Positively Inspirational Round-up: New Year, new start and all that jazz!

It is everywhere at the moment isn’t it? You can’t visit any blog without there being a post reflecting on the year gone by, on the resolutions to be set for the future or what must change in the New Year. It’s to be expected really, most of us have had time off work or away from the routine of school runs and after school clubs and we find ourselves with some time musing and pondering on whether we achieved the goals we set last January and whether we should bother to set any more for this January.

For the last few years I’ve really enjoyed visiting DorkyMum’s blog at this time of year as she reflects on her year gone by and sets a new word for the year. Last year was learning and it is interesting to see how she has applied that word over the year and what it has meant to her in terms of her journey. This year it is to be focus and that is a favourite of mine, it seems to be about living in the moment and taking time to enjoy what you are doing rather than racing ahead.

Personally I’m not a big fan of resolutions as I feel a great deal of pressure comes with that word and for me it is like a red flag to go right ahead and break any resolutions that I had set just so I can say ‘I knew I would’. Sad but true and I know I am not alone, many of us do the same thing. I never feel I can just rest on my laurels though, times change and we need to as well so I do like to think ahead and plan some goals. Last year I made myself a postcard with single words I wanted to focus on like ‘Give Thanks’ and ‘Be Challenged’ and that worked really well. I can look back and say ‘yes in the main, I did really well with that’.

For about the last twenty years (or maybe even more) my desired goal or resolution would have been the same thing if I had been being completely honest with myself but I’ve been burying my head in the sand sometimes or paying lip-service to the need to get fit and lose weight.  No more though, change needs to happen and 2015 really feels like the time to make it happen. This is not easy for me though, not at all and as such I have gone to look for some inspiration and positive role models to help me along my journey.

First I’ll direct you over to Natasha’s blog The 1970’ Diet as I love to read her ramblings. Natasha is the most forthright blogger I know but she manages to say whatever she wants without being mean and alienating people. Recently she has been publishing guest posts from people sharing their weight loss stories and it was great to read from Rachel, who normally blogs at The Ordinary Lovely. You have to go and take a look at her before and after pictures and see what a difference 21lbs makes and she lost it all in 3 months with about 1400 calories a day, which is very good going!

I was super inspired by Jo at My Monkeys Don’t Sit Still as well, as she shares what a difference six weeks can make. Seriously, reading these kind of posts just makes me want to say ‘that’s it, I’ve started now’. One of my original inspirations was Alyson, whose blog does not seem to be live right now but she wrote a marvellous guest post for me back in 2011. Many of you will only know Alyson as the slinky lady she now is but go back a decade and things were quite different for her

I’m planning to start Slimming World this week and that is mainly due to seeing how well it has worked for so many friends but especially Sandy at Baby, Baby and Clare at Seasider in the City. Those two have transformed themselves big style and again what is more impressive is they are staying transformed, the weight is not creeping back on. Emsyjo who blogs at A matter of Choice has been an advocate of Slimming World for years as she lost a lot of weight with them back in 2006/7 and it is interesting to read how she still attends when she is at target weight. I also want to give Emma at Life According to Mrs Shilts a big pat on the back as she hit her 3 stone award before Christmas and fitted into the slinky black dress for her work do. There are also some great before and after shots to make you fired up to lose the weight over on Mum of Five Staying Sane.

Of course dieting, or should say healthy eating is not all I need to focus on. I must start to move more and that means exercise, it would be great if I could change my mind-set and start to enjoy it like Jane at Northern Mum seems to. You can’t fail to have seen how CrossFit has completely changed her body, she is like Ironman now (but in a good way!).

I’ll leave you with a superb post that I read in November, this one from Katy Hill tells us why she will be focusing on being her best self in the future. It is so good to read about a woman who embraces who she is and that she has imperfections too but that is OK. I need to follow from her example and maybe you do too?

If you have read (or written) any positive posts about getting fit, weight loss etc then do please leave me a link in the comments as I’d love to go and visit and comment on them. I need all the inspiration and encouragement I can get, wish me luck!

Blessings, Mich x

About Michelle Pannell

Mummy from the Heart is the fourth baby of Michelle, a 46 year old (manic) mother living in East Sussex. Having moved to the countryside and ‘retired’, Michelle can now be found eating too much cake and taking long walks. She lives life on the bright side and looks for the joy in every situation, even the excess pounds those cakes keep adding! Michelle’s blog is a very honest place where she shares tales of imperfect parenting, being a Christian digital activist and anything else that takes her fancy.

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