2024 Year in Review

Happy New Year! I'm a little late getting to this review post this year. I usually like to have it done for the end of the year, but life was particularly crazy over the last month and I just never got to it. (Oh crap, I also just realized I never posted the last several weight updates, so I'll have to get on that as well!)

I tried different methods of goal setting for the year. I started 2024 off with trying some quarterly goals:

• From January to March, I wanted to lose 5 lbs, which, at the time, would have brought my weight down to 219.8 lbs. This was failed - at the end, I had actually gained a bit of weight from my starting goal and was up to 228.2 lbs.
• Then from April to June, I focused on healing my back - I wanted to be going to see the chiropractor every four weeks, rather than every two or three. This was a success! I consistently was doing yoga for my back weekly, which seemed to help!

From there, I decided to set a six month goal, then monthly goals:

• The six month goal was to lose 18lbs by Dec 31st. The plan was to lose 3lbs a month to the end of the year; I laid out all the monthly goal weights, and came up with some rewards to help me achieve them. Unfortunately, I failed to make any of those goal weights, and completely failed this goal. :(
• For July, the monthly goal was to do yoga for my back twice a week. I succeeded. :)
• For August, the monthly goal was walk once a week, with a bonus goal of continuing to do yoga for my back twice a week. This was also a success (in both parts!) I was very happy, as this month I managed to build on the previous month's success.
• For September, my goal was simply to continue doing yoga for my back twice a week, and walking once a week. Unfortunately, this is where everything fell apart. Between vertigo flare-ups and the anniversary of losing a loved one, I wasn't able to keep going with the successes I'd had in July and August. I stopped setting goals for the remainder of the year. :(

Based off of what happened, I think I need to try to stick with monthly goals (specifically with rewards built in). I seemed to have a lot of luck with those when I was setting them. Though I also need plans in place for when I may fall off-track (specifically when vertigo flares, or around certain times of the year that are significant for my lost loved one). I don't seem to do well with long-term goals, and, right now at least, I haven't been doing well with weight-loss goals that work towards a particular number. I'll probably be better off setting goals towards starting and maintaining healthy habits.

However, I am really pleased to see the successes I had in July and August of this year. In face, 2024 is the year that I've actually had the most successes with the goals I've set for the year, so that's super encouraging. :)