New Years Evolutions

Yes, you read that right- evolutions, not resolutions. Because resolutions don't stick, while evolutions do.

Not because it's the New Year either- it's because I'm finally ready to get serious, and my nutritionist appointment was in early January. So there.

For details, I have restarted my weight loss blog I'm Fighting Fat. It's also filled with trials and errors from the past, so  learn from it what you will. But I'm starting over- one more time and I wanted to share my journeys with you.

I just acquired an exercise bike, because exercising out in the cold with osteoarthritis is a bad idea. If I don't exercise, I don't work those joints, I don't increase mobility, and eventually I'll freeze up like the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz. Not good if I plan to be remotely active in the spring.
To compromise, I got a stationary bike- one I can use while I watch videos. That will practically guarantee that I do 20-30 minutes of my require exercises each day. Especially when it's too rainy/icy/snowy/hot/humid/whatever outside.

No excuses this time!

This also gives me the chance to do a little redecorating. The living room is a feng-shui disaster, and is very, very cluttered. Now I have an exercise bike on top of that, so a little revamping is in order- and I get to have the men in the family move stuff while my daughter and I make thinks shiny- that's always a good thing.

I'm also making other changes. I'm working on formatting a book for self-publication as well as getting one published through an indie publisher (hopefully). The ideal would be to get both out this year, but I'll settle for at least one. And you, Dear Readers, will be the first to know when I do!

I'd joined Toastmasters to learn public speaking, but I'm really not enjoying the meetings. I thought it would be more like a class, but it seems as if there's more fumbling around on my own than anything being taught, so I might find a better way to learn this skill. Besides, I don't like the manuals that tell you you have to achieve all these goals (like be a timekeeper, or an "um" counter) in order to move on. I just don't learn that way.

Crafting is still in the mix- I think I'd go nuts if I didn't have a creative outlet using my hands! My plan is to work all year on finishing UFO's (UnFinished Objects) and sell them at craft shows during the college and Christmas seasons. In the meantime, I'll put some handcrafted goodies up on my Etsy store. 

I hope to get my joints limber enough to get my garden restarted in the spring. We had a bumper crop of tomatoes last year (I made some great homemade sauce!), but it played havoc on my joints because I'd planted a little too much and the plants grew into tomatozillas that I needed a scythe just to get to the shiny red produce. Better planning, better planting and better use of small garden space is key, because we don't have time to do the community garden this year.
I'm plating a lot more herbs too. I've been "going herbal" for about a year now, and found they make really good remedies for everyday afflictions- though I won't go all out and get a beehive for fresh honey- I need an excuse to go to Lancaster, after all!

Lots of plans. Lots of ideas and enthusiasm. I just hope I can pull all of this off! But to be honest, I'll be happy to pull most of this off. Especially the book- I really want that to happen this year!