You may notice that I don’t normally do guest posts here on Roni’s Weigh. I mean the name of the blog is RONI’S Weigh and I always felt that this was my personal sounding board. A place for me to share my thoughts and my experiences. However, when someone pitches a good idea I’m also open to sharing the space.
Elaine asked if she could do a series of posts on motivation and goal-setting and I thought it was a great fit. You may remember Elaine from a running post we did together awhile back. She’s also been a member of BlogToLose forever!
So without further ado may I present Elaine’s Corner! :)
What’s the one thing that we all have in common?
All people, regardless of their weight, health, or even their level of self-confidence, have the commonality of needing goals to succeed. With goals comes the need for motivation. Goals are the light at the end of the tunnel, while motivation is the part that keeps us going, day-in-and-day-out, when we look in the mirror and see fat, when the gym is revolting, and when pizza sounds way better than a healthier dinner. Roni maintains that self-confidence is the most important piece of the “health and wellness” puzzle and I completely agree – I also think that motivation is necessary for those days when self-confidence is nowhere to be found.
I’ve dedicated most of my career to studying motivation and goal-setting in an academic setting. I’ve studied psychology, biology, public policy, and public health. I’ve taken semester courses on bridging the gap between knowledge and action – we all know that vegetables are better for us than cheesecake, but we often struggle with closing the gap in choosing the vegetables.
I’ve studied public health for over 10 years now; I say this because now I feel like it’s time to put this knowledge to action. What better way to put it in to action with a group of talented, witty, intelligent women (and some men) that are trying to be healthier, happier, and more confident?!?
With that, a formal introduction is in store. My name is Elaine. I’ve been a reader of Roni’s Weigh since back when it wasn’t titled so! Over the years of reading, I’ve resonated closely with Roni’s feelings about confidence, body image, and self-empowerment. For the next 8 weeks, I will be writing once a week about goal-setting, behavior change, and motivation. While the theoretical knowledge of motivation is not enough alone, a thorough understanding of how behavior change works can empower you.
Together, we will empower each other, put goals in place with actionable steps, and take 9 weeks of small behavioral changes to make lasting and important healthy changes in our lives. On the tenth week, we will share our successes, failures, and learn from each other about how to sustain long-term goals.
Think deeply about a goal you want to achieve. This may be something you’ve just recently thought about, or something that’s been stewing in your heart for awhile. It may be exercising three times a week, getting up earlier to make time for yoga, fitting in to an old pair of pants, finishing a 5K, or setting a good example for your family or children. Whatever your goal is, I want to hear about it in the comments section. My goal will be maintaining a three-day-a-week exercise habit even though I just started a new full-time job. For me, the goal is not letting life get in the way of my health; it’s remembering that if I take care of my health just three times a week, I will reap the dividends all week long.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Here is your call to action – tell me what you will be working on for the next 8 weeks.
63 Responses to Elaine’s Corner: Introduction
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I Published a Cook Book!
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What's Cooking in my kitchen?
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I've recently discovered the amazing combination of cheese and dried cherries. I know, it sounds weird, but seriously… good! The other day I smeared some Laughing Cow Light Swiss on Cucumber slices and then topped with a cherry. It was a fun, sweet twist on standard cheese and crackers. Well, cheese [...] -
If I was a good blogger this idea would have been published BEFORE the Super Bowl not during it. I made these today to have a little fun. Surprisingly, The Husband liked them even though he didn't eat more than one. Why? Because he's strange like [...] -
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The other day I found myself craving an Orange Julius. Are they as popular as I think they are? Growing up we had an Orange Julius at our local mall. It was always a treat for us at the end of a family shopping trip. Once I was old enough to be [...] -
So I'm a little breakfast nutty at the moment. Little Bean LOVES eggs and I find myself cooking them more and more. This morning I decided to go super light (after last nights chocolate overload) and it was totally satisfying for just over 100 calories! The trick to making [...] -
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I've had this idea for a quick creamy chicken dish for a few days now. It was time to give it a shot. The whole family LOVED it. I'm not joking. The only complaint came from Little Guy who declared his hate of mushrooms yet again BUT he ate everything around them. Fine [...] -
I made this on a total whim yesterday as I had leftover avocado after feeding the baby and leftover Spaghetti squash cooked from the weekend. I roasted the squash to serve with my Chicken tips instead of potatoes and it was AMAZING! Anyway, I'm getting sidetracked. So I'm sitting there staring [...] -
It's post holiday season. You know what that means? Leftover Crescent rolls to experiment with! Every year for Thanksgiving I buy a few canisters. It's the only time I do as I can't be trusted around them. Let's just say I'd beat you in the How-Many-Crescent-Rolls-Can-You-Eat-In-One-Sitting game and leave [...] -
Last week the kids and I tried parsnips for the first time and I've made them 3 times since. I wanted to figure out the best way to roast them. Yeah, that's it, the best way to roast them. You'll buy that right? Right? The truth is, I'm obsessed. I found myself [...] -
Yesterday just felt like a good day to stuff an acorn squash. I had one sitting on my counter for quite some time and it was just begging to be cooked. Since both husband and child don't like it I made a solo meal just for me and, well, it was DELICIOUS! [...] -
I bought a fennel bulb on a whim for the holidays not knowing quite what I would do with it. Of course I forgot about until yesterday when I was rummaging through the fridge trying to figure out what I wanted to make for breakfast. I pulled it out and stared [...] -
I probably should have warned you I was taking a holiday hiatus. I've been soaking up every moment of family time imaginable these last few days, leaving no time for anything else. Not even blogging! Shocking I know. ;) So I return not with a new recipe, per se, but to [...] -
Here's a quick idea for when you find yourself with a spaghetti squash but don't quite know what to do with it. Come on. Admit it. That's happened to you too. It's sure happened to me! I roasted this squash on Sunday... [...] -
I'm not sure if this will be a crowd pleaser, but I liked it and thought I'd share in hopes it inspires you to have some fun with kale. I loved the combination of sweet pear, earthy kale, salty bacon bits and creamy hummus. The only issue with the wrap was [...] -
I'm going on day 2 of counting Weight Watcher Points and I'm already inspired to come up with light, healthy meals for myself. It's like I needed the constraint of points to motivate me. Isn't that weird? Anyway, all morning I was brainstorming what to make for lunch. I wanted something flavorful [...] -
I have a friend who patiently cleaned, peeled and cubed a fresh pumpkin and then selflessly gave me some. Scratch that, a TON! I would have never even thought of doing something like that! But now that I have it in my fridge the ideas are flowing. First, I roasted some [...] -
CHRISTMAS COOKIES! YAY! Sorry. I'm so excited! Little Guy and I had tons of fun making and decorating cookies today. It may just be my favorite part of the holiday season. I loved it when I was a kid and now I get to do it with my own kids. [...] -
This may be my simplest idea yet, but it was so tasty and satisfying I had to share. Plus you guys know I'm a Laughing Cow Community Leader so I'm all about sharing fun ways to use their products. You guys may also know how I feel about pausing and making [...] -
I made this on Thursday. THURSDAY! I hate when I can't post something I've eaten within 24 hours. It just bugs me. Not sure why, it really doesn't matter when I post it, does it? Anyway, I did whip this up to cure a pizza craving and I couldn't be happier. [...] -
It's been awhile since I jazzed up a tilapia fillet. I've breaded them before, coated them in oats, flavored them like one of my favorite drinks and topped them with a fun salsa. It was time to bring nuts into the party. You are going to think I'm crazy but I've [...] -
Fun leftover turkey idea #2! Click here for leftover turkey idea #1. I had a little Gouda leftover from this years Harvest Salad and decided to put all the same flavors from the salad into a quesadilla. I just can't get enough of the smokey gouda/sweet craisin combo. It goes [...] -
It's the day after Thanksgiving and my refrigerator ROCKS! I have leftover turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, roasted Brussels Sprouts, a bunch of veggies and tons of miscellaneous fun stuff. I've already made stock from the bones (like this) and my first batch of soup, Classic Turkey Noodle. I hope to share [...] -
I'm so sorry I've been slacking in the Thanksgiving recipe department. I feel like a bad food blogger. Everyone else is posting festive ideas and here I've gone missing for a few days. Maybe it's because I'm not doing anything special for Turkey day. I finally got my holiday cooking [...]
About Roni
Roni started this blog in '05 to journal her weight loss. 70lbs later, she's committed to living a conscious, healthy life and hopes to inspire others along the way. Read more on the about page.
- drink 100 oz of water/day
- finish Jillian’s 30 Day Shred (Sept 21) and tackle the couch to 5k
Hopefully by setting these goals i’ll be down a pant size. I’ve lost 16lbs and still in the same clothes.
I am another delurker. We are just coming out of the woodwork. My goal is to begin again to food journal. I do so much better when I journal. I tend to put it aside with the thought, if I don’t know it won’t hurt me. It does, though. I have given up most of the caffeine/soda I used to live on and would now like to exercise more and journal. We’ll start with journaling.
I want to fit comfortably in my summer clothing for my vacation to Mexico Nov 22-Dec 4. My shorts and dresses are very tight if they fit at all. I spent the summer in sweatpants and stretchy clothing and am approaching size 20 which I vowed to never do again! The only time I can see a 2 in a size I wear will be 12! Heres to a commitment for 8 weeks.
I commit to the goal of feeling sexy again. These 40 extra pounds have made me self-conscience. I want to be free to wear clothes of my choice again, not just what hides the “muffin top” best. In order to do this I need to work on making my dinners light. Not eating so much cheese and getting my workouts done in the morning, to set my mind in a healthier frame for the day. Journaling is key. (It helps me to put up cut out pictures of my head on really hot bodies and tape them up to the fridge). Good luck everyone!
My goal is to see myself thin. Thre are so many times that i stop myself from doing somehting i want because I am too fat, and what will otehrs think, and won’t they look at my fat??? etc. For the next 8 weeks, I am already thin. I AM THIN!!!! I AM THIN!!!! And I will live like a THIN PERSON!!!!
I want to add, that I just went for a jog, and when I get dressed to exercise I always wear a Tshort on top of my sports bra, and last month I bought this great tank top which is very comfortable, but never wore because i have fat arms. Today I looked in the mirror and said, hey I am thin, put it on!! Wear it. and I did. I could not make eye contact with strangers because I was afraid they would “look” at me, but next time I am wearing the tank top and making eye contact!!! And the next time I will actually smile, which is what I love to do when I am jogging and see people… baby steps to success!!!
This is great timing. I recently had a CT Scan that showed a slightly enlarged Liver and Spleen due to my obesity. I have never said that about myself – that I’m obese, but I am. I’ve been in denial really for a while. I have known that I needed to lose some weight and that I was overweight, but never thought that I had a health problem. I’m lucky that I don’t have a realy health problem due to this, but I know if I don’t make a change now I am in for a rough road.
My goal is to change my diet. I want to eliminate sweets from my diet 6 out of 7 days a week. I also want to aim to eat at least 5 servings of fruits and veggies daily. I want to start swapping whites for whole grains.
My goal is to make it in to workout at least 3 times a week, ideally 5 times a week. I’m working on my MSc and working full time and this semester I have 2 classes as well so my time is….well there is none. The only time for workouts is in the mornings and since with gradschool I get a membership to the university gym and pool I want to use it. I want to look after myself while I do everything else, but hopefully find a balance where I work out and still get everything done. I want to fit fitness into my life even when it’s crazy. Here’s hoping :)
My goal is to deepen my friendships and make new friends. I plan to do this by scheduling time with friends at least once each week for the next nine weeks. Next week? Free Yoga with a friend! Doesn’t get any better than that–health and friends at the same time. Also helping a friend get her fall canning done.
I love this idea, thanks Elaine! I have so many goals, and for me it is hard to focus on just one. I think of everything I want to accomplish and get overwhelmed. I am trying to set more doable goals (like working out 3x/wk instead of 7) because I have a tendency toward an “all-or-nothing” mentality. I am also working on cooking healthy meals at home rather than eating out.
I am committed to “Not letting life get in the way of my health” My goals for the next 10 weeks: (1) Exercise at lunch time at least 3 x a week, (2) Plan better meals and food log on the weekends, give up the mindless eating, (3) Bike ride or fitness class on Saturday and Sunday, (4) Food Journal atleast 3 x weekly.
I am working on loosing 10 pounds.
I’m already signed up to run a 5k (my first!) in 2 weeks, so completing my training plan and finishing that without dying is my primary goal.
I also need to get back into food journaling to make the diet as important as the exercise. So, journal every day on sparkpeople is my secondary goal.