January 2013 - Goals Update

I had given a mid-month update here and this post is about how January fared.

Health

Starting weight: 72.9 kgs
End Jan weight: 70.4 kgs
Total weight loss: 2.5 kgs
Total inches lost: 7.5

While I am really glad with the numbers, I slogged really hard to lose that 2.5 kgs.  I am also conscious that being hypothyroid, I will have to work double hard than others to lose any weight.  February I will work out just as hard, but not sure whether I would lose any weight.  Coming to think of it, as long as I have a well toned and sexy body, I really don't care about the numbers.

I exercised 20 days and covered a distance of 97.2 kms on my elliptical.  During this period, I did the odd light weights and plank exercises.  I have reduced consumption of red meat and sweets.  Don't feel that I have sacrificed or given up a lot.  Just feels natural.  These days I love having leafy stuff lightly cooked in a bit of virgin coconut oil.  Have I told you that I love, love coconut oil?

Wealth

In the mid-month update I had mentioned about saving 60% of my salary, but that did not last long.  My expenses in January really shot up and I had to pull out from my savings.  The salary break-up is as follows:

I am not at all happy with my savings; ideally I would like to save 65% of my salary and that is the goal.  Let's see how next month fares.

Tracking each and every penny of my spend is going fabulously well.  It's a pity that I only know how to hoard wealth and not to grow it.  People, like my brother, who take risks in real estate and property would never keep their money in just savings account.  Alas, I lack the balls.....a fact that I am often reminded of by my mother.

Experience

1. Japanese Class - I have had only one lesson this term and the next one is tomorrow.  The past two weeks, I haven't really touched my books.
2. Read one book - Finished reading Malgudi Landscapes.  I never review books and I love everything written by R.K Narayan.  But let me give you a piece of advise - do not touch this book.  It was so boring and at one point I thought I would lose all my love for Swami and His Friends.  This book was a trial of my patience and I swear I finished reading it only because I could not take up and finish reading another book for January.  This book is just a collection of excerpts; so I was on a constant high and low, I would reach the climax and then nothing, move on to the next story.  BORING.
3. Daily Journal - done and ongoing
4. Cook 6 dishes for the month - well not sure where this stands, I do cook every day but I can't call it cooking a dish.  When you are on a diet, you tend to boil vegetables and make a meal out of it.  This cannot be called a dish or can it?  (My son's major meal is his school dinner and has only a light meal at home, DH cooks his own fat free, spice free, almost raw food)
5. Wake up at 4 or 5 am daily - super, duper fail.  How do people do it?  Really I am curious.  I go to bed by 9:30 pm and for the life of me can't manage to wake up at 4 or even 5.  6:30 or 7 is more like it for me. But I won't give up.  Feb I am surely going for this.
6. Pray - this is a success too.  I have prayed almost daily.  

Oh by the way I even managed to go out with my friends to Greenwich Maritime Museum and the Greenwich market.  Had lunch at Wasabi in O2.  Got on the DLR for the first time - I have never had to go to that part of the world as yet.  Loved it.

Home

Since my last update, I haven't really done any major work at home other than the usual laundry, dusting, mopping etc.  But no guilt here, I did OK.

I am sure that February will be much better than January.