Category: Adventures

2017 | The Resolutions

macquelandersonLeave a comment

The past few months, I’ve thought endlessly about the upcoming year. I hope it’s a year full of growth & learning, but in a much different way than 2016. This past year, I’ve learned a lot about how I cope with my own insecurities, anxieties & depression. I’ve made a lot of changes to deal with these in a healthy way & I want so badly to continue & maintain these habits.

And so, my resolutions will encourage & help me do just that. They all contribute to my mental health & sanity. Things that I know that I need. Things that I have already learned in the past, but have since forgotten.

fitness

The main reason why people fail to reach their fitness goals is because they don’t create REALISTIC, short-term goals.

We can all say, “I want to lose 2o…or 40…or 75 lbs,” which is all fine & wonderful, BUT those are not short term. A weekly or monthly short term goal helps us stay accountable & real with ourselves.

Here are a couple tips (from someone who has lost 70 lbs in the past) for setting these short term goals:

  • Focus on lifestyle changes. For example, drink 60 oz of water every day this week, only one diet soda, eat 4 servings of vegetables every day, walk 10,000 steps, stay within my calories/macros, etc.)
  • Create a realistic weekly goal. If your goal is to lose weight, it should not be more than 1-2 lbs per week. If your goal is to make it to the gym or workout a certain amount of days, assess your schedule. Even if your goal is just 2 days at the gym for 30 minutes to an hour, that is better than nothing! For me, it’s not realistic to want to hit the gym 5 days a week. I know for a fact that I wouldn’t be able to reach that goal. At least right now.
  • Keep a food journal. Whether it’s a notebook or through an app like MyFitnessPal or Weight Watchers (I just joined a month ago & LOVE it), keep tabs on EVERYTHING you eat.
  • Keep a list of your “WHY’s”. Why do you want to make these changes? Why is this so important to you? Is it for health? For your children?
  • Come up with short term goal rewards! Each milestone you reach should be worth celebrating. They can be after every 5 or 10 lbs lost, if you got to the gym or completed your weekly workout goals, or simply when you feel like you need it! On my list are opportunities for pampering, so pedicures, or facials, a fancier date night, a new necklace I’ve been wanting, a new outfit.
  • Don’t obsess with the scale! Weighing yourself every day at different times of the day isn’t accurate. I totally have this problem, & it’s bad enough that I have to have my husband hide it from me, until my weekly weigh-in day.
  • Stick with your goals for AT LEAST 4 weeks. It’s only common to get discouraged when you don’t see physical changes after all your hard work. I feel like I’ve seen this graphic a million times, but it’s such a good reminder that your results aren’t going to be immediate, but it will be worth it!

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travel

I LOVE to travel. From road trips to see family, to going to Harry Potter World, to a nice week on the beach. But because we’ve been a little tight the past couple years, we haven’t been able to travel much. This year, I want to make it happen. At least one trip. Travel is good for you soul, ya know?

My goal is to open a travel savings account & create a savings plan.

We’ve wanted to go back to Universal Studios every since we went a couple years ago. It’s also been a hot minute since either of us have been to Disneyland… & by a “hot minute”, I mean, 20 years! So…it’s time!

organize

This applies to every aspect of my life, which makes the list quite long, but to name a few:

  • Create a budget
  • Make a weekly/daily chore list
  • Master bedroom closet storage
  • Downstairs hallway closet
  • Kitchen pantry & shelves
  • Mail sorting bin

 

A new year, means new goals & new beginnings. We can each begin 2017 with a clean slate & a renewed motivation. Find your WHY & do it!

here’s to love, success & happiness in 2017

Wheeler Farm

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It’s been years since I’ve gone to Wheeler Farm without shooting a wedding or portrait session. It was fun to just go explore with the kiddos.

The babies giggled as they watch Kate chase the “swans”. We corrected her & told her that they were geese, but she insisted that they were swans.

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They always tell you to write down the simple, cute things that kids do:

  • Kate found a pretty feather & walked around asking each duck or goose if the feather was theirs.
  • When asked what her favorite part of the trip was, she said it was the horses.
  • The second I put Hayes in his stroller he started belly laughing. Jess & I couldn’t figure out why. We, including May, were giggly at his giggling. Kate walked past him & his laughing started up again & again with each pass. It was the most adorable thing. Hayes has always loved other little humans.

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