Some of my goals - short and long

It was in early July when I saw the classifed ad on the hospital's website of a person (turned out to be a nurse moving back east) who wanted to transfer her membership at a local gym in the NW area of Calgary. The last "Health" I had to begin to work on was my physical health, so I took that leap forward. For $34 per month I have full access to the gym's facilities which is split into Co-Ed and Females Only sections (I am in the latter). I knew that if I wanted to succeed in this new challenge I had to start on the right foot - and for me that was hiring a personal trainer. Yes it cost money - but if you put it into prospective as you are putting your money towards an investment - YOU!!! There really is no question what to do. I met my trainer Jude - a nurse background with a degree in kinesology as well. We hit it off right away - she is very encouraging and once we got comfortable with each other - she pushes pass that comfortable limit to make you sweat.

From our first meeting, I shared some of my goals both short and long term that I want to see with this new lifestyle change (transformation). Like I said in my last entry - here are some of those goals:

Short term:

• Work with a personal trainer - COMPLETED!
• Feel more comfortable in the gym/exercise enviroment - Definitely getting better
• Learn & grow in exercise knowledge - Found a few muscles I didn't know I had (haha)
• Improve diet - decrease pop intake (down to 3 per week instead of per day!) and increase water intake (now drink 3L per day, well at least M-F when I am working)
• Have dietting and regular exercise be A PART of my life NOT BE MY LIFE!!! - Each day is getting better but slips do happen (old habits and all)
• Feel comfortable in cinema seats - COMPLETED!! For the first time in 2 years, my hips did not feel cramped from the seats at the cinema theatre around the block from my house. That was a good feeling.

Within a year:

• Lose 70-80 lbs (have lost 17bs as of Oct 22, 2007)
• Go from Size 28 to Size 22
• Summer 2008 - be able to hike Johnston Canyon feeling less breathless and taking fewer stops to catch my breath; hike the 6 Plains Glacier to the Lake Louise Tea House (13.5km); and try to take more advantages of Alberta's hiking trails.
• Go to Kyzyl, Tuva, Russia (province of Siberia) to visit David and Erin and their children
• Don't have to ask for a seat belt extension when I fly

Long Term:
Improve my health to enjoy a fuller life with fewer limitations that obesity provides
To reach that ultimate goal weight - lose between 170 to 180 lbs

Rewiring one's brain on such a huge change in a person's lifestyle is definitely not easy. I have seen this show "X-weighted" and the trainer Paul in the beginning of the episode comes to your house and goes through your pantry and closets and have you dump out the foods that are bad for you. Inspired - I did that purge a couple of weeks ago. I must admit it was a good feeling - it was like a release as the person to benefit is myself. The other huge thing I have in my favour this time around in the "Dietting Game" - I have a great support system here in Alberta as well as family and friends abroad. I think this will be a major key in my success in this step positive to improve my health.