A New Year – A New Daily Habit

This year Clark and I have changed the way we construct our daily routine.

1) We wake up earlier – One of my New Years resolutions is that by the end of the year I am comfortably waking up by 6am. I used to wake up at 5:30 every morning all through High School and College, so I know this is possible for me. It’s not that it takes me SO long to get ready for the day, it was and is because I LOVE to read and I used to get to school early and read my books before school started. I LOVE early in the morning! Not going to school early in the morning anymore, habits changed, so now I have to gradually work myself to wake up that early again. It’s possible. We’ve been doing good so far, wake up between 7:30 – 8am is a pretty good start!

2) Work from 9 – 5 — Clark and I have been missing family since Christmas, and have had to take some time here and there during the day to distract ourselves from our loneliness by doing something fun (like playing Wii). Never fear though, these past two weeks I’ve worked 80+ hours – so we’re all good. I’m pretty amazed at how the hours add up, knowing I was able to take the time here and there to play Wii with Clark! Ha! I love my evenings, they are so important to me, just like my early morning hours. So, it’s hard for me to stop during the day to do other things un-work related. But, missing family really bad – sometimes you need a break. Hopefully that will get less and less to where we can focus and make 9-5 entirely all about work and have nothing but FUN after 5!

3) Workout – My other New Years Resolution is to weigh less than I did in 2009 by the end of 2010. So far I have achieved that goal, but I hope to go above and beyond this goal. I am truly blessed and so thankful that I have achieved what I feel a more important goal of speaking only loving words towards myself when for – pretty much my whole life prior, had a negative language that I would speak to myself. A distorted way of looking at my shape, which built up so much stress, that no wonder I couldn’t lose the weight easily and my body pretty much broke down. This time around is so much more different for me. I am satisfied just the way that I am and that is a tremendous change for me! Now I am truly able to look at changing my body in this order of purpose: A) To be more healthy B) To feel good about myself and build more confidence C) To look sexy for Clark ♥

For awhile there it was in the reverse order, and I believe working towards something with the wrong intent will never give you lasting results. This time for me, achieving my healthy weight will be a permanent and lasting result – and I am SO excited for that! I am also SO THANKFUL that my Cooper family is working on this with me. We’ve built a support system where everyone checks in through the week with motivating words of encouragement, helpful tips and funny confessions. We’re all in this together, and that’s another reason I feel this year is the year for a permanent, and real healthy change.

Clark and I have done AWESOME in being more active. So far this year 2010 we have worked out at least 4 days a week. Clark has used the FIRM with me some of the days, but has mostly used the Wii. I have been using the FIRM 3 days (M, W, F) and Yoga for Weightloss (Tu, Thu, Sat). For me, I feel I need to learn how to breathe better and loosen up my body because I feel so stiff all the time. There will be moments where all of a sudden I take a huge breath as if I was holding it for a long time and I surprise myself as I did not intend to! What the?! So, I believe alternating with Yoga will help my body allow itself to be comfortable and release all the extra poundage my body has been holding onto for awhile.

4) Play – For play during the week we usually either go to Borders Bookstore, or we watch one of our favorite shows on TV or Movie on Netflix. On Saturdays, as I mentioned in my last post, we have began a tradition of visiting a favorite Beach Spot to enjoy our home here in Cali. We are so fortunate to have the Beach near us and breathe in the Ocean Air, which I LOVE! I am so lucky to not have to be surrounded by sloshy snow this time of year, but rather OCEAN WAVES!!! Yipeee!!!

Awww, can you feel it?! This year is SO bright! So exhilarating like I was just reborn for the first time! I am SO EXCITED about life! ♥