This December I Will...
themedalist
Posts: 3,218 Member
Hello December!
While it's tempting to write off this season of merriment and excess, to put aside our healthy routines and just start fresh in January, let's not do that. In fact, adhering to a few good habits this month can the make all the difference between gaining weight or not gaining weight come January. Let's band together and finish 2019 strong! What do you want to accomplish this December?
Many of us find it useful to frame our goals along these lines:
1. My goal for this month (This December I will...")
2. The small actions I’ll be taking to accomplish this goal
3. The trigger or cue to remember to do my habit
4. How often will you do your new habit (daily is best if possible)
5. What reward will you immediately give yourself for doing your habit?
6. What help do you need from us?
7. What does success look like to you at the end of 2019?
If you are new to our group, welcome! Let us know what your goal is and how we can help. If you're wondering why we suggest the format above, the CUE-ACTION-REWARD loop is the recommended structure for building all new habits. Want to learn more about habits? Check out this guide. And If you're stumped by what to work on this month, our list of previous challenges can help.
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I spent Thanksgiving down in Virginia and used a couple of treadmills I don't normally use. And I realized I hadn't done a HIIT session on a treadmill in eons. So I dusted off my 20 minute music playlist and had such a great workout! I felt fantastic when I stepped off the treadmill and decided to make resuming weekly HIIT sessions my December focus!
1. This December I will do two 20 min HIIT sessions on the treadmill or elliptical each week.
2. The small actions I’ll be taking to accomplish this goal: not really applicable to this goal, I think.
3. The trigger or cue to remember to do my habit: I'm going to do these sessions on Fridays and Sundays. And I will set reminders in my calendar.
4. How often will you do your new habit: Twice a week
5. What reward will you immediately give yourself for doing your habit? I feel amazing after 20 minutes of interval training. That's all the reward I need.
6. What help do you need from us? Encouragement.
7. What does success look like to you at the end of 2019? HIIT will be back as part of my regular exercise routine.3 -
@themedalist, I love your intro for December. Thank you for such motivating and encouraging words! The picture is so pretty too.
1. This December I will continue with my 4 goals. 1) tidy 2) daily affirmations 3) 'healthy' logging 4) holiday preparation
2. The small actions I’ll be taking to accomplish this goal: I will be paying attention to the reminders on my phone and not going to bed until I have accomplished my goals, no matter how small of an action.
3. The trigger or cue to remember to do my habit: See above
4. How often will you do your new habit: Once a day
5. What reward will you immediately give yourself for doing your habit? My reward is feeling good at the end of the day from accomplishing my goals. Better yet is waking up the next day feeling good about the prior day.
6. What help do you need from us? Encouragement and accountability. I also gain a lot from reading about other's experiences.
7. What does success look like to you at the end of 2019? A healthy month where I have more or less maintained my weight, stayed positive and minimized stress.
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Hi Denise! So nice to see your post! I also like your intro to December. I would like to end 2019 on a strong note rather than my usual weak one...
I'm going to be repetitive by sticking with the same goal. I'm going to stick with this goal until I feel I am successful at it and then I'll change to a new one...hopefully in January!
1. My goal for this month (This December I will..."): Journal every bite, good or bad.
2. The small actions I’ll be taking to accomplish this goal: Log on my phone or in my notebook and transfer to MFP at the end of the day. Take a picture if I don't have time to write it down.
3. The trigger or cue to remember to do my habit Eating. When I eat, I journal. That's the goal anyway.
4. How often will you do your new habit (daily is best if possible) Daily.
5. What reward will you immediately give yourself for doing your habit? Completing my MFP diary at the end of the day. I get satisfaction from completing each day.
6. What help do you need from us? Encouragement and accountability.
7. What does success look like to you at the end of 2019? A full month of journaling so I can move onto another goal in January!
We can do this! Let's end 2019 strong!2 -
Well, it's December, so I'm back to a sewing goal - rebooting last December and maybe May. I need to do some real sewing this month.
1. This December I will sew more - a lot more
2. The small actions I’ll be taking to accomplish this goal - I'll spend at least 5 minutes every day doing something sewing related.
3. The trigger or cue to remember to do my habit. _ If I haven't done anything when I sit down for TV after dinner, I'll do handwork.
4. How often will you do your new habit - at least 3 days per week, but I'm shooting for daily.
5. What reward will you immediately give yourself for doing your habit? A well done and I'll show off my work to family members. Maybe a fun emoticon too.
6. What help do you need from us - encourage me!
7. What does success look like to you at the end of 2019? I'll have 2 Regency reticules (purses) for my granddaughters DONE (their Christmas presents), and 2 Regency dresses, also for my granddaughters well on the way to being finished for a ball on January 25. Wish me luck.
Dec 1 - cut and sewed a mock up bodice for 1 dress 🧵
Dec 2 - discussed mock up with sewing buddies 🧵
Dec 3 - found a scrap of brocade that is perfect for the green reticule 🧵
Inspiration for reticule:
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This December, I will lose weight to get back to my Jan 1, 2019 wt of 155 on Jan 1, 2020. This will be hugely validating. My goal for the rest of my life is to weigh 155 or below each New Year’s, my birthday, our anniversary, & Thanksgiving.
More soon on how I will accomplish this important goal!2 -
This December, I will lose weight to get back to my Jan 1, 2019 wt of 155 on Jan 1, 2020. This will be hugely validating. My goal for the rest of my life is to weigh 155 or below each New Year’s, my birthday, our anniversary, & Thanksgiving.
More soon on how I will accomplish this important goal![/quote]
Dec 3: 159.6❌❌⚠️
Dec 4: 159.4 ❌❌⚠️
This should continue to drop quickly now that routine is back & family have left.
Jan 1 Goal: 1550 -
This December, I will lose weight to get back to my Jan 1, 2019 wt of 155 on Jan 1, 2020. This will be hugely validating. My goal for the rest of my life is to weigh 155 or below each New Year’s, my birthday, our anniversary, & Thanksgiving.
More soon on how I will accomplish this important goal!
Dec 3: 159.6❌❌⚠️
Dec 4: 159.4 ❌❌⚠️
This should continue to drop quickly now that routine is back & family have left.
Dec 5: 158 ❌❌ progress
Jan 1 Goal: 1550 -
]This December, I will lose weight to get back to my Jan 1, 2019 wt of 155 on Jan 1, 2020. This will be hugely validating. My goal for the rest of my life is to weigh 155 or below each New Year’s, my birthday, our anniversary, & Thanksgiving.
More soon on how I will accomplish this important goal! Walking daily, eating at home, spreading meals our, careful with calories, resting, mindfulness, and deep breathing to handle our ill, elderly cat (instead of eating)
Dec 3: 159.6❌❌⚠️
Dec 4: 159.4 ❌❌⚠️
This should continue to drop quickly now that routine is back & family have left.
Dec 5: 158 ❌❌ progress
Dec 6: 157 🧡
Jan 1 Goal: 1551 -
In spite of this week being the last of the semester and having lots of grading to do, I did do sewing work every day
Dec 1 - cut and sewed a mock up bodice for 1 dress 🧵
Dec 2 - discussed mock up with sewing buddies 🧵
Dec 3 - found a scrap of brocade that is perfect for the green reticule 🧵
Dec 4 - worked on resizing a reticule pattern 🧵
Dec 5 - ordered reticule fabric and chose that pattern 🧵
Dec 6 - sewed the sleeve darts and seams on bodice mock up #1🧵
Dec 7 - set sleeves on mock up #1🧵
Here are the reticule fabrics, patterns, and the bodice mock up. Fitting of the mock up tomorrow- wish me luck!
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In spite of this week being the last of the semester and having lots of grading to do, I did do sewing work every day
Dec 1 - cut and sewed a mock up bodice for 1 dress 🧵
Dec 2 - discussed mock up with sewing buddies 🧵
Dec 3 - found a scrap of brocade that is perfect for the green reticule 🧵
Dec 4 - worked on resizing a reticule pattern 🧵
Dec 5 - ordered reticule fabric and chose that pattern 🧵
Dec 6 - sewed the sleeve darts and seams on bodice mock up #1🧵
Dec 7 - set sleeves on mock up #1🧵
Here are the reticule fabrics, patterns, and the bodice mock up. Fitting of the mock up tomorrow- wish me luck!
@77tes Fantastic Wow!!1 -
@77tes I hope the fitting goes well tomorrow. There are a lot of steps that go into a project, aren’t there!? Nonsewers who just see the finished product have no idea!
@MadisonMolly2017 you’re going down! I do believe you will meet your Jan 1 goal.2 -
You ladies got some real resolve! I've got a late start this month, but rejoined yesterday. Better late than never! This December I will start lifting weights again. I just completed my first 15 minutes...I'll be throwing in "girly" pushups next week. Perhaps I can do a "real" (ha ha, they're ALL real) one by my birthday (Oct). Gotta set goals....or I've never accomplish them.5
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Just joined the group and I'm a bit late to December, but why wait to start!
1. This December I will identify and plan my health strategy.
2. To do this I will schedule realistic workout times that are achievable: 3 days a week/30 minutes a day.
3. I've plugged this into my family calendar so I will be alerted when it's time to work out.
4. I will be accountable by tracking those fitness days using MFP.
5. I will reward myself with a long post-workout hot shower.
6. Please help keep me accountable! I'm much more successful when I know I need to report back.
7. If I can get 3 workout days a week by the end of this year, I will have been more successful than I've been all year!3 -
Welcome to new members @SheilaCali and @nikicreates. It's never too late to start! I haven't declared my "this December" plan but it is very similar to both of yours. I truly enjoy lifting weights but have some serious work to do to get to where I want to be. Great plans, ladies!3
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Thanks nebslp! Sounds like you're a great cheerleader...were you one in high school like I was? Keep on keeping on, making better choices! For Christmas I'm giving myself the gift of RESOLVE, and I'll use it daily. 2
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@SheilaCali I was cheering from the sidelines 📣 but never was popular or athletic enough to be voted into the cheerleader role. I know someone who picks a word of the year and then keeps it in mind when making decisions. Resolve is a good word!3
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This December, I will lose weight to get back to my Jan 1, 2019 wt of 155 on Jan 1, 2020. This will be hugely validating. My goal for the rest of my life is to weigh 155 or below each New Year’s, my birthday, our anniversary, & Thanksgiving.
More soon on how I will accomplish this important goal! Walking daily, eating at home, spreading meals our, careful with calories, resting, mindfulness, and deep breathing to handle our ill, elderly cat (instead of eating)
Dec 3: 159.6❌❌⚠️
Dec 4: 159.4 ❌❌⚠️
This should continue to drop quickly now that routine is back & family have left.
Dec 5: 158 ❌❌ progress
Dec 6: 157 🧡
Dec 7 157.2❌
8 157.6❌
9 157🧡
10 157.2❌
11 157.2❌
Just too Much stress, but soon things will calm down.💕💕Good luck ALL!
Not Giving Up!!! Ever!!!
Jan 1 Goal: 1550 -
@MadisonMolly2017 December is always rough with so many things out of the regular routine. It’s going by so fast, maybe because there’s so much to think about and it just feels like I’m running out of time. We’re celebrating the 21st, so time is short, the list is long!
“Not giving up!!! Ever!!!” ... 😍 love it 💗2 -
@MadisonMolly2017 December is always rough with so many things out of the regular routine. It’s going by so fast, maybe because there’s so much to think about and it just feels like I’m running out of time. We’re celebrating the 21st, so time is short, the list is long!
“Not giving up!!! Ever!!!” ... 😍 love it 💗
@nebslp I do think it’s the key to weight loss & maintenance because every other time I got distracted or too disappointed with the normal regain when you stop dieting & eat more or went in a vacation & never got back on track.
In effect, whether consciously or unconsciously I gave up.
Not. This. Time!
Good luck with your preparations! Are their one or two things you could modify to make it easier on you?!💕2 -
I’ve been absent from the group for a long time, and although I know December is half gone, I think it’ll do me more good to start now rather than waiting until the start of the month.
Therefore:
1. This December I will be more active.
2. I’m going to start going to bed at 10 and getting up at 6; this will give me enough time to start walking in the morning while I listen to my podcasts.
3. As soon as my daughter is in bed I’ll lay out my walking clothes for the next morning. Seeing those clothes after my alarm goes off in the morning will be my cue to get outside and walk.
4. I’m planning to walk outside every morning unless I happen to get sick or if the ground is too icy to safely walk on. Maybe I’ll go use a treadmill on bad weather days instead.
5. I think I’ll reserve my favorite podcast (Greetings, Adventurers) to listen to only during these morning walks so that the reward is built in.
6. What help do you need from us?
I do well with someone keeping me accountable.
7. What does success look like to you at the end of 2019?
I’ll be pleased if I can maintain my weight through the holidays, and thrilled if I can continue the trend of slow-and-steady weight loss I’ve shown over the past 6 weeks.2 -
MessyApron, I love your inspiring name! It sounds like you've got some doable goals you're working on. I can't believe the month is almost half over either. End the month better than how you started it. No matter what the scale says, keep developing healthier habits and they will pay off. I should've never stopped MFP, as I've gained all of my weight back. Now it's time to keep it off for good- even if that means staying connected with like-minded wonderful people. Sounds like a win-win to me!4
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I just joined, so I'm a little late to post! But I would still like to be involved (:
This December I will:- begin my health journey
- start tracking macros
- start doing yoga again
- allow myself to still enjoy the holidays
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SheilaCali wrote: »You ladies got some real resolve! I've got a late start this month, but rejoined yesterday. Better late than never! This December I will start lifting weights again. I just completed my first 15 minutes...I'll be throwing in "girly" pushups next week. Perhaps I can do a "real" (ha ha, they're ALL real) one by my birthday (Oct). Gotta set goals....or I've never accomplish them.
@SheilaCali , weight training is a great way to start. I couldn’t do a push up until I was in my 50s, and now I can do a few. 😉 🤣. Today is always the best time to get started.
I’ve been working on the sewing projects every day. The fitting for dress bodice #1 went well, but the bodice needs a little more across the back (thanks to stupid 120 pushups the girl does each day). That let me know to add more to bodice #2, so that fitting went perfect. I’ve also almost finished reticule #1. Feeling pretty accomplished.
@MessyApron , a morning walk is a great idea! And starting by getting to bed early is a brilliant plan.
@frankiesteinx3 , Tracking and yoga are both pillars of my plan! Go for it!
@nebslp , thanks for all the encouragement! You rock!1 -
This December, I will lose weight to get back to my Jan 1, 2019 wt of 155 on Jan 1, 2020. This will be hugely validating. My goal for the rest of my life is to weigh 155 or below each New Year’s, my birthday, our anniversary, & Thanksgiving.
More soon on how I will accomplish this important goal! Walking daily, eating at home, spreading meals our, careful with calories, resting, mindfulness, and deep breathing to handle our ill, elderly cat (instead of eating)
Dec 3: 159.6❌❌⚠️
Dec 4: 159.4 ❌❌⚠️
This should continue to drop quickly now that routine is back & family have left.
Dec 5: 158 ❌❌ progress
Dec 6: 157 🧡
Dec 7 157.2❌
8 157.6❌
9 157🧡
10 157.2❌
11 157.2❌
Just too Much stress, but soon things will calm down.💕💕Good luck ALL!
Not Giving Up!!! Ever!!!
12 159❌❌❌
13 157.5❌
14 157🧡
15 157.8 ❌
Cat is MUCH BETTER!
Colonoscopy is behind me.
Lots of exercise & calories under target the past 4 days.
Jan 1 Goal: 1550 -
Hi everyone! I have returned from my trip to Santa Fe to see my daughter and we had a great time! It’s my first trip to the southwestern US in eons, but it won’t be the last! It did prove to be challenging to stick with my monthly goal of doing a HIIT session twice a week as there was no gym at the hotel. So instead, we did a lot of walking. Actually, it was a good reminder that being flexible with circumstances beyond my control is important. Now that I’m back home and have access to my trusty treadmill, the HIIT sessions have resumed.
I will catch up on your posts very soon. But it’s wonderful to see some familiar members return! Welcome back, @MessyApron and @SheilaCali!2 -
Since I bring my feet wherever I go, I have no excuses not to walk. We did a lot of walking in Santa Fe. More problematic was the lack of in-room coffee. Who doesn’t have in-room coffee at their motel? Fortunately, there was a wonderful cafe only 3 minutes from where we were staying.2
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themedalist wrote: »Since I bring my feet wherever I go, I have no excuses not to walk. We did a lot of walking in Santa Fe. More problematic was the lack of in-room coffee. Who doesn’t have in-room coffee at their motel? Fortunately, there was a wonderful cafe only 3 minutes from where we were staying.
I've been walking a lot more this past month, and was looking for a good foot stretch routine. 77tes posted this recently: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=hSGPSPqycSw&feature=emb_title. Perhaps we should all give our feet a Christmas present and take care of them better. I did the routine in the midst of a long day of standing- I'm moving a lot of my kitchen out to make room for a laundry space. Lots of bending, reaching, and lifting. I suppose a back routine is next! Be good to yourselves this busy season and always.1 -
I am inspired by everyone's goals. I also like the idea of starting now as opposed to waiting especially given the season. It makes everything extra challenging.
I am doing okay-ish. Not super but not terrible either. I think I realized that I need to check in here more frequently as part of my "small actions I’ll be taking to accomplish this goal." Every time I revisit this group, I get motivated rereading my own goals and reading about everyone else.
Waves to all!5 -
Checking in; I’ve been doing very well with my morning walks, but I’ve had to give it a miss today. Why? I went to lay out my walking clothes last night, and it looks like I left my sports bra in the locker room at the Y yesterday. (T~T) I’ll be stopping by after work to see if some Good Samaritan put it in the lost and found instead of just trashing it.2
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Gaaaaa! Just made Christmas cookies all day, and I kept my eating of them to a minimum. Most of them are leaving my house, thank goodness. Now I can move the pantry items to the living room. I'm glad I'll have trouble baking with the kitchen in disarray. Cookies are just too yummy. I'm glad I started back on MFP, otherwise I would've eaten a lot more...
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