Feeling of Accomplishment

Today is the last day of the year. I suppose it's fitting that I finished my 2007 resolution today as well. No catching up or getting behind. I jogged 5 miles today after work, finishing 365 miles for the year.

My strategy was to do 3 or 4 miles every 3 or 4 days. It helped me stay on track and yet gave me days off and some breathing room. There were a few times I got ahead, which was great. And there were times I got behind. But never during the entire year did I ever think to quit this resolution. That's just something I'm really happy about.

I lost around 7 pounds in the process which I'm happy about. I never reached my weight goal, but really that wasn't part of the resolution. More of a hopeful perk.

I don't really know what my 2008 resolution will be. As much as I'd like to do the miles again (or even up the ante), my priorities have changed now that I have a house that needs some attention. I will likely maintain some sort of gym schedule but I probably won't be so strict in keeping with the miles.

My advice for anyone with a health related resolution this coming year is to find motivation and be realistic. It was hard sometimes, I struggled on certain days. But I just backed off the miles and made them up on a better day. I lost weight the first 2 months and then nothing happened for a number of months after that. But my resolution wasn't about weight, so I couldn't make an excuse to quit. I actually got one of those runners' highs to keep me motivated. I also had a gym buddy. That certainly helps. This is the first time I ever actually resolved to do something and actually stuck it through (for an entire year!) to the end. I'm just really proud of that right now.