Goal Check Monday (GCM)

Hi!

Today is Goal Check Monday, or GCM, and I think this will be a weekly segment.  It's good to keep track of progress, yea?  So let's see how I am doing thus far:

1. Improve my relationship and walk with God
• I'm still getting used to it, but I've been talking to my Heavenly Father on the daily and trying to be completely frank, open, honest, etc with Him.
• I'm on day 91 of my reading plan.
2. Lose 50-100 lbs healthily
• I'm up 4.2 lbs (UGH) but have completed the 1st week of the c25k program (yay!)
3. Eliminate my debt
1. Dropped amount owed by ~$200 and haven't used my credit cards at all since mid-September.

Overall, not too bad for the first week but the weight gain concerns me.  I really need to get back into the habit of logging my caloric intake and correcting my eating schedule.  I also need to fix my sleep schedule, which would decrease my cortisol buildup.  But, as I've known for quite some time, knowing what you need to do and actually doing it are two different beasts.

Anyway, in the past week since I started this blog, I've been trying to come up with what all I want to talk about.  (Any suggestions??)  I don't have time to talk about anything else today, but will catch up with you all later this week perhaps.

K

Let's Get Started

Hi!

Sunday was my 24th birthday.  The past year has been quite a wild roller coaster (from the fiery place!) type of year.  Let me catch you up:

• I completed my last year of college. (My last year of undergrad, I should say, because I'll be going back for more...eventually.)
• I had to take out my first student loan...to finish my last semester.  (Yes, I know I shouldn't complain, but I was so close!)
• I lost 40 lbs!  (But have gained back ~20 of that since May.)
• I graduated with an Aerospace Engineering degree from one of the highest ranked engineering schools in the country.  (It may have taken a "victory lap", but I "got out"!)
• I moved 200+ miles away from home and started my first full-time job.  (My dream job! ... I think)
• My boyfriend of 3+ years broke up with me.  (Don't pity me, though.  I now know that God did it to save us.  Still sucked though.)
• I got my first* apartment...and all the bills that come with one.  (The * is because I've technically lived on my own in an apartment before but I was Co-Oping and technically still in school.)
• I got denied for several credit cards/loans I applied for so that I could get furniture.  (This was really God saving my behind because I was able to buy it later for so much less.)
• I got my own insurance!  (Don't know why I am so excited about that...I still don't know what all I signed up for.)
• Two goldfish have died on me. (RIP Hannibal and Comet...now only Kepler, "Kep", is left.)
• The US Government Shutdown/Furlough happened within the first 4 months of starting my job.  (Being furloughed was an...experience...I'd prefer if that didn't happen again.)
• I've almost been in several car accidents.  (Praise God for His protection!!)

This whirlwind of stuff left me exhausted, depressed, emotionally drained, and just really low at times.  Looking back, I can see God working in many of the situations I went through last year, but I generally couldn't see it while I was in the storm.  Since I wasn't as close to Him as I should have been, these situations caused me more pain than they had to.  I've learned my lesson now and will be putting my trust in Him for everything, even if things hurt or if my plan looks better at the time.  (Why not trust the One who knows/sees/understands/create all, instead of trusting my severely limited self?)

Anyway, with my next birthday being my "quarter century", I decided I would try to accomplish 3 goals before that milestone. These 3 goals are as follows:

1. Improve my relationship and walk with God
• I've begun a "read the Bible in a year" plan on my Bible app, but will also be reading some "supplementary" books as well.  For example, I am currently reading Wilderness Skills for Women by Marian Jordan.  (I HIGHLY recommend this book, especially if you're going through a difficult time right now.) 
2. Lose 50-100 lbs healthily
• I've been overweight all of my life.  It's wayyy about time I did something about it. But, I will say, my mindset on my weight has changed quite a bit in the last few years.  I realize I used to have terrible self-confidence/body image issues.  Now I want to lose weight to be healthy NOT skinny!
• I started a couch 2 5k plan (c25k) with my workout/accountability partner.  We plan to run a 5k for Pi Day 2014.
3. Eliminate my debt
• I hate owing anyone anything, so having a student loan and 2 credit cards is driving me batty!  I'd like to get out of debt so that I can start saving more money towards my future (new car, grad school(?), wedding(??), kids(????), etc).

I only chose 3 goals so that I wouldn't overwhelm myself with change (because I'm not generally the best with change...) and, with them not being New Years Resolutions, I think I am more likely to stick to them.

This blog will track my progress during my "quarter century countdown"... and I'm already two days behind, so let's get crackin'!

K