Goal Getter

I have spent a lot of time over the last two weeks thinking about what sort of goals I wanted to set for myself in 2018; this morning I spent some time writing them down and sharing them with some close friends.

Most of them are a continuation from 2017; which is fine!
I have a few that are big and scary and honestly, I had a hard time writing them down LOL

Some people say "keep quiet about your goals and go smash them" and some people say "Put it all out there so others can help you along the way"

I am of both schools:
There are some goals that I want people to help keep me accountable for and there are others that I want to quietly work on on my own.

I found this and found it interesting: 

When we set our goals for the new year (our Resolutions) we have to look behind us at what we have accomplished thus far, troubles we may be having, but also look forward to what we want to accomplish in the year ahead. 

That being said: my goals include:
*Keep with my meal plan and prep. Try to eat "on plan" 80% of the time
*DRINK WATER ... this is where I fail a LOT
*Keep at it in the gym: track and set PRs on my lifts
*Lose another 20-25 pounds
*Keep up with this blog
*Add in more cardio!

I've had to think about this.
One day of poor eating will not undo the work that I have done.
Likewise, one great day of eating will not get me to my goals. 

Thinking about this also.
Not that I have lost people necessarily.
BUT that I am learning who I am and what/who is important to me.
And brings me to this: 

Over the course of 2017, I had a LOT of people question what I was doing. Not just with my diet and exercise, but relationships, friendships, career and extra-curricular.
And I've had to learn to be okay with the fact that I am doing what's best for me.
That people can question what I'm doing, they can offer criticism and advice, but I have to do what I feel is right in my gut and heart. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This week was back-to-school. And let me tell you, I was EXHAUSTED after Tuesday.
BUT... Thursday...

We got a surprise Early Out and we were all SO excited!
(For ice that really didn't show up) 

And then Friday was a Jeans Day/Pay Day... not much better than that!

Yesterday the new Healthy U class did their evaluations and we went in for final blood work. The three of us "winners" also got our prizes: I got the Bodyworks package with a massage, facial peel, manicure, and an over-the-sink colander, veggie spiralizer, fit chair, and meal prep containers. It's a pretty awesome package and I'm so glad I was able to get it! 

I hope everyone has a blessed week, filled with goal setting and consistency <3 

"The End"

So... I haven't posted a real post for a little bit; but today you get to see it all!
That is, all of the great photos and stats from our final evaluations, and our Night of Inspiration!

I told myself that the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and then between Christmas and New Years/Night of Inspiration, my goal would be to not gain, and maintain.
In the past, I wouldn't have paid any attention to the scale- and therefore, I don't know how much I would gain over the holidays, but it's safe to say that it was always a gain...

So, that being said, I totally attained that goal and more.
Let me take you through some of my favorite stats about myself from this year:

Weight:
Beginning (from my first physical with my doctor): 242.6 lbs
"Ending" (at Night of Inspiration): 177.6 lbs
Total loss: 65 lbs

Measurements: 
Chest: 39.5" to 33.5" (Loss of 6")
Bust: 46.5" to 37" (Loss of 9.5")
Waist: 42" to 28.75" (Loss of 13.25")
Hips: 49.25" to 38.5" (Loss of 10.75")
**And these make me almost a "perfect" hourglass shape!**
Belly: 49.5" to 36" (Loss of 13.5")
Total Inches Lost (on 14 measurement points): 74.5"

My BMR dropped by 88%
(that's your resting metabolic rate- what it takes just to keep you alive)

My BMI dropped from 40.6 to 30.8

Fitness: 
I increased in every area we measure ... sit-ups, full pushups, wall pushups, knee pushups, chair sits, 8-feet up & go... my flexibility greatly improved (most proud of that back-scratch!)

But I am most happy with my half-mile time.
Beginning: 7 min 33 seconds
Now: 4 min 50 seconds

Blood Pressure: 
Beginning: 129/87
Now: 118/76

Pulse:
Beginning: 93
Now: 74

So, we did all of that for our final evaluations night, and then at the Night of Inspiration we weighed again for our final weight.

Let me go on to tell you about Night of Inspiration.
I left school and went home to shower really quickly. Then I went and got my hair done:

The girls kept saying "You have Belle hair!!" I do love my hair, and I'm so glad I have people in my life who can do it for me because I'm helpless when it comes to making my hair look good haha 

So after we weighed, we got to eat. And then we had some time to just hang out with each other:

Me, Carol and Lisa: The school teachers

Stephanie, me, Lisa and Rachel

The whole group!

Myself and Stephanie... we get mistaken for sisters A LOT! Love this girl - hoping next year during Messiah I don't make too many mistakes in your ear!

With full hair and make-up done.
What would this be without a few selfies??

The full-view of the dress
GAH! I LOVE it!

Totally dressed selfie ;)

I am so thankful that I got to meet this guy!
Such a man of integrity and just all around awesome ;)

Tisha the ROCK STAR!

We got to walk across the stage and receive our awards. We gave each other superlatives, and I got "Over-Achiever"

All the words that my group used to describe me...

As we walked across the stage for our HU certificates, big photos of our before/after were up on the screen!

Woo!

At the end, they gave out awards for the year.
Lucas won for most improved flexibility.
Tisha won for most improved (lowered) BMR, most inches lost and most weight lost.
And I won the award of "Student of the Year"
I am extremely proud and happy with this picture!
Front page of the paper, baby!

Afterwards, the stage got crowded as people STORMED the stage (that's how it seemed) But here are the women of Healthy U 2017 ... the crowns were just something funny we thought we would do...

Myself and my Nutrition/Fitness mentor, Sandra Fisher. I couldn't have had the success I did without hear guidance!

The whole gang!

Sandra and myself again :)

Sandra's three girls: Myself, Emily, Stephanie

Afterwards, I went to dinner with my family to El Tapatio.

It was 8:00, so they were close to closing and nobody was there.
My family went over early and got a table, I had to hang around at NOI a little longer-- When I walked in they all started clapping. It was sweet! And confused the waiters LOL

Myself and my cousin Shelby

Me and my mom. 

My grandma and me

I accidentally forgot to get a picture with Sarah at the restaurant, so I had to go over to my grandma's to get one with her.

The Night of Inspiration was a WONDERFUL experience, and I will be going for as long as they have it. When I first found out that was the name of this event, I thought "how cheesy," but now I get it: it really is the best night filled with inspiring stories and positivity!

I've told everybody that the Night of Inspiration felt like Prom night: I stayed up way too late looking at pictures on Facebook, reading comments, I went to bed with my hair still done and my make-up still on.

The next day we had Professional Development at school.

Carol and I JUST HAPPENED to be the last people to get into the Library for our meeting and when we walked in, everyone stood up and clapped for it: it was pretty cool!
They also signed a poster for us...

I also wore my Healthy U t-shirt (a size smaller) on Friday!

Then, after school, I drove to Centralia to go make sausage with my friends... this is the third year that we have done this together and here's what it looks like:

Friday night we break down all the Pork Butts (which is really pig shoulder, if you were unaware) and weight it out for what the different kinds will be the next day...

Then it gets seasoned

And then ground, and then seasoned again depending on what type of brat it will be made into, we make about 8 different kinds.

Cheddar brats are always good!

Then everything gets linked - or put into bulk bags, and then weighed and portioned out to who ordered what! We did close to 1,000 pounds of sausage this weekend!

These are my girls!! I love them so much!
They have shown me unconditional, unwavering support throughout this year, before this year, and will forever, I know!

THEN after I got back into town (and the Chiefs lost terribly) I got a message that this girl had made her presence known: 

Tenley Noelle

Don't pay attention to how gross I look, I warned them I looked like a homeless person... but I got to meet her. She's a DOLL! We will be friends for sure!

Sandra sent me this picture. The left is January 2017. The right is January 2018. I notice sooooo many differences. Plus. That dress 😍😍😍😍

I plan to keep up with my blog:
Tips and things I learned along the way.
Things that are good to be reminded of.
And my goals...
I haven't quite settled on what I want my goals to be for 2018; but I'm getting there. I know I will set them, and I know I will reach them. My weight at NOI was only 2 pounds away from where I wanted it to be, so I'm happy with that.

Stay Tuned.