New Year, New Goals

It's January 2010 and it's time to make some goals, as well as changes.
This year, first and foremost, I want to lose the last 4 pounds and hit my FIFTY POUND MARK! I did not come this far on my journey to stop now. Since the beginning of this new lifestyle for myself, I had goals. But I didn't realize how big they were until I dropped the first dress size. I was not only thinner, I was feeling SO MUCH BETTER. I was finally putting MYSELF in my priorities. I always was worth it, but I didn't see that. My journey doesn't end. Since joining Gold's Gym last January, I've become a total gym rat. I tested to certify to teach MY OWN aerobics classes. I should be hearing back this week or next from AFAA with my test results and/or my certification. I want to "pass it along" and help OTHERS to their weight-loss and fitness goals. 
Two weeks ago, my mom and I went shopping and I tried on my first size 10 dress pants (my first size 10 since jr. high) and they zipped and FIT PERFECTLY. NOTHING feels better than to feel good and see those results from the hours you've put in. Sweat equity. I'M A SIZE MEDIUM??!
I wore them for the first time to school again today and there was definitely something new in my step. I walked confidently. I smiled more. I had my own little secret of my dropped size. I think everyone could notice a change in me.
This year, instead of saying "this year, I'm going to get fit," I finally get to say, "this year, I'm going to STAY fit." 
The biggest blessing that has come from this process is that it's helping others.

 

Ending the 31 Days

Week of December 19th- December 31st

Saturday, December 19th- Help those helping others. Any donation to www.homebasedcare.org will supply medicine plus sterile gloves and a bicycle to a caregiver for people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa.

Sunday, December 20th- Reach out to the new kid. $35 dollars buys a winter coat for a resettled refugee in the U.S. at www.theirc.org

Monday, December 21st- Feed four children in Tanzania a healthy breakfast for just $1 dollar at www.gocampaign.org a nonprofit run with the help of kids from the United States.

Tuesday, December 22nd- Warm toes. Only $5 bucks to www.hannahssocks.org buys seven pairs for a homeless person.

Wednesday, December 23rd- Play trivia. At www.freekibble.com every answer- right or wrong- sends 10 pieces of dog or cat food to an animal shelter in need. (Another favorite of ours!)

Thursday, December 24th- Help women recover after childbirth. www.fistulafoundation.org helps train doctors to care for the 2 to 3 million women who have injuries from prolonged or obstructed labor.

Friday, December 25th- Stock a refigerator. Just one dollar to www.feedingamerica.org will provide nine POUNDS of groceries to a hungry family in our country. (Biggest Loser is a HUGE supporter of Feed America and have started the Pound-for-Pound challenge, where people can pledge to lose weight and help in their communities. For every single pround they pledge AND lose, one pound of food gets sent to a needy shelter. AMAZING!)

Saturday, December 26th- Knit. Send squares to www.warmupamerica.org ; They'll be made into afghans and given to battered-women's shelters. 

Sunday, December 27th- Give peace to survivors of sexual trauma. $47 dollars to the International Medical Corps www.imcworldwide.org delivers medical and mental health care to refugees who have suffered sexual violence. 

Monday, December 28th- Turn your wedding into a charitable event. At www.idofoundation.org you can link your registry to your favorite cause. Each purchase triggers a donation from the retailer. 

Tuesday, December 29th- Starve a landfill. Make this a "no wrapping paper" year. Use newspapers instead.

Wednesday, December 30th- Keep a woman safe. At www.madre.org $30 dollars buys a cell phone for a rural Afghan woman; if threatened, she can make a life-saving call.

Thursday, December 31st- Gift the gift of opportunity. At www.worldvisionmicro.org you can make a microloan to help a woman in a developing country get her own small business up and running.

Have a wonderful few weeks, everyone! Love you all!

-A

 

Week 2 and 3 of 31 Days

Sorry, everyone! I'm a week behind. I was too busy this last week to log on.
It truely doesn't matter what day order you do these in; I'm only writing them in order from the magazine. Hope you all are having a good time with this :)
-A

Weeks of December 8th- December 18th

Tuesday, December 8th- Get lifesaving malaria medication to 10 children: by donating $25 dollars to www.savethechildren.org

Wednesday, December 9th- Click and give at www.care2.org. Every click you make prompts a sponsor to make a donation that will fight breast cancer, animal abuse and more.

Thursday, December 10th- Surf and give. Use www.goodsearch.com to find what you're looking for online, and every single search will send money to the cause of your choice. 

Friday, December 11th- Regift. Turn gift cards you'll never use into donations to your favorite charity at www.plasticjungle.com

Saturday, December 12th- Provide solar power. $50 bucks to www.goodgifts.org will send an African village a solar lamp, stove and water heater.

Sunday, December 13th- Prevent disease. A $50 dollar donation will allow www.doctorswithoutboarders.org to vaccinate 50 people against meningitis, polio and other life-threatening diseases. 

Monday, December 14th- Send a free holiday card to a soldier abroad. (This is Chris and my favorite Day of Giving so far.) Go to www.redcross.org/email/saf

Tuesday, December 15th- Have a potluck with your friends instead of going out to dinner. Give the $35 dollars you saved to www.strength.org to feed a child for a month.

Wednesday, December 16th- Keep someone's lights on. Even $5 dollars to www.smallcanbebig.org makes a difference to a family who needs help with bills due to domestic violence or other tragedies. 

Thursday, December 17th- Inspire a leader. A donation to Binti Pamoja Center (their name means "daughters united" in Swahili) helps a girl in a Kenyan slum pay for school and learn to be a comunity leader. 

Friday, December 18th- Keep girls on the team. Giving to Robin Roberts GoGirlGo! Fund (at www.womenssportsfoundation.org will help girls displaced by Hurricane Katrina stay in sports. 

Love you all. Hope you have a wonderful week.

XOXO-

A