A New Year, A Fresh Start

Good morning, all!!  Welcome to 2012!!!!  I absolutely love the start of a new year.  For me, it’s always a time of planning and dreaming.  It’s a fresh start.

Speaking of goal-making, are you a “New Year’s Resolution” kind of person?  I am.  I think no matter what a person does in life, whether they’re a high-paid executive or a housewife, setting goals is crucial.  Of course, goals can be established at any time of the year, but there’s just something about the date January 1st that gets me motivated.

Here are my main goals for this year:

 

Finish the main rooms of my condo

I have a thousand projects started, so this is the year to finish them.  My kitchen and breakfast area are soooo close to being finished!!  I just have a few small projects to go.

Then I need to finish up my hallway utility closet.  No, you didn’t miss the big reveal.  I just never finished it!  It still looks exactly like it did when I showed you on November 1st…

 

After that’s finished, it’ll be on to my office.  Oh boy, did I ever drop the ball on my office!!!  After my awful fabric “wallpaper” fail that left my cloffice walls looking dimpled and puckered…

 

…I finally took the fabric off and skim coated the walls.  And…you guessed it…I haven’t done a single thing in there since.

After that’s finished, I’ll finally get my bedroom done, and the last room is my living room.

Those are some pretty lofty goals, but I’ve been living in a construction zone for far too long.  I’m ready to have a comfortable and pretty home. I’m ready to be able to open then front door when someone knocks, and not feel compelled to say, “Excuse the mess.  We’re remodeling.”  I’ve been saying that for five years now.  It’s enough.

And of course, you’ll come along on every step of that journey with me, and I’ll share lots of projects along the way.  I think it’ll be fun!

Now, as if that goal isn’t challenging enough, here’s the second goal of the year…

 

Lose weight, get healthy, and see my husband walk again.

Wow, so how’s that for a doozy of a goal?!  Oh, I know, I know…the losing weight and getting healthy part is so cliche.  Matt and I are two of millions of Americans who have made that New Year’s Resolution, and most of those millions will last a month or two, and then give up.  I know, because I’ve been in that group for the last several years.

But we’re both determined to make this year different.  You see, Matt has M.S., and his health has steadily declined over the last few years to the point that he’s been confined to a wheelchair for a little over two years.

Last year, his condition was greatly exacerbated when he sprained his ankle and was bedridden for two weeks.  Then when he was on the mend, he sprained his ankle again, and was bedridden once again for about a month.  Then in July, when he had almost made a recovery from his second ankle sprain, his brother died unexpectedly.

The unexpected death of his brother sent Matt into a tailspin toward a deep, dark emotional abyss that had an unimaginably devastating effects on his physical health, which in turn was incredibly emotionally and physically draining on me, so I basically joined him on his journey to the deep emotional abyss.

Those situations would be difficult for anyone, but for two emotional eaters who live within blocks of every fast food restaurant imaginable (with Domino’s Pizza and Shipley’s Donuts just one block away) well, you can only imagine how we compounded our problems by stuffing our faces with “comfort food”.  Because of that “comfort food”, I now look in the mirror and barely recognize the person staring back at me.

So now, here we are…emotionally drained, out of shape, and desperate for a change. But most of all, we’re hopeful, excited, and determined.

So to kick start our journey out of the abyss, I spent about two hours cleaning out our fridge yesterday.  Yep, two hours.  There were things shoved to the back that had expired in 2010.  The bottom of the fridge was coated in all kinds of stuff that had spilled and dripped.  The veggie drawers had things in them that were completely unrecognizable.  But now it looks like this…

 

It’s ready to be filled with good, nutritious, life-giving food–fresh organic fruits and veggies, grass-fed meats, and healthy snacks, and I’m headed to the store as soon as I post this and then finalize my shopping list.  Despite what doctors tell us, there have been far too many people who have cured themselves of M.S. and other dreadful diseases by drastically altering their diets and lifestyle.  We’re going to do everything in our power to make Matt part of that small minority.

So here’s to a fresh start, renewed hope, healthy eating…and a husband who can walk again. *clink*

I’ll keep you posted on the progress.

Happy New Year!!!

 

 

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

26 Comments

  1. Good luck this year. I think weight loss for healthy and happiness is a good goal, and definitely doable in the conditions your husband is facing. My father was very overweight for most of his adult life and has lost over 100 lbs. in the last year. It has absolutely changed the way he lives his life. He also lost a sibling this year, his youngest sister who was only 49. He still struggles every day but I think challenging the weight he always struggled with has given him some feeling of control when all seemed lost. Wishing health and happiness this year!

  2. Good luck with your goals for 2012! What excellent goals they are for you and your husband. I am hopeful this year that my husband’s job change will be settled and we can enjoy this new adventure we are on! Keep at it and all the best for 2012.

  3. I’m right there with you on the weight issue Kristi. My father passed away the end of October and I too took to comfort in food and my weight is at an all time high. I look in the mirror and think how did I get like this in a few short months? Well, we can do it! I am pulling for you and Matt to eat healthy and lose the extra pounds and for Matt to walk again.

    Keep us posted on your progress and success in 2012!!!!

    1. Jodie, I’m so sorry to hear about your father. I pray that God will give you comfort. And yes, we can do this!! I will definitely post updates as the year progresses.

  4. Boy o boy can I relate. I lost my mom in Aug after her courageous 9 yr fight with Parkinson’s and a devastating stroke that sealed her fate. Being an emotional eater as well, I packed on the pounds very quickly in a short time (20 in 4 wks). Trying to lose weight while mourning is impossible. I applaud your strength and hope to find my own strength to move forward. Kudos to you and I look forward to reading more.

  5. I had a feeling that some of the difficulties you`d alluded to before were relating to your husband’s health challenges. I know that sharing such personal things isn’t something you do all the time, so I bet this was difficult for you….Anyway, I’m proud of you for the changes you’re attempting. You seem like a hard-working, kind, decent person and you deserve the best.

    Happy 2012!

  6. Kristi—First of all I have to tell you how very much I enjoy your blog & seeing all of your transformations! You’re such an inspiration to all of us!! 🙂 I look forward to seeing you accomplish your remodeling goals & know they will all be beautiful! Most importantly I wish you & your hubby much success with your weight loss/health improvement goals! I’m with many others who have unfortunately gained this past year (25 lbs!), & now trying to give myself the pep talk to begin yet another healthy eating/weight loss journey. Prayers for your hubby’s MS to recede so that he can walk this year! Wishing you the best in 2012! Blessings!

  7. I hope 2012 is a great year for you. I think your positive outlook is half the battle! I started running about a month ago and sometimes I don’t feel like running, but I do it anyways because I know it is good for me. 🙂 Looking forward to reading about you and your husband’s progress!

  8. I have people with MS on both sides of my immediate family so I know how hard it can be to help those who struggle with the disease. Wishing you and your husband the best in 2012!

  9. Kristi. Thank you for being so honest about your struggles. I wish you all the best as you and your husband try to get healthy. It must be extra challenging with MS. I can totally relate to having unfinished projects in the home. It’s just so much fun to start a new project that I forget to complete my last project. My husband keeps asking me “When are you going to finish….?”

  10. Thank you for sharing your story. It sounds like you’re off to a good start and your strength is an inspiration to us all! Wishing you all the best in 2012.

  11. I enjoy your blog so much! Good luck with your resolutions! You’re right: we all do make the weight resolution. As for the healing power of nutrition, if you have a chance, rent Forks Over Knives. The doctors behind it make some pretty bold claims about the results of their eating plan. It may be just what your hubby needs. Good to know I have company in the Unfinished Project Club! Happy New Year!

  12. Wishing the best for you and Matt – a friend emailed me the Paleo diet this morning and how it helps MS patients. Plan to start making some of those changes as well.

  13. Sharing this couldn’t have been easy, but you did it. You are certainly not alone and everyone is pulling for you both. Putting it out there is an excellent way to stay motivated. You’re going to be sharing an amazing story this time next year…or sooner. Can’t wait, stay strong and thank you for sharing not only your talent, but your humanity with us.

  14. Happy New Year, Kristi! Good for you on having those goals- it will pay off for you & I can’t wait to see the results. I too have taken it upon myself to get healthier. I haven’t ever been overweight, but after having 3 babies & stopping exercise completely, I was unfit & unhealthy. Laziness took over & I got to my heaviest. After having my 3rd nearly 11 months ago, I decided enough was enough. I knew I was done bearing kids, so I didn’t have that excuse of why diet/exercise if Im just going to get pregnant again. I joined the gym & found classes that worked for me. I’m not a do it on your own girl- I must be held accountable. Classes make me feel obligated to go. I chose a spinning class & did that for 6 months & recently completed a boot camp (yowza, that was tough!). Now for budget reasons, I am doing it at home. I have my workouts on the fridge & the treadmill in the garage. Its working & I am only 10 lbs. from my goal weight & already feeling a lot better. I also have been doing Body by Vi nutritional shakes. They are delicious, packed with nutrition, and don’t cost any more than your normal grocery plan. You may want to check into it. I’m sure there is a consultant in your area. 🙂 Its not a gimmick- trust me- I don’t do gimmick diets. Good Luck & God Speed! **clink**

  15. Wow, you really have your plate full. But good for you that you are stepping up to the plate and getting you and your husband to eat healthier. I know it must be hard to find the excitement to move forward with all that has happened over this last year, but you guys CAN do it! There is nothing to lose right? Ok, wait, I guess there is, weight, but you know what I mean. Here is to a wonderful, healthier New Year to you and your husband, I will be rooting for both of you.

  16. You encourage others by sharing your struggles, inspire others with your designs. Best wishes in this new year! I love the breakfast room makeover so much-I saved it on my phone & look at it for inspiration every so often. Prayers for you & your husband as you try to control MS through healthy lifestyle & diet!

  17. Hi again Kristi!
    I’m not sure how comments on blog posts get (or don’t) to the blogger. I’m never sure if there’s some sort of “switch” that gets “flagged”, – I commented on your post about “envy”, and am now commenting on this post, so . . . . anyway. I just wondered if you’ve ever heard of LDN? It’s a somewhat experimental treatment for MS, as well as other autoimmune diseases. Email me if you want more info.