My Weight Loss and Fitness Goals for December
If you were a follower of my Weigh, Lose or Stay feature, you will know that I have been on a mission to lose weight, but of late I have faltered somewhat. I’m approximately two stone down, I was nearing 2.5 stone, but have gained a few pounds. I keep trying to restart my diet, but ultimately failing.
I have talked to a couple of confidents about this as I have been despairing at my willpower and they have made me think about it another way. In the last few months we have had a lot big changes going on. My husband has started a new job, travelled to the States with work, leaving me to care for the children for two weeks. As expected this caused a lot of upset for my son (see Coping when Daddy Travels with Work), during which we also all fell ill and our sleep fell to pot. This week my daughter is poorly and is not settling well, some days she has just wanted Mummy to sit down and hold her. I have also been having a lot of problems with my back, so much so that on some days I have quite literally been hobbling, it seems better now, I just need to take it easy.
When I look at things putting this into perspective, it is perhaps more understandable as to why I have been struggling. When things are tricky, I’ll be honest I just want to eat proper food and comforting food too. But in many ways I am not helping myself by doing this either. Overall, I feel like I need a break from ‘dieting’, but at same time I don’t want to lose what I have been trying to achieve.
So, I have decided to set myself some goals for December, to ensure I look after myself through the festive period and ultimately do not come derailed. It would be so easy to put a stone on over Christmas, so easy, and I do not want that to happen.
So here are my December goals:
- Maintain my weight, to lose some would be awesome – but I am going to work hard to not gain any at all.
- Exercise – I had got into a good habit with this doing it 2/3 times a week. But with my busy routine and then my back it just fell away. So my goal through December is at least once a week, even if it’s just yoga if my back is bad. More would be better, but a minimum of one workout session might be more realistic.
- Drink…. Not alcohol, but I am sure some of that will be happening too. I know when my diet is falling to pot, one of the first signs is that I’m not drinking enough. So I need to focus on lots of water. Often we think we’re hungry when we’re actually thirsty. So lots of water helps to curb this.
- Weigh myself every week, this will help keep me on the straight and narrow. And do something about it if I’m seeing a number I don’t like.
Anyone else have any tips for staying on course over the festive period?
They’re great goals Laura, very realistic for a time of year that has temptation thrown in your face at every opportunity! Drinking plenty is also something I need to start doing (well apart from wine haha!) I hardly drink any water at all! Good luck! And keep us updated about how you’re getting on xx
Thanks Clare, yes I have a water counter app on my phone and I am trying to use it.
Best of luck in December Laura 🙂 I don’t think I drink enough either, I keep meaning to but then forget!
Gemma xx
December is not a great month for weight management but I really hope I manage to maintain – thanks Gemma x
I think the key is to not diet but instead make a lifestyle change. I personally try to focus on moderation throughout the week and I do give myself 2 cheat days (usually Wednesday and Sunday). Pairing this with working out 4-5 times a week allows me to live a healthy lifestyle without depriving myself. Also, try not to get caught up in the number game as weight is not everything. Sometimes you can measure your success by the way your jeans fit or how your body feels. Congratulations on the strides you have made so far and keep up the good work 🙂
Thank you Cara – I am super impressed with your fitness I am not sure I could manage 4/5 workouts a week, but I definitely need to increase my levels of activity. Thanks for commenting x
I definitely find when there are a lot of stresses, weight is so hard to keep off. I also find it so hard to exercise when you have so many blog deadlines and life issues. These sound like really attainable goals though. I love the new linky, I think I’m going to join in. It need motivation to help me tone up more! xx
Thank you Chloe, please do join in and yes life pressures do make managing your weight and dieting really hard.
I think it is a good decision to give yourself more realistic goals, much better than telling yourself you can stick to the diet this week and work out three times, and being disappointed when it doesn’t happen. Sometimes there is so much going on that a strict diet is just one straw too many on the camels back. When things are like that, if I try to reach unrealistic goals the inevitable disappointment is likely to make me abandon the diet – doing what you are doing will help you to avoid this, so you don’t undo the great weight loss you have already achieved. You have done brilliantly so far, and marking time for a while will not alter the final outcome.
Thanks Hilary, it’s certainly a roller coaster I have to admit, but I will get there as i want to be healthy for myself and my children
I’m struggling too Laura. I just kickstarted some weight loss with soups all week but then with my birthday meal its back on lol! it’s not easy! – maintenance is sometimes a good option!
angela
Yes Angela, it isn’t always easy is it? Maintenance is better than gain. I hope your diet is going well xx
I think it is quite a hard time of the year to stay healthy and feel good. I always find that November and December can be a bit of a challenge for me weight and health wise. There is so much going on and so much temptation. Be kind to yourself!
Thanks Sarah, yes there is food everywhere isn’t there? Yummy food at that.
They seem like great goals and achievable ones too. I haven’t been happy for the last couple of months and so I have focused too much on food. I now have more weight to shift! x
Aww I feel for you, it is very easy to happen when you are not happy. I hope you feel happier and things are easier soon x
Good luck! The Christmas period is always the worst! It’s just so hard to find motivation to exercise when you’re busy and these cold, wet days are not helping are they?! xx
Thank you it’s a tricky time of year isn’t it? I just don’t want to undo all of my hard work.
It’s such a hard time of year to keep the motivation going, isn’t it? And with everything that’s been going on recently it’s hardly surprising that weightloss became less of a priority. But wow, 2 stone! That’s amazing! It sounds as though you’ve got a great plan to keep things on track in December too 🙂 xx
Thank you Helen that’s really kind 🙂
It’s great to make goals now Laura, before the damage is done over the festive period. Make them as specific as you can (SMART goals).
I try visualise what life will be like when I reach my goal, and make it as vivid as possible, it keeps me focused on my plan.
Imagine you have lost the weight and you’re happy with how you look, you are exercising regularly and eating healthy real food and this lifestyle means you never have to worry about becoming overweight again.
How do you feel? How would this change your life? How would it change the lives of your children?
See if this can give you the motivation to stick with your plan.
Taking a break from dieting until after Christmas may be a good idea, but from what I have read you seem to be good at dieting, you make it work. It seems to be after the diet stops and you go back to ‘normal’ when things go wrong and you put on weight, so maybe it’s your ‘normal’ that needs addressing, what you return to after the diet.
When I work with my weight loss clients the first thing we do is establish a new normal, a nutrition and exercise plan for life, and only when this feels like normal do we work on things to accelerate weight loss, it takes a little longer but has lasting results.
I hope this gives you some ideas to work with, keep up the good work and keep on inspiring others.
Andy @rhealthyparents
Hi Andy thank you for your insightful reply, it is much appreciated and I think you’re right, I can diet and when my head is in it, I am home free, it is ‘normal’ as you put it when I struggle and find it hard to say no to the lovely treats. I need to find the balance of both worlds. Thanks for your tips too, definitely food for thought.
I need to do this! – the festive season always leaves me feeling sluggish because I don’t exercise nearly enough! I might do some exercise goals too for the holidays! Thanks for sharing and hosting #MeMyselfandI
You’re welcome Charlotte I look forward to reading about how you do 🙂
Some great goals to finish the year with and a fantastic weight loss so far! 🙂 You will do it chick, you seem motivated to finish the year in style! I’m going all out this week in order to feel less guilty over enjoying Christmas! Sim x #MeMyselfandI #WeightLossWednesday x
I actually changed my mind a little bit and have been really strict this week as a hope of losing some more weight before the festivities begin. So it looks like great minds think alike 😉
My biggest goal is just to drink more water/liquid (no calorie liquid)! I have a huge problem when it comes to drinking and I am always dehydrated!
Yes I really need to focus on it or I just don’t drink enough
It’s hard to focus during the festive period but you sound very determine. I look forward to reading about how you got on #memyselfandi
I think the things you covered through the post are quiet impressive, good job and great efforts. I found it very interesting and enjoyed reading all of it…keep it up, lovely job..@Laura!!