February 04, 2013

Win-Win!


Yep, this is the post where you can discover who won the "Rugged Readers" reading glasses.

So what's the second WIN?  Well, this post is also the commencement of a monthly version of our January weekly goal "support group," which has been a huge "Win!" for me personally.

[And there is also more info on the Resolution/Goals Support & Life Coaching Giveaway. Of course this should be the day I announce that winner as well, but, instead I'm conducting a clever Anti-Perfectionism Demonstration exercise.  To those who are overly-conscientious: watch how easy it is to screw up and get over it quickly!  I realized I need some help from interested contestants and will announce the winner in a few days. More details below, and sorry about that!]

So why was I so psyched about the Goal Support posts?  Well, not only did you guys help me rock one of my New Year's resolutions all month, but many of you chose goals that resonated with my own self-improvement efforts.  So I got all kinds of great ideas about exercise and healthy eating and mindfulness and simplifying and saving time and getting organized etc from reading your comments!





OK, maybe no one actually suggested this particular winner, but there was plenty of creative thinking.

So anyway, let's find out who won the reading glasses and get straightened out on the coaching giveaway, and then finally get this monthly "support group" fired up!

And the winner of the "Rugged Readers" is...

Trabb's Boy!!

Congrats TB, and please email me (address on Schmooze page) to let me know your mailing address by Friday Feb 8!

(FYI for latecomers curious about portable uncrushable glasses: here's the Rugged Reader Review.)

Free Life Coaching Giveaway: Still Interested? Let Me Know!

So here's the thing:  some of you may be interested in trying out the free coaching, and others of you were just there to be supportive and would probably decline.  And I didn't ask for emails up front so would have to make a big blog announcement, and then wait for a response.

How to avoid the scenario of announcing winner after winner after winner because none of the people selected actually want the coaching, but I can't email them first and ask?  A bit awkward for all involved!

So here's how you can help:

If you definitely WOULD be interested in winning the free coaching, either leave a comment or email me (schmooze page) letting me know that.  If you win, I can either go ahead and announce it on the blog or email you back first if that info is accessible. If you prefer email coaching to phone or skype, that's a bonus, because in that case I may pick 2 winners.

If you're NOT SURE, and might want to know more about it first, let me know you MIGHT be interested, and please let me know your email address so we can communicate before I make a big ol' announcement if you win.

If you'd prefer to POLITELY DECLINE,  it's fine to just ignore this whole thing, as I'm probably going to narrow down to those who are actively expressing interest. The selection process is hard enough!

Finalists will be chosen by me, probably tuesday night, but not revealed publicly; the ultimate winner will be picked from that small group by random number generator.  Some of you awesome finalists may know, in your heart of hearts, that I have chosen you. And if you are not ultimately selected, it's only because the evil RNG screwed up!

And don't forget: All Contestents who Survived this Far are Eligible for a package at 50% Off Normal Life Coaching Rates.

Re: Tardy Comments:

So due to my fuzzy menopausal brain, and the haphazard nature of my comment reply schedule, I'm discovering I missed some great comments in the resolution series as they came in. I've attempted to go back and reply to a few more, sorry about the delay!

And yeah, I know how silly it is to attempt to do that when so many people don't check back for replies, but for now, I'm liking the delusion I'm having a conversation even if no one may actually be listening.

Now, On to Goal Support! 

If anyone has a goal they're working on, we'd love to hear about it and hope you join us in the comments.

Once a month there'll be a post like this, only I'm hoping it will be more about Goals again and not a random hodgepodge of blog logistics.( But since I was super-preachy all through January, I figured you could use a break anyway).

We can each follow up with how things went with our previous goal, and/or what we're working on now if it's different. And throughout the month we can come back and post updates, and support each other with encouragement or suggestions by using that nifty "reply" button.

Since the thread is designed to be active all month, I'm hoping people will stop in often to let us know how you're doing.  We can help celebrate or troubleshoot or get you back on track. But whenever/however/whatever... it's all good. I actually get really curious and excited by all your endeavors and LOVE to hear updates and offer brief feedback or encouragement.

For myself, I found having at least weekly accountability was really helpful to staying on track, but heck, this is all a bit of an experiment. If there are too many dropouts, I'll just quietly roll up the carpets and turn out the lights and lock the door and we can all agree to never speak of this again.


Will There Be Loot?

Possibly!  If I run across a giveaway opportunity that provides for more than one winner, I'll make sure to reserve a prize solely for Support Group Participants, plus you can still enter the regular giveaways.

We need a Name For This Thing, Any Ideas?

Am I the only one who is not crazy about titling posts with variations on  "goal support group?" Support groups are wonderful inventions, but they evoke sad images of burnt coffee, uncomfortable chairs, "sharing," scruffy meeting spaces, earnest facilitators and a furtive sheepish atmosphere that I find anything but empowering.  (OK, I've never actually been in a support group but I watch lots of movies).

What's a better theme for a fun gathering of clever people who hang out together in order to find inspiration and kick ass?  I'm drawing a blank here!

And Sure, Some People Are So Strong They Don't Need Much Support




But think of it this way, if you are fierce and fabulous enough to kick ass solo?  You can come here and brag and celebrate and feel special! Which might also, coincidentally, inspire someone else who has trouble believing change is possible to keep at it when the going gets sucky.


Got Goals? Want to know what my goal is for February?  Still interested in the Coaching Giveaway? Any ideas on a name for this thing? I've got tons of questions today! 

Win Photos: The Ever-Expanding Icanhascheezburger Empire
Picnic Pants: Yes These are Apparently Real!

85 comments:

  1. I am too appalled by the picnic pants to offer anything of worth.
    I must go have brain cleaned and sanitized now.

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    1. Aww, c'mon Leah, you KNOW you want a pair. Just think how handy they'd be for your yummy baked goods as a crumb-catcher!

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    2. Every time I look at the picnic pants, my internal radio station plays "U Can't Touch This"... If that's the final version, I'd LOVE to see some of the rejected prototypes!

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    3. I keep thinking there must be a whole line of clothes/furniture hybrids somewhere. Probably locked in a government vault.

      Mary Anne in Kentucky

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    4. You guys totally crack me up. I would be peeing in my picnic pants if I owned a pair.

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    5. My 18 year old loves infomercials so much she'd probably want those crazy pants if she saw them.She owns a gyro bowl already. Oh lord.
      Gaye

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  2. So my goal for February is to make a significant start on my next ebook, which has changed subjects 3 times over the last few months and never actually gotten past the outline stage.

    As a process goal, I want to spend some time on it every day, even if it's only a few minutes but I'm hoping it will be much more.

    This will mean even more haphazard blogging than usual. But a subgoal is to get more efficient with blogging. I'd like to start writing shorter simpler posts, to stop caring if some are a bit tedious or incomplete or not funny enough or whatever. I'd like to keep it fun but not stress about it.

    And yeah, I've been saying that since 2008, so don't hold your breath.

    I haven't quite figured out if I want to set a content, page-oriented kind of goal on the ebook or not. Especially since at the beginning there are a lot of overall conceptual and organizational issues than won't necessarily be reflected in words or pages.

    One of the challenges for me is that there's no "deadline" and so I keep putting it off. Yet I really, really want to try to put a couple of ebooks a year out there and see if I can build up some sort of readership over time.

    Could be a silly fantasy, but it's an enduring one, and I want to really give it a shot! I think coming here to report on progress may really help me. What about you guys?

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    1. I think the "something every day" idea is really smart. I've heard of a lot of authors give that advice to aspiring writers, most recently Neil Gaiman, so you're in good company. And if you have a really busy or crummy day and just aren't feeling it, you should sit at your desk and just write "This ebook is going to be amazingly useful and funny just like the last one." Then you can go to bed satisfied that you met your goal.

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    2. If you need motivation / deadline pressure to get some traction on the next book, why not do some pre-sales? It's much harder to procrastinate when you've made a commitment to other people and you know they're counting on you to come through.

      So, set your price and I'll buy my copy right now - then you HAVE to get it written! #8-D

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    3. Aww Trabb's Boy, that "just like the last one" was so kind! And yeah, that's actually a great idea, as it's the "getting started" part that's the hardest. It's like bargaining that if you start exercising and hate it you can quit in 10 minutes... 95% of the time I don't want to quite, and the other 5% I can go ahead and bail and so what?

      Shadowduck, pre-sales are an intriguing idea!! Maybe at the 50% mark so there's a substantially smaller chance of me having to track everyone down to issue "whoops changed my mind again" refunds.

      And I still wanna figure out how to add a comment feed per your helpful suggestion, but have gone through feedburner for feeds and it looks a little more complicated than I thought. Seems they've changed things since I last ventured over there.

      And hey, hope your wife is doing better and that February is great month of staggering productivity and joy, and less internet time-suckage!

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    4. The google-fu is obviously strong in me today, as I think I've solved the comments feed problem! Following the templates here, it turns out that you already have a comments feed and it can be found at:

      http://crankyfitness.blogspot.com/feeds/comments/default?alt=rss

      Glad to be of service. #8-)

      I'm delighted to report that my adorable wife is back to her normal self, thanks for asking! Still a slightly nervous wait for some test results, but all seems well at the moment.

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    5. "Some sort of readership" she says. Those of us who have read and enjoyed your first one are crowding around salivating and prepared to nag endlessly. Just get writing before we light the torches and march on the castle.
      Or maybe we should go for more soothing, friendlier images. Cheering at the starting line as you begin this word-marathon, throwing flowers at the finish, something like that.

      Mary Anne in Kentucky

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    6. One lady decided to write a book and decided she would work on it for 3 hours or ten pages each day, whichever came first. Another i read about wrote 3 pages a day, no more, no less, no excuses.

      If you set smaller goal like that, something that makes you stretch for it a bit but that you can do, you may get done faster than you think.

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    7. Ah this is all awesome!! Presales, torch-bearing cranky villagers on the march, smaller goals, all very helpful!

      So far, not many pages written but SOMETHING done every day. This is definitely helping.

      And Shadowduck, you are awesome! I'll look into how to get that feed link in an accessible place. Blogger guts are ugly and mysterious to me as I am no websurgeon, but I'll hack around later and see what I can do. SO glad your wife is feeling better, and sending sparkling healthy shiny good thoughts about test results.

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    8. I like your goal, subgoal and not quite figured out goal! To me that equals three goals for February!

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    9. I'm with Mary Anne. You've got a good start on your readership - just look at all the comments - from fans! Looking forward to your next book!

      DRG

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  3. My health and fitness goals are pretty solid during the week. I meal plan, I go to the gym, I sometimes even get on my treadmill. This is all fine and dandy BUT then comes the weekend. Everything is out the window. I can gain 1-6 pounds in a weekend. I work it off during the week. So what's the problem? The problem is that I am successfully maintaining a weight that is 36 pounds more than my goal weight.

    My February commitment is to bring some of my week day habits into my weekend free-for-all. My 1st goal is to get on my treadmill at least once per weekend. Maybe in March I'll deal with the food I consume on the weekend. ;)

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    1. Ah, the weekend free for all! I like the way you're taking it piece by piece. And you may find that even if you're just focusing on the exercise component, other stuff may start to happen as well. The subconscious is a funny thing!

      Is the treadmill fun for you? If not, maybe there are some other additional sorts of weekend exercise more in keeping with the "whee, it's the weekend!" mentality, but that still challenges you enough to feel smug afterwards? Or, maybe you rock out on the treadmill quite happily in which case, never mind!

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    2. The treadmill is convenient and sometimes fun. It's not my best most favorite type of cardio but I am lucky enough to have one in my home.

      Yesterday I got on it and watched Glee. I didn't burn a lot of calories but I did enjoy my stroll and the show.

      I am excited for warmer weather! Hikes and bike rides are my favorite 

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    3. I find weekends hard as well. You'd think they'd be easier; I think it's the lack of structure that does me in.

      Best of luck with your goals!

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    4. That's great Theresa about the GleeFul treadmill workout, and good point JavaChick about the lack of structure.

      I'm a self-employed slacker and don't have the weekend/weekday dichotomy so much. Does anyone have any ideas about how to create a little structure on weekends without blowing the Very Important Notion of weekends as fun, refreshing, and restorative? Seems like too much structure would lead to martyrdom and drudgery, but it also sounds like too much abandon leads to regret.

      Any simple helpful tricks on this?

      Good luck this coming weekend!

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    5. Lack of weekend structure is killer. I find that for me, sticking to my normal bedtime/wake up time helps. I can't really explain it--maybe it's just helpful to maintain at least some of the elements of my routine.

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    6. I work four days on / four days off so exactly half my life is "weekend"... I've never really given it much thought, but I seem to instinctively have a completely different structure to my days off. Instead of trying to do the same stuff on the weekend you've been doing all week, why not go for a bike ride or a game of tennis, or something else that's a bit more fun than the gym?*

      *Assuming you're not one of those people who finds treadmills and gym sessions fun, of course. #;-)

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    7. Lucky Shadowduck!! 4 on / 4 off sounds wonderful!

      I love, LOVE, love my gym - it's a strength training gym for women. I've been there for almost 3 years. It is the first time in my life that I've been consistent with exercise. I love Final Cut and my trainers!!

      I'm super excited for spring and summer to get here so I can get outside for some long hikes and bike rides. I have yet to embrace any outside COLD winter activities. I'm sure snowshoeing is fun and I know it burns tons of calories but I'm just not 'there' yet. :)

      Some structure is exactly what I need. Sleep time, some meal planning and some exercise. AND fun. Balance, balance, balance.

      Thanks everyone - you rock!

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    8. To keep moving on weekends? Maybe join a group. I have the luxury of living where there's no snow, & that definitely makes it easier. My group is doing a series of training rides & I have to help lead them (well, actually I am usually the "sweeper") so I get back to work Monday with lots of good, tired muscles. If I lived in a cold place, I might join a bird watching group, or a running or cycling group that meets at an indoors setting (track, trainers - the mechanical bike ones). I really do think a commitment to meet up helps. I have worked with personal trainers & told them they were my external consciences.

      Good luck! It does get to be a fun part of your life once the pattern gets set.

      DRG

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  4. Squeal!!! I won? It feels like Christmas! I will email you with my deets and remember to watch the video at home now (I can't at work). They will definitely be used with gratitude!

    As for goals, I hesitated to get involved last time, because I have a dread of failing. But I know goal setting is a good thing for motivating, and I like the site and the people on it. So I am going to make it easy on myself at first by using the goal I am already working on with my personal trainer -- to be able to do 10 good form push-ups on the ground by my 50th birthday on March 2. This way, I'll have double support, which will make the outcome inevitable and will encourage me to set other goals in the future.

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    1. Was very glad to see you picked, Trabb's Boy!

      And love the idea of you cranking out 10 push up for your 50th!

      So, as a (mostly) former fear-of-failing type myself, one thing I do sometimes is have a backup "process goal." Like "I will do my best to get to 10 pushups... by doing X and Y at least Z times a week." And then sometimes even a back up to the back up: And if something comes up and I can't get to that, I'll do A, B, and C instead." It doesn't seem to keep me from trying my hardest to get to the "real" goal, but I like the sense that the outcome is more under my control and I have alternative achievements to avoid a sense of disappointment if I don't get to the more objective goal. But I gotta admit the objective kind are the most exciting!

      Good luck on the pushups and welcome to the most awesome decade of life! But have fun enjoying your last month of 40-hood.

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    2. Yes, good luck on the pushups. Every time I work up to more than three, my shoulder starts complaining. I can do lots of above-the-ground pushups, but something about the angle really bothers the shoulder, although I have no trouble holding plank (well, I do, but that's the wrist problem...) I can do exactly zero "girl" pushups, though, because they make me hideously, nauseatingly dizzy.
      Let me hear all about your triumphs.

      Mary Anne in Kentucky

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  5. I hope I paid enough attention during the reading to do this right!
    Yes!!! I would be love life coaching if I'm the lucky winner!!!
    I hope you make a lot of progress on your February goal so I can read it!
    My February goal - don't compare myself (or my blog!) to others - I have discovered that sometimes reading blogs doesn't make me feel very good about myself which is silly cause other people's blogs aren't even about me - hence, the need for the goal!
    Names - Uhhh...I got nothing here!

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    1. Hey Kim,

      Love your blogging goal and I'm going to steal it!!!

      And good luck in the coaching giveaway!

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    2. Kim, i understand the tendency to compare. And it's no use getting all Mr. Rogers on yourself and saying "you are unique, it's okay, you are special and the only one like you," etc. It all sounds great, but doesn't change anything.

      What changes things for me is concentrating on what i can do. Okay, so i can't write like this person. Well, i can take this theme, or that idea, and tweak it my way.

      Seek something about you that you know is different, and capitalize on it, use it to make your blog unique.

      One thing i found a long time ago is if i spend more time working on me, i have less time to bother looking at what everyone else is doing and comparing myself unfavorably.

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    3. Good point Messymimi, especially in Kim's case. She has an awesome blog with really helpful videos that not only inspire, but show readers exactly how to do the exercises that get her in such kickass shape.

      If her blog got more and more like other peoples, I'd totally miss what's special and unique about it!

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  6. i would love to win the free coaching! and if i should win you have my consent to spread the wonderful news all over your site!
    i have two goals for 2/13: fist, as i said: consistency in my diet and moving habits with the result of some weight lost when i weigh in at the end.
    second i want to look into my options working as a councelor and find a way to get there from being in my uninspiring dayjob.
    third goal is to keep smiling while working on 1 and 2. so i guess i will be visiting here quite a bit...:)

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    1. That third goal is especially awesome!

      And the first two are really impressive too. It's so hard to concentrate on a healthy lifestyle and career goals and keep from going crazy at with your regular job and responsibilities all at the same time!

      Do you have some specific ideas of what pieces of those goals you might want to tackle first?

      Good luck!

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  7. I'd love to win the coaching - and I can do email, because I'm not Skype-savvy.

    My goal for this month is to calm the hell down on carbs when I don't have a long run scheduled on Saturday. As far as a name for this group, it's been proven I am not good at that (another group I'm in was just trying to come up with a name...Shelley fail on that one, lol)...but I am worried about that man - what if the bottle breaks and the glass shoots through his hand and he collapses onto it and it impales his heart and he dies????? I will think about him all day now.

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    1. Too funny Shelley, though I think that man looks like a tough ol' bastard who could extract the bottle from his heart and stitch himself together again without missing a trick!

      And carb-calming is something I'm working on too (though the Superbowl was No Help. I was trying not to be a party pooper and how else does one convey guacamole to one's mouth besides tortilla chips? Darn Niners didn't even pull it out and justify all the carbs I'd saved up and blew through.)

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  8. "We need a Name For This Thing, Any Ideas?"

    From the picture at the top: "Sparkly Poopers!" (Fun when we do whatever our plans are, and fun talking about it.)

    Or "[Something] Expeditionary." Because we are exploring new personal horizons, and pith helmets are fun. ("Pithy Expeditionary"? To keep our writing pithy?)

    And I would also love to win free coaching.

    February -- lots and lots of work projects, so the goal will be to plan for health in a way that will accomodate that. ALSO, my gym is shutting down at the end of February, so I will need to sign up for a new gym and make sure that the chain I'm currently with does not continue to charge me.

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    1. Thanks Rachel, these are fun! Or you could combine the two: "Pithy Poopers." Er, perhaps not.

      But I love the idea of pith helmets! I picture jungles and machetes and paddling down scenic rivers, dodging giant snakes and cannibals and having exotic adventures. But no weird bugs please, at least not the kind that bite. And let's have it catered ok?

      Bummer on the gym shutting down, and sounds like figuring out a new healthy routine while being slammed at work will be a challenge. But you sound determined to take care of your health!

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  9. Dear Crabby: my throat has seized up from laughing at the picnic pants. Now where'd I put that darn crowbar?

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    1. The perfect pants in which to eat a Cake Kabob! You should team up!

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  10. Hmmm... It seems the internet worms have eaten my comment from earlier, so here goes trying to remember what I said:

    I'm another who would be delighted to win the coaching; I'm fascinated to know what your suggestions would be! That said, I suspect there are many others who are both more deserving and more in need of your services (my life is far from perfect, but I think I'm a pretty lucky duck in most respects) so I'll be happy to applaud whoever the eventual winner may be. If the luck of the duck holds and I do win, I think e-mail would be the best idea given the time difference!

    Not sure what to choose as a challenge for February, I'm generally a little more haphazard rather than focusing on one thing... I'll think about that. In the meantime, my suggestion for the thread name, largely inspired by Kimberley's comment a couple of posts back, is "The Thread Of Mutual Awesomeness"!

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    1. Damn those worms, Shadowduck! I wish I knew how to roust some bloggerhacking earlybirds to eat them. So sorry about that.

      So how cool is that you can link to an individual comment in an older post? You are amazing!

      And I am really, really liking the TOMA notion!

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  11. IKA Group (Inspirational Kick Ass Group) - you named it without knowing it!

    I will again skip the prize, but, will read and be inspired to go to the gym I just joined! Yes, I did it! Of course, I have already hurt my shoulder, but, I am going again tonight. And three times a week for the next 20 months as I will be paying $20.00 a month so I had better do at least that.

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    1. Reb, love the IKA idea!

      And WOWZA, that is SO fantastic that you joined the gym!! Sorry about the shoulder, but it's so great you're not letting it stop you. The $20 a month is a really, really smart investment in your health and happiness for the long haul.

      Warning: there may be some tough weeks where you don't feel like going, but remember, we are here for you and will do our darndest to help you meet that 3x a week goal.

      Just imagine how incredible you'll be feeling 20 months from now if you stick to your guns!

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  12. I like The Thread of Mutual Awesomeness, but I want some Cranky in there somewhere. Also not good at names.

    Not in need of winning Life-Coaching, since what I had was awesome and effective and still has me in forward motion.

    My February goal is to continue my January unpacking. Before I sat down at the computer and found this post I had been congratulating myself that I could report emptying two more boxes of books. I have set up the shelves in the upstairs, and there is room for more of them than I thought. Still not enough, but encouraging.

    Mary Anne in Kentucky

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    1. I know what you mean about wanting some crankiness in the name (and my first few attempts were more cynical), but I figured the support group is part of the brain-rewired, positive-thinking-more-of-the-time vibe around here lately so I went with my most unironically positive idea. #8-)

      I especially couldn't resist when I realised that "Thread Of Mutual Awesomeness" abbreviates to "TOMA", which in Spanish means (among other things) "power outlet / charging point" or "dose (of medicine)" and when used as an exclamation (¡Toma!) means something like "Yessssssss!! Result!!"

      Glad to hear the life coaching is awesome and effective! Keeping my fingers crossed...

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    2. Ah, yes the Cranky/Rewired dilemma! I'm always struggling with that one, but fortunately or unfortunately, my Positive is always gonna include a dose of the Cranky... it runs too deep!

      So the Thread of Mutual Awesomeness... is pretty awesome for a name! Especially with the whole TOMA notion.

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    3. What if WE are the Crankinators or the Cranketeers - CONTRIBUTING and REPLYING to the Thread of Mutual Awesomeness (TOMA?

      Which, by the way, is an AWESOME name! I love everything about it.

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    4. LOVE LOVE LOVE the Crankinators/Cranketeers! I personally lean towards the latter because I love the notion of us all wearing little Cranky hats, perhaps with horns instead of mouse ears.

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    5. Cupcake hats. WIth horns.
      I had forgotten the colloquial use of ¡Toma!, which increases its awesomeness.

      Mary Anne in Kentucky

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  13. Ooo! Life-Coaching, yes please. And Goal Support sounds awesome too.

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    1. Welcome Alex!

      Got a goal? We'd love to hear about it!

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  14. Answers to your questions:
    1. My ankle is fragile. Going to focus less on my fitness goals and more on keeping my diet clean.
    2. Yes. I am interested in your goals. :)
    3. Yes, I am interested in life coaching.
    4. Support group name - Cranky Town USA
    5. Was there a fifth question? The answer is "Let's go drink a beer!" No? ;)
    Gaye

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    1. Excellent idea given the ankle to focus on clean healthy eating Gaye!

      And if we're good enough at that goal, I think the question 5 must have been: and what's our reward for all this virtue? Sounds like a plan!

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  15. I am happy to hear you are working on your next book, since I found your exercise book very informative. Your writing style made it fun to read.
    My goals include trying to hit the gym every other day, and reading this blog every other day. Just trying to keep exercise on the priority list, cuz it keeps falling off after a while.
    PS--Your description of support groups was uproariously funny and I laughed til I cried.

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    1. Hey thanks so much Anonymous, you are too kind!!!

      Getting to be a regular at the gym is HUGE and while it's challenging at first, hoping you find enough fun stuff to do that it gets to be second nature and you don't even hesitate. Good luck!

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  16. I like Gaye's comment format and I'm going to copy it. :)

    1. My goal for this month is to work hard at intuitive eating (or maybe mindful eating is a better term). I want to sit down, pay attention, and be present when I eat. It's been going pretty well, but not great so far. I have issues with nibbling when I get dinner ready and when I clean up after dinner. I'm going to keep plugging away, though, because I really do like not writing down every damn thing I eat.
    2. Totally interested.
    3. Totally interested (e-mail is jessmiller1 at gmail).
    4. I like Cranketeers. And cupcake hats.
    5. I'm all for "let's go drink a beer!" ;-)

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    1. Hey Jess, great to hear you'll be joining Gaye and I for beer!

      And it's very cool that you've identified some very specific trouble spots with mindless eating. SO much easier to troubleshoot than just a vague sense of "out of control" or "something's not working."

      Wonder what ideas come to mind to conquer the pre and post dinner mindless munching?

      Delete
  17. So late to the game. Yes, support group brought bad images to my mind until I started watching Go On with Matthew Perry - LOVE that show! I need a group like that!!!! :)

    So what are your goals for this month? Me, I plan to win the lottery. ;) No, of course not - work & money seeking...

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    1. Jody, i like the idea of winning the lottery. However, as you've noted (and grandmother used to say), there's a great place to go when you need money, and it's to work.

      Meanwhile, whatever it is you are doing now, if it isn't your life calling, you might want to decide where you want to be working in 5 years, and start with small goals toward that now.

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  18. I have a goal set for this year, but I will break it down month by month so I can play along. My goal for February is to meditate every day. So far, so good!

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    1. Love this Kimberley, breaking it down month by month and it sounds like you're off to a great start!!! We be very curious to see how it goes. Hope you get a chance to check back in for any trouble-shooting or celebration!

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  19. Yeah, Cranketeers!

    It's great seeing all the impressive goals here. Please, please keep it up!

    Mine will be easy: every month I will take a few more steps- er, I mean pedal strokes - towards the Death Ride. Right now I am wrestling with a, a well, a cranky knee. (How appropriate?) I think I have a solution but it has been annoying having to scale back even briefly. So I guess February is conquer the knee month. I will also be getting back to 50+ mile rides.

    January I spent making commitments: 2 century rides in April, 2 in May with more climbing, altitude training camps in June (one is even called Near Death Experience. Not an easy event to Google.)

    My other goal - be sure my grandbabies don't forget what I look like. Maybe even get some time in at work...

    DRG

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  20. It occurs to me that my goals sound excessive, maybe just too much. Maybe a short history will put it in perspective. I was not an athlete.

    The first time I ever got on a road bike, I was 51. I thought 5 miles on a bike was a big deal. I had been struggling to maintain 1/2 hour a day on a stationary bike to lose the weight that had crept up over the previous 20 years.

    No reason anyone should aspire to silly-hard goals like mine. But my goals have evolved. What they prove is that anyone can do what they really want to do. If I can, you can too.

    Crabby shows us all the time: make it fun. Even better, make it funny. You're all doing amazing things.

    DRG

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    1. Wow, you are SUCH an inspiration to us all and I'm so glad you're here! You only started riding at 51???

      And it's not just your fitness accomplishments that inspire, it's the courage, common sense, patience, and humor that add so much too. Plus "Death Ride Grandma" as a handle, we all totally dig that. :)

      Hope the knee behaves; injuries can be so frustrating when the motivation is high and some stupid physical problem stands in the way.

      (Yet weirdly enough for me, often physical injuries have led to bursts of personal growth that I'm ultimately grateful for... even if it does lead to some tedious blog posts!)

      Keep us posted and hope you can take care of that need and get good time with grandkids, DRG!

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    2. Oh, you ARE inspiring! I am an almost 50 couch potato who only just got into fitness last spring (strength training, mostly). I LOVE hearing about people starting late and getting better and better!

      Best of luck on the knee. I have osteoarthritis, and my doctor put my knee pain down to that, but with training, I've reduced the pain dramatically, so I guess I'm just saying consider that there might be more than one reason for it.

      Happy cycling!

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    3. Isn't DRG awesome Trabb's Boy?

      And HOORAY for you for starting late too and getting off the couch and keeping it up since last spring! I predict you will ROCK 50. And so cool you've helped your arthritis with your training instead of messing it up worse by overtraining, which some of us have been known to do with chronic conditions...

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  21. Anyone got any updates, I'm curious!

    I've been doing pretty darn good on spending a little time each day on the ebook, even if it's only hunting down photos I can legally use or frittering around editing stuff or finding links and ideas.

    Missed one day; the time got away from me but overall, my motivation and follow through are up about a 1000% over where they were before the TOMA thread, so thank you guys!

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    1. Well, I've spent the last few days working on some pretty important stuff with an awesome life coach ... and she's doing a pretty good job so far of making me feel like I'm coming up with the answers myself and that everything is totally do-able!

      (By the way, the comment RSS feed is a godsend - it'd probably have been days before I checked back in here without it.)

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    2. I went to a Kettle Bells class this weekend AND got on my treadmill on Sunday. YAY!! I do believe this why I am seeing a 1 pound loss at this weeks weigh-in!! It's been ages since I've had a loss on the scale. wootwoot!!

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    3. You guys are both such awesome and inspiring Cranketeers, Shadowduck and Theresa!

      And both of you have given me terrivic practical ideas and resources which I really appreciate!

      Thanks too for stopping by and keeping the thread alive. :)

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    4. Crabby, i know that new book is in you, struggling to get out. Keep putting in the time, and it will get done.

      As for me, i'm still trying to do the deep breathing each day. Some days my lung wheezes less, and i'm sure it's because of that.

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    5. Thank you so much Messymimi, that encouragement is so helpful and inspiring!

      And that is so cool that you are still doing the deep breathing that is such a great health boost!

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  22. I managed to unpack three more boxes of books in the past week, but I'm about to run out of shelf space and I can't even reach the boxes of books in the basement. On to other unpacking needs. Maybe the last of the dish barrels. We'll see.

    Mary Anne in Kentucky

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    1. Wow, three more boxes? You are making such consistent progress week after week!

      And basement boxes with no shelves to put them on... does sound like a smart time to shift gears for awhile. Good luck with dish barrels!

      Um... what is a dish barrel?

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    2. A dish barrel is a box 16 inches square and about 30 inches tall that is filled with carefully wrapped fragile things, in my case mostly china and crystal. I've already unpacked eight of them, and I've found that the paper the things are wrapped in expands so that, minus the things, it still cannot all be crammed back in the box for recycling. On the other hand, it makes excellent shelf paper, so a little extra can be useful.
      I just unpacked two more boxes of books today, and opened the last one and looked in it. Onward!

      Mary Anne in Kentucky

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    3. A square barrel? That doesn't sound like it should be legal. :)

      And way to go on the 2 more boxes!

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    4. Annnnd the last box. Sadly, ALL the mysteries were in the basement, so they must now be in this basement. I can't wait around mystery-deprived for very long before I must find a storage solution. But for the time being, on to the dishes.

      Mary Anne in Kentucky

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  23. Another sucessful work out weekend! BTW, I love knowing I have a 'place' to put this happy note. I went to a cross-fit class on Saturday and got on the treadmill on Sunday morning. Working out on the weekends have helped keep my motiviation up. Getting back to the gym on Mondays has been MUCH less painful the past couple of weeks. Have a great day!!

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    1. Congratulations, that's awesome Theresa!

      And thanks for the reminder about monthly goals; needed a nudge myself as I've been rationalizing why other "ebook-like" endeavors count as working on my ebook.

      My goal was not about finding substitutes, and your perseverance is inspiring me to get back on track!

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    2. Excellent plan, working out on the weekends; it sounds like doing the Same But Different makes the weekday part go better.

      Crabby, we're waiting to be inspired by you.

      Mary Anne in Kentucky

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  24. How is everyone doing with their February goals?!? I can't believe that it's almost March.

    I am happy to report that I did some form of exercise each weekend this month. Niiiice. Thank you all for the support an encouragement. I love it!

    Now I need to think of a fun March goal. Hmmmm. OR should I stay with the goal to exercise over the weekend?!?!? It might be a good idea to stick with that goal...create a habit and all before trying to think of a new goal.

    I've got a few days to consider it. I'll keep you posted. :)

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    1. Hooray on the exercise follow through!!

      I've made some definite progress on the next ebook, and am actually pretty excited about it, but have a LONG way to go.

      Didn't technically meet my write-everyday goal; I'm almost wondering about a 2x monthly check in process as I tended to drift a bit as the month wore on.

      I'm looking forward to our next Goal Post! Um, the written kind, not the soccer kind.

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    2. I have ditched my dish-unpacking goal in favor of finishing the taxes in time to send them to my accountant by March. I hope. I come home too tired to think most of the time, and not thinking while you collect your financial information is not advisable....
      Yay, Theresa, for exercise! Yay, Crabby for writing MOST days!

      Mary Anne in Kentucky, who thinks Goal Post is a fine series title.

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