Goooooaaallll!

This is a post with just a lot of writing and no pictures- I won't be offended if you bypass it. A lot of it is for me to just get down on to something. Funny how blogging works sometimes..

and on a side note- for those you might be interested it is time again to sign-up for the Bigs and Littles Blogging network partnership again! You might recall I participated in this over the Fall and had a wonderful experience. It is a fantastic way to get to know a new blogger, and build a relationship that can help each of your blogs grow. Sign up here!!

New year, new week, new day. I love the feeling that with a new year it can mean a new start, a new life, a place to take a deep breath and start-over. Start a new job, relationship, health regimen. A way to start a new goal.

I have several goals for this upcoming year. I'm not going to call them resolutions because I don't want to feel as if I'm changing anything but instead striving to create something better. A goal to lose weight might be the same as a resolution to go to the gym more but instead it's putting it on a timeline that will hopefully last more than a week or two. And although both may have the same results and ending, I'd like to think it's different.

Blogging Goals:
As with any blogger I would love to grow this space. See more daily readers or even the occasionally drop-in. I'm going to work on making more of my images pinable and sharable.

I'd also like to focus on my content this year- perhaps to see myself become more of a niche blogger instead of a lifestyle one. Either way this may change in general because if all goes well around this time of year next year I will be gearing up for my long-hike.

Meet more of you! I want to create better relationships with the bloggers I have already started chatting too and while I'm at it start chatting with more of you. I like having this world of friends and acquaintances I can turn to at any time of the day.

Life Goals:
Along with most people I'd like to work on getting a bit more healthy. I had a stress-fracture in my leg this year in running and instead of doing the smart thing and continue to exercise with low-impact alternatives, I became depressed. I stopped working out at all, I ate my feelings and then started a fun cycle of not liking who I was becoming, gaining weight, become upset that this was happening and then eating some more. Ugly mess that I could totally acknowledge was unfolding and felt helpless to stop.  I'm not trying to beat myself up about it but want myself to be more aware of it. Make a more conscious decision when it comes to what I am eating and how I'm spending my time, and I've been cleared to start running again (slowly and at an easy pace) and that is what I'm going to do. Also, I'm still eligible for the marathon this year and kind of feel like I'm doing it no matter what- whether I can run the whole thing or have to drop out half-way, I will cross the start line (and hopefully the finish!)

I want to make better use of my time with my relationships too. With the job I'm currently at it's been hard to make time for the people I love and care about, to make times to go on dates. Every person I've been attempted to create a romantic relationship with in the past few years have falling apart before they even start because I'm scared of the time commitment. But guess what, relationships take time. I know, surprise! So I want to let me myself fall this year- and if that means I need to find a new job than I will, because although money is nice and yes I need it for forever, I also need relationships for forever and right now I think that is what is more important.

I'm a year+ ish away from my big hike and also need to start focusing on that. Spending my extra income on gear, finding a few weekends to take some practice hikes, figuring out how everything works. Start writing companies for sponsorships- it's going to happen, and I'm ecstatic, terrified and ready all at once.


So that is it, for now. I have a whole year ahead of me to start make changes, to work towards goals that have always been there but are now within my reach.

What kind of goals do you have for this year?

FitBit

Last week and this past weekend I went on a bit of a healthy living scheme- not that I ate healthy or anything but I really did some research on ways I can improve my health and my fitness. Before I started this new job, I ran 3-5 times a week- usually before work because I had a lot of time (I didn't go into work until 11:30 or 1 most days). But with this new job, I have to be at work at 7:30 am and starting this summer it may be even earlier. This makes it pretty hard to be motivated to work-out. And on top of that, I get hunger at early hours of the day. When you eat breakfast at 6:45/7 around 9:30/10 you are ready for lunch- ugh.

For awhile last year from spring to the end of summer I had a Jawbone UP band. It was similar to the fitbit- it recorded the steps I took, how I slept at night, I could log in how much water I drank, the calories I ate. That, and along with running, I was doing pretty well in the health/fitness department. I wasn't at the best shape of my life but I felt good about myself and noticed a difference in my clothes. Despite the label of being waterproof though- the UP band quit on my twice! I went ahead and replaced it the first time, but after the second time I just didn't think it was worth it anymore.

look at all these classy colors...

Fast forward to several vacations and the lack of running and unfortunately I'm feeling not as great as I once did- I am really set on trying to find a way to work in more exercise during the workday and get back into some better shape. So I bought a FitBit Flex. Just like the UP band, it tracks my steps each day, my sleeping habits, and it has a way to let me log in water, food or any other important items- you can even set-up a weight loss plan with it.. I also really like that it is wireless and can sync with both  my iphone and my computer.The band is priced pretty well too- you can check out the site here- $99 for the band I bought, plus free shipping. The UP band is now the same and nike fuel band, which is also comparable, is more expensive.

I'm on Day 2 1/2 of the band now - and so far so good, it updates itself frequently and whenever you open the app, which I like. I also set-up the weight-loss part and have been trying my best to log my calories in. You have to tap it to make the sleep part work- which has taking some getting used to, and they don't really give you instructions in the box- everything I need to know I've had to look at online. A little weird, but no serious complaints yet! 

Besides buying the band I went ahead and invested into some yoga DVDs. I really like doing yoga but haven't been great about going consistently. I thought with the DVDs it would be easier to pop one in at work and just bring my mat and leave it, instead of finding a good class time, having to travel there and back and so on. Once June rolls around I have to start marathon training for November and I also like doing yoga run I'm done with a run- I tried to pick some good videos via amazon so I will let you all know how they are! I also just read this great article about incorporating yoga at the end of your hike while doing the Appalachian Trail. You know walk all day, do some yoga and then pass out. If I do the DVDs long enough hopefully the routines will be stuck in my brain for some time.

Does anyone else have a fitbit? Let's be friends- my email address is rjlee2009@gmail.com. I'm hoping all these things will help me get back into a better routine- I know once I actually start going I will be a lot happier!