Setting The Goals

Sometimes, the only way to achieve something is to set a definite goal - not just, I will do better at something, but that I will do something I can measure to know I've achieved it and set a time limit.

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Once I moved, and realised I could at last afford my rent, and not keep getting further into debt, I looked at my finances.  I have a plan now to be out of debt by the end of 2016.  That's without missing out on anything I really need, and starting to save to cover anything unexpected.

To do that, I've had to sacrifice some things that I know I can live without, for example, I've dropped the hospital cover from my health insurance, and now only have extras cover.  If I need hospital care, I will go to the public system.  Throughout my adult life, whenever I have had enough income, I have private health insurance, otherwise I have counted on the public system.  To me, it's an ethical choice, if I can afford a private hospital, I'll leave a space free in the public system for someone who really needs it, but when I can't afford the private system, I don't feel guilty about taking my place in the public system. I've been a patient in both, and have to say I've actually found the public system far superior.

I'm also saving money by simply spending more time at home, eating all my meals here, inviting friends here for coffee instead of meeting them out, and not using the car as much.

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There's another goal I needed to set, and absolutely must achieve. With continual reminders from my doctors about my weight, and now not needing to escape my home to get out of the heat constantly, I can start to address the basics of food and exercise. It's time to set the weight goal as well.  I will be a healthy weight (for me, that's the range between 52kg to 62kg) by the end of 2016.  Again, that's enough time to allow for some setbacks, lupus flares, etc.

My plan is quite simple.  I need to go back to calorieking.com.au and follow the program carefully.  I need to make sure I know what I'm eating and how much, and that I'm doing sufficient exercise. Because the flat is cooler and more comfortable, I'm able to spend the time in the kitchen to cook healthy meals.

I've started to exercise, with a daily walk around the block with my old dog.  (Calorie King also counts housework as exercise, so that also contributes.)


Three years seems like a long time, but with both of these goals, the only way to achieve them is the long, slow, way.  And the time to get started is right now.