I’ve at all times written a put up about objectives for the brand new yr on the primary of the yr, however time completely received away from me final month. (I do not like saying “New 12 months’s Resolutions” as a result of it sounds corny, however that is primarily what I do each January.) I truthfully wasn’t even positive what objectives I used to be going to deal with this yr. I prefer to attempt to study from every year–what labored, what did not, why it did not, and so forth.
First, here’s a have a look at how I did on final yr’s objectives…
1. Get my weight again into my upkeep vary of 125-135.
Haha! I am in the identical boat this yr. I did, in actual fact, get again into my upkeep vary and was at about 130 kilos for a very long time till a couple of months ago–I used to be so positive I would discovered the way to keep there. However identical to the tip of 2022, I gained about 15 kilos. I’ve considered altering my upkeep vary, however I simply do not feel bodily comfy when my weight will get to the higher 130’s. I am curious how issues will go this yr.
2. Run 500 miles (cumulative, in fact).
How did I neglect about this one?! I simply checked out final yr’s put up and this was written on there. I truthfully don’t bear in mind writing it. Evidently, I didn’t attain this goal–I solely ran about 78 miles. Nonetheless, I did begin a day by day working behavior and I am at present on a streak of 126 days. I solely run a lap round my block (0.4 miles), however my goal was to construct a day by day behavior. Although I did not hit 500 miles (and even 20% of that, haha), I am very pleased with the behavior I’ve developed.
3. Full one crafting venture monthly.
I could or might not have accomplished this. I do loads of crafting, and I have been particularly into stitching this yr. I did not hold monitor of what I used to be doing by the yr, so I am undecided if I hit this aim.
4. Increase my vocabulary.
I began this one by studying one new phrase every week, however I discovered myself utterly forgetting about it. So, I made a decision to begin studying Spanish on Duolingo as a substitute. I do at the least one lesson a day, and I am on day 221 proper now. It is form of loopy once I consider how a lot I’ve realized in such a short while!
Regardless of not likely hitting these objectives final yr, I’m not even the slightest bit upset about it. The yr 2023 was a loopy yr and never in a great way. Simply surviving was ok for me 😉
I’ve determined to strive a unique strategy with objectives this yr. I am solely going to have ONE aim and I’ll put my deal with that one aim as a substitute of a number of. I feel having a solitary aim will make me extra prone to obtain it. I am nonetheless going to work on different issues, as I at all times am, however I’ve narrowed down my checklist to only one.
Eat extra greens.
So easy! Proper? I have been vegan for nearly two years now and my food regimen has gotten a lot more healthy. Nonetheless, I nonetheless do not eat the really helpful quantity of greens every day. The extra I find out about how food regimen impacts well being, the extra I wish to eat wholesome. And greens are the healthiest meals there may be!
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| It is form of funny–the one vegetable that my whole household likes is Brussels sprouts! |
I do know that the phrase “extra” is not particular, however I wrote it that manner on goal. I do not wish to put a quantity on it as a result of I do not wish to measure out greens or need to hit particular numbers for selection or something like that.
I’ve *actually* favored studying and listening to “How Not To Die” by Dr. Michael Greger. He’s an knowledgeable on vitamin and enthusiastic about utilizing meals to stop and even treatment illness. Sure, these “consultants” are a dime a dozen lately, however one factor that makes him stand out from the remaining: He so badly needs to show individuals about utilizing meals as vitamin that he donates each cent from his e book gross sales and enterprise to charity. His web site is non-profit. He would not have any sponsors or advertisements on his website or something that might counsel a hidden agenda. He is written hundreds of articles with the entire research to again up his analysis. He would not push merchandise and he publishes solely details (backed by analysis). If there was ever an knowledgeable to belief within the food regimen trade, it is him (in my view).
He has an inventory of what he calls the “Each day Dozen”–a guidelines of 12 issues we should always attempt to match into our food regimen every day. It appears overwhelming whenever you see the checklist, however he mentioned to not goal for perfection–it’s only a information to assist make higher decisions. You possibly can truly obtain the app with the checklist–it’s free and there aren’t any advertisements!–but right here is the checklist (it’s best to be capable of click on it to make it larger):
I used to be stunned to see that I already get loads of these issues day-after-day already. The lacking ones are greens! To attempt to get extra veggies this yr, I’ll do my greatest to comply with this guideline for the Each day Dozen. Meaning consuming leafy greens, cruciferous greens, and different greens day by day.
I began engaged on this final week and I am impressed to maintain going. There are loads of greens that I like, however I do not prepare dinner them actually because I am the one one in my home who likes them. Jerry will strive something I make and he by no means ever complains, however I really feel responsible making meals that I “know” he will not like. He is at all times telling me to simply prepare dinner no matter sounds good to me and he’ll eat it. I strive to do that, however I simply really feel too unhealthy.
Dr. Gregor writes about how your tastebuds change as you modify your food regimen (one thing I’ve observed many occasions through the years) and so Jerry and I made a two-week problem for ourselves. It would not sound like a lot of a sacrifice on my half, however I promise you it’s HARD for me–I’ve to prepare dinner meals that sound good to me however that I “know” Jerry will not like. (I put that in quotes as a result of we do not truly know if he’ll prefer it or not.) And in return, he will eat solely complete meals (together with the meals I make) to see if his tastebuds begin to change.
We solely began this yesterday, however it’s been fascinating. Whereas I’ve nervousness over it, Jerry is worked up about it, hahaha. I made candy potato taco bowls yesterday–roasted candy potatoes with black beans and corn, taco seasonings, quinoa with lime, and a spicy cashew cream sauce. It sounded heavenly to me! However I’d by no means have made that as a result of it is under no circumstances one thing Jerry would select.
He has additionally promised to be utterly sincere about what he thinks of the dinners I make. I do not need him to inform me he likes one thing if he actually would not. I used to be very stunned at how a lot he favored the taco bowls yesterday! He mentioned it is one thing he’d undoubtedly eat once more.
The greens that I am enthusiastic about consuming are candy potatoes, cauliflower, and mushrooms. If I can discover a mushroom dish that Jerry likes, I will be so completely happy! I wish to make it clear that this wasn’t my idea–Jerry is definitely fairly enthusiastic about doing this problem.
Anyway, I have been engaged on the day by day dozen (and I really like that I am not striving to have an ideal guidelines day-after-day). It is solely been a few week, however I be ok with it. Possibly by the tip of 2024, I am going to be capable of tick all of the marks on the guidelines!
