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Introduction Text 23 February 2020 I'm just going to say ditto to 2019... but lets actually do it this time! Vision Statement for 2019: I want to lose weight because the sedentary lifestyle and eating habits which I currently practice are not helping me reach my goals. I want to enjoy a higher energy level and easier movement and I want to learn to eat mindfully. Within the next year I want to be hiking regularly again, I want to be productive both at home and at work, I want to have routines established that make the ‘work’ part of life easier and quicker and which allow more time for the fun and spontaneous part of life! I am learning to EMBRACE life and lead a healthy lifestyle. I am CREATING an environment in which I can ENJOY my life! I. AM. AMAZING. And I'd venture to guess that if you took the time to examine your own life, you'd discover that YOU are AMAZING too. Thanks for taking the time to learn a little about ME! Quick run-down: When I first created this profile I described myself as "a happily married, full-time student and mother to 4 beautiful, nutty, children." I'm still happily married, no longer a student, my children are becoming adults and our family has grown to include a grand baby and two son-in-laws. The house is not as crowded as it used to be but is oftentimes just as chaotic and noisy. I spend my days looking at maps, and my evenings enjoying things like craft beer and superheroes. I'd like to include more good books, herbal teas, board games and outdoor adventures in my evenings and weekends. December 27, 2017 2017 Has been a huge year of changes for our family. As I focused on things like weddings and grand-babies, the focus on my own self and activities has been minimal. Goals for 2018 include focus on self and doing more of the things I enjoy. April 27, 2015 Have I become a 'Once a Year Sparker?" It's beginning to look that way - Yikes! Lets see if we can make some changes! 3, 2, 1.... Reboot! January 15, 2014 It's taken me 2 years to bring myself full circle - and not in a good way. Health-wise I am back to where I was when I initially began making serious improvements to my eating and exercise habits. That said, I believe I am ready to recreate my success! I have one semester left of school and my hope is that I can work towards my health goals as I complete my courses. One major motivator is the desire to be able to keep up with my classmates this summer during field camp - think 6 weeks of camping and hiking and projects. I'd like NOT to be the 'old' lady who can't keep up with the group. So once again, here we go! November 24, 2012 Unfortunately, I spend much of 2012 undoing many of the accomplishments I had made and habits I had developed in 2011 and 2010. The main culprit was a change in priorities, shifting from my health to completing college. I have another 4 semesters of school left before I graduate and I really need to get a handle on this 'balance' thing. December 27, 2011 In 2011 I realized 2 huge goals. One was to climb my first Fourteener (Mt. Yale) - which was an amazing experience and yet nothing like I'd expected. You can read about it and see pictures here: http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal_individual.asp?blog_id=4450285 The second was returning to school. Again, this came about in an unexpected way! In 2012 my goal is to find a way of continuing to live active, eat well and maintain my school, home and work related obligations/goals as well. April 18, 2011 I completed my first year of 'actively' sparking on April 15th, 2011. You can read my reflections of that first year in this blog post: http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal.asp?id=JRIMM4#4168449 Here is what got me there... when I first began 'sparking' these were my thoughts on my goals and plan... "I've never been one to really line out my goals or even write them down, but I'm here to make changes, so lets give it a try" General Goal: To become a healthier ME! As well as develop and model good lifestyle and habits, in regards to fitness, food, and general activity. Targets: ~ Drink 8 - 8oz glasses of water a day ~ Stay within my set calorie range at least 5 days a week Goals: ~ Cardio exercise a minimum of 20 minutes 3 days a week ~ strength training exercises a minimum of 3 days a week ~ Log a minimum of 300 fitness minutes a week - to include cardio, strength training and other 'fitness' activities ~ Read at least one book each month ~ Make a blog entry at least 1 time each week ~ Identify my excuses and recognize them as they truly are - Challenges to be overcome. My program is to learn as much as I can, about nutrition, exercise, motivation and just about anything else. Just as feeding my body well has the potential to open my mind, so too does feeding my mind open up possibilities and options for me on the physical realm. Specifically: ~ Tracking ~ Blogging ~ Reading ~ Moving" Attitude makes all the difference! January 19, 2011 I admit it, I'm a bit of a 'goal-dodger' and yet, hard as I may try they have snuck their way into my head. Likely a good thing too, I've been neglecting specific goals over the past couple months in favor of philosophizing and generalizing. I think it�s time to refocus, set some goals and again attend to my wellbeing on a physical level. So here it is. **Goals for the beginning of 2011** ~Get to the gym for cardio at least 3 times a week ~Do at least 3 strength-training sessions with the Wii Fit plus each week. ~Get outdoors to walk/hike at least 4 times between now and the end of February, even if it�s just on the Riverfront trail with the family. ~Put together a strength training routine to begin using at the gym in March. ~Research and put together a training plan, complete with goals, both physical and logistical, in order to do a full day (maybe even overnight) backpacking excursion in the fall. ~Work on my writing project at least once a week. ~Inquire after the C25K program � NOT because I particularly want to run, but because it seems like a challenge � one I might like to be able to look back and say �Yeah, I completed that�. No promises, after all it�s just an inquiry. Right? **Targets** ~Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. ~Stay within my calorie range at least 5 days a week. ~Read at least 1 book each month January 2011 After a holiday season of craziness (not suprising, I know) I am looking forward to getting back with the 'program'. It's time to begin living the life I want to live. That goal must begin by identifying those things which are keeping me from doing so already; then by going further and breaking them down into what is beyond my control and what I can begin to change. Here is to an AMAZING year! November 12, 2010 I've finally taken my 'program' to the next level by exercising regularly. The benefits and changes are pretty amazing. The biggest one? I'm ENJOYING it, who'd have thought. I've found that in my crazy, chaotic life, a scheduled exercise routine is more of a hinderence than a help. I exercise at goofy times, sometimes it's first thing in the morning, sometimes it's after everyone else in my home is asleep, other times it's the middle of the day. On a weekly basis you'll find me working out with my Wii in my living room, going to the gym and whenever possible on a long hike. I'm not about to allow this condition we call 'winter' slow me down. July 28, 2010 I'm adding a new goal for August and beyond; to identify my excuses and recognize them as they truly are - Challenges to be overcome. July 7, 2010 I'm taking a good hard look at this idea of goal setting. In order to keep things honest I'm redefining my personal (newly aquired) goal setting technique. I'm setting Targets first, these are thing which I feel have been successful at maintaining and I fully expect to hit most of the time. Then I am setting out my Goals, these are specific items I am working towards and have not yet been successful at either achieving or maintaining to my own satisfaction. My goals are things that require effort, and which are expected to be adjusted and changed as I reach them. For July/August 2010: Targets: ~ Drink 8 - 8oz glasses of water a day ~ Stay within my set calorie range at least 5 days a week Goals: ~ Cardio exercise a minimum of 20 minutes 3 days a week ~ strength training exercises a minimum of 3 days a week ~ Log a minimum of 300 fitness minutes a week - to include cardio, strength training and other 'fitness' activities ~ Read at least one book each month ~ Make a blog entry at least 3 times a week June 24, 2010: After a short break, I'm feeling very good about continuing down this path. While there are certianly rough days, overall it seems to be getting easier and easier. I guess that is what happens when we truly devolop healthy habits. Summertime is proving to be a great opportunity to try new things, and set new goals. For the first time I'm setting just a couple of specific goals: ~ Drink at least 8 - 8oz glasses of water a day ~ Stay within my calorie range at least 5 days a week ~ Log a minimum of 100 fitness minutes a week May 10, 2010: Almost a month has passed and I think I've stuck with this longer than ever before. Past resolutions to eat better and get healthy have been short lived. I've been successful so far at loosing a small amount of weight and making some wonderful diet changes. I can really feel (and taste) the difference all around! Next up is to begin moving a little more! April 15, 2010: I, along with my husband, am trying to make some healthy, positive life changes. I find that if I surround myself, by reading, thinking and writing, about my goals, they are much easier to achieve. This is why I have chosen to create a presense here on SparkPeople.

To do more of the things I enjoy, streamline and minimize the things I don't. To simplify life and embrace routine while still enjoying spontaneity. In a word: Balance - not a stationary thing, but rather a fluid moving entity created by all things necessary and desired in life.

My program is to learn as much as I can, about nutrition, exercise, motivation and just about anything else. Just as feeding my body well has the potential to open my mind, so too does feeding my mind open up possibilities and options for me on the physical realm. Specifically: ~ Tracking ~ Blogging ~ Reading ~ Moving

I have spent most of my life on the Western Slope of Colorado. I've been living in this area again for over 15 years. I moved back after a tour in the Navy and Active Reserves, during which I spent a great deal of time between North Carolina and Northern California. While travel may be 'fun' - I'm so very glad to be home near my extended family.

I strive to remain as eclectic as possible in my interests and activities. Current interests include hiking, geology, cooking, reading, religions, sci-fi/fantasy, video games, parenting/family issues.

Add a Link I am strong and I can climb mountains!
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