The Healthy Writer Blog

5 months in, 5 questions

Posted by Trish Milburn May 10 2011, 12:01 am in bad habits, calories, exercise, food, food diary, goals, Trish Milburn, weight loss

We’re five months into this year, so now is a good time to assess how we’re doing in our Healthy Writer journeys. Here are five questions to ponder. I look forward to seeing your answers.

1. What resolution/goal have you kept up without fail this year?

I gave up Coca-Cola at the end of last year, and I’ve not had any since. I drink mostly water with the occasional juice or lemonade.

2. What accomplishment are you most proud of so far this year?

I’ve lost 7 pounds and though I wish it was more, at least I haven’t gained that back.

3. What goal have you fallen short of that you most wish you hadn’t?

I’ve had good streaks of daily exercise and calorie tracking, but I’ve also had streaks where I let those go by the wayside. I must do better on both counts.

4. What have you learned this year?

That if I stick to my daily tracking, keeping my calories to 1,600 or less, and exercise 1-2 hours a day, I can lose a good amount of weight.

5. What one thing have you not done this year that you want to do over the summer?

Go hiking.

5 Comments

Comments

5 Responses to “5 months in, 5 questions”

Anna Sugden says:

May 10, 2011 at 9:38 am

Well done, Trish! Great review of the year so far – glad to see some successes in there!

Hmmm not sure I did half as well.

1. My writing goal is one that I stuck to – taking it more seriously and putting it ahead of life’s interruptions unless absolutely unavoidable.

2. I finished my rewrite of a book and have submitted it to my agent. It was a tough rewrite followed by a major cut in word count, so I’m proud of getting it done.

3. Any form of exercise. My back hasn’t let me and I’ve been too lax about starting up with some alternative forms of exercise.

4. That I can’t do it all. Something has to give or else what little sanity I have will disappear! The key is making the right prioritisation … namely one that suits me and not everyone else!

5. Exercise!

Reply
- Trish Milburn says:
  
  May 10, 2011 at 2:50 pm
  
  Congrats on sticking to your writing goals, Anna. I’ve done pretty well in the department too, and that’s usually the reason I’ve fallen off on the healthy half of being a healthy writer. I have to work more on the balance because my schedule is jam-packed for the foreseeable future.
  
  Reply
Michelle Butler says:

May 10, 2011 at 4:22 pm

I was so resistant to this at first, but it’s a good exercise.

1. What resolution/goal have you kept up without fail this year?

Attending a Weight Watchers meeting every week. I made so many goals this year that there are several others I’ve kept up with without fail (particularly the financial ones), but this is probably the one that is most applicable at HW.

2. What accomplishment are you most proud of so far this year?

This is hard. Looking back years from now, I’m pretty sure what I’ll remember the most from the first 5 months of this year is a development in my personal life. Not sure if that is an “accomplishment” though. Perhaps it’s just that I “keep on keeping on” in face of the challenges that pop up from time to time.

3. What goal have you fallen short of that you most wish you hadn’t?

Exercising regularly. I’ve not been good at meeting my writing goals either, but I don’t think I ever made writing goals for this year, so I may have even bigger problems in that area.

4. What have you learned this year?

Ugh. It seems like I need to relearn the same stuff all the time – all that zen stuff – about gratitude, perseverance, value of the journey, compassion, acceptance, appreciating/enjoying the moment, balance, etc. Then there are the other HW lessons I’ve learned that I still backslide on every so often such as the food stuff, exercise stuff, time management, etc.

But, I also can recognize how much I’ve learned and improved the past few years and am doing a pretty good job “keeping on”.

5. What one thing have you not done this year that you want to do over the summer?

Exercise more. I’d also like to write more. I’ve done both this year – just not regularly enough.

Reply
- Trish Milburn says:
  
  May 10, 2011 at 5:41 pm
  
  Michelle, I think the re-learning (or perhaps just refreshing our memories) about lessons learned is natural. I find that’s true in many aspects of life. For instance, I’ve written more than 20 books and gone to countless craft workshops, but even when I hear something I “know”, it’s a good refresher and brings that aspect of writing back to the front of my brain so I can assess how I’m doing with it in my own writing.
  
  And “keeping on” is worthy of pride. It’s much better than backsliding or giving up altogether.
  
  Reply
MaryC says:

May 11, 2011 at 9:19 pm

UGH – like Michelle, I resisted, but here goes.

1. What resolution/goal have you kept up without fail this year?

I’ve kept to writing at least something every day.

2. What accomplishment are you most proud of so far this year?

On the whole, I’ve developed a preference for healthier foods.

3. What goal have you fallen short of that you most wish you hadn’t?

Goes with #2 but despite developing a taste for healthier foods, I’ve fallen to the temptation of fatty sugary foods at times of stress or fatigue.

4. What have you learned this year?

That I need to plan (and make) healthier meals ahead of time because if I wait til I get home, I’m too hungry and fall to snacking and less healthy meals.

5. What one thing have you not done this year that you want to do over the summer?

Fit in all the doctors appointments that are due (overdue).
Find the time to really lose myself in my stories again.

Okay, not so hard after all. See, I learned something else.

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