Motivational Monday

Most people don't have a problem with doubt,

they have a problem with faith.

How true is this? How often do we doubt our abilities? How often do we doubt our success? How often do we doubt we have the strength to follow through on whatever we are seeking to accomplish? I know I doubt much more than I have faith. 

I know that I often set a goal, then doubt I will truly reach it. I doubt I have the skills. I doubt I have the commitment. I doubt I can do it.

What we need is a little faith (isn't that a song???). It's true. We have to believe we can do something before we can do it. We have to call upon those times we accomplished something - got an A on that tough test, made the softball team, got the internship we wanted, graduated high school/college/grad school, got the job we really wanted, ran that race, fund raised for a cause close to our hearts, you name it. How many times have we been successful at something and we dismiss it? Maybe it was luck, maybe we were having a good day...no. We had the skills and talents to deserve whatever goodness came our way. Remember that! Have faith that what you want to accomplish can be accomplished! It may take longer than you thought. You might hit bumps along the road, but let those shock absorbers do their job and keep going! Keep the faith and it's just a matter of time before our goals will be our successes!

Do you sometimes lose faith? List one thing you succeeded at that you doubted you could, then REMEMBER IT next time you doubt you can reach your next goal! 

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About a year ago...

Last year this week I made a decision to lose weight.  I had high hopes of reaching my goal weight by the end of the year, but it was not to be.  But, I made a big dent in my weight battle and I'm happy with that.  I lost 23.2 pounds in the last year. 

In the past year I got back into doing Weight Watchers consistently (on my own), which helped me cut back on what I ate.  To be honest, that's my big issue.  I need to get more consistent on this front, but it's getting there.

And in the past year, my exercise regime has gotten much better:

• I tried a duathlon.  Didn't work out how I hoped, but I stretched my comfort level and tried.
• Ran my second (Philadelphia Half Marathon) and my third (Shamrock Half Marathon) half marathons.
• Joined the YMCA and went consistently (about 3 times a week).
• Hired a trainer.
• Started attending the Cardio Kickboxing classes
• PRed at the Philadelphia Half Marathon, Celtic Solstice 5 Miler, St. Patrick's Day 5k, Shamrock 8k, Shamrock Half Marathon, Hershey 10k, and the Sole of the City 10k.
• Just started attending fencing classes.

This year, my goal is to reach my goal weight.  It is to learn (and be good at) fencing.  It is to PR my next half marathon (that's going to tough! I reached my fall half marathon goal at Shamrock.). 

While I may not have reached my weight goal last year, I'm happy that I have something to keep aiming for this year.  I am confident I can do it this year.  It's just another 13 pounds to reach my initial goal weight, then we re-evaluate.  Maybe another 10, but maybe not.  We shall see.  Stay tuned!  When I reach that milestone it will be shared!