I have been doing a program called “Best Year Yet” (BYY) since around 2001. It’s a book written by Jenny Ditzler, which walks you through a series of exercises in which you end up identifying your biggest priorities and objectives for the year. You don’t need to do it in January (I think the first one I did I started mid year) but with all the talk of New Year’s Resolutions I usually just do it then.

I think the BYY program was the big factor for me finally getting myself to really lose weight about 6 years ago. I had identified that the biggest thing affecting various elements of my unhappiness in life were tied to my weight, then it was easy to make it the priority. (It was hard, of course, to put the changes into action, but easier in the context of clear goals).

I also think BYY was a major factor in me meeting my husband. My lack of social life had come up as priority #1 that year, and I forced myself to do social things I didn’t feel like doing, and go on dates I would have liked to turn down. I decided to force myself to go out with a certain number of men that year to feel like I’d made enough of an effort. I think my goal was 10 different guys. My DH came into the picture somewhere in the middle of that number, and I never finished that particular goal…I was on to new ones!

Over the next few days I’m going to be working on my plan for 2008. I don’t know where my weight will come in this year. I’ll probably update a bit on my 2008 goals, at least as they relate to my weight.

For those who are interested, I just googled it, and found this article which explains a lot, and found that there is now a free online workshop too. I’ve never done it online, I always do it on paper and don’t think I’ll change, but maybe it interests someone else.