New Years Resolutions and SMART Goal Setting

New Year, it always stinks of booze and well intentioned resolutions.

I have to admit it's probably this time of year I sit down and take personal account more than any other.

 

• What happened last year?
• Where are you now?
• What goals did you meet last year?
• Which goals did you miss?
• Are they still valid to your life now?
• What are you planning to achieve this year?
• Where do you want your life to take you?

 

Then I try and make sure that my resolutions last more than just a week.

 

In 2012 I have been slow off the pace. I have goals but I haven't prioritised or set plans in place yet. I have things I want (everything, just ask DH) but I haven't really got started yet.

I've already basically recapped last year in my previous posts, and a lot of the goals I have carried for the last couple of years don't apply anymore.

 

Of course the resolution to get to my goal weight still reigns supreme and will do until that damn goal is reached. In 2011 I saw my lowest ever weight 2 weeks after we got married in March and then stereotypically stacked weight on big time. I'm ashamed to say that since March I have put on almost 15kgs. There have been a few upheavals but honestly, 15kg is huge! Most people don't put that much weight on given a couple of years let alone 9 months. Before you say it no there is no honeymoon baby coming either, that would maybe account for things.

 

So I have "achieve my goal weight" as the number 1 goal for 2012. Sad to say it's been number 1 for many years so I need to make a plan to get it done. So I thought I would lay it out there in a SMART fashion.

 

 

SPECIFIC                  – What? In 2012 I am going to cut my calorie intake and increase my exercise in order to reach my goal weight.  Why? Because my clothes are too tight. I'm tired and uncomfortable and I don't feel attractive and lively anymore. I also want to have kids in the next couple of years and I need to be in peak condition for that. Who? I am solely responsible for my own success but I am also an influence on my husband and I need to be the best I can be for him.

 

MEASUREABLE         – I will loose 26kg, taking me to my Goal Weight of 64kg. This will be broken into smaller mini goals with reward markers and target dates to meet along the way. These will be measured on my home based Tanita scales. I will weigh in on a daily basis in the morning before eating or drinking.  

 

ATTAINABLE            – I know that this goal is achievable. I have lost 55kg in the last 2 years. I have set achievable target markers allowing for fast initial weight release followed by slower losses as my weight comes down.

 

RELEVANT                  – Despite the fact that it's now New Year this is a consistently relevant goal. This is something I have to achieve for my own health and well being. I'd like to have children and I need to be at a healthy weight to conceive, for the pregnancy and throughout the childbirth. Then I owe it to my kids to be healthy also. I am terribly vain! I can admit it and I want to look good. No scrap that I want to look hot! I want to be sexy. I want to be able to wear anything I want. I want to be able to buy clothes anywhere in normal sizes. This is important!

 

TIME BOUND               – I have set myself mini goals to meet along the way to my big goal. As I achieve each goal I will allow myself a reward.

·         February 85kg

·         March 82kg

·         April 79kg

·         May 76kg

·         June 73kg

·         July 71kg

·         August 69kg

·         September 67 kg

·         October 65kg

·         November 64kg

·         December 64kg

 

 

As you can see – this is a completely achievable goal. And I am determined to get it done.

 

I will be back with a list of more new year resolutions.

 

Ta

 

♥ TDP

 

 

 

 

 

Good Bye 2011

Welcome to 2012.

 

Happy New Year to all of my very loyal followers, which is probably who you would have to be to even know this post exists at this stage.

 

I wanted to write a quick recap of 2011 so I think dot form is probably going to do it best.

 

2011 The Year That Was

 

JANUARY

• Started the year as a single woman with a different last name
• In January I was working for an adventure and experience company
• I went on a helicopter flight over Sydney Harbour which I haven’t done before with Heli Experiences who were absolutely fabulous, Jase put a go pro in the chopper while I took photos, here’s the video of my flight. My pesky head kept getting in the way as I leant forward for more pics

 

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• Wedding preparations were in full swing as Hair Trials, Pre Wedding Photographs, Jewellry and Accessories were organised
• I finished off the month by doing a Fast Track Drive and Ride out at Eastern Creek, what a rush! Would love to do that again and again.

 

 

 

FEBRUARY

• First weekend in February saw that famous celebration known as a Hens Party. Being a fairly quiet soul, not into strippers and the general debauchery the girls were good enough to arrange a great weekend away up the central Coast for me. Celebrating with me was Loz, Simmo, Angie, Tracy, Karen and Alyssa. Day 1 involved horse riding at Glenworth Valley in weather that went over 45°C, and an evening spent at the Aztec Day Spa in Tuggerah lounging in their huge spa with lots of champagne a chocolate fountain and many other treats.
• Day 2 was spent with Sydney Ski School, learning how to Wakeboard. Very proud to say that we all got up on the board before the end of the day and Bill is an amazing instructor.
• My dress arrived in mid February and it was wrong, Had all the wrong beads and I was in tears. Thanks to the wonderful internet community and the friends I have made here Sarah was thankfully able to put me in touch with a dressmaker who rebeaded my dress at the last minute.
• Mum flew into town around the 17^th thinking she was going to be very early but I couldn’t have waited any longer for her and put her to work. Getting here was a stress as she had made the cake and then Qantas bumped her to Jetstar who wasn’t going to let her bring it on board as it was too big for their cabin baggage. Some passengers heard about the commotion and stood up for her and refused to let the plane go without it apparently. There are good people in this world
• I discovered Zumbo’s had opened in Manly and I discovered Macarons
• Jason celebrated his birthday at the end of February and friends Rob and Simmo spoilt him (and me) by treating us to Billy Connelly live at the Opera House, this was the first time I had been there

 

MARCH

• Beauty and Spa appointments abound while Dad and Angie (Bridesmaid) and others arrive from Interstate
• I picked up my dress and put it on once home, only to find out the beading wasn’t the only thing wrong, the front panel in my dress was over 10 inches shorter than the rest of the dress, began emergency repair process, a lovely lady at Lincraft heard my plight, asked what I was using to sew everything and lent me her sewing machine even though she didn’t know me at all (kindness of strangers again, I am so blessed)
• Last minute pick up my brother Josh and his girlfriend Ruby from airport
• Married my soulmate, my prince and my frog on March 5^th this year and officially became Mrs Kirk. There were many problems on the day that I wont go into now but it involved many tears. However there were also tonnes of laughs. It was so much fun (eventually) and everyone continues to tell me how much they enjoyed themselves J
• Back to work a couple of days later
• Storm tears a cruciate ligament and we spend from March until now on extra supplements, drugs and doing physio
• More Wakeboarding with Sydney Ski School in Mid March to get the skills up and I got up on the wakeboard (and stayed up mostly) on the rope for the first time
• Hit my lowest weight of all time 75.4kg
• Made redundant and was out of a job

 

APRIL

• Super obsessive about house cleaning and cooking I may be unemployed but hubby is coming home to gourmet meals and a spotless home

• Met my cousins who were visiting from Swan Hill for dinner at the Blackbird Café in Darling Harbour
• Saw Red Riding Hood
• Went to Filex Fitness Expo which seemed smaller and disappointing this year
• Investigated the possibility of purchasing a salon – unfortunately not viable for us at this stage and we had to back out of the process
• Easternats moved to Winton Raceway and we were there to capture all the action
• Went to Caravan and Camping show and bought our first tent together

 

MAY

• Finally dumped Optus and went with Telstra for my mobile phone
• Went to the Street Machine Nationals at Rosehill where we shot the event
• Finally redeemed my voucher for Japanese Hair Straightening – LOVE IT!
• Relaunched my Tupperware business
• Interviewed at a recruitment company

 

JUNE

• Started working as a Recruitment Consultant
• Hubby was made redundant
• Involved in photographing and videoing the change of signage from AMP to Westfield on Centrepoint Tower
• Marked 9 years with Jason

 

JULY

• Enjoyed the Good Food and Wine show far too much,  did a chocolate making class and saw Gary Mehigan and George Colombaris live
• Spent the weekend in Melbourne with my family
• Celebrated Christmas in July with my Good friends Sally and Ange and their friends
• Visited the Upper Colo Reserve for the AGM of the Triple Diamond Club and found a new gorgeous easy access camping spot

 

AUGUST

• Spent another weekend in Melbourne with the folks
• Spent the weekend in Sydney with friends Michelle and Johan and their children visiting from QLD
• Went to the zoo with our friends from QLD, my first time at Taronga zoo, those animals have a great view!
• Spent the weekend at the 4WD Adventure Show with my car on display and us as volounteers

 

SEPTEMBER

• Jason and I went on our first camping trip with the club to Abercrombie River National Park
• Then followed that up by camping at Rydel for the Clubkhana
• Enjoyed a wonderful dinner with my Aunty and her twin sisters family

 

OCTOBER

• Fought the law regarding a camera fine – And I won (eventually)
• Was invited back to the UNSW Rugby Presentations to do their photographs at the Marriott Hotel
• Spent a day at Eastern Creek for the Annual Torana Drag Day

 

NOVEMBER

• Went to a basics in Mechanics course
• Celebrated Christmas with the 4WD club in Kangaroo Valley a beautiful part of the world
• Saw the Twilight Saga – Breaking Sawn part 1 premiere in Gold Class – Amazing!
• Saw it again a couple of days later after taking Loz out to High Tea at Blue at Woolloomooloo Wharf for her 30^th Birthday

 

DECEMBER

• Went rock climbing for the first time in over 15 years. Started off very slow and fell off my very first step but things improved from there
• Finished that afternoon with a visit to Zumbos in Balmain
• Did a quick day trip through Sunny Corner and Turon River, lots of little river crossings and great company made it a lot of fun
• Mum celebrated her 60^th Birthday – and I wished I could be there
• Travelled to Wood Wood a little town near Swan Hill for Christmas with our extended family hosted by my cousin on the Murray River, stayed in nearby Tooleybuc which is where my Dad went to school right on the River Banks
• From Wood Wood we moved on to Melbourne via Ballarat for a photo shoot with the Urquharts
• Stayed with Mum and Dad a few days
• Turned 31 without much fanfare
• Visited with my cousin and Aunt and Uncle who were over from Perth my Cousin got engaged Christmas Eve so we all had lunch and dinner together
• Drove home via the Hume Hwy because I lost the argument for the coast road
• Enjoyed New Years wrapped up in bed watching the fireworks with Jase Exhausted

 

So now you are all caught up – Maybe I should blog more often in 2012?

Just a thought.