Up: Body

Here is my original Up post; up is my word for 2016. I chose up for the simple reason that I want to improve from last year, work on my mindset, and make positive gains in my life. In the original post, I listed several areas to focus on, and what my goal was in that area. I added the promise that I would write more detailed posts on each area with some more specific goals.

Since this started as a running blog, but is morphing into a life blog, I thought I would start on body.

My goal in this area is to:

• UP  muscle tone, decrease fat and weight.

I worked really hard to set all my goals in the positive sense to stick with the theme of going up rather than the negative. The opposite of simply losing weight is to increase muscle tone. Obviously I had (and have had for some time) a goal weight in mind; however, I am not sure I will ever actually meet it. I've hit the upper 160's three times since January 2012, four times going back to 2008, and have then plateaued. Summer 2014 I actually got to the point that I was okay that I wasn't losing more because I knew I was toning up and was feeling strong. I'd be okay just to get to that point again; so rather than focusing just on the scale, I want to also know I am toning up and getting strong again. And I wouldn't complain if a lower number on the scale came along with it.

Other things I want to do in this area:

• UP my running mileage
• UP my healthy eating - I don't eat terrible, but I don't do everything I can to stay on track either
• UP my water intake
• UP my workout consistency from where it was in 2015

Action steps:

• train!! run. It will absolutely help that I have races on the calendar that I am training for. However, I do need to be more purposeful about what days I am going to work late, and what days I am going to run. Right now it is easier to fit in a weekend run or two, but I need to make sure I set aside some time to run during the week, too. I have to add, it will help as the days continue to get longer!
• I just need to keep some of my go-to treats out of the house! I usually have a little snack each night, but making healthier snack choices would help.
• My action step with this one is to start bringing my water bottle to work with me again; lately I've been brining bottled water. Actually, I even forgot that twice this week! I haven't been substituting it with extra pop or anything like that, but haven't been getting the water in either. Time to really focus on getting one full bottle in before lunch. That seems to have a good effect on getting a second one in during the afternoon.
• The hard part with this one isn't planning the workouts; it's working around everything else life has to offer! Tuesday and Thursday kettle bells are no brainers! I love that class. I'd like to pick one more cross training class I can get to regularly, and then make sure to get in two-three runs each week. I really just need to carve out the time, and make it happen.

Ideally, with these goals in mind and being purposeful about them, the ultimate goal of toning up and losing weight will come!