Its February 1 and time for a new challenge for the month. I was going to go with no TV since February is a short month. But the Olympics are on and there are several events I like to watch. And since its only on every 4 years, I decided to pick another challenge.

This one is equally if not more challenging. In February I will exercise every day. You fitness experts out there are probably saying, “Everyday is too much. Your body needs at least one day of rest a week.”. That is true. I have decided that on the rest days, I’ll take a little walk, stretch or do gentle yoga. Something that involves moving, but isn’t strenuous.

This is a good time for me to take this challenge because its the middle of winter. My instincts tell me to eat and sleep in equal amounts. The result is that I’m gaining a little too much pudge around the middle. My current 3-4 day workout per week isn’t enough to keep the weight in check. This goal will force me to keep moving even if I still eat and sleep too much. And by spring, when I do feel like eating better and getting out of the house again, I should be well on my way getting the weight back off.

Today I think I’ll start with TurboJam. Or maybe P90x plyometrics.

Yesterday as I was running, I looked up the street and saw a stopped car waiting for what I thought was a deer to cross. But as I got closer I realized it was a dog. One of those huge Marmaduke dogs. Not being very tall, I probably would have been able to look in its eyes without bending over, that’s how big it was.

I probably should have turned around. That would have been the smart thing. But I’d run past this dog before (it was usually safely restrained behind invisible fencing), so I thought it should be okay. But as I got closer and the dog got bigger, I wondered about the wisdom of this thinking. He was, after all, playing chicken with a car. Maybe he was hungry. I eat well and would likely be tasty.

Looking behind me, I saw that a car was approaching. I determined that it would get to the dog about the same time I would. If I could run along side the car, with the dog on the other side, maybe I’d be safe. So as the car pulled along side me, I picked up the pace. The driver and passenger looked at me and I waved. I noticed then that the car slowed down a bit and stayed with me until well past the dog. Somehow the driver realized what I was doing or maybe she just realized the situation and acted as my body guard. How nice was that! I waved again when she slowed to pull into her drive and went safely on my way.

But next time though, I think I’ll just turn around.

In my core conditioning class the other day, someone told me that Jan 13th was the official day most people gave up on their resolutions. Apparently after two weeks, achieving a goal becomes too hard. An article in the Guardian UK reports on a psychologist who says people don’t achieve goals because they don’t make a plan. Wishful thinking or affirmations aren’t enough.

I think that’s true for me. Its too easy to life live the same each day. To do something different, I need to know what I need to do and figure out how I’m going to fit it in my life. One thing I’ve tried is getting new planner. But its not to keep my calendars. Instead its filled with notebook paper and divided into sections for each of my blogs and other projects. One reason I struggle with writing and working on projects is that when I have time to sit work on them, I don’t know what to say or do. But throughout the day I think of great blog ideas or scenes for my book or other project tasks. With this planner, I’m able to jot them down and refer to them later. I’ve also found the recorder feature on phone so I can give myself a voice message. But I’m not sure if I’ll remember to refer to it as easy as checking my planner.

So how am I doing on my goals?  I haven’t been perfect, but I haven’t given up on them either.

Goal 1: Blog more – I haven’t blogged as much as I planned, but I’ve blogged much more than I had been.

Goal 2: Get on national TV – I still haven’t been on national TV, but I did do an interview with an AP reporter (I’m working my way up).

Goal 3: Finish mystery novel – I’ve made real progress there! Its not done, but my goal is to have the completed draft by the end of this month.

Goal 4: 12 30 Day Challenges – My first challenge – don’t go back to be when the kids go to school- has been my biggest challenge. I’ve had at least 2 mornings in which I nearly gave up on that one. While I laid on the couch a little longer than I should have, I’ve been at my desk and working by 7:45 each workday so far.

Goal 5 : Read one classic a month. I’ve already read Push, which isn’t a classic, but surely must be literature. I’ve picked up Jane Eyre, a book full of works by Poe, and the first Poirot mystery by Agatha Christie. I’ll finish one of them by the end of the month.

Miscellaneous – These are the goals set every year and the ones that I usually don’t achieve to any great effect. I haven’t lost weight, but I have made a little more money.  As far as the weight goes, its very hard for me in the winter because I don’t get out much and want comfort food to keep me warm. But I did order a copy of Turbo Jam just so I could get a new workout option that might be fun.