365 Days, 365 Chances

This time last year, I made a pledge to myself to get healthy and lose weight.  I told myself - 365 days, 365 chances. 

What can you accomplish in a year?

What a year.

It was full of motivational, cheesy, and honest fitness-related memes and quotes. I learned to change up my workout routine every few months, and even set mini goals for myself, such as attempting one race per month during the spring and summer.

I watched my calories, tried to focus on quality vs quantity. Kept only healthy snacks in my house (the junk food would only last about 20 hours really, before I ate it all). I didn't just change the physical environment, but I modified social media as well: I followed so many fitness-related accounts on Instagram. They inspired me to try new healthy meals or do a new arm workout.

I even created my own health-related Instagram account! (Note: it is poorly maintained. Perhaps like my health). 

I took progress pictures, signed up for dietbets and Beachbody challenges galore (shout out to my coach, Krystle!)

Some I won, many I failed. 

I gave myself pep talks, which could be categorized as positive encouragement, tough love, or straight up self shaming at times. 

Sometimes I had to confront myself about my eating habits: "Why do I want this? Am I even hungry? Am I an emotional eater?"

(Yes.)

And then... it finally kicked in.

I was focused, and I was losing weight.

My clothes weren't so tight, and I was having mini NSVs (non scale victories).

People were noticing, I felt great!

And then... my birthda-er, birth MONTH happened. I thought it was an excuse to eat whatever I want. Celebrate with whomever and however I wanted. I slipped back. Then the holidays come up, and.. we just all know how that goes. You eat healthy for literally two days (even though it feels like a week), you step on the scale and flip out about the lack of progress.

Yeah.

What about 2017?

I don't have a concrete plan, yet.

I am coming down from a cold (thanks, 2016. Hah, kidding!) and feel like the poo emoji while drafting this on a plane. With the occasional screaming child or two.

But I'm working on it.

I've been thinking a lot about my priorities for the year, and in the theme of being selfish, I'm ready to deep dive into more selfishness or what I would like to call "self love" once more.