I am so inspired by all the replies on this thread, that I felt compelled to reply!

Since I have just started maintenance, that will of course be my main focus. It felt great to NOT start a new year with the thought "This year I will reach a normal BMI and finally be slim again" (because I AM slim again already!) and I feel as if a weight has been lifted off my shoulders (har-har). So now I'll work on keeping my weight steady and end the year with roughly the same numbers on the scaled that I started it with.

I also intend to keep on working on my fitness, now that I have rekindled my love for exercise! I have some loose skin around my belly area and I'm hoping that diligent exercise will help a bit, even though I know that my skin "recovery" also depends on my skin's elasticity. According to my fancy scales at home my body fat % is somewhere around 29%, which sounds awfully high, but I have no idea how correct it is. It *has* gone down from 36% at the beginning of 2005 to 29% though, which is very good in itself. I have visible muscles on my arms and my legs now, something I've never had before, and I quite like it.

So:
- maintaining within my goal range (which I'll adjust if I see that it's needed)
- maintaining my exercise routines and vary the stuff I do and the intensity
- being watchful of over-training (don't know the proper term) and scheduling a week of active rest every now and then
- being kind to myself, when I do slip up
- not forgetting what I've accomplished!

That's what I will do in 2006!

Midyear (almost) checkin...how are we doing gals?

Let's see.

• I'm failing miserably at flossing.
• Number 2 is a done deal--we made it breastfeeding exclusively for 7 months and are still working at it 2x/day.
• I've got one tri in the bag, and another on the schedule, with one more TBD in the fall.
• I don't think I'm going to make the June 1 date on my weight--I've got 15 lbs still to go, but I'm at least making some progress, even if it is at the glacial pace of 2.5 lbs/month!
• I'm doing great spending time with DD and DH, need to work on the doggies a bit more.

I hope to
- continue to raise my 2 kids in a happy and positive atmosphere -- in progress
- get a new job-- in progress, but I uppedmy hours from 9 to 15 and I got a new position untill the end of this year
- get through the divorce - in progress
- get through the division of our goods- DONE
- buy XH's part of the house- XH is not cooperating
- have a great summer holiday - hope so!
- continue and expand my meditation practice trying
- get excercise structured in my life- still trying! I joined a gym thoug, and i spend more time on chores in the house & the garden

But I have some plusses that I did not plan on and am still proud off
- I cope much better than before
- I have more energy
- DD especially has grown a lot
- My house & garden are getting less clutterred, and more looked after
- I still fit into the pants of my 14 yr old niece!!!

Thanks for bringing this up anne!
rabbit

Thanks for the check-in, Anne!

1. I'm doing pretty well on this one!
2. Still struggling with the wrists. I am doing some weight training but not much.
3. Doing well with this one too!
4. I just got back to running a couple weeks ago. My current mile time is 12:58! Hopefully I can get it down again by the end of the year.
5. Done and done! New job starts June 30 and my degree should be in the mail soon.
6. I tried bellydance and yoga . . . hopefully after I move I can try some more stuff!

My goal for 2006 is to reach 145 lb. goal weight and maintain it through the rest of this year. To continue to journal my food and exercise. Plan to continue to do at least 30 min's cardio , 4 x a week. Plan to stay active on 3FC's board as the support and encouragement helps me tremendously. Plan to gently get my 20yr. old son and his girlfriend to become more independent (as in a place of their own). This is a tough one. Haha. Plan to be more active in my 13 yr. old daughters life and school activities. Plan to be loving and supportive to my husband who takes great care of our family. Plan to be more careful with finances and save to buy a boat. Plan to get those darn hedges planted that I've been wanting for 2 yrs. Plan to find a gym with water aerobics classes for me and my daughter. Main goal is:maintain, maintain, maintain.(6 lbs. to go).

Bump

Just to tie a bow around it, here is this year's list.

I am flossing about 2x/week, which is better than before, but not quite there. I didn't get to pre-preggo weight on that schedule, but give or take a pound or two, I did get there. I managed the rest. As a bonus I finally managed a 2005 New Year's Resolution to stop buying diet Coke for the house.

I find it helpful to review as I look forward.

Anne

Looks like we've lost a few people over the year.....

Yeah, I noticed that too. I know Sweatergirl (Ali) and Lessismore (Anne) were on 'maternity leave'. I hope they come back. Not sure about the others. I hope they come back too.

And we picked Karynlee back up this year!

Anne

Yep, I'm here. (And really happy to be back.)

My goal (short version) is to be more of a maintainer in 2007 and not so much of an upper/downer. I have a good head start - it's December 19th and I'm in my range, man!!! Can't EVEN tell you how excited I am about that.

done!

I've not really done any of this, although I suppose you could count running in the countryside round where I live!

Done with bells on. Or at least I only did one of the races I did last year (I was faster) but I did a lot of others including, drumroll please, 3 half marathons and a marathon.

kind of. The fish thing didn't happen, but I have been eating pretty much along the same lines with much more variety. The one thing I didn't plan to do but which happened anyway was becoming vegetarian (10 months and counting now!)

I'm pretty close to getting one of my credit cards paid off, and I kept Spanish up for a while before I had to give up formal lessons because I simply don't have enough time with running and work and everything else. But I'm still doing informal stuff and trying to pick up as much as I can.

Not bad overall. I did a couple of things I didn't plan, and I missed a couple off, but the main ones, which were maintaining and running, have gone very much according to plan.

*cough* Trees, ropes, cable slides... *cough*

Oh and check out www.toughguy.co.uk, wanna do it?

Sorry, how could I forget!

I had a quick look at the tough guy thing, but I still have some sanity left, thanks (But not much, I'll probably be doing cross country that day...)

I did manage to meet my 145 lb. goal and maintain it. I am still journaling my food and exercise. I did get my son and his GF to move to their own apartment. They lasted 3 days living together. LOL, it's funny now , but was very stressful at the time. He kept the apartment for 4 months and now back home with dear old mom and dad. As for the husband, all I care to say is he's still here. Our biggest problems are finanacial ones and it always involves him trying to "help out" (his words) his 24 yr. old irresponsible DD. My words for this is "enable her to continue to be irresponsible". Example, is that our most recent huge fight was that he spent $700.00 to pick up her hot checks that were at District Attorney's office to keep her from going to jail. He didn't tell me about it and when I found out, I was furious. She had warrants out for her. I understand she has 2 small children, but Geez when is she going to learn. This has happened many times. I hate it. But, I'm not sure that if my own child was facing jail time, that I might do the same thing. Luckily, I haven't ever had to find this out with my kids. Don't get me wrong, I love my DH, but the problems with this particular SD have caused tremendous stress for me over the last 9 yrs. When she does stuff like this, he won't tell me because he knows that I will be mad that he continues to bail her out (Every time it's done without her DH's knowledge , so he won't get mad and throw her out). I feel like the 2 of them are a team against me and that it will never get better. I have suggested marriage counseling many times for us. So far, it hasn't happened.

I didn't join a gym, there isn't one close by that doesn't require a doctors permission for me to join due to my health problems. But, I am still walking at least 3 or 4 times weekly on treadmill and am getting an elliptical for Christmas, that I plan on using a lot. I am also using my exercise ball and a hula hoop and a jump rope for exercise.

I am more active with my DD's school activities. Plus, I have learned how to help do her algebra, LOL. Now, for the darn hedges, I'll need to get those planted this spring. Needless to say, I didn't get a Boat, bet you all can guess why.

I think that the highest I've been this year is 134, so my ceiling is becoming lower.
And I have a friend who is muddling thru something BFL-ish with me and a couple who are asking seriously for my advice for weight loss ... so

I'm glad this got bumped. That feels pretty good!