Resetting Priorities

January 16, 2012

Martin Kelly

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Things I have stopped doing

I want to start this with a disclaimer that I am not suggesting that there is anything wrong with the activities I am avoiding or the products and services that I am no longer using. The first area of life that I am resetting is the use of my spare time. I have cleared my friends list to just actual friends and family. I have stopped using the time consuming on line games that kept me going through my period of heavy travel. I am limiting my television watching to planned program viewing. All of this is to realign the use of my time with what I have claimed (and really want) I want to do.

Next, I am no longer consuming carbonated beverages (colas, beer, etc.). These beverages are liquid candy and except for the beer, have no nutrition value. I am reducing the amount of sweets (candy, pie, cake, cookies, ice cream) to actually be treats. I am forgoing the second helpings of my favorite meals (pasta, pizza, turkey, stuffing). These actions are to reduce my caloric intake to address the fact that I am significantly over weight.

Things I am starting

I am spending more time writing. I have taken up crocheting again. I have already completed two single bed afghans for my college age kids. This is something I learned as a child at the feet of my grandmother. I have even gotten books from the library to help me understand the secret language of the crocheting patterns. I am doing this with my wife (she actually is knitting and taking classes). It is something we do together while watching television programs. Having something to do with you hands really cuts done on the snacking or even the channel surfing. These activities help to calm me especially during high stress with work, kids or life in general.

I am going to the gym more. I am trying for at least three trips a week. This in combination with my eating adjustments should work towards my weight loss goals. My doctor has told me to try for at most one pound per week. This is the sustainable loss rate the will result in a weight that can be maintained. If I success, I will lose 50 pounds by next Christmas. So far I have lost five pounds in the first three weeks of 2012. I know that there will be plateaus, but I am encouraged.

Other adjustments

I was wrong in my prediction that Green Bay would make it back to the Super Bowl, but I still stand by my prediction that Baltimore will win it all this year. I did not win the lottery – again- so I will just have to keep working and earn a retirement. The History Channel and National Geographic Channel have become my favorite stations, mostly because they are not reporting on the primaries. And finally, I really have to get my first book into the Hyrax store.

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