Hello to 2020 - Intentions - 1

ugh.  2019 was supposed to be my year to get myself pulled together but instead I've fallen apart even worse.  I want this year to be the year that I really do pull myself together and get healthier.

2020 Intentions -  

Morning pages - I am working on incorporating this into my daily routine.  So far I'm not doing it daily or hitting the 3 page goal, but it is nice to sit in the morning and have some quiet time before the day gets going.

Self contemplation with pulling cards/reading oracle book.  I've been slowly working towards this in 2019 - gathering some mindfulness/intuitive cards and an oracle book to take some time each day to see where I'm at and how I'm feeling. 

Read Simple Abundance every day - I can't recall where I heard about this book but apparently the daily essays help you connect and reflect with yourself and be present.  I was lucky enough to come across a copy in perfect condition at the symphony book sale in the Spring.  I squirreled it away, but after Christmas I tidied up my night table (above) and put it smack dab in the middle so hopefully I will look at every day/most days/some days.

 Getting healthier - more water, more veggies, less sugar.  More moving, less screen time.  More reading, more sleep.

Trying a gentler return to yoga

Caring less about what other people think of me.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's a grand list, I know, but I am really rooting for myself this year.

Intentions for the beginnig of November

You guys, there are less than 2 months left in 2019.  Shall we make the most of them?

Make time to read every day.

Lower my expectations while still moving forward on a positive health and wellness journey.

Be mindful of what I eat and drink.

Work on a movement schedule that includes walking, the gym and yoga.

Intentions for September

Yup, these are coming back.  We are turning a corner now that September is here.  2018 and 2019 so far have kicked my ass, but I am stopping that now and turning this thing around.  Who's with me????

Let's take an inspirational quote pause......

Intentions for September - 

No more Ice Caps.

Man, I just can't cut these things out, even though the give me headaches and make me jittery.  And we won't even discuss the fat, calories and sugar these contain.  But I'm stopping NOW.  No more.

More water.

Exercise everyday.

Between gym and yoga and walking and stretching I want to make sure I am doing something good everyday.

Clean up paper/home office area situation.

I don't even want to talk about how bad this issue is right now.

More reading, less screen time for all 4 of us.

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There we go, a short sweet list to start off the last bit of the year right.

Now let's go do this thing.

Intentions - enough with the sugar already

So, how did I do on my 4 goals last week?

1.  No more ice tea - Not bad!  I had a bit more tea that I thought, but once it was gone, I switched to water and the no sugar no flavor no fun sparkling waters I bought.  HOWEVER, The Mister casually mentioned a few days in that I did indeed have some more tea in the basement.  I lasted another day and then opened it and drank it.  Hey, I can't waste it right????
But - I think I am doing pretty good with this one.

2.  No more ice caps - I am not doing as well with this one.

3.  Portion size - I think this has been going well.

4.  Moving every day - I did well until Thursday and Friday when The Boy and I both got sick.  Getting back on track.

I also tried a "detox tea" recipe I found online, allegedly from Jillian Michaels - where you mix dandelion tea, unsweetened cranberry juice and lemon juice and drink like 2 liters of it a day for 7 days, to lose up to 5 pounds of water weight.  I did that Sunday to Thursday, then missed Friday, Saturday due to illness and Sunday due to not having my shit together, so I will do the last 2 days today and tomorrow to finish my 7 days.

Well, am I down any pounds this week????
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Down 2 pounds!

I am super happy with this as it was a sick/carb heavy weekend.  So, that 2 pounds is probably water weight I will promptly gain back this week.  :)


Goals for the week -

1.  Move the bod.
2.  NO ICE CAPS.
3. Make snacks healthy.
4. Lots of water.

Intentions - get out of this bad weight gain rut

I've put on a lot of weight in the last year and a half and I'm not happy about it.

I'm not happy about it and yet - and yet - I can't quite seem to do anything about it.

My brain has never been wired well to figure out diets - my anxiety slams into overdrive, I can't figure out what to cook for me to lose weight and the family to eat regularly, I get overwhelmed and freeze up.  I want to make changes to the family menu but I don't want to deprive the people who don't have a weight problem, so I eat the same as them and get nowhere.  It sounds silly but I don't know what to do.  I feel stuck.

The biggest culprits for me I think are my age - my metabolism is changing (I'm mid 40's!), snacking due to stress, and sugar.

Sugar is the biggest.

Sugar is BAD.

I am definitely in a one step forward, 2 steps back situation right now.

I want to give up!  But I won't.  So here we go.

I am writing about this here to be accountable.  I've got my current weight written down, and I'm going to list my intentions for the week.  I will be back next Monday and we'll see how I did with these intentions:

1.  No more ice tea.  This is probably my worst habit.  When I gave up drinking I replaced it with ice tea, which sounds pretty good, but I drink a lot of it at home.  A LOT.  This weekend I didn't buy any ice tea when we did the shopping and told The Mister not to pick me up any.  I believe I am drinking the last of it right now - yes, drinking ice tea in the morning is part of my problem.  I am going to focus more on water, and I've also bought a few types of flavored sparking water 0 sugar drinks to try so I don't break down tonight and race to the store for tea.

2.  No more ice caps from Tim Hortons - This is my second worst habit!  I have been using these as a motivation treat the past few months on my way to work.  This is bad for my body and my bank account.

3.  Portion size - I like to think I am pretty reasonable with portion sizes, and sometimes I am, but not enough.

4.  Move this bod every day.  Yoga, walks, some stretching, whatever I can fit in.

OK, those are my 4 things for the week, I don't want to overwhelm myself at the start.

I've got my breakfast and lunch for the day - I bought a protein smoothie powder at the health food store yesterday so I'm going to have that for breakfast, and I've got some plain greek yogurt and berries for a snack, some leftover pasta for lunch (not the best choice but it has to be eaten and it's a small portion) with some veg, and an apple for a snack.

I do have to run to a store downtown today for an errand, so another challenge will be not picking up a "treat" snack for myself.  Can I leave the store with only the one thing I am going there for?

I'm doing this thing.  Send me some good thoughts.

Intentions for July - Happy Canada Day!

 Happy Canada Day Y'all! 
I hope you are having safe fun out there.

Enjoy our beautiful country and be nice to everyone.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

My God I cannot believe it's July.  Where is this year going?
I feel like I have been totally off the rails for the last long while - a year or more?  Life seems ok on the surface but I am struggling with everything.  I need to get back on track.  I WANT to get back on track.  But I don't know how.  Maybe starting back with intentions and the journal will help?

Intentions for July -

Move, every day.
I haven't been doing too badly with this the last little while.  I joined the Global Challenge with my work mates and it started at the end of May.  We all got step counters, which was good as my not very old Fit Bit bit it back yonder and I was mad at how NOT long it lasted so I didn't replace it.  I find the challenge very motivating and I look forward to entering my activities every morning.  So far it hasn't led to any sort of weight loss but that might also be because I need to -

Stop snacking.
Seriously.  Stop it.

Drink more water.


Get back on the yoga train.
I took a very long hiatus from yoga due to issues and I started back a few months ago.  While I am thrilled to be back to taking classes, I have not gained back enough strength and confidence nor lost any pounds to get me back to the (slightly) harder classes that I used to take and loved.  I want to get back to there.


Less time on the computer/phone, more time reading.


Be positive.  Be kind.  Be strong.

Too much

“Until he extends the circle of his compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace.” ―Albert Schweitzer 

These weeks and months have done me in.  

So much hate, anger, intolerance, cruelty, devastation.

Indifference.   

Why?  When will it end?  

This is not the world I wish for my children.  

For anyone.  

Believe there is good in the world.

Be the good.

Be it.

Be compassionate, be kind, be caring, be strong,  

be supportive, be a voice, be a shelter from the storm.

Be love.

Intentions for April

How things went in March:

Yoga every day again.  Nope!  Not even close.

Drink lots of Water - Not bad.

Eat more veggies and fruits - Hmmmm, not sure I could call this one a victory.

Read with The Boy every night - doing well until sickness and Spring Break showed up.


Gosh these intentions are really just a list of things I haven't done well.

Intentions for April -

Focus on health - I am still hovering around the 7-8 pound gain.  I know I'm eating more poorly due to stress.  I need to cut it out.

Yoga daily- this is a goal I keep setting and failing at but I know how much better I feel when I practice.

Family walks - Spring has spring, babies.  Let's get out there.

Intentions for March

How things went in February

Not well, actually.  I've been back at work for 2 months and everything seems like a struggle.  There is never enough time in the day to do what I need to do, much less what I want to do.  I'm exhausted all the time and I've gained 8 pounds.

Yoga and walking every day - This has suffered a lot.  I'm taking my 2 classes a week at the studio, but most weeks that's been it.  I need to fine some inspiration and new energy for my practice.  And walking?  Nope.

Reading - nope.

Menu planning - ugh.  I have lost all interest in food, cooking and planning.  I'm starting to resent even having to do it.  Not a place I want to be or ever thought I would be.

Say Thank You to the Mister - not enough.

I'm feeling like I've lost sight of what my plan was for intention setting, so I also went back and looked at my January intentions - 

Yoga every day - nope.

Drink lots of water - ha!  Next.

Use my Fitbit - I don't even know where it is since I changed the battery.

Keep Calm - nope nope nope.

So! Back to basics.  Focus on family and health this month (not that my family isn't always my main focus anyway.....)

Intentions for March -

Yoga every day again.  Even if it's just a few poses or stretches.

Drink lots of Water

Eat more veggies and fruits

Read with The Boy every night

Intentions for February

How things went in January:

Yoga every day - pretty well.  I have definitely come to rely on my practice to bring some peace and calm to my mind and life.  I went for a few days without practicing mid month, and was ready to "remove my skin and throw it at someone" as I so charmingly shared with The Mister.

Lots of water - during the day, I'm pretty good.  At home, no.

Use my Fitbit - I FOUND my fitbit.  So that's a start.....

Keep calm - hmmmmm.


For this month -

Yoga and walking every day.

Reading.  More.  Do it.  I have a big pile of books to read, but I don't actually have much interest in those particular books.  Boo.

Menu planning  _ I have totally fallen apart on this.  I need to make a plan for the week every weekend, and stick to it.

Say Thank You to The Mister, every day.  The man is a saint, and deserves the moon.  Instead, he got stuck with me.

Intentions for January

How things went in December:

Yoga every day -  Success.  I've taken classes 2-3 times a week, and done something at home every other day - some days just a savasana, or deep breathing, some days 10-15 minutes of poses, some days, although not enough - an hour or more.  I also learned the Wild Thing pose.  That made me feel so confidant.  Currently working on Crow Pose.  Not going as well.

Drink more water -  Meh.  Not as great as I wanted. 

Drink more smoothies -  Ha.  A complete failure.  I think I had 2 the whole month.

Read every day - Definitely better.  It can be hard to read with small children around, so I do my best.

Be grateful -  Not enough.

Be kind -  Not enough.



What I'm hoping to work on this month:

Yoga every day.

Water, water, water.

Dust off my fit bit  - somewhere I've got a basic one that counts steps and syncs with my computer to track it for me.  I've been meaning all year to look for it. 

Keep calm - I'm heading back to work this month.  :(
This is going to be upsetting and sad and stressful and tiring.
Here's hoping I don't completely fall apart.

Intentions for December

This is what I'm hoping to work on this month:

Yoga every day - I've been practicing yoga in classes between 1 and 3 times a week for almost 3 months now, well, once a week for 2 months, then 2-3 times a week for the past month.  I've been trying to establish a home routine for the past few weeks, mostly unsuccessfully so far.  Between classes and home, I want to practice every day, even if it's only a handful of stolen moments when the children can't find me.

Drink more water - I used to be really good at this, but not so much the past few months.  Being hydrated.  So important. 

Drink smoothies a minimum of twice a week - another thing I used to be good at. 

Reading every day - and not blogs or facebook either.  Books.  Real live books.

Be grateful.

Be kind.