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Goal Setting & Reflection-December 2012 – Purposeful Living

Goal Setting and Reflection December 2012

Goal Setting & Reflection-December 2012 – Purposeful Living
These posts written by Todd (Amy’s husband) are designed to model a system of purposeful living.  At least once a month, he spends time setting meaningful goals around one of seventeen core priorities.
If you missed it, consider reading the foundation post – Purposeful Living #1.
Correct Priority #4 – Social Health-Spouse 
Goal – December 2012
Invest in the social and emotional health of my wife and strengthen my marriage by reading and discussing two books with Amy in 2013.  The first book must be a mutually agreed upon marriage book.  The second book may be any book of Amy’s choice.  Specific goals include:
  • Mutually choose a marriage book.
  • Amy chooses a book of her choice. 
  • Decide how often to read and discuss each book.
  • Develop a plan to ensure relevant discussion and dialogue.  
Thoughts
This goal has become a yearly tradition and one that has proven to be very beneficial to our marriage.  
Strong marriages don’t just happen by accident.  They need to be nurtured through commitment and sacrifice.  
Husband and wife
Reading a marriage book together is an opportunity to prioritize our marriage.  It will allow us to focus on what is important to keep our marriage strong.  Reading a second book of Amy’s choice is an opportunity to enter Amy’s world.  It is an opportunity to learn what is important to her and show her I care about the details of her life. 
In future posts I will share the books we chose and some things I learned from each selection.  
Correct Priority #7 – Physical Health 
Goal – December 2012  
Become physically stronger by developing a daily/multi-day home strength training plan.  I am specifically interested in strengthening the muscles in my upper body.   
Thoughts
I have not lifted weights or done any strength training since college (almost twenty years ago).  But now that I am past the age of forty (whoa) it is probably time to start up again. 
Studies show that people generally lose about 1 percent of lean muscle mass per year after age 40.  One major problem of losing muscle is it becomes harder to lose weight or stay at an ideal weight because developed muscle burns more calories than undeveloped muscle.  
Three years ago I lost 25 pounds and have managed to stay at my ideal weight since then.  But if I am going to be successful at staying this weight as I get older, developing muscle mass is going to be a necessity.  
Since I am very lazy I will have to develop a weight-lifting plan I can complete at home.  I am not about to get up at some crazy hour each morning to go a gym to work out.  
In addition, I do not have any weights at home so I will need to get creative with my strength training plan.  I believe there are a variety of exercises I can do that involve only my own body weight as resistance (pull-ups, sit-ups, push-ups, etc.).  So I should be okay. 
I’m not looking to become a body builder.  I am looking to do just enough strength training to avoid losing muscle mass now that I’m getting older.  Developing just a bit of muscle would also be cool.  I think my wife would appreciate that.  
And no, I am not doing P90X, Insanity, or any other of those crazy home workouts.  I wouldn’t last 5 minutes with those routines.  Not interested.  I am looking for something simple, easy, I can do every day, and won’t lead to burn out.  
Correct Priority #7 – Physical Health 
Goal – December 2012  
Thoroughly review every section of Dr. Joel Fuhrman’s website (www.drfuhrman.com) to gain better understanding of his nutrition philosophy.   
Thoughts
Dr. Fuhrman is a board certified family physician, best-selling author, and nutritional researcher who specializes in preventing and reversing disease through nutritional and natural methods.  
I first became familiar with Dr. Fuhrman after watching the documentary Fat, Sick, & Nearly Dead with my wife several months ago.  He was only in the documentary for a few minutes, but I was intrigued by what he was saying.  I was specifically intrigued by the Nutritarian Food Pyramid which he developed and was highlighted in the movie.  
Ever since watching that documentary I have been toying around with the idea of becoming more vegan (or maybe completely vegan).  The key for me in making this switch is that I would have to thoroughly enjoy the food.  It would have to taste good. 
A thorough review of Dr. Fuhrman’s website is a good place for me to start.  He is a leader in this field and can likely both provide me with great information and also point me in the right direction to new information as I embark on this journey to further transform my eating habits.  
Foundation Post
Outline Of All Purposeful Living Posts

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