Running on Awesome

2009, eh?  It’s been a hell of a year.

• I traveled out of the country for the first time, and then again a few months later. WooT!  Went to Toronto in April, then Montreal and Ottawa in July.
• Got a promotion at work (in name only, still pretty much do the same thing).
• Moved to a new apartment, had a car die, had that car replaced (with the much maligned Windstar).
• Made new friends (including you guys)
• Kinda lost an old one (hopefully that friendship is slowly rebuilding though)
• Had my wake up call, and began the journey to living a healthier life.
• Saw some of my FIRST EVER fitness related goals accomplished.
• Started a cool little website and have found support from all over in my journey.  You guys rock…
• Etc, etc, etc…

All in all, this year has had plenty of ups and downs, which I guess happens every year.

But this is it.

Tomorrow starts a new year, a new decade, and a new chapter in 265andfalling.  These past few months have been a nice prologue, as I said before, but now I think we’re getting into the thick of it.

I dunno about you, but I’m excited.

Tommorow I will be posting my weigh in (which will hopefully be in the 230′s) and I will be posting my goals for South Beach Steve’s Perfect 10 Challenge. 

I will also began working on my own fitness challenges.  There are four competitors for each so far (which is AWESOME) but still plenty of time for you to sign up, so get on it! 

 Tonight I’m going to chill out at a friends house, play Wii, and usher in the new year.  What are your plans?

Until next year, my friends, PEACE AND LOVE!

As I mentioned yesterday, I am not weighing in this week until Friday.  I want to focus on my goal on being in the 230′s by then and I know that weighing myself today will be a major confidence killer, which I don’t really need right now.

What I will do today, however, is post my New Years Resolutions for 2010.
Recently I’ve been thinking that this story has really yet to begun.  The last part of 2009 has been pretty great, and I’ve accomplished alot, but it seems more like the Prologue to what is going to be a pretty a long, strenous, and exciting journey. With that said, here is what I want to accomplish in this next year, when the prologue ends the first chapters begin…

• Make $50,000 in 2010. Basically said, I need to make more money.  I get by with what I bring home now but I am often left with a checking account balance consisting of pennies (or sometimes in the negative), not to mention I’m barely putting a dent in my debt and I have no savings to speak of.  My base salary is about $30k, but I am lucky to work for a company that offers tons of incentives and is pretty liberal with the overtime (even thought I’ve been pretty lazy about it this past year).  I certainly think this is attainable, but I know it will be alot of work.  With that kind of money coming in, I can at least establish a small savings, pay off my debt, and live somewhat comfortably.
• Buy a car. This resolution will come without a grand sense of accomplishment, but I just really really need a new car.  I am currently driving a 1997 Ford Windstar that was given to me by my uncle after my Pontiac croacked.  I am certainly grateful, but a) the thing is NOT easy on the gasoline, b) it’s probably on its last legs itself, and c) I feel an early 90s soccer mom in it.  I’m not looking for something new and exciting (that I can’t afford), I would settle for a small reliable used car (that has a CD player).
• Continue with school.  Ever since I got my Associates Degree I have started and stopped schooling so many times its not even funny.  I have survived one semester in my current program and I am merely resolving to stick with it and FINALLY get my bachelors degree.
• Lose 100 pounds total. I started out at a whopping 265 pounds, and hopefully I will begin 2010 at at least 239 pounds.  I would like to see myself getting down to 165 pounds in 2010.  That number puts me right in the “normal” range on the BMI charts. I have never been that low (in recent memory, anyway) and I am curious to see what 165 pounds looks like, and I want to see if I can push myself to lose 100 pounds.  I don’t know if that will be the end maintenence weight (if I look skinny sickly, it won’t be), but I’d like to see it.
• Achieve 15% body fat (or less). Again, this puts me right in the middle of the normal range, and while I know this will be largely accomplished with the weight loss, I am going to have to increase my muscle tone to make it really happen.  This would be a realistic maintence percentage, I think, but again, I’m curious to see what I’d look like.  I won’t have any complaints if I end up looking ripped
• Run a marathon, a half-marathon, and at least two additional road races.  The plan remains to sign up for the Baltimore Marathon in October, as well as the Ocean City Half Marathon in April.  I would have done it right now, if not for my money situation (they are about $70 each).  I also want to look for additional races in my area (5k’s, 10k’s, etc..etc..) and run them.  This shouldn’t be too hard, and maybe I’ll even be able to find one in January (WooT!)

As you can see, I’ve posted non-weight loss resolutions as well as weight loss resolutions.  This journey isn’t just about losing the weight, this is an attempt to basically rebuild my entire life, and there is alot more that needs work than just my weight.

My weight loss related resolutions are (for the most part), pretty vague as well.  That was on purpose as they are meant to be overall goals, and will be supplemented with short term goals and challenges to meet them in the end.

One such challenge is the Perfect 10 Challenge by South Beach Steve. 

For those of you who are familiar with his Hot 100 challenge, it seems to be along the same vein, but picks up when that one ends (at the first of the year).  I didn’t really catch on to the Hot 100 until it was too late, but I want to participate in this challenge right from the start.  What it basically consists of is creating a set of goals for yourself at the start, and posting your progress towards reaching those goals each week.  Its a ten week long challenge, and I’m not 100% percent sure what I want my challenge specific goals to be, but I will post them soon.

I also have the New Year 100 Mile Running Challenge and the New Year 500 Mile Biking Challenge going on, those will certainly help with my resolutions.  If you haven’t signed up for either challenge (or both) yet, please click on the below and consider doing so.  Your participation will be a great motivator  

There are some things I want to do differently with this site in 2010 as well, but I will get into specifics on that later (I have to get back to work!) or you will see them as they come.  One thing I’ve already changed in the color scheme.  What do you think?  I personally like that it’s a bit lighter, but if anyone has any opinions or suggestions I would love the hear them.

Have a great day!

SIGN UP TODAY-Challenges begin 1/1/2010.
[265andfalling]‘s New Year 100 Mile Running Challenge
[265andfalling]‘s New Year 500 Mile Biking Challenge