Setting Goals

Do you ever feel like you set goals only to miss them? Ugh. That's pretty much the story of my life! I loved the Whole 30 and the Living Well Spending Zero challenges because there was lots of accountability. But really I think where I was mentally had a huge impact on my success. I was all in and totally motivated. I also gave myself a lot of grace and didn't beat myself up when I slipped or messed up. I was able to keep my goals in view and stay focused to reach them.

Normally, I'm really good at planning, thinking up large (and what I think are reasonable) goals, and setting out the path I need to accomplish them, only to get started but then decide I don't want to do it. And I'm so good with the excuses. So good. Didn't get enough sleep last night. Need more time to prepare. I'll start next Monday. I'm in pain. Going on vacation. Too much to do. Got a party to go to. And on and on.

So here I am...at the end of two large challenges, which I nailed! And trying to decide where to go from here.

I will admit that since the end of my Whole30 my eating has not been stellar. (If you follow me on Instagram you will know exactly how that went down!) And I may have gone on a little shopping spree this week. Just a little one. But what next? I determined to not beat myself up as I "re-entered" reality. I wanted to take it slow and stay out of the stores...

I want to stay healthy. I want to be money-wise, a good steward.

Can I just say that these last two weeks have been quite wonderful. I've not just sat on the couch stuffing my face and shopping online! The Hubby and I were able to sneak away on a little vacation to celebrate our nine year anniversary. We spent 4 days ALONE! We ate, we exercised, we rested, we relaxed. It was amazing, and so needed. We were home for only a few days, when we hosted the snack bar at our church's Harvest Carnival: Nachos. Hot Dogs. Chips. Hot chocolate. The same night my brother and his wife, who live in Australia, and my sister and husband and their baby, who live in Alaska, all flew in! My mom made a huge dinner of Mexican food: enchiladas with all the fixin's. So. Flippin'. Good.

I've spent all week with my family, eating and shopping, and celebrating our close family friends who got married. It's been so fun and a great few days of just hanging out. So, these are not things that happen all the time, not "normal" everyday life things we do all week. But two to three weeks of "vacation mentality" could easily set me up to fall back into old eating and shopping habits. How do I avoid that. How do I beat the sugar addiction, and the love of stuff?

I could not go. Not go out to eat. Not go shopping. Not spend quality time with my fam because that's what they like to do. I could go and not indulge. Take my own lunches, which requires forethought and preparation. Leave my credit cards at home and window shop. (My heart just stopped a little. Maybe I need to post a fashion show of my wonderful finds. Then you'll know it was worth it! LOL) Or... I could engage in moderation (does moderation ever work?!) and hope that the addictive tendencies don't creep back in. That is, of course, the path of least resistance, the one (for now) which I have chosen.

Only time will tell if it was the right choice. Hubby and I have decided that as soon as life gets back to normal (as in when my family heads home and we're all so sad!) we will return to eating Whole 30 style until Thanksgiving, except for the day of our pre-Thanksgiving with our friends, and the day we decorate the sanctuary and have a party with our church music peeps... So many celebrations. The goal for now is to stay the course when eating at home, with only a few changes, and try not to overspend on Christmas.  

"Don't buy yourself a gift for every one you buy for someone else!" is what I'll be telling myself!