New Year's resolutions- partly on topic!

Goals should be specific, measurable, and realistic. Are yours? :)

Baby carrots might help with both one and two. When you have an urge to have a smoke or eat, reach for a carrot. Tell yourself you can only smoke outside (lousy weather helps here). Limit where you can eat. Join a support group. Weight Watchers helped me with weight loss; I've lost

18+ pounds since the end of August. Losing is the easy part -- I've done that before; keeping it off is much harder. I've never smoked, so can't offer you any advice from personal experience.

Julia in MN

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Leslie & The Furbabies > Anybody brave enough to tell or are they futile 'good intentions'? VBG >

Keep sewing area neat... Is that possible?LOL

Denny in Fort Wayne

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Leslie & The Furbabies > Anybody brave enough to tell or are they futile 'good intentions'? VBG >

Ok, I've thought alot about new resolutions, especially since I turned 60 in November. New decade, new resolutions I guess. Here goes:

1. I will make every attempt to be on time (DH jokes that I will be late for my own funeral)

1. I will make time for myself and say NO when others think that just because it's my time that it's up for grabs.

2. I will organize my projects so that being overwhelmed by the total will not be a blockade to working on the one.

1. I will actually read a book each week in a comfy chair with a cuppa tea and some really good cookies.

2. Lastly, I will continue my plan to lose my last 11 pounds to meet my goal of 30 pounds and keep the weight off. I'm now eating much better so I need to add exercise to this mix. I will reward myself with new clothes.

Alice

"Happiness is good health and a bad memory."

- Ingrid Bergman (1917-1982)

You are brave to put #1 and 2 out in public, but you surely have all our support! I would simply like to make one or 2 more quilts than I think I'm capable of, and stretch my skills a bit more.

Resolutions need a bit more emotional commitment than that, and the only thing I want that much is a grandchild. Roberta in D

"Leslie & The Furbabies in MO." schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: snipped-for-privacy@mid.individual.net...

My resolution isn't so much a new one as a determination to continue good habits. I've been on sabbatical for two months (have one month left) and in addition to the sabbatical project itself I've been doing a lot of quilting, working with a personal trainer at the gym, and doing Weight Watchers. I have been so much more relaxed and have really been enjoying myself. I've been able to see immediate results from the gym especially; I've lost inches in just a few wees, I'm sleeping without sleeping pills for the first time in a couple of years, and my heart rate has vastly improved. My resolution isn't so much a new thing as a determination that there's no reason I can't continue these things once I'm back to work full-time at the end of January. I can work my gym schedule around my workday fairly easily if I just get going a little earlier in the morning, and although I'd need to scale back my quilting expectations a little bit there's still no reason I can't continue to work on projects after work is over--I usually have a couple of hours between the end of my workday and when my husband is home from work that's just perfect quilting time. My main issue with when I'm working is the distraction level (I work at home so it's very easy to allow my work day to spill over into "home time"), and the fact that I travel. But if I stay focused I can still do all this just fine.

So my resolution is to learn from my sabbatical experience and keep it all going!

Leslie, best of wishes on the smoking thing. I've never been a smoker but have several relatives who have quit and watching them I know it can be really hard--but the benefits of getting through it are wonderful. You go!

Hmmm...what a thread! This year I intend to be more faithful to my Weight Watcher plan. I am a lifetime member but I have been noticing that I only really work at it one week a month---right before I need to weigh in for the month. I would like to lose 10 pounds to get down to my all-time low weight---the one where I felt and looked good! I plan to hit the gym at least 4 days a week. My dh goes daily but I am not ready to make that committment---beside, I get the house to myself when he is gone. LOL Of course, I will continue to quilt and I hope that my quilting business does a little better this year. It has not taken off like I had hoped but I never intended to get rich or quit my day job.

judy in fort worth

snipped-for-privacy@flash.net

Leslie, My dad quit smoking about the time I was born. That was

50 years ago. Today he is fairly healthy and still kick> Anybody brave enough to tell or are they futile 'good intentions'? VBG >

I would love to share any of my resolutions. My DH is spending time with his son who is home from the Marines for 2 weeks. He is waiting to hear if he will go back to Iraq in the next few months or not. He is due to get out in August so we are hoping if he goes it will be a short run and not get extended. This will be his third tour.

Anyway, while the DH is out of the house, I have been sorting and organizing my bins and taking inventory of my wips, pigs and UFOs as well as sorting my fabrics by size, color and/or theme. I even have a pile (small tho) of ones for donation. Then I'll make my list and prioritize it. Three baby quilts will be on the top of that list. They are so close to done, I could probably get them finished this week and to the quilters over the weekend. I'm feeling good already!

Alice

"Happiness is good health and a bad memory."

- Ingrid Bergman (1917-1982)

60 in : > November. New decade, new resolutions I guess. Here goes: : >

: > 1. I will make every attempt to be on time (DH jokes that I will be late : > for my own funeral) : >

: > 2. I will make time for myself and say NO when others think that just : > because it's my time that it's up for grabs. : >

: > 3. I will organize my projects so that being overwhelmed by the total will : > not be a blockade to working on the one. : >

: > 4. I will actually read a book each week in a comfy chair with a cuppa tea : > and some really good cookies. : >

: > 5. Lastly, I will continue my plan to lose my last 11 pounds to meet my goal : > of 30 pounds and keep the weight off. I'm now eating much better so I need : > to add exercise to this mix. I will reward myself with new clothes. : >

: > Alice : >

: > "Happiness is good health and a bad memory." : > - Ingrid Bergman (1917-1982) : >

: >

:

Congratulations on making the decision to quit smoking Leslie. One of my mantra's when I quit smoking was: The urge to have a cigarette will go away - whether you have a cigarette or whether you do not have a cigarette. It's been about 20 years since I quit & it's one of my proudest accomplishments. Life got so much simpler when I stopped smoking - I didn't waste my time trying to figure out when & where I could have a cigarette, if I wasn't in my own home.

DH had a difficult time quitting smoking, even with the patch. I forget what kind of medication his doctor gave him, but it did the trick & I think it is widely used. I believe it is an antidepressant, but if you're interested, I'll ask him. He has been smoke free for about 13 years now.

Pauline Northern California

Thank for the offer, Pauline, but very few drugs work nicely with my pain meds and all anti-depressant type things are an absolute no-no. I'm going to have to do it the hard way and I know it's going to be very difficult. But I'm really ready to quit and I think that's the first big hurdle.

I'm gonna be a total grump for a while, and with those quilts I have to finish, I won't be around here posting much. But I'll be reading and lurking when I take my breaks so don't y'all be saying anything about me! LOL

Leslie, Missy & The Furbabies in MO.

#1 on my list is getting physically fit... and losing weight. I have more (WAY WAY more) than a few pounds to lose. I have a treadmill, a bowflex and an exercise bicycle in the basement (so bad Michigan weather IS NOT an excuse.

I'm only 50 -- feel like 80. Finally I think I am sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. I lost 50 pounds in 2001 -- but let it all creep back.

I wonder if we can create some kind of online group (I'd be happy to set up a separate Yahoo group for the RCTQ "wanna be biggest losers" if there would be an interest.

Again -- sometimes having public accountability gives you that added motivation. Notes of encouragement go along way in keeping you going!

Other resolutions... let time sitting with my computer in my lap... more behind my sewing machine.

And finally learning how to use my Pfaff 7570 embroidery unit!

Leslie, congrats on the decision to quit smoking. Short story: My dad smoked for years, Raleigh unfiltered or home rolled. A couple packs a day. My sister's husband (at the time) was in the Guard and when he went on 2 weeks training she had commissary privileges, so she asked Daddy if he wanted her to pick up some cigarettes for him. He said yeah, and to pick up some of the (then very new..... tells you how long ago it was) low tar ones. She bought 2 cartons of True cigarettes. He hated them. But wouldn't buy others because they were there in the house. So he quit. And managed to lose weight at the same time. Not sure how, but he did. So there is hope. Keep celery/carrots and such on hand to munch instead of candy. That will help. Good luck with it.

My resoluti> Anybody brave enough to tell or are they futile 'good intentions'? VBG >

Well, this puts them in writing so maybe it will help.

1. Yes I need to lose weight. I will work on eating healthier and see if I can manage, but I refuse to worry too much about it.

1. In the next couple of weeks I will get the front room cleared and my Tin Lizzie 18 set up so I can start practicing on her. And will practice on something everyday for at least a while. (I have plenty of practice tops to work with, and some wide muslin for another project for DH..... )

2. My Dear Jane quilt(s)-- first one is about a quarter quilted. I want to finish it this year. Second one needs to be worked on regularly so I want to get back to that and see how many blocks I can make. Just some each month... it is not a vital, needed project but something I am doing just because.

1. Quilted diamonds with Paris Flea Market fabrics. I want to finish the diamonds and get the top assembled, hopefully this year. Again not a necessity but something I want to do.

2. Professionally, I need to "find my niche" and get the web site up and active. Need to finish the quilts (part of the reason for the Tin Lizzie) and get photos done for pattern covers and get them out. I have procrastinated tooo long.

1. Keep up with class ideas for teaching locally, and see about widening my scope and area of teaching.

There are some others, but that should keep me out of trouble enough. Rick always says I am not happy unless I am over committed to things.

Pati, in Phx

Leslie & The Furbabies > Anybody brave enough to tell or are they futile 'good intentions'? VBG >

Snip-

There are some others, but that should keep me out of trouble enough. Rick always says I am not happy unless I am over committed to things.

Pati, in Phx

Pati, my son told me I was a quilt junkie. I laughed, but was mildly offended. Then I thought about it... and thought some more. He's right. I realized that I can get amazing amounts of quilty things done when I am on a short deadline and under pressure and totally rushed. Without a deadline I'll start something, get distracted or bored and set it aside. Then I'll start another future UFO. When I *have* to get something done I can turn into Super Quilter.

I guess I feed off the pressure??? Whatever. I am learning I must create a deadline even if one doesn't really exist and then really push myself- if I want to get anything done. Completely finished.

Now I'm going to become a "Weight Losing Quitting Smoking Junkie"!

Leslie, Missy & The Furbabies in MO.

I have to admit that I rarely, if ever, make New Year's resolutions anymore. I just get disappointed in myself when I don't keep them.

I'll wish you the very best of luck doing this as painlessly as possible, Leslie! I smoked for ten years, beginning when I was 14. That was back when it was "cool" to smoke and no one really realized the health risks were as bad as they are. I quit when I was 23-24, and I only did it then because I was so broke that I couldn't afford cigarettes! Of course, being so broke, I couldn't eat to compensate, so I was lucky.

I have lots of 'small' ones, but my main two are:

1. To stop wasting the time I do have - make all of it count. Playing a certain amount of solitaire on the computer is brain training, so good - but the amount I play now is just indulgence!

1. To really do some proper exercise - that should help towards a lot of the others!!

Good for you for yours, Leslie - especially No.2 >g<

(I tidied my sewing room today >gAnybody brave enough to tell or are they futile 'good intentions'? VBG

Love your last line, Sandy!! . In message , Sandy writes

so you didnt quit the first/other time. doesnt count as a 'quit' unless you never again smoked. i did that a couple of times. once off them for over 6 months and a week with my sister who still smoked had me right back on a pack a day. argh.

when i quit for real, it took me a full three and a half yrs after the last cigarette to not have anymore cravings when i had a cuppa tea/coffee, with a beer/drink, after a meal, when someone else lit up....all those times when you have to tell yourself, i wont smoke cuz i'm now a non-smoker. if you gotta tell yourself that at any time, then you're still in quitting mode. its only when all those thots vanish that you can really say you've 'quit'. doesnt happen just cuz you've not smoked in a day, a week, a month, a year. it is when you dont have to think about it anymore. so dont expect it to be easy, cuz it aint and it sure aint fun but it can be done, ya just gotta persevere. if ya gotta say outloud in public 'i dont need a cigarette' when those times happen, then say it outloud. screw the rest of the world and what they think about the crazy lady who talks outloud. if they never smoked they've no idea how really hard it is. if they now smoke they are the idiots for not quitting themselves. those of us who did smoke and did quit totally understand how damn hard it is to quit. might not take 'you' three and a half years but its gonna take some time for sure. addiction to smoking is a bitch and quitting is a double bitch. you can do this, one day at a time (gawd doncha hate clichés). keep us up on how you're doing. every day smoke-free is one day closer to being ever so much nicer to hug!!! j.