About those goals of mine...

I'm not sure if any of your read E's blog, but recently she had a post regarding goals.  It's been hovering on my mind ever since I read her quote:

"If a goal does not have a timeline on it, it's not a goal, it's a dream."

I've had plenty of goals that I've mentioned over the past few months:

• Lose the last 20 lbs
• Start a weight-lifting program
• Drink more water
• etc.

These have been goals that I've really wanted to achieve.  The first one in particular absorbs way more thoughts per day than anything else.  I think about those last 20 lbs all day every day.  I think about them when I look in the mirror, when I'm on a run and can feel the extra fat jiggling (fat jiggles hurt ya'll), when I'm trying on my work pants in the morning (and when I split them!!), when I look at new clothes in magazines and think about updating my wardrobe and realize I don't want to do that until I'm at goal weight because that's just a waste of money...and on and on.

So much thought process put into that one goal.  So much time consumed obsessing about that one goal.  But what do I have to show for it?

I've been at the same weight (give or take a couple of pounds) since October.  OCTOBER!!!  That is HALF A YEAR without any progress.  I've been running and watching my weight, so what gives?  What changed?

First, I've stopped giving my goals a time limit thus relegating them to nothing more than dreams.  Sure, I can think about losing those last few pounds every hour of the day but that doesn't equate to putting in the effort required to achieve the task.  My success in the past was specifically related to goals.

I will lose 2 lbs by my family reunion...I will lose another 2 lbs by this date...etc.

It is time to go back to my roots and FORCE myself into really digging in and getting back on track.  I've been involved in this journey, but only halfway.  Somehow I thought that running and tracking(ish) would get me all the way to the finish line.  Well, turns out that my halfway attempt at doing this has left me stuck at only halfway--I've lost 25-something pounds and I have exactly that to go.

I want those 25ish pounds off my frame more than you can believe.  I want to be smoking hot in a bikini by the time 4th of July comes around and it is so hot outside that I have no choice but to be in shorts and swimwear.

So, let's put a timeline on this bad boy.  April goals are as follows:

• Lose 4 lbs by April 30th (this would put me at around 148)
• Run 80 miles
• Rock my first HALF MARATHON!!
• Fit comfortably in my size 30 jeans from Buckle (they used to fit and are now back to being dangerously tight, especially given my history...

I'm going to have to incorporate a closer watch on my food intake as well as mix up my routine a little bit. Michelle really inspired me this morning with her review of her progress this March.  She's done a great job of cross-training and mixing it up a bit.  I am almost positive she will see the results of that switch soon--whether on the scale or with the way her clothes fit.  I cannot wait to see the change for me as well.  April is going to treat me well!

What plans do you have for the month of April?  What goals (not dreams!) are you committing to?