Goodbye 2013, Hello 2014!

With the new year comes changes!  I've changed my blog and URL to reflect the changes.  I can't do CrossFit any longer (see last post) and I'm not sure if I ever will be able to again, so it's dumb to keep calling this CrossFit Loser.  I miss it and will always love it, but other doors are being opened and I'm not going to hesitate crossing the thresholds.  It's exciting, actually!

So, yeah, I'm doing the trite "year in reflection and goals for the new year" post.  It's my blog and I'll do what I want.  This year has been full of changes.  Some I didn't even see coming and got a little side-swiped by them.  There have been some deaths of friends that still make my heart hurt.  There have been some deaths of friendships that were kind of hurtful, too.  There was the stupid knee surgery that still makes my leg hurt.  And there was the loss of my husband's job due to the plant closing that really terrified me. 

However, I have made new friends that make my heart sing.  I have discovered new ways of getting my calorie burn that makes me feel good.  I'm still dealing with the knee thing and am currently preparing to seek a second opinion to determine if another surgery is necessary.  And my husband ended up with a wonderful, wonderful job that pays WAY more than he was making and has WAY better benefits.  Though there were times that this year seemed really dark, it ended up being a great year overall. 

And now I'm gearing up for an even better 2014. 

After doing a lot of thinking about this, I've decided to set some goals for the new year.  These are not resolutions, but goals that I aim to achieve.  I've been told by several people how stubborn I am and how I can achieve what I put my mind to, but I've not really applied that to weight loss/health.  And it is time to do it and see where I end up.  So without further ado, here are my goals for 2014:

• Hit "onederland" - that beautiful land where my weight begins with a 1 and not a 2.  I have less than 40 lbs to go to get there.  I would love to get there by July 1, but with the potential surgery/recovery, I don't know if that's possible.  I do know that I CAN do this though by the end of the year, so I'm not putting a time limit on myself. 
• Get into a size that does not have an X in front of it.  Since I haven't been thin in my adult life, I do not know what weight on me corresponds with what size.  I'd love to be wearing a size large, or even medium, by the end of the year. 
• Fit into a size 16 pants.  A size 12 or 14 would be incredible, but I'd settle for a 16. 
• Run/walk at least 6 5Ks (races) this year. 
• Finish a 5K in less than 35 minutes.  Current PR is 47:21, previous was 49:06 (Fallen Soldiers 5K @ WIU -- 2013, 2012).  These were both a combination of run/walks...and both done with a torn meniscus in my knee!  LOL  Imagine what I could do with a healed knee!!!
• Complete a 10K (knee willing!) in less than 80 minutes.
• Earn 12 more semester hours toward my master's degree.
• Volunteer to help with planning of the next Fallen Soldiers 5K at WIU.
• Try at least 1 new recipe each month and discuss on here.
• Write in this blog at least once a week to discuss how things are going, good or bad.
• Walk at least 1 mile each day, regardless of the weather.
• Log 100 miles per month - any form of cardio with measurable distance, such as walking, biking, treadmill, elliptical, arc trainer, rower, etc. 

Most of my goals, of course, are health/fitness-related.  To help me achieve those goals I will continue to log my food on MyFitnessPal.com.  I'm currently on a 144-day streak!  I will log my fitness activities on RunKeeper.com (at present...still trying it out and I'm not 100% sold).  For the first 6 weeks of the year, a friend of mine will be working out with me at the Rec Center.  I am buying her a 6-week membership for her recent graduation.  I hope she joins after the 6 weeks are up. I will also be consulting with the dietitian at the local Hy-Vee grocery store.  I need help with food ideas.  My friend has been working with her already, and I like what they are doing.  I need to do it for myself.  I will also be enlisting the help of my family and friends along the way. 

I am SO ready for this!  This is going to be a GREAT year for me!  Just watch!