Join Me On My “Countdown To 54” Goals

Ok, so I am turning 54 years old on September 24. That gives me one month to buckle down and really focus on some goals that I have set for myself this year. Join me on my “countdown to 54” goals!

Fitness Goals

Let’s face it. This is a goal I have had for most of my life! I am 5′ 0″ tall and would like to weigh around 110 lbs. Most height and weight charts say that at 5′ tall, your ideal weight is 100 lbs. with 5 lbs added for each inch over. While I believe that gaining muscle and getting toned is more important than scale weight, it would still be nice to see some downward trend on the scale. Let’s see what I can accomplish this month (more on that below).

I have been working out fairly regularly (some weeks better than others) for the past six months. The good news is I have seen some improvements in my overall fitness. The bad news is I do not stick to a schedule and I do not record my progress.

My goal for this month is to work out consistently at least 5 days per week, three days cardio and 2 days weight training/exercise class.

Health Goals

I am a firm believer in preventative medicine. This year, I completed all of my doctor visits and I urge everyone in their 50’s to do the same:

• well checkup (yearly)
• gyn checkup (yearly)
• mammogram (yearly)
• eye exam (yearly)
• bone density test (as prescribed)
• colonoscopy (as prescribed)
• dental checkup (semiannually)

Luckily, I had a clean bill of health except for the bone density test which showed osteoporosis and osteopenia. I saw a specialist who recommended regular weight-bearing exercise, calcium, and Vitamin D. We also discussed taking medication regularly but I would like to hold off on that as much as I can. I am hopeful that my increased exercise and dietary changes will be enough.

Speaking of dietary changes, this is the area where I need the most focus in achieving my health and fitness goals. For some reason, many calcium supplements make me feel a little nauseous so I would prefer to get my calcium from food sources. This means more leafy greens and legumes so my plan is to increase the amount of vegetables and reduce the amount of meat in my overall diet.

Truthfully, I like to eat. I like to go out to dinner and I love making and drinking cocktails. The reality is I am NEVER going to give this up. I need to come up with a strategy where I can enjoy going out without sabotaging all of my efforts.

My goal for this month is to eat out less, practice better portion control, eat more plant-based foods, and make healthier food choices overall.

Cooking Goals

We all know that when you cook your meals at home, you can better control the amount of salt, fat, and sugar you consume. While I enjoy cooking, I sometimes get bored with the same old standbys week to week. Now that it is just the two of us at home, I started saying “let’s go out to eat tonight!” a bit too much. I would like to cook more, try new recipes, and plan ahead better so that I always have the right ingredients on hand.

My goal for this month is to try a new vegan recipe every Monday, do more meal planning at the beginning of the week, and improve my overall cooking skills.

Skincare Goals

I actually do take good care of my skin but there is always room for improvement! I have been reading about jade facial rollers over the past year and finally purchased one. The facial roller is made from solid jade stone and looks like a mini paint roller. Rolling the tool along your face in upward and outward motions is supposed to decrease puffiness, decrease under-eye circles, and minimize the look of fine lines. I plan to use it nightly and see if there is any improvement!

My goal for this month is to use the jade facial roller every night before bed.

Thank you for joining me on my “countdown to 54” goals! I actually have a few more but I realize that maybe these four are more than enough to tackle for the month! Do you have any goals that you would like to share?