We are SMART - Farewell Fatso!

“We’ve been playing it safe.” I said to the group. “I’ve been treading lightly with you all. But, it’s time for us to up the ante. I want more for you. I want more for me.”

Last night, marked our final “5 or 50” meeting for 2012. As the facilitator, as the leader, I’m supposed to well, lead. I’ve spent the last five months getting a feel for my role (this is my first time ever doing this), but more importantly I’ve been learning who the women are that make up the group.

I want the group to be a safe place, a comfortable environment. Where we can share and grow. In order to grow, however, we are going to have to get a little uncomfortable. I told the ladies. “We have to come out of our comfort zones.”

Now that I have a sense of who the regulars are that attend the meetings and their personalities — it’s time. It’s time for me to really start helping them make significant life changes.

With a fist pump, I said, “We can’t stay here and change.”

I created the group with them in mind. I want to empower them to change and I want them to own the group. So for our meeting last night I put together a survey to get their feedback about the group thus far and to help guide our future time together.

“I want to start 2013 off STRONG.” I said. “Let’s claim 2013 as our best year yet.” In unison the group shouted, “2013 will be our best year yet.”

To gear us up for the new year I put together a SMART GOALS and ACTION PLAN packet (the Wellness Coaching class I took last year at Clark College in full effect). Then we went around the room going over small changes that we can implement between now and the new year. The SMART packets are our homework over the holiday break. When we come together for our first meeting of 2013 we will share them with one another and then get to work, making the changes. And, ultimately changing our lives.

We are beautiful, strong, capable, and SMART.

More about SMART GOALS—

A SMART goal is:

S is for SPECIFIC. Decide what you are going to do and how to do it.
M is for MEASURABLE. Keep track of how you are doing.
A is for ACHIEVABLE. Pick something you think you can do. Start with small changes. Is running a 4-minute mile possible for you?
R is for REALISTIC or (REWARD). Be realistic about the goals you set. Getting down to your high school weight after having 3 children may not be realistic. Set a goal that you can not only attain, but is in reason for you. You know yourself best.
T is for TIME-SPECIFIC. Give your goal a deadline.

SMART goals are to be written down in a certain way, it gives them even greater power.

“Goals not written down are just wishes.”

Example of a SMART goal: I will eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, Monday-Thursday. I will start eating 2 servings this week. Each week I am successful, I will allow myself to rent a movie. This example is SPECIFIC, can be MEASURED, is ACHIEVABLE, has a REWARD, and is TIME-SPECIFIC.

Join us for our first meeting of 2013

Wednesday, January 23, 2013
6 – 7:30 p.m.
Cascade Park Community Library
Family Room
600 NE 136th Ave
Vancouver
360.256.7782

The blog post that inspired the group:
5 or 50

Chrisetta Mosley

I am a product – and now a survivor – of childhood obesity. As a child, my family always told me that my extra weight was merely baby fat and I’d eventually grow out of it. I never did. Instead, my childhood is filled with memories of not being able to ride a bike, flattening its training wheels from being over the recommended weight, and avoiding P.E. classes by any means necessary. For years, I wore my fatness like a wounded soldier wears a Purple Heart - with pride. I owned the look. I dressed it up. I worked the room. There wasn't a skinny girl who intimidated me. I made sure my hair was laid just right. Nails polished. Outfits coordinated to the tee. Accessories to compliment every outfit. But everyone has a breaking point, and mine came in the spring of 2004 when I tipped the scale at nearly 400 pounds 388 to be exact. I was MISERABLE trapped inside of that body. I no longer wore my Purple Heart with pride. Rather, I was ashamed and frightened. Ashamed that I had allowed food to become my everything – frightened I would die because of it. Drastic times called for drastic measures... Today, I’m bound and determined to live a better, healthier, active lifestyle. I realize I’m no longer a passenger in my life, I’m the driver. I’m overcoming my inhibitions and I’m slowly but surely saying farewell to my old childhood nemesis, obesity. For once and for all, Farewell Fatso!

farewellfatso@gmail.com