initiating : operation twenty12
I honestly cannot remember the last time I declared, publicly or just to myself, a New Year’s resolution. For as long as memory serves, I have not been fond of New Year’s resolutions for the very reason many others loathe the concept — an expectation of disappointment or outright failure. With that said, for the last two or thee years I have eluded making the dreaded resolutions by coming up with a short list of goals. Who am I fooling? These goals are really the same thing as resolutions, and I admit to falling short of even being clever by half.
A few weeks ago, I talked to my wife about some overall lifestyle changes that I would like to initiate. I thought it would be good to have a defined start date for bringing on some these changes — January 1. I know…I know…this sounds like a resolution. The difference, in my mind at least, is that I don’t have an end date in mind. Instead, I thought that I would kick start “Operation Twenty12” as a means to measure how I bring on new things and/or shed old habits. So often, people endeavor to make dramatic lifestyle changes, but they set unrealistic timelines for success. I’ve played that game many times, and have a losing record.
Ok. Now that I’ve provided a little context for Operation Twenty12, here’s how things will work. Operation Twenty12 is a living project. I will add some things along the way, and I may take some things of the table. The whole idea is to break away from some conventional things I’ve tried that didn’t work. I want to try out some ideas, and remain open to new things. The things that work will become part of the Operation. Those that don’t — won’t.
I intend to post regularly about what’s going on. I don’t always like to share my goals with people, because there’s usually at least one person far too willing to remind (read: needle) you that you’re off track. I am hard enough on myself. I normally don’t need someone else pointing out the obvious. That’s not motivational. However, I am taking a different approach. I think public accountability might be good.
I am not quite ready to lay out the “hows” just yet, but here are some things that I intend to include in Operation Twenty12. I am including a little bit of an explanation (the “why?”) next to each item, because I think it’s helpful, if not cathartic, to acknowledge why something is on my list for inclusion in this project. Note: Some things on this list will logically fit together; while others will seem like complete non sequiturs — unless you know me well.
- Weight — I don’t blame my parents for what I am about to type. In fact, we’ve spoken about it, and I know that their intent was not malicious nor mean-spirited. When I was kid my dad’s nickname for me was “Chub.” My dad called me Chub because, he said that my stomach stuck out as if I had swallowed a bowling ball. My stepmother would often talk to me about my weight, making reference to Uncle who was a heavy man that died way too young. My stepfather would also lean in on me about my weight — then and to this day. When I went to college, I specifically recall people describing me as chubby. “You know Matthew? Tall, light complexion…chubby.” Ugh! Clearly, for reasons that I have to own, I have an issue with my body image. I don’t think there’s ever been a time in my life when I’ve been content with my body. Interestingly enough, I was a lot thinner in college than I am now (195 lbs then, versus 270 lbs now). Interestingly enough, my stepmother’s periodic voice in my ear about weight eventually became my own. I have become concerned, if not obsessed weight-related health issues. My family has a history of heart problems, and I am fully aware that my weight has a direct correlation to my heart health. As part of Operation Twenty12, I intend to find a sane way to begin to reducing my weight. I would like to eventually take my weight down to an “ideal range” found on most physician’s tables chart for my height and age — somewhere between 190 and 210 pounds — with a body fat around 18 percent (or less). I didn’t get to my current weight overnight, or even in a year, so Operation Twenty12 is more about beginning the journey. I want to chart my progress over the course of a year, not day-to-day as I have been doing. That obsessive weight checking is stressful and, usually, discouraging. This is a non-negotiable Operation Twenty12 item. It has to be in the project.
- Nutrition — In 2003, I jumped into a pretty dramatic weight-loss regimen. I started an Atkins, low-carb/high-protein diet. I stayed on the induction phase of the diet for nearly three months and lost just over 60 pounds. It felt great, but unfortunately I didn’t move into the advanced phases of the diet and the weight eventually crept back up. Since 2003, I have gone in-and-out with an Atkins-esque diet. I usually lose about 15 pounds and then plateau. Part of my problem is that I go through (brace yourself for the language) something I call the “Fuckits!” [Full disclosure: I borrowed that expression from my wife.] When I try hard to lose weight and don’t see the progress I hoped for, I am guilty of saying “Fuck it!” and I eat whatever. In fact, the eating is tantamount to binging. While I won’t gorge, I have been known to eat a pint of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream every day for a week straight. I’ll snack and eat things that I am fully aware have no redeeming nutritional value or place in my diet. I keep trying and I can’t get ahead. Fuck it! I’m gonna have a Double Baconator combo — Biggie Size my drink and fries, please. Ugh! It’s an exhausting cycle — both mentally and physically. As part of Operation Twenty12, I intend to read and get help establishing a sustainable, healthy diet, as opposed to be being ON a diet. I probably need to get some help to identify and address the emotional drivers for eating. I’ve got to do away with the “Fuckits!” Ironically, when it comes to nutrition, like most people, I know what’s good and bad. I just need to summon the will to see things through. This is a non-negotiable Operation Twenty12 item. It has to be in the project.
- Fitness — I suspect that my real problem here is that I’m a little lazy. I have pretty good endurance, but I just don’t excited thinking about working out. I think the root of this problem may be that I have found an activity that sustains my interest. I am somewhat compulsive, so once I start an exercise program, I can keep it going for a while. Eventually, though, I get the same “Fuckits!” that I do with eating. I get bored and quit. Obviously, the combination of saying “Fuckit!” to responsible eating and exercise is not a good thing. I’ve been reading a lot about sustainable fitness activities, and as part of Operation Twenty12, I hope to find the thing that I cannot wait to do. For some it’s running. Others, riding a bike. It may be walking for me. I want to discover what I enjoy sooner than latter. I have a gym membership, and have yet to find any joy in hitting the treadmill on a daily basis.
- Clothing/How I Dress — I wrote not too long ago about an incident with my shoes looking horrible. That experience stuck with me for a reason. For the most part, I don’t like the way I dress anymore. While I was never what one would call a clothes horse, I did take much more pride in my clothing and appearance. Perhaps, it was a function of my previous jobs. I had to look the part. I think a lot of it also has to do with fluctuation in my weight. It’s tough to find clothes that fit properly, let alone look nice (in my mind’s eye) on me. I pretty much have an idea of how I’d like to dress, but haven’t really made much of an effort to get there. I intend to shift that dynamic in Operation Twenty12. While I have my own ideas and sense of style, I hope that friends are willing to give me constructive feedback on my clothing and make suggestions for items that I might wear well. Dressing in a way that makes me feel good about my appearance and myself should come about irrespective of where I am with weight and nutrition.
- Make a Decision About Photography — For a couple of years now, I have been full on in day-dream mode about becoming a full-time professional photographer. I have had a few opportunities come my way, as well as inquiries. However, I have to own up to the fact that I have not put much energy into making this dream a reality. This is actually one of the first things that let me to get serious about Operation Twenty12. I need to make a decision about what I am going to do with photography. I love the medium, but cannot decide whether I am romanticizing the idea of being a professional photographer, or am simply avoiding the hard work that comes with engaging in the craft full-time. I have become more open to the idea that it’s more of the former, but don’t want to give up that easily. Much like with the fitness and reading (see below), I have to admit that I can be lazy. However, I have become friends with some really good people in the field, who have been encouraging and incredibly supportive. (Shout out to Sarah Mattingly, Paul Kim, and, of course, my wonderful wife!) I need to sort out whether my lack of fire to do more with my photography is because there’s a delta between my romantic notions and reality. Do I really want to pursue this field as my next career? If so, getting my act together and putting some action behind the interest is imperative. I’m willing to give myself a little time with this, thus it fits nice with Operation Twenty12. If I haven’t started chasing my passion for photography by the end of the year, in earnest, I think the answer to my question will be pretty obvious.
- Read More — I am a skimmer. I admit it. I often don’t have the patience to sit for long periods of time curled up with a book. Perhaps it’s simply because I haven’t found the right genre. I don’t think that’s it, though, because I am pretty self-aware about what does, and does not, interest me. Where I do fall short is following through reading about things that do interest, in fact, interest me. I am an incredibly curious person, and will often go looking up/researching things that I stumble upon in day-to-day life. I have often felt that I am just intellectually lazy. This may sound a bit arrogant, but a lot of things come easy to me. So, when something takes more time, commitment, and motivation to master, I usually pass. It occurred to me while in Amsterdam that I long for knowledge about a lot of things. I don’t know if my desire to know things is an honest-to-goodness intellectual calling or whether it’s for simply for the vanity of knowing a bunch of stuff. I’ll have to sort that out. I sincerely hope it’s the former. If it’s the latter, I’ll need to add some material on humility to my reading list.
- Write More — Reading and writing work hand-in-hand. Irrespective of the material, I am a firm believer that the more you read, the better you write. Given that you’re reading this on my blog, it may come as no surprise that it is here that I intend to write more as part of Operation Twenty12. I’ve run many laps in my head about what, exactly, I should write about. I’ve come to the conclusion that the answer is — anything. So often I have something in my head, but I stop before typing the words. It’s usually because I assume that no one is interested. I have to remind myself that this is my blog. Of course, I want my content to resonate with people. I would be lying if I said that I didn’t ask myself “Who cares?” before I hitting the “Publish” button. This is really one of the components of Operation Twenty12 that I intend to address immediately. I don’t need to do research or soul searching about writing, because I love the activity. I suspect the real challenge is to remove the hurdles and obstacles I put up for myself. Hopefully by year’s end, my assessment will be easy to achieve by looking at my blog’s archive.
- Patience — This item doesn’t really have, or need, a back story. It’s pretty simple. I need to be more patient with people. I think that I am pretty compassionate person, but I do find that I can become rather impatient with people. There are various triggers, many of which I am aware. I think the way to assess progress on this by the year’s end will be to ask my wife and son. They seem to be acutely aware of my need for improvement in this area.
- Financial Planning & Acumen — I have made great strides in the last five or six years to improve my financial situation. I made a number of mistakes with money when I was in college and throughout my first marriage. I didn’t have the best role model for finances growing up. I will forever love my mom, but she was terrible with money. I don’t foist blame on her for my financial missteps, because, again I have to own my shortcomings; but it is amazing how much we exhibit or reflect the behaviors that were modeled for us as children. One of the biggest challenges for me was being open about missteps. In my previous marriage, when money got tight, or a credit card balance grew large, I would quietly try to handle everything on my own. Meanwhile, the financial knots only grew larger, tighter, and harder to unravel. My divorce forced me to face a lot of my financial demons. There’s nothing like going solo with bills from your past life, obligations to your past wife, being responsible to take care of your child, and find enough to live a modest life. Though I am not consumed with “stuff,” I do like nice things. I have struggled to find the balance between having nearly everything I want (on credit) versus living a spartan life. Somewhere in between would be acceptable, but I refuse to return to a lifestyle purchased on credit. As part of Operation Twenty12, I plan to continue my debt reduction plan. I have been rather diligent about paying down/off my consumer credit accounts. Assuming that I stay on track, I should have about another 14 months before I am consumer debt free. I still have my student loans from law school, which are enough of an albatross. Another part of Operation Twenty12 is to get our mortgage in under a better rate. I would be fine paying the same amount for a 15-year mortgage at a lower rate. Otherwise, I’ll take a reduced-rate 30 year mortgage and will plan to make at least one additional full payment per year.
- Get Back to Cooking Regularly — There’s a direct correlation to my weight and eating convenience food. There’s also a direct impact on my finances. Eating lunch at Whole Foods daily costs about $10. That’s $200 a month. Given what I eat from the salad bar at Whole Foods, I am certain that I can purchase those items once a week for much less. The same goes for dinner. With my wife in New York on weekdays, I have felt less compelled to cook. The result is that I often eat prepared food or items from Whole Foods hot bar. Either way, it’s expensive, and often not as healthy as what I’d make myself. I love to cook, so taking this on in Operation Twenty12 should be a problem.
- Putting the Phone Down in the Car — This may, on the surface, seem like a minor item for a lifestyle project; but I must admit that I am guilty of texting and driving, fiddling with my smartphone and driving, playing Word with Friends and driving. I know…I know. Bad Matthew! Though most of the things listed above are to be rolled out, implemented, or decided by the end of the year; putting the down my smartphone while driving is an immediate action item. In fact, I have already put this item into effect.
I am sure there will be more items that get added to Operation Twenty12. Please forgive me for repeating the title so much. I hope that I don’t sound like Herman Cain with his repeated 9–9-9 mantra.
As I said earlier, this is a living project. I created separate page on my blog where I will list items in my project. I will add new items there, strike through things that I am no longer pursuing. I will post updates, observations and notes about my experiences throughout the year here on the main part of the blog.
I am excited and interested to see where things stand at the end of the year. Of course, I am a big believer in accountability partners. My friend Greg and I have begun some accountability partnering on weight and fitness. I would be interested to hear from any of you that are interested in starting your own Operation Twenty12 project. Of course, I can appreciate that not everyone is comfortable being as open about their goals, needs, desires and shortcomings. Even if you don’t share your Operation Twenty12 project with others, I hope that my post may inspire you to kick start some introspection about things you want to start doing, stop doing, or moderate in your life.
Thanks for your support, and have a wonderful Twenty12!
Fantastic post, Matthew!! I could probably write (less eloquently) an almost identical post. I will support you in every way I can. Proud of you for putting it all down on “paper.”
Thanks Jeniene. It’s probably no surprise that you and I are —>here<— on things. You know I’ve got your back, too.
Great post! I, and probably lots of others, appreciate you having articulated what many of us need and want to do. My list would be very similar, with adding a focus on the use of time (not wasting it, and trying to make sure that it is spent in line with my goals).
All best wishes on your Operation!
Thanks Victoria. Focus, or the lack thereof, is something that will very likely be added to the list.
I hope you had a great holiday! All the best.
This reads a lot like everything I think about improving/changing (minus the photography). Maybe your progress will inspire me!
I think you should contemplate changing the name of the blog to My Name is Not Matt (and don’t call me Chub, either).
LOL! I like that name suggestion.
Thanks Rich. It’s very interesting to discover the resonance some of my items have with people. It think it shows the commonality of human existence. We are so often pushed to find differences from others that we overlook, or don’t appreciate, the many things we all share or go through.
Matthew, what a great set of goals. I admire your honesty. It takes courage to own up to our shortcomings, let alone publicly. I’m rooting for you on Operation Twenty12. Best of luck and Happy New Year.
Thanks Domenica! I appreciate your commenting on this piece. Some of this was catharsis, the rest will serve as a motivational tool. Either way, it’s nice to have people supporting the journey and process.
All the best to you and your family in 2012!
Matthew, inspiring! Reading about your dance with photography, brought to mind my love of books and how I’ve ALWAYS wanted to work/own in a little neighborhood bookstore. I look forward to reading about your journey and, perhaps, starting my own.
Wow! Get out of my head Denise. (smile) I have also entertained the idea of owning a bookstore. Actually, I wanted to own a book and paper store. I wanted to call it Writer’s Block. It would be a place for people to buy books, journals, handmade paper, pens and other writing implements, as well as a space for people to meet up to share their works. You never know.
Thanks for reading the piece and comment. Good luck if you decide to create a new, or more defined, path for yourself.
Did you simply just write a story and set goals about me… Brother’s separated at birth! I will now follow daily and intend to send my self an e-mail a day to read, follow, share and adopt your goals as my own! Thanks Matt, or whatever your name is! :^) All the baest and let’s have a great 2012!
Thanks for reading and commenting. My name is Matthew, not Matt. (Here’s more on that — http://goo.gl/kJPpo )
It has been interesting hearing from so many different people, about how the items in my project resonate with them.
If you want to keep up with the posts, you can subscribe to the site feed (by email or a news feed reader). Just click the RSS button at top right of the site. Under all the news reader logos, you’ll see an option to subscribe by email.
Best wishes to you in 2012!
Matthew — this is the first I’ve seen of your blog, but I know it will not be the last. Surprisingly, I have extremely similar goals and I think there is something to be said about putting them out there if for nothing more than some accountability. Nice job! I am excited to see how you fair with your lifestyle change!
Thanks for reading the piece and commenting. Receiving feedback is a good thing.
All the best in 2012!
Hi Matthew,
I have found that the best new years resolution is “to become the best person I can be” and then work on what that may mean for the rest of your life.
Regarding diet, I am 59 years young, and I’m studying Holistic Nutrition, and what I have learned the best diet is called “nutritionally dense” in your 3 meals get all the vitamins and minerals you need, don’t go over what is allowed which for a man I think it’s 2500 calories per day.
For the rest of the mentioned things in your goals, it all comes down to “being the best person you can be”
Don’t be so hard on yourself or self critical about things…
By the way, your wife, is adorable.
Thanks Sarah. You offer good advice to heed. I like the idea of being the best person I can be. It has to be driven by me, not outside opinions. I am pretty tough on myself, and need to learn how to let up a bit. This is particularly applicable to the issue of body image. I need to figure out if I am unhappy with my body image for me or because of what others may think of me. I know that it’s mostly the latter.
I will look into the idea of eating a nutritionally dense diet. I really want to reach a place where I am eating, in a way that brings me joy and healthy results.
Take care, and have a great year!
Matthew: I appreciate the plain spoken honesty of your post. I hope you will be both ruthless and gentle with yourself as you slip and slide through Operation Twenty12. I look forward to hearing how you are doing over time.
Thanks for your comment. I like the idea of approaching things ruthlessly. Given that I have been a bit lax about certain aspects found on the list, exhibiting more drive and hustle to get things accomplished is probably in order.
Best wishes to you in 2012!
Matthew, I, too, am proud of you! I love this. It inspires me to create my own Operation Twenty12! I heard a lot about you from Carla. I would love to meet you some day! I’m Carla’s friend, Karen, sister. Give Carla a great big hug from me! I’ll be following you on your blog and praying for great success, motivation, and perseverance. Look how many you can inspire to rise to the occasion and become a better person.
Hi Kim! Thanks for reading the piece and commenting. Receiving the feedback is motivational. Thanks for your encouragement.
I’ve heard a lot about you, as well. I’m very sorry about Karen.
I’m wishing you a 2012 filled with peace, contentment and love!
HI Matthew, I think you could have been talking about me in your entire post! Everything including the dressing portion! As for photography, I am trying to find a way to segway from my current life as an educator, which I love, to a working artist. And that my friend is a commitment. Be well Susan
Thank you Susan! I think we all have, and are capable of taking, several journeys in us. It’s all about finding the courage and resolve to make them happen. I think the key is to put down the idea that it has to be all-or-nothing. Small steps are still steps. Just this morning I saw a quote on a gas station said that read, “If you lack the courage to start, you’ve already finished.” Wow! The signs, literally and figuratively are all around.
I appreciate you reading and leaving a comment. Best wish to you in 2012! Pursue your passion, and the pieces will fall in place.
I saw your blog from Greg’s post (I went to college with Jeniene) and really enjoyed reading it! I like seeing inside someone else’s head and finding the places where we overlap. I did a similar goals blog for 2011 and will send a link if you’re interested — either way, I’m going to keep up with your success and experiences! Go, Matthew!
Hi Tina! I’ve “met” some great people through Jeniene online, so I appreciate you reading the piece and commenting. Please do share the link. I’d like to look at how others approached their goals.
All the best in 2012!
I am working on a year-end wrap-up post, but you can get the gist of my 2011 goals by clicking on any of them on the left hand side. You’ll have to scroll through the archive if you want to see any subsequent updates, but there aren’t too many posts overall. (I used the bit.ly since it’s an ugly URL.)
Looking forward to checking in on you now and then!
Hm, don’t see the link. Trying again? http://bit.ly/euW5me
I am 62 and have been out of work for almost 2 years due to management changes at my former company. Since my job lose, I have been eating: chips and dip for breakfast; cookies and cakes for lunch; fast food for dinner. Not to mention the snacks in between! I have a wonderful family and have decided to follow your example so I can be here to enjoy watching my grandchildren grow. You are an inspiration, not only for dieting but for taking control of my life and setting goals. Putting myself back out to the working world and finding a job, getting healthy and feeling better. THANK YOU! And a great thanks to Carla for sending me to your blog! No more Fuckits for me!
Thanks so much for your comment. I lost a job about 7 years ago, and was out of work for nearly a year. In that time, I went through a number of ups-and-downs with food and weight. I was quite clear that anxiety and uncertainty were the emotion drivers. I have yet to put my finger on what’s the push now.
I am so glad that my post touched you. I think putting yourself out there can be just as helpful to the next person — even those you don’t know — as it is for you. I wish you well with the job search, and continued healthy and happiness for you and your family!
Cheers!
What a brave man you are, so willing to put it all out there for the world to see. I admire that more than words can articulate. I believe with your realistic outlook, you will be capable of great things. And I have to laugh a little, as the mother of 3 boys (ages 5, 7.5, and 10) I have been prone to many cases of the “fuckits.” I am not one who follows blogs, I mean NEVER follow them, too little time. However, you have piqued my interest and I imagine I will be back often to follow up and see how it is going along your journey.
Thanks so much, Andrea. I have just one son and felt the drain when he was younger. I can only imagine the energy required to keep up with three. Kudos to you. I think, as parents, we sometimes get so caught up in seeing that our children are safe and healthy that we neglect ourselves. Some will even feel guilty if time is taken from the kids to focus on self. It’s a tug that, in my opinion, has no right or wrong answers; but there has to be some room for us to make sure that we not only stay healthy (emotionally, physically, financially) but serve as good behavior models for our kids.
It means a lot to read that my post piqued your interest in the blog. Subscribing may be too cumbersome for you, given the demands of your life, but I welcome to you to check in from time-to-time.
All the best to you and your family in 2012!
You have a lofty set of goals, but you certainly seem focused and I am excited to see how well you will do. While driving around the boys today, my oldest son Jon, was telling me about the resolutions he made for the year: to lose weight, to get faster, and to get stronger. I was struck by that, not necessarily for the right reasons. That a 10-year-old who is very active but has always been a bigger kid, feels he needs to lose weight. Your blog came to mind and I shared with him your thoughts and prior struggles, he was impressed and a little sad by what you endured growing up. We have always tried to guide, but never criticize because I live in fear of the very things you had happen to you growing up.
And you are exactly right, being a parent is a constant struggle to find balance. Like all parents, life is full of challenges. But you are right again, my biggest job in life is to set a good example and do what I can to ensure my boys grow into productive members of society as well as compassionate young men.
Thank you for the reply and the invitation to subscribe. I look forward to great things. Oh, and Carla ROCKS
You guys are an adorable couple, stay strong and stay away from hot bars,lol.
Good luck. You and I have a lot of changes (not resolutions) in common. I wish you all the luck in the world. I acquired a copy of P90x I’m half afraid to attempt. Lol So here’s to 2012!!!
Hi Krysten. Thanks for reading the piece and leaving a comment. I have a few friends that have worked through P90X, and nearly all of them said it was tough, but worth it. One thing I need to examine is whether I am resistant to a structured program or if I’m just making excuses for not getting off my can to work out. I can be pretty self-motivated, so I don’t think that I need an instructor getting in my face, but maybe that is missing piece. Who knows? It’s my hope that working through this life project will reveal the answer(s).
Please follow up and let me know if you get over the fear and jump into the P90X program. I’d be interested to hear your perspective.
No matter what you do, I hope that you experience happiness and joy in 2012!
Good luck with Operation Twenty12! I am a grad student studying exercise physiology and am all too familiar with people’s struggles to start and stick with some kind of fitness plan. You have the right attitude, that these are lifestyle changes, not short-term, quick fixes. As far as your fitness goes, remember to include weight training and not just a cardio routine. Muscle is much more active than fat tissue, so as you build more muscle, you will increase your metabolism at rest. Finding an activity that you enjoy is often the hard part, but you’re much more likely to stick with something you enjoy. Another thing that I’ve found to be helpful is to sign up for a race or an event. Its something to work towards and keep you on track. I know I’m much better about consistently working out when I have some sort of race coming up. Best of luck!
Hi Kara. Thanks so much for your response. I’ve been reading the book Primal Blueprint, and it addresses the need for a mix of movement and weights/lifting — although the approach is quite different than the conventional approach to achieving these activities. I appreciate your insight as someone studying exercise physiology.
Finding an activity, or activities, that I enjoy is paramount. I like the idea of adding a race or some sort competitive challenge. It helps set milestones and an end point.
Thanks again, and have a great 2012!
Your interest in delving more into photography sounds like my brother — who actually did jump off the cliff and open a photography studio — here is a link to his website — I’m sure he would be open to sharing his experiences as an independent photographer with you. http://www.blakephotostudio.comblakephotostudio.com
good luck with your project — you are inspiring me to do ‘upgrade” myself this year ( though I think the “fuckits” should be allowed at least once a week as your reward!
Hi there. Thanks for reading, commenting, and sharing the link to your brother’s site. I’ll take a look. It’s always good to hear stories about people that followed their passion.
Best wishes for a great 2012!
Matthew, that’s awesome. Oh god… did you just inspire me? I’ve got a blog that’s been idle, a backlog of books, and haven’t been to weight watchers in weeks. Maybe WE need to start our own Operation Twenty12!
Hi. I’m glad that the piece touched you. The feedback and reactions I’ve received has been awesome. It’s less of a “misery loves company” thing, and more about knowing that you’re not alone and people available to provide positive and constructive support.
A few people have suggested a Operation Twenty12 support group. I may consider opening a forum on my site for people to create threads to share their experiences, and get feedback from others. I will look into it. Stay tuned.
Best wishes to you in 2012! Please let me know if you revive your blog.
[…] is now filled with me reading and writing more than before. Something that dovetails nicely into my Operation Twenty12 project. As is normally the case, I am often listening to music. Having Pandora available as an app […]
Matthew, My husband (Steve) had the same problems as ya do with wight. We do not call it a diet here just a change of eating. He is 5′ 9″ and 215lb. Under Dr care and dr mama, he is doing better. Just keep out the BAD ingredients in your food, like Artificial Sweeteners,High Fructose Corn Syrup, MSG, Trans Fat. Sodium Sulphite, Sodium Nitrate/Sodium Nitrite,BHA and BHT, Potassium Bromate, just to name 9 bad ones, We have been doing this for 6 months now and we bout feel better. We love are biscuits and gravy, natural butter, and all that good food. But the biggest tip I can give is if God did not make don’t get it. And do it all in moderation. God Bless ya and your family in this year.
Thanks for reading the post and leaving a comment. I agree with you about all the bad stuff. I pretty much avoid all of that junk by eating fresh food. I just started the Primal Blueprint, and excited about substantively altering my diet, not just dieting.
All the best to you in 2012, and I wish Steve continued success and great health!
[…] lifestyle changes. I wrote a rather lengthily blog post about it if you’re interested — initiating : operation twenty12 | my name is not matt I fully expect to address three of items in my Operation Twenty12, weight, nutrition, and fitness, […]
[…] I am seriously trying to ward off “the Fuckits.” (See my first Operation Twenty12 post to understand what […]
It is good to see other folks on a parallel path. I hope it has been good to you thus far.
Thanks for reading and commenting, Andy. I’ve made a good deal of progress on some things, and little or none on others — namely the weight and nutrition piece. I just can’t seem to find the combination of motivation and consistency. I’ve still get four months left in Twenty12, though.
I just started to scroll through you blog. Best wish to you, as well.
Hey Matthew!
Just wanted to check in with you to see how twenty12 was going. I’m getting back to the gym but it’s a little difficult because of some knee issues that I’m trying to work around. but I’m trying to get back to the work out. Hope you guys are well!!! and hoping you’ll head this way for college peeks.
G.
Hi Greg.
The 2012 calendar year is moving a lot faster than my Operation Twenty12. There’s still hope, and time, though. I have been really sputtering on the nutrition and fitness front. I am trying to implement an honest practice of graduation. Slowly move things into, or out of, my routine. I am —> here <— with you on the aches and pains thing. Of course, I blame my aches on the fact that I’ve not taken off any weight, nor have I exerted myself in any meaningful way. At least I knew myself well enough to give this project a year to play out. I’ll give you a call. We talked about being accountability partners. Maybe the key is to not feel like we have to do the same things, but just check in on a regular basis to see what works, and simply to encourage.
I’ll let you know if Noah and I head up that way for college visits. I think that he might take a peek at UMass and Northeastern. I’ll keep you posted.
Cheers!