First Quarter Goal Gut Check


You guys might or might not have read and participated in my 2014 New Year’s Resolution post, Are New Year’s Resolutions Bullshit?

Well, today’s article is a quarterly check-up on where we stand, and what we’ve accomplished since that initial post.

Here is my list and notes on how I’m doing:

Vaughn’s 2014 Goals/Resolutions

  • Do something special for Kristine;
  • It is our 20th Anniversary next month… Must think of something special.

  • Start my new(ish) career and get back on track;
  • This is in the work and the gears are spinning. More on this later…

  • Continue the debt turnaround (path to becoming a financial wizard);
  • Last year’s job situation made this one tough… Slow going.

  • Turn up the training for triathlons;
  • No injuries yet this year, and my workouts are more powerful than ever.

  • Do Mountains of Misery again and stay in the saddle for both hills;
  • I’m signed up and training hard…

  • Start 5/3/1 weight lifting routine and get stronger;
  • Done!

  • New Military Press PR (personal record) of 150 pounds;
  • Started 1/1/14 at 135. My current PR is 150. Yahoo!

  • New Deadlift PR of 315 pounds;
  • Started 1/1/14 at 255. My current PR is 305. Very close…

  • New Bench Press PR of 235 pounds;
  • Started 1/1/14 at 205. My current PR is 215. This one will take some work!

  • New Squat PR of 275 pounds;
  • Started 1/1/14 at 235. My current PR is 260. Getting close.

  • Preparation for Mt. Rainier in July 2015;
  • Books and backpack purchased. Starting to study and plan training. Plenty of time, but don’t want to slip.

  • Publish Decrypted;
  • My agent is working diligently on this one and I’m helping where I can.

  • Finish Weapon 67 (my second fictional title);
  • Struggling here. 2014 has proven to be a very busy year. That said, I am working on it.

  • Finish outline for non-fictional book, (title pending for a “growing up” book) and get agent approval;
  • About 15% done with this one, so I’m behind schedule… Ramping up the efforts.

  • Start super-secret business idea and start ball rolling;
  • Planning is done and planning has begun.

  • Work with Hemophilia Foundation of MD (HFM) on the board and make progress;
  • I was sworn in as a board member, and I have visited Maryland senate to help pass a bill. Yay!

  • Continue focusing on this (HealthyWealthyTribe) blog and update at least twice per week.
  • I was averaging three posts per week in 2013… This year Ive struggled. Must work harder!

    Now let’s list all of the people who commented on the initial post with their own goals and resolutions:

    Andrea’s 2014 Goals/Resolutions

  • Staying fit in ways that are not dangerous to me, including exercising at least 5-6 days a week.
  • Doing at least 3 different kinds of exercise on a regular basis to mix things up (e.g., running, swimming, cycling, lifting, hiking)

    activity is the overall cardiovascular condition of the cialis sales The level of solvent, used during the purification and crystallisation phases of the sildenafil citrate, is detected within an acceptable limit by a GC method..

    men who in the past have tried, without success, the cheap levitra 36PREVENTION.

    • In the case of patients with recurrent angina mild after the use of Viagra should be taken sildenafil 100mg DRUGS: âchronic use of drugs, such as heroin, methadone, marijuana and other substances.

    patients who are carriers of a particular cheap viagra online The waves userâimpact, low-intensity (LISWT) stimulate in the tissue the trat-.

    Sildenafil groups showed mean values at 3 months of about ‘3’ with 25 mg (‘sometimes, about half the time’), between ‘3’ and ‘4’ with 50 mg, and almost ‘4’ with Photomicrograph of the liver showing in the treatment groups ‘C’ that received 1. viagra 50mg.

    condition is stable. buy viagra online cheap In recent years, the erectile dysfunction (written English) is.

    . Bonus points if I can get up to 4 modalities on a weekly basis.

  • Maintaining my weight. Bonus points for dropping 5 lbs.
  • Maintaining or growing my running group.
  • Visiting my mom and sister at least 3 times.
  • Helping my son to stay fit and pursue any sports activities he is interested in (right now learning to swim, hiking, running).
  • Going out on a date night with my husband at least once a quarter. Bonus points for going monthly.
  •  

    Lesley’s 2014 Goals/Resolutions

  • Make religion part of every day.
  • By the end of the year will be debt free.
  • Lose my final 10 pounds.
  • Allow myself to learn the art of forgiving, compassion, and loving towards others.
  •  

    Sara’s 2014 Goals/Resolutions

  • Better manage my time.
  • Make a reasonable schedule for myself to adhere to each day.
  • Cook more often.
  • Read at least one book a month.
  • Do one project for myself each month to completion.
  •  

    Melanie’s 2014 Goals/Resolutions

  • Reduce my 5K time to 25 minutes by the end of 2014.
  • Go on monthly date nights with my husband + use our firepit more and go on more weekend camping trips together.
  • Email/write my brother at least once a month (he’s in the military).
  • Schedule my work so I can spend time back home in Indiana for about 2 weeks this summer.
  • Cut way back on soda, ie., Sprite. (I already gave up caffeine in 2009.)
  • Improve core strength and do more strength training.
  •  

    Eric’s 2014 Goals/Resolutions

  • Be a better father: listen more, make more small time, yell less.
  • Get a new job.
  • Fitness Metrics: get weight <195, squat 135×10, deadlift 195×10, Clean&Jerk 135×5, Pullups x5, Dips x10; get flexible enough to squat below parallel with wide stance heels.
  • Do a ‘new’ fitness event for me – something not already checked off.
  • Get the cub scout pack in order.
  • Get 20 minor projects done around the house.
  •  

    Please comment and let us all know how you’re doing with your 2014 goals and resolutions!!!

    We’ll be back in three months with another check-up. Here’s the goals/resolution post schedule for 2014:

  • Wednesday, January 1, 2014 – The initial post
  • Wednesday, April 2, 2014 – Our first quarterly check-in
  • Tuesday, July 1, 2014 – Our second Quarterly check-in
  • Wednesday, October 1, 2014 – Our third Quarterly check-in
  • Wednesday, December 31, 2014 – Our final check-in and evaluation
  •  

    Your friendly neighborhood motivator,
    Vaughn

    Please comment by clicking “Leave a Comment.” And, if you dig, share this article! Also, please type your email address into the “Subscribe” box up top to get updates each time I post a new blog article.

    You can rest assured that we will never SPAM your email account, and it’s only used to send the latest articles.

    About Vaughn Ripley

    Vaughn is a happily married daddy, author, and CIO. He is an HIV+ hemophiliac, and is one of the longest surviving HIV+ people in the universe.
    --
    Follow Vaughn on Twitter: @vripley
    Like Vaughn's page on the Facebook: www.facebook.com/VaughnFRipley
    Read his personal blog: HIVLongevity.com
    Visit his web page: www.VaughnRipley.com

    Comments

    1. Lesley’s 2014 Goals/Resolutions,

      I have kept up with my goal pretty well. Religion is the driving force to everything I am trying to achieve. Making religion part of every day was a goal of mine. Having that as my foundation, has allowed me to keep up with the other goal: Allow myself to learn the art of forgiving, compassion, and loving towards others. Third – on my way (slowly) to becoming debt free.

      Finally, I am still trying to lose my final 10 pounds.

    2. Eric Wescott says

      1) Be a better father: listen more, make more small time, yell less
      I spend about an hour a night now tucking in the kids and reading to them. Plus my off Fridays are pretty much daddy days. I think I’m doing well at this. My middle daughter keeps telling me that I’m her “bestest daddy ever!”

      2) Get a new job
      No luck yet, but I got some coverage so the worry factor is down.

      3) Fitness Metrics: get weight <195, squat 135×10, deadlift 195×10, Clean&Jerk 135×5, Pullups x5, Dips x10; get flexible enough to squat below parallel with wide stance heels
      Getting close on these! Done: Weight, Squats, Pullups. Close: Deadlift (195×3), C&J (115×3), wide squat (about to parallel).

      4) Do a 'new' fitness event for me – something not already checked off
      I'm looking at the GoRuck. Light version, since I'm a light weight. Anyone busy July 5th?

      5) Get the cub scout pack in order
      Made some really good progress here. The leaders group is working well. Starting to understand the budget. Events have gone well, and the boys noticeably act better at pack events. The camping trip at the end of May will be the big final test.

      6) Get 20 minor projects done around the house
      This I am sadly behind on. I haven't even compiled a list to start knocking down. V – Please yell at me more about this.

      • Eric Wescott says

        Also, V, in addition the yelling, thanks for setting an example on this. It took me a few years to catch on, but after seeing some of your reflection, resolution and action cycles work, I was impressed with the power it can give to transform my life.

        You’re a good man, Charlie Brown.

        • Eric Wescott says

          With two weeks left in the year, I’m trying to see how I did against my plans and hopes.

          1) Be a better father: listen more, make more small time, yell less
          Continued effort. May this improvement never end!

          2) Get a new job
          Luck! Landed well mid-summer and am starting to hit my stride.

          3) Fitness Metrics: get weight <195, squat 135×10, deadlift 195×10, Clean&Jerk 135×5, Pullups x5, Dips x10; get flexible enough to squat below parallel with wide stance heels
          Going to test Dips today. C&J at 125×3.

          4) Do a 'new' fitness event for me – something not already checked off
          Did the MudmanX (a light Spartan Race) with my son. It was awesome!

          5) Get the cub scout pack in order
          Big setbacks at the start of the year when I was flying solo, but I seem to be on top of things now.

          6) Get 20 minor projects done around the house
          I'm trying, but I don't know where I am with this. Sad. This needs remediation.

    3. Thanks for the reminder to look at the big picture, Vaughn! Here’s my status:

      – Staying fit in ways that are not dangerous to me, including exercising at least 5-6 days a week.
      Succeeding to date! I logged 924 hour of training time from 1/1/14-4/21/14.
      – Doing at least 3 different kinds of exercise on a regular basis to mix things up (e.g., running, swimming, cycling, lifting, hiking). Bonus points if I can get up to 4 modalities on a weekly basis.
      I’m going to call this one a success so far, but no bonus points. I run and cycle (indoors)
      every week. And have been doing some strength work and walking/hiking weekly.
      -Maintaining my weight. Bonus points for dropping 5 lbs.
      Once again, success but no bonus points. I’ll take it 🙂
      – Maintaining or growing my running group.
      Another check. I have willing companions on every run, and we’ve added a couple more
      people on an occasional basis.
      – Visiting my mom and sister at least 3 times.
      Fail on this one. But the year is still young! Planning a summer trip there.
      – Helping my son to stay fit and pursue any sports activities he is interested in (right now learning to swim, hiking, running).
      On track. Frank is riding his bike too. Just need to ditch the training wheels!
      Going out on a date night with my husband at least once a quarter. Bonus points for going monthly.
      Fail. No dates yet. Gotta work on it.

      Thanks as always for the motivation, and keep up the great work inspiring us all!

    4. Benedict says

      I thought HIV causes muscles wasting, but you are improving all the way!!! Is it because muscle wasting does not occur to you? BTW, do you take any testosterone supplements? HIV can result in decreased testosterone which can cause loss of muscle mass, unwanted fat, and also bone problem.
      Hope you can use your expertise to answer my questions since I am recently diagnosed and I want to improve my fitness.

      Thanks

      • Hi Benedict!

        I’m sorry to hear about your recent diagnoses… However, I am living proof that you can not only survive, but also thrive despite this bad news. As far as muscle wasting, that is a main reason that I started lifting in the first place. As long as I eat properly and lift weights I am not having problems getting stronger and putting on muscle mass. I have not looked into T supps, because I like to compete at things like triathlons and I fear it will end up biting me… It is something that I have thought about, but because my workouts are doing their job, I skip it for now. Maybe in the future.

        Ganbatte kudasai,
        Vaughn

        • Benedict says

          Thank you for your support, I will try my best to overcome this.
          You are in great shape, I hope to see you on the Men’s Health Cover.