Fitness resolutions for 2014 & ZonePerfect Blog Forward Challenge

I have a few health/fitness resolutions for this year. I briefly touched on one in my goals post, but exercise and fitness goals kind of deserve their own post. My goals for the year:

1. Finally drop the baby weight. I have five pounds that WILL NOT go away. I’ve been doing food journaling on and off for the past year, and now that I’m no longer nursing, I’m taking it way more seriously this go-round.

2. With that weight loss, my bigger goal is to reach a healthy BMI. I’m borderline normal weight and overweight. (I’m currently classified “overweight.” For real.)

3. I want to make 2014 the year of the half marathon. I’m signed up for two races already, and I want to run at least 3. I’m going to run Downhill at Dawn in June and the Asheville half marathon in September. I would love to run a race in April, as a prep for the June race. If I’m in fantastic shape for June, I would love to see a sub-2 half marathon. Seeing as I ran this race in 2:00 last year, it’s TOTALLY doable!

How do I plan on doing any/all of these things? First up, tracking. I’m recommitted to Weight Watchers, and it’s been going great for the past two weeks. Second, exercise. I don’t have a set training plan (yet), but I have goals of exercising during the week, during my lunch hour, for instance. I fully intend on taking advantage of my access to the fitness center if it’s too cold for running.

Eat in Month is also helping, I feel. I’m not buying as much junk or eating out (wasting calories.) I’m being way more mindful of snacks and making sure I have things on hand so I’m not tempted to hit up a vending machine or grab something in the checkout line at Target. For instance, I made banana chips last weekend with my food dehydrator. They take about 20 minutes to prep (cutting all of the bananas) and a day and a half later, they’re ready. Nutrition bars are also easy for me. We keep them around for the toddler, and I’ve found myself even eating the Kidz ZonePerfect bars (because the flavors are SO GOOD.) ZonePerfect bars are easy to have in my bag, and are especially great after a workout or just when I need a decent snack to hold me over until my next meal.

To help me stay on track and focus a little more on my goals, I’m taking part in the ZonePerfect 2014 Blog Forward challenge.

This challenge is a resolution-themed challenge to help bloggers and their readers make smart resolutions in 2014 and stick to them! ZonePerfect will send each blogger three separate challenges in January, April and July with extra incentives to keep them going.

The current challenge? Tell you, my fellow readers, about my goals for the year and include a letter to my future self. (Future self is pretty awesome, by the way. I can just feel it.)

Dear self,

2014 is your year. It’s time to get back on track and regain your health. Sure, you aren’t at your lowest point, but it’s oh-so-important that we don’t fall back 13 years.

Hopefully you’re taking the food tracking a little more seriously. And drinking water. Maybe by now you’ve given up soda again? (It’s so bad for you. Give it up, already.) I’m sure that you’re going to kill the half marathon in June. Have fun with the one in September. No need to try to kill yourself training this summer. (Train, yes, but don’t kill yourself. Your family needs you.)

Just remember that you own this year.

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If you are interested in trying out ZonePerfect bars, and winning cool prizes, check out their Facebook page. If you enter the Happy You Year Sweepstakes, you’ll receive a coupon for ZonePerfect.

I’m taking part in ZonePerfect’s Blog Forward challenge this year. The Blog Forward 2014 Challenge, hosted by ZonePerfect, is a resolution-themed challenge to help bloggers and their readers make smart resolutions in 2014 and stick to them! ZonePerfect will send each blogger three separate challenges in January, April and July with extra incentives to keep them going. All comments or views of ZonePerfect are my own.

Oh, and I’m not affiliated with Weight Watchers. I am a Lifetime member, but they don’t compensate me for anything I say here. I’m just lucky to have the program as part of my life.