the number of shows I watch before they come on next season. We were regularly having to turn off what we were watching, because Lulu was in the room. No need for her to see all the blood and gore we watch on a regular basis. Heaven help us.
Your goals sound really great! I am sure you will be blessed for your efforts. If I may make one suggestion, my husband and I decided we watched too much trash TV (aka entertainment tonight and access hollywood...) simply because it is the only thing on after the 6:00 news and we would get sucked into the "TomKat-Bradgelina-Paris-Hilton's-makes -Jessica-Simpson-Cry-again-tonight-on-Access-filth!" Also, our little TV was wrecking the fung-sheui of our living room. So, we moved our TV to our unfinished, musty old basement. Not a pleasant television watching environment. Since the big move...I have decided there are not many shows worth spending an hour in my basement to watch. We do have a carpet scrap and a futon down there so its bearable to watch AMerican Idol on Tuesday and Wednesdays or to occasionally rent a move but thats about it! So the moral of the story...if you really want to cut down on television watching...move your TV to a place that is not very comforatble to watch it (like your basment or your spare bedroom) a place that isn't as easily accessable as your living room...
Also, I'm jealous that you are going to Charleston, SC. I went with Jared two years ago and I loved it!I want to move there! Have fun!
I must say that I completely understand your weight loss efforts. I gained a LOT of weight with my last pregnancy (okay with both pregnancies), and although I am back to my pre-preg. weight I really need to lose a little more. The problem is, after being SO big, average looks fantastic! My other problem is that after having two babies my body looks a whole lot different at this weight than it did before kids! I am going to have to weigh less to look the same. My attitude has been much the same as yours, I have been at this weight for almost 8 months with the idea to lose 8 more lbs always in the back of my mind. Unfortunatley the idea of working harder has not seemed worth it, until I suddenly realised that summer and swim suits are upon us!! Good luck to you, and also with less TV (difficult for sure). When I only had one baby I ALWAYS had the TV on, in the background. It was too quiet without it. Now that I have 2, and my oldest is old enough to pay attention I try not to EVER have it on for me, and I limit my girls time in front of it. (sorry so long, I got away fm myself)
I'm just a blog voyeur, but I totally understand your gym situation. Rehearsals have really picked up for the show I am in, so I haven't been as good about going (unlike you, I cannot get up early in the morning and do it- I am not that dedicated, cheers). So yesterday I had the day off and I went over to the gym, bracing myself for some kind of heinous weight gain... once on the scale, I saw that by not going to the gym, I had somehow lost a pound. I almost turned around and went home to go back to bed, until I reminded myself that maybe I should do something there for my heart and general wellbeing and not just for looking waif-like in my next round of auditions.
Also, I've never been 100% sure how you feel about me reading your blog every day (I have never gotten an E-mail being like "go away- love, jessie") but I was wondering if I could get some advice, and you and your friends who comment on your blog should be able to help, I think. I am about ready to make my first scrapbook of allll my pictures from living in Europe, and I have no idea where to begin (I have a book, that's it) in terms of paper and goodies. They don't sell a lot of scrapbooking stuff in NYC (I Googled), so what web sites are good?
Thanks
I love your determination and your motivation to induce change in your life. This is a common theme with you and it's inspiring! We miss you guys a lot, but I keep myself going with knowing that I'll see you in a few months (I can't believe it's that soon!) Good luck with the weight loss and less tv watching (it'll be easier once American Idol is over! Go Taylor!) I know you can do anything you want to Jessie because you have the mental strength to do so.
I love the way I feel rejuvenated when I get motivated to change something in my life, and I love hearing you express that kind of inspiration--you make me want to be better, too.
I like to have something to listen to during the day, too (when I'm home, that is....). I like to listen to talk radio when I'm alone. Dave Ramsey hosts a great show (3 hours long) every weekday all about money management. (He wrote a book called The Total Money Makeover) He is a devout Christian and I like knowing that his opinions and ideas have that as a backbone. Check out his website (www.daveramsey.com) to find a station near you!
As Grandma says, you are such a cute little zealot. I mean that in the most complimentary way. You have more determination and willpower in your little finger than I have in my whole being. Thanks for always inspiring me to want to improve myself.
Jessie, I love your life change posts! I love that you have that kind of motivation! But I have to ask, can anything be moderately extreme? I'm not sure there's anything moderate about it!
I want to comment on the TV thing because I'm such a background noise kind of person. I go back and forth on this issue on a weekly basis. I've cut most of my shows out of my schedule, but lately I've been letting Kaitlin watch way too much TV. I have her glider in my craft room right now and she'll sit in it all day and watch Sprout, Nickelodeon, Disney Channel if I let her. More and more I've allowed it. I'm tell myself I'm too tired to get up and play with her or that my body is too cumbersome, or whatever seems plausible at the time. I think the example we set for our children in this area is so important. Bella is lucky to have a mom who is so motivated in this area. When I do turn off the TV, though, I, like your aunt, listen to talk radio. It's almost as addicting as blogging!
What a nice post! I think sometimes I have the same goals you do but let life get in the way and the goals don't stay long. We are walking and I am watching less TV however it is not consistant and that makes me feel like I have not accomplish anything...but like you I still have motivation and desire to do these things...keep it up!
Post a Comment