Weekly Goals Sept 18-24: Results

Weekly Goals:

Physical:

• Determine next course of action based on results of blood work. Result: Vitamin D has improved slightly but still low. I've increased my daily IU's from 2000 to 3000. TSH was normal, but T3 was on the low end (85 - "normal" scale is 75-180). Even though the doctor doesn't think this is cause for concern, I'm going to follow up with an endocrinologist in October.
• Go for 3 runs, including at least one trail run. Result: Done - I think. I only remember Tuesday, Thursday, but I think I ran last Sunday. Not positive. Anyway, the Thursday run was particularly awesome - I ran about 4 miles along a new trail. I felt so refreshed and wanted to keep going but it was getting late. It was a great time of reflection and relaxation.
• Strength training one time. Just one! I can do it. Result: Not done :-( Other than a few planks this week. I plan to get a gym membership next week to help with this.
• Keep drinking lots of water. Result: Done, and after Tuesday I even cut out soda completely. Much less bloated. I also cut out all artificial sweeteners except stevia. I am drinking so much more water than I used to.
• Continue abstaining from alcohol. I'm curious about what week 3 will be like, as I have not had a break this long in a very long time. Result: Mostly done. Here's what happened - I decided to start Whole30 today, and last night I gave myself 'permission' to drink a little. Well, I ended up having about 1.5 TBS of whiskey and deciding that I just did not feel like it. The physical craving is gone, and it is getting hard for me to even remember what being tipsy feels like.
• Refocus on cutting white carbs and sugar. I have loaded up my fridge with plenty of protein and vegetables to get through until next Saturday when I go to the grocery store again. But I need to be gentle if/when I slip up and not use it as an excuse to keep slipping up (oh, well I'll just have a cheat meal/day). What's done is done - best next thing is to not make it worse! Result: Good up until Thurs & Friday. On Thursday, I had a big meeting I was running after lunch, so I ate more of the bread part of my sub than I normally would have. In addition, there were free cookies and subs so I had a little. Finally, on Friday I had stashed away a couple of cookies, subs, and a bag of chips and I nibbled on all of those, not eating all of them but more than I should have. I paid for it with an upset stomach the rest of the day. But then, I got back on track on Saturday and today.
• If it seems right, treat myself next Sunday to a big bowl of air-popped popcorn. Yes it's carbs, but it's okay. Total deprivation can contribute to binges, and I'd much rather have a bowl of popcorn than another binge. Result: I really did give myself permission last night to do this, but I wasn't interested. I had a bunch of veggies throughout the afternoon and just wasn't hungry.
• Continue taking medicine and supplements each day. Try to do 1/2 stim days. Result: Good. Medicine and supplements every day, and 1/2 stim every day except Thursday.
• No purging. Please. Result: Done :-)

Mental/spiritual:

• First counseling appointment. Result: Done - and what an encouraging experience. I really connected with the counselor. She seemed amazed at my story, and said that if I came out of that with 'just' the issues I am struggling with, I did pretty good. She even said I had the maturity of someone who was 10-15 years older.
• Continue reflecting on each daily verse. Result: Done, and I found myself looking at the verse again throughout the day. I'm really encouraged by this.
• When anxiety starts to overwhelm me, try repeating this verse: "The Lord is on my side; I will not be afraid." I heard it at church today. Result: I did this a few times, and it seemed to help a little.
• Attend church. Undecided about small group. Result: Done, and we did go to the small group activity of visiting a nursing home on Friday evening. I am glad we did. I spoke with a woman who had just lost her husband 4 months ago after being married for 60 years. She spoke of the hope she had, knowing that she would see him again. It was inspiring to me, and I think it meant a lot to many of the residents to have someone visit and talk with them.
• Finish reading "Scary Close" by Donald Miller. Result: Not done. I spent probably more time than I should have reading on my phone instead when I had the opportunity.

Work:

• Do a good job facilitating a cross-divisional meeting on Thursday. The goals are to get general consensus about the process the team has chosen and the next steps. Result: Very good. Although there wasn't much feedback on the call, afterwards, our executive vice president said that we did a "great job". We also had similar feedback from one of the plant managers on the call. The approach we are taking is very data-driven and different from what many of these individuals are used to. But I feel we have the support of our management to move forward.
• Gain buy-in from a key stakeholder during another meeting. This individual is a little challenging but it will help to have his support. Result: Very good - he was very supportive, and even had some helpful feedback that we used right away. Having his support will make this process easier.
• Move forward with analyzing and improving the external and internal bottlenecks of my other main project. Result: Didn't do as much as I wanted to, both due to other commitments and my own lack of motivation, frankly. But this week, I have activities planned that should help move this along.
• Hold last cadence review of the month. Result: Done. I am feeling much more comfortable with these.
• Facilitate a project pipeline brainstorming call with our assembly teams. Result: Done, although I was more nervous than I usual am during these calls.
• Start preparing for a customer visit in October. Result: Done, and got to work with the account manager for the first time. She was very helpful, and it was good to begin that relationship.
• Start preparing project work instructions due by the end of the month. Result: Not done. The above activity took more time than I thought it would.
• Continue to look for ways that I can serve, putting priority on this above my own agenda. Result: I think I did this for about 3 individuals at work this week. 1 of them needed coaching on his project, so I spent about an hour doing that. The other was feeling discouraged, so I reached out to listen and offer my support. The other one just needed some reassurance a couple of times, and help with a presentation another. I had little hesitation in dropping what I was doing to reach out and help where I could, and it was absolutely the right choice. People first.
• Finally, do one thing every day that challenges me outside of my comfort zone! Result: Didn't do this every day, but I did reach out to one of our VP's and ended up having a good conversation with him. I also asked one of my coworkers for help with something, and talked with two of my coworkers more than I normally would have. Finally, I introduced myself in person to a lady who had been helping me out via email and thanked her. Small steps, but progress.

Other:

• Finish editing one more chapter of my book. Result: Not done, unless I do it later today which I probably won't. :-(
• Get contacts at Costco - almost out. Result: Done.
• Hopefully watch "Let Hope Rise" movie - can't wait to see this. Result: Not done, because my husband wasn't feeling up to it. Maybe soon though.
• Get a birthday gift for my mom. Result: not yet, going to have to think about this one.

Other good things that happened:

• Cutting out diet soda and artificial sweeteners.
• Cutting down on caffeine. The most I had on any given day was 3 servings, and most days were 2.
• Just being more mindful and appreciative of life. I felt less panicky overall.
• Only weighed myself twice.
• Walked or ran all days but one.
• Had a nice time out shopping yesterday.
• Scheduled our first home visit - necessary for becoming foster parents.
• Adapted to a surprise request to give an immediate plant tour to some visitors. It ended up going fine, and I enjoyed talking with them and learning a few things.
• I encouraged my husband one evening when he was feeling particularly down. I think it helped - by the end he was laughing and seemed more relaxed.
• Finally put down mulch on the hill in my backyard. I had been putting this off for a while.
• Two people at work confided in me about some challenges they had been having. Folks are reaching out to me more with problems, which is a good sign.
• My manager told me she had to shield me from a request to take over one of the continuous improvement lead roles in the plant. She said word of my performance has been getting around. That was incredibly encouraging to me.
• Finally, I decided to start Whole30 this week. I'm really looking forward to both the process and the results. Although, I am planning on a celebratory big bowl of popcorn at the end!