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Twenty-six weeks into the year, where am I and how did I get there?

As the year progresses and my goals move in and out of focus, I rarely check back on the direction I set at the beginning of the year.  I'm not talking New Year's resolutions but a general concept of where I wanted to be the following December.  I usually wait to review this when I'm setting the next year's intentions.   But now is a great time to take a moment to look at where I am and see if I like the direction I've come and if I want to continue on that path.

My new's resolution was an attitude of 'it's all good' meaning that if things didn't happen as planned or desired, there was still something positive that I could take away.  That motto has definitely been used in good stead this year.  'Cause a lot of unplanned happenings happened.

I didn't have any 2011 goals around my weight journey other than the 10 year goals I had set the year before -- Walking Strong & Joy in the Journey.  I hoped that I would get  back  to my healthy goal weight and stay there, but I didn't establish any useful plans to make it happen.    

So where am I on that "hope"?  I've been playing with the same 5 pounds that I started with 6 months ago; I've been up and down and still haven't touched my goal weight.  I've kept my steps up but I haven't gone back to a regular yoga practice or even routine walking.  Life has been happening and I haven't been doing what I know will work -- walking, strength and flexibility exercises a couple of times a week, keeping portion sizes to what my body needs rather than what my emotions want, taking time for me to relax and rest, and being aware of my choices. 

But darn it,  I have come a long way from where I started.  Sure I have 5 pounds to lose to get to my healthier weight, but 5 is a lot different than 75.  I am more aware of my choices, I am moving more, I'm watching a lot less TV and on a low activity day, I'm getting 5000 steps in when I used to get 2000 or less.  So looking back on the first half of 2011, I may not have done as much as I had hoped, but the fact that I haven't given in and given up and the fact that I'm working on my 5th year at being in my healthy weight range is actually HUGE.  So I'm exactly where I want to be -- continuing the journey to live each day healthier than I was in 2005. 

Look back at your January 2011 journal entries or wherever you may have jotted down your goals, intentions or wishes for the year.  Check back and see if those still apply and if they do, what are you willing to do to move towards them.  If they don't then just let them go with no guilt or judgment. 

 ~~~ Where's Shawndra This Week? ~~~

Check out my Saturday morning Weight Watchers® meeting in Hilo for free.  We open at 8:30 and the meeting starts at 9 am.  29 Shipman St, #101, Hilo.  Behind Koehnens (entrance is in the alley).  

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