2024 - Another Chance To Get It Right

It's the start of a new year, so it seemed like a good time to start a new blog. 2023 didn't go the way I planned and I want to leave all that negativity behind. This is yet another fresh start.

I don't yet have an exact date, but the goal is to restart my diet and exercise program in January. I'm tentatively hoping to start on 1-8 but a lot depends on how I'm feeling. I've been able to be up and around more since yesterday, so I'm hoping this respiratory illness is on the way out !

Yesterday I managed to finally wash all the dishes that have been hanging around since Thanksgiving. There wasn't a lot - mostly plasticware that I hand wash and I'd been procrastinating for weeks ! I put all of that away today. I ran the dishwasher on Monday and put all that stuff away yesterday. It feels good to have that job out of the way ! I also cleaned litter boxes on Monday. Getting the big stuff done allows me to move forward with some of the little stuff and to make a better effort at keeping up with everything. Today I did 3 loads of laundry and it felt good to have that done. Tomorrow I want to change all the coverings on the furniture and vacuum the carpet. 

The picture in today's post is really something I need to live by, because I tend to let things go until it feels overwhelming and then I can't get anything done. The key is NOT to let that happen, but this photo is a reminder to just do something. It sounds easy but for me it's really hard sometimes. Many times I don't publish a blog because it's not "finished".

It's not going to be easy jumping back into Nutrisystem mode. When I got sick I was living on soup but once I felt a bit better I made an Instacart order of all my junk food favorites. Once I was well enough to shop myself, I continued that behavior. I also bought some stuff for New Year's Eve as I expected to be home alone. Well, that changed and now I'm left to consume what I bought. Chips are gone but dip is lingering. That will likely end up in the trash. I have a box of cocktail weenies in puff pastry (32 pieces) and a box of potato skins. I also have some frozen mac & cheese and some of my chicken/mashed potatoes/corn/gravy bowls. The egg rolls I bought are gone. I also have some ice cream and about 12 bottles of soda. This will likely not all be gone by Monday, so the plan will be moderation. I don't really have a taste for candy right now, but that is likely because the soda is providing my sugar fix. I don't have a taste for cookies either. I have to decide what to do with what is left of the tin of butter cookies I bought. I'm thinking trash. I don't have much of a taste for coffee right now either. I can't even finish a cup most days. This will likely change once I'm 100% better.

Beginning to exercise again is going to be hard as well, but my plan is to just take it slow and easy. Walking at 2.5 mph is better than sitting on the couch ! I feel like I'm heading in the right direction and I feel like my mind and body are close to being on the same page again. I plan to take a full body photo on 1-8 even if I don't "officially" restart my diet that day. Ideally I'd like to take a daily photo, but that's a big commitment. So I'll just plan on taking one as frequently as I can.

After being sick for over 3 weeks it feels good to have the house starting to look nicer ! I still have stuff from vacation to put away but I plan to work on that this weekend while I'm taking down the tree and putting all the holiday decorations away. Getting the kitchen clean was a huge hurdle and once that was done I felt like I could handle the rest. The goal for this weekend is to have it all done, which is ambitious. I also need to give my feet a spa treatment. They're calling for snow this weekend so it'll be good to just stay home ! I don't really need anything urgently from the store. I will need veggies but that can wait until the following weekend.

So that is where I am today.