There are only two days left in 2014.
Last year, I said my goals were to lose 80 pounds, get my ACSM or Zumba instructor cert, make 5 new friends and I think something like a handstand? well, I got way more than that this year. I didn't lose 80 pounds, but I did do 3 weightlifting meets and even got a medal at one (I'll probably be talking about that for the rest of my life...so go ahead and get used to it). I didn't get my ACSM or Zumba certifications, but I did make more than 5 new friends. I've gotten more comfortable introducing myself to people that I don't know, and not automatically assuming that people are judging me from the word "hello." I've learned SO much about the sport I never expected to love this much. There's just something about having a barbell in your hands that makes you feel like you can do anything. Pair that with a gym environment that encourages intelligent conversation and hard work with people who are some of the smartest people I've ever talked to...well. It's a really good thing. It's something that I look forward to being able to do. I might not be anywhere near as good as I want to be, but I'll get there. I didn't snatch 40 kilos before the end of the year like I wanted to, but I did clean and jerk 40, and even power cleaned 51!
I want to lose more weight this year and I'm actively working on it. I've been following weight watchers and I created a rewards system for myself. I made a list of 5 goals for the week and assigned them point values, and if I get 25 points in a week I'm going to reward myself with something like a new Fitbit bracelet or a new pair of workout pants. It may seem silly, because losing weight IS a reward for the work I put in, but when you're facing a monumental task like losing another 125 pounds... well I'll be honest, sometimes you just want to say fuck this shit. I've tried that route for a little while and it's not the best way to go about things, I'll tell you that. Every single time I've said "fuck this, I don't care", a few hours later I did care. I've learned it's better to take things a little bit at a time instead of looking at the big picture. One meal at a time, and some days it's even one bite at a time. My sweet friend Lindsay suggested making a game out of making good choices. Try to make one more good choice than you did the day before. I made 3 today, so tomorrow I'll make 4. If I don't do well? I start over and try again. It's taken me almost 3 years to lose 100 pounds, and I follow a girl on Instagram who lost more than that in half the time. You know what though? no two people are alike or have the same struggles. Patience is the name of the game for me, and if you've known me for any length of time you know that's not my strong suit though. Nick told everyone to start watching a small pot of water boil every day. The only rule is that you can't take your eyes off the pot of water. Your mind can wander, but your eyes can't. Brain training, he calls it. He did warn us and say that people have anxiety attacks because you think the water is never going to boil. He was right about that, the first time I tried it I thought there was something wrong with my stove. In reality, It was less than 4 minutes from start to finish but it felt like forever. Patience can be taught, and I will learn to be more patient this year. Also, maybe one of my goals will be to actually pronounce words like "boil" correctly, because right now I leave out the "i" and it sounds like "ol"...you can take the girl out of Madison County, but you can't take the Madison County out of the girl, I guess.
Speaking of learning, this was the year of all the new things. I moved out of my mom's house and moved to Asheville with a girl I met on craigslist. I thought things just didn't work out when I had to move back home about 3 months in. I was home for maybe 10 days before my old landlord called and said the apartment was available for rent and this time, I got to move in with my sister. I've learned how to manage money and when trash day is. I've traded in a car and gotten a new one all on my own. I can do my own laundry, cook my own food and with a little help from my friends, I can redecorate my bedroom on a budget. I can do more than I thought possible, that's for sure.
2014 has been a really good year, and I expect 2015 will be even better.
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