I don’t generally make resolutions. They seem to be mostly about stopping doing something you like and/or starting doing something you don’t like, both of which seem destined to fail. So this year I’m setting myself some healthy goals instead. There’re all (apart from one) about adding things to my life that I enjoy and/or I know will make me feel better. Without further ado this year I will…
Cook One New Dish Per Week
I have a (growing) pile of healthy cookbooks but I’m guilty of trying one or two recipes in each that I like and then cooking them over and over again. No more! This year I will work my way through that pile and try at least one new dish a week (I’m also vowing not to add to the pile until I’ve worked my way through, well more of the recipes than I have done so far, despite all the healthy cook books that are launching over the next couple of months). I’m already off to a good start having cooked a delicious dhal on the weekend, with plenty leftover to fuel me for the week ahead. In fact it was so good I might make it again this weekend. Oh dear…
Mix Up My Workout Week
Yoga is my favourite way to workout (it’s one of my favourite ways to spend my time, full stop) but lately I’ve been feeling that I need to work my body a bit harder and in different ways. This past Saturday I went to a cardio yoga class that left me sweaty, red in the face and aching the next day. I loved it and plan to make it a regular date. I’d like to say that I will run once a week but, until Spring makes an appearance, I’m not sure that’s realistic, what I am committing to, in order to get myself moving outdoors is cycling instead of catching the tube for short journeys on sunny days, even when it’s bitter. I know that just a few minutes in I’ll have warmed up. My sister just sent me a link to free exercise classes in our local area. I already love the sound of Skip Fit, a class that combines skipping, boxing and kick boxing. Count. Me. In.
Quit Alcohol For January
I’ve always said that it’s impossible to get through January without at least the odd glass of wine but, after a boozy November celebrating several 40th birthdays including my own, and a very social December, I’ve decided that this year I will give alcohol a miss for the first month of the year. I haven’t found it too hard so far, although I have to admit that drinking sparkling water in the pub on New Year’s Day was a little dull, even with the addition of fresh lime, when everybody else was getting stuck into the wine or beer. I’m predicting it’s going to be harder as the month rolls on, especially as I’m going to be back on the tube for a rush hour commute from Monday.
Read One Inspiring Book Per Month
As much as I enjoy fiction (as I know many of you do too, more news on the RMS book club later this week!) two of the most memorable books I read last year were true stories. 1) Wild, the story of Cheryl Strayed, who was driven to the brink by the death of her mother, the failure of her marriage and her subsequent descent into self-destructive behaviour, before making the decision to turn her life around and walk the Pacific Crest Trail, one of the most arduous in America. 2) I Am Malala, the story of Malala Yousafzai, a teenager who survived being shot by the Taliban on her school bus and has since won the Nobel Peace Prize for her work campaigning for education for all. Reading about other women’s lives, especially when they’ve overcome obstacles, is both fascinating and inspiring. Grace Coddington’s memoir Grace, which I’m currently reading, is completely different, but no less inspirational.
Wear More Colourful Kit
OK, so this one is a bit frivolous but, while I love to see other people rocking colourful workout kit in cheery shades like turquoise, yellow and hot pink, the majority of my yoga and running kit is either black (around 95%) or grey (the other 5%). And sometimes it makes me feel a bit, well, gloomy, particularly on dark, dreary mornings. The sportswear section at H&M has some very desirable happy-making colourful buys for very good prices including the running top (£12.99) and sports bra (£9.99) above. I’m a bit confused as to why anyone would want a push-up sports bra though…
Have you set any healthy goals for yourself this year? Anyone else going alcohol free for January? Am I the only one guilty of buying cookbooks and then making the same dish over and over again? Tried or planning to try any new ways to workout? Read any inspirational true stories you think I would like? Do share!
I’m currently 7 months pregnant. Before I got pregnant, particularly in the run up to my wedding, I was a Sarah Wilson I Quit Sugar devotee. 6 weeks in to being pregnant I developed an intense aversion to vegetables and salad and basically anything else I used to eat in excess! Now it’s much better – although the smell of roasted vegetables will still make me gag and flee a room – but I’ve never really picked up the healthy eating again. Mostly because I’ve replaced wine with chocolate!
The baby is due on 3 March so by the time spring is in full swing I think I’ll be to dust off the Davina DVDs again and perhaps go for the occasional run?! (It terrifies me, the thought of actually running again)
But the thing that’s troubling me most is what to do with my diet. As much as I enjoyed the Sarah Wilson approach I think I want a healthy eating plan that still has some flexibility (read ability to eat Lindt chocolates). So I’m going to spend the next couple of months giving some thought to my diet and trying to reintroduce good habits before the baby is born..
I find an all or nothing approach to eating, such as totally giving up sugar, really hard to stick with Jennifer, a flexible approach is preferable for me. I also find that some supposedly healthy dishes really don’t suit my body very well, but I’m slowly discovering what does work. Since I’ve been working mostly from home I don’t feel as if I need to eat as much, because I’m not walking around as much, and it might also be that my metabolism is slowing down a bit too, I guess these things change throughout our lives, and being pregnant is definitely one of those times! Good luck with the next couple of months, exciting times!
I really like all these ideas, especially the colourful kit and inspirational books. Instead of setting new years resolutions this year, I am setting monthly goals as I’m hoping it will make me a bit more structured. They are:
1. Plan my meals and do a weekly shop. I often just grab something on the walk back from the tube which adds up and means I eat the same things again and again. I’m hoping to plan and shop each Sunday.
2. Go out less and stay in more. I found last year a bit hectic, running from brunches to lunches to dinners etc. My bf got me a Netflix subscription for xmas and we spent the long weekend recharging our batteries, cooking nice (healthy!) food and watching The Bridge back to back on the sofa. It was bliss. And shows me I don’t need to plan my social life 4-8 weeks in advance.
3. Run 150k in Jan. Marathon training in full swing! And ‘treat’ myself to a sports massage when I do…not sure it will be that nice of an experience though.
And I’m also going to add an inspirational book in too. I still haven’t read I am Malala, so that’s first on my list. Thank you!
I really must start planning my meals and doing a weekly shop too Sian. With the new dishes I’ve been trying I’ve been cooking for four, as opposed to fiddling about and dividing the recipes to make one portion, then eating one portion fresh, another the next day and freezing two portions for later in the week. The Bridge is brilliant isn’t it? Lots of luck with the marathon training!
I’m giving up alcohol for January as well. I think I may have had a drink in the first couple of days of the month but I was still in the Xmas holidays so don’t think it counts! I don’t normally drink much anyway, some weeks (and even some months!) nothing but I had a lot over Xmas and don’t want that to continue. I’m going to rejoin Slimming World as their plan was really flexible and worked well for me before – laziness crept in though and I felt like I knew it all so stopped going. I’m also thinking about playing netball every week. I really like the idea of being committed to the gym but lose motivation and the thought of going on my own sometimes doesn’t appeal so I’m going to try a group “sport” instead as the competition element might engage me a bit more.
No, the last few days of the holiday definitely don’t count Kitty! One of the positive side effects that I’ve found from not drinking this past week is that my sleeping seems to have improved. Although I never have problems falling asleep I often wake up around 3am and then have problems falling back to sleep, but that hasn’t happened for a few days. Ooh, playing netball would be much more fun than going to a gym. I’ve always quite fancied playing hockey again, I was a keen player at school but I haven’t picked up a hockey stick since my final year at uni, which was a long time ago!
I’ve set some goals for myself this year – not resolutions. I’ve never done it before but I wanted to challenge myself.
My fitness goal is to be able to do one unassisted pull up by the end of the year. Very specific, I know. But it gives me something to aim for and will encourage me to work out too I think (hope).
I’ve got to be in a bikini in eight weeks, as going to Vietnam… so I’m all about the clean eating at the moment too!
Ooh, I like the idea of having a very specific goal Katie. I’d like to be able to do an unassisted tripod headstand by the end of the year, need to work on my core strength first! Vietnam will be amazing, I’ve been and I loved it (especially the food, so delicious!). It was quite a few years ago now, I think it will have changed quite a lot. Have the best time!
So far I’ve committed to running 5K every Saturday with Parkrun (http://www.parkrun.org.uk/):- a friend at work is wanting to shape up for her wedding so we hit upon Parkrun…this Saturday is our first attempt and I’m desperately hoping the weather turns and its *at least* dry!! On top of this I vow to attend the gym more regularly as I really let it slip in the over the last 3 months :s more swimming and BodyBalance for me 🙂
I’m also wanting to get back into reading – looking forward to the RMS Bookclub!!
Wouldn’t mind some feedback on the H&M workout clothes – I wear either Adidas or Nike stuff both of which have the climacool/dri fit fabric…but its expensive stuff (most of my kit is purchased in sales) and I’m wondering if there are cheaper (but still as good) alternatives??
And leading on from this, to be less frivolous with money – I was spending quite a bit on random/miracle skin care/beauty products when really I think my skin likes it nice and simple…so I’m going to use up what I have, stop searching for the next big thing in skin care and keep it simple and hopefully lest costly!
Not so much resolutions as, like you, I think they are mostly depressing and pointless! More improvements 🙂
Good luck to everyone with their chosen improvements!
Improvements, love it Annie! Well I was supposed to be meeting friends in town to tonight and was planning to stop by H&M to have a feel and try on of their sportswear (my local one doesn’t carry the sportswear annoyingly) but we’ve postponed and I’m not sure when I’m next going to be in town. I might order the bra top online though, I do love the colours! Will report back if I invest. Big fan of parkrun, hope the weather is good for you! Agree with finding what works skincare wise and sticking with it although more than ever this winter I’m finding that I’ve needed to step it up on the moisturiser front. I’ve found a lovely one from Ren though which is helping to combat the drying effects of central heating and chill winds!
I have just received insanity max 30 but I am mid bug so will be starting that ASAP to hopefully push myself harder than ever! I did Shaun T’s T25 and really liked it but need something tougher and to focus on my diet more to get fab results! Me and a friend are doing it at the same time to spur each other on seen as running makes me cry in this kind of weather and the high intensity stuff really gives me a buzz and the results are genius! I just want this year to be the healthiest yet and we too have given up alcohol for at least jan but are hoping to be much more drink aware and having just a couple of glasses rather than bottles this year! It makes me feel rubbish anyway after a drink so I think it will be pretty good for me. Good luck with all your goals! (Back to the bug now bleurgh) xx
How rubbish to start the new year feeling sick, hope you beat the bug soon! I’ve always enjoyed high intensity classes when I’ve done them. Have you come across Kayla Itsines? She has workout and eating programmes you can buy. They’re a bit of an investment, but the results (check her Instagram) are amazing. Considering investing in the workout one once my yoga membership runs later this month. xx
I have seen her and follow her on Instagram but so far I am hooked on Shaun T once I complete this workout I might have a go! Xx
My issue with exercise has always been that I get bored of doing the same thing over and over. Last year I brought a skipping rope and a hula hoop to use between running and long walk days as well as alongside yoga and the odd online fitness routine. Mixing it up has really seemed to help.
Definitely hear you with the workout boredom Debra, yoga is the only thing that I haven’t eventually gotten tired of yet and that’s because I go to lots of different teachers so it’s never the same and I avoid teachers who don’t really change things up class to class. An element of fun definitely helps keep me interested and I would imagine hula hooping and skipping are both lots of fun!
I’m also giving up alcohol for January. Thinking of doing the same for lent, so this is a test to see how I handle social situations where everyone is on the booze and I have to drink something soft! I have to say, you have a fantastic writing style Miranda. I love reading your posts. I Always find them really inspiring and upbeat 🙂
Thank you Mrs G, that’s so lovely to hear! I have my first big not drinking test tomorrow, the first pub quiz of the year. It will help that two other members of the team are not drinking for January too though!
Me and the hubster have decided to do quarterly goals this year rather than the old resolutions.
Mine are: go to the cinema (just once, v simple but for some reason, we NEVER got to the cinema and I love it!)
Plan and book a long (like 30 miles long) hike for the summer and do one training walk
Get a proper bonus, raise and development plan at work.
Maybe we should all check back in in a month to see how we’re getting on?
Having quarterly goals is a great idea, as is checking back in Claire. What film are you planning to see? I’m really looking forward to seeing Wild (out next week!). As I mentioned in the post I adored the book and when I heard Reese Witherspoon was playing Cheryl I wasn’t sure tbh. However, having seen the trailer I’ve changed my mind and can’t wait to see it now!
I want to see Wild and Into the Woods (read an interview with Emily Blunt in the paper at the weekend which made me what to see it), might even book the tickets right now!!
How about an RMS goals update post at the end of March??
Ooh, that’s a good idea Claire, and then we could set new goals for Spring!
I am with you – trying not to give myself depressing or unattainable targets for 2015 – it’s all about positivity! You have inspired me with the one new dish a week idea – I also have a stack of healthy cook books (and the gadgets to with them!) which don’t get as much use as they deserve while I stick with the old faithfuls! I have to admit I have pre ordered the Deliciously Ella cook book too – that will be my last for a while – IT WILL!
I’m not doing Dry Jan as I have a weekend away in Copenhagen coming up and don’t want to deny myself the odd glass of wine, but I am seriously cutting back just in general (even pre-Christmas). I have really begun to fall out of love with boozing – not loving the amount of money it costs, losing a whole day to hangovers (post 30 they are horrendous!), and the obvious health benefits of not drinking as much.
I like your plan to wear more colourful kit – I have just bought myself some purple and neon yellow trainers in the sale. I do tend to stick with dark coloured bottoms – I tried on some very jazzy pink, purple and white ones in H&M yesterday that I chickened out of as I didn’t think they were very flattering, but I might pick up a few more jazzy tops! I have managed to find some nice darker bottoms though – dark Aztec print and some with the northern lights on them!
My other resolutions are
– – not spend as much money on food / rubbish (there was a post about this on RMS last year) – and put the money towards more weekends away. Living in London I really should take advantage of the proximity to Europe and the access to budget airline deals while it’s just me and the husband. You never regret a weekend in a foreign city but you do regret a pile of Primark clothes that get worn once! Therefore I intend to follow the capsule wardrobe strategy – investing in fewer, better quality pieces. Also eBay more – it’s not as much faff as you think and the money really can add up in the no time. Also bring my lunch it to work to save money.
– Be more positive / easy on myself. I am trying to keep in mind that saying ‘if you spoke to your friends the way to speak to yourself you wouldn’t have any’, so to try and be as nice to myself as I am to my friends
– Say yes more (again I think there was a RMS post on this last year). I can be a bit of a home bird / shy and turn down invitations in favour of staying in, but whenever I say yes I tend to have fun so should do it more often!
I fear the Deliciously Ella book might break my vow not to buy more healthy cookbooks. Madeleine Shaw has a book coming out this Spring too! My sister bought me a pair of yoga pants with a Northern Lights print on for my birthday, they’re not as flattering as my instantly slimming Lululemon black yoga pants, but they’re so cheerful! I’m so with you, we really should take advantage of all those cheap deals to European destinations whilst we live in London. I worked with a New Zealander who saw more of Europe in the two years she lived here than I’ve seen in my lifetime. And she did it on a budget too, getting great deals on flights and staying in hostels or camping. So inspiring! Yes, we should all be nicer to ourselves and say yes more, but also no to things we know we’re not going to enjoy…
Great post, it’s very inspiring to hear what positive things others are planning. I love the idea of wearing more colourful kit, it may seem silly but I do think it makes a difference to your motivation to work out when you have something great to put on! My goal is to make a little bit of time (however short!) for myself each day which could be for anything as long as it is good for me and makes me feel good – it could be a workout, catching up on my latest book, a bath, or just taking time to enjoy a walk (I have a tendency to march to and from the office without time to take in the surroundings!). Also can’t wait to hear more about RMS book club plans!
So important to make time for yourself Amanda, I know that’s going to become harder for me but more important than ever for the next four weeks from Monday, working five days a week and keeping on top of Rock My Style on evenings and weekends. I’m looking forward to the challenge though!
I am starting adult ballet with a friend next Tuesday….. Super excited!! I am also trying to increase how much I run so I am also going to try and run home from work tomorrow, eek! It’s great to read what other people are doing, lots of awesome ideas! 🙂
Ballet will be such fun Jenny. Hope the run home went OK!