2013 New Year's Goals

Happy New Year!

I prefer making year-long goals as opposed to resolutions, and I’ve made a solid list for 2013 below. Although I made a few goals back in November (which I still plan to work on), the following goals are actual year-long pursuits.

2013 Goals:

1) Perform a dead hang pull up.

This was a goal I made back in November, but it deserves to be on the 2013 list as well. Personally, I feel like a strict pull up is the ultimate sign of physical fitness! I’m aiming for June, but it could take less time or more time. Who knows? Either way, I will still be actively working on pull ups throughout the year.

2) Deadlift 200 pounds or more.

In November, I deadlifted 165 pounds as my one rep max. It was really hard! Over the next year, I know I can get to 200 pounds if I push myself. (Plus, 200 pounds sounds really hard core.)

3) Back squat 150 pounds or more.

I have not done a one rep max for my back squat yet, but yesterday I squatted 100 pounds for five reps. I have a feeling my one rep max is somewhere between 110-115 pounds. Adding thirty to forty pounds to my back squat over the year sounds doable.

4) Master double unders.

I really stink at double unders, but to be fair, I haven’t really tried to get better at them. Now that I have a new jump rope suitable for speed, I am going to spend more time on this move.

5) Read one new book a month.

Finally, a non-fitness related goal! I used to be a huge reader, but since college I’ve become more glued to the television and the internet. Of course, I’ve still read books here or there, but I miss always having a book on my nightstand. This month I will be reading Killing Lincoln by Bill O’Reilly. I actually began this book last month, but it’s been sitting unread for a while now. 

6) Try two new recipes a month (At least one non-dessert recipe.)

I am not a good cook…simply because I don’t cook. I know I’ll get better once I just try new recipes. I have so many food and dessert recipes on Pinterest that I haven’t attempted, so going forward I want to try and bake or cook two recipes that I have never tried before. I’m very excited about this goal! Since I know I can easily fall into the trap of simply baking because I love dessert so much, I am going to force myself to make one of the recipes be a non-dessert recipe.

7) Run an entire 5k race, and beat my time of 29:50 from October 2011.

As you know, I dislike running, but I think being able to run a 5k at a fast pace is another great sign of someone’s physical fitness. In October of 2011, I ran in the Hartford 5k on an injured foot. I didn’t run the whole race either. I know I can easily beat my time this year, and run the whole thing. I probably will not run a race until the summer. Running in cold weather is not fun!

8) Eat dairy-free and soy-free for the entire month of January.

This past summer I tried to minimize my dairy intake when I discovered that eating too much of it took a number on my digestion and my skin. I noticed a big difference just from minimizing it, but then I went back to my old habits. What can I say? I love ice cream, all things milk chocolate, and cheese. I would never call myself a huge cheese lover, but cheese on salads, sandwiches, and pizza just makes everything taste so much better! Finally, I have committed to cut it out for a month to really see what benefits that might bring for my body. I’m also skeptical about eating soy (since it mimics estrogen in your body), so that’s going as well. Goodbye LunaBars. I won’t be as strict with soy as I am about dairy, but I will still do my best to avoid foods that have it in the ingredient list.

Overall, I also want to be a healthier and happier person in 2013, but honestly, how do you quantify being happier and healthier? I don’t believe you can, because it is so much more of  a mindset than it is a practice. I hope others have outlined some 2013 goals as well! It will be fun to look back a year from now and see how we all did. 

About these ads