This is the first update installment for the year-long project of returning my physical self to much lighter version of the past.

I’ll try to keep it short so as to not bore you with lots of details and try to just cover some of the lowlights and highlights, cutting to the chase at the end.

Lowlights:

I am off to a slow start, physically, that is. I chose not to join a gym and I chose not to buy any exercise equipment. I figure if I am going to do this right, and do it for the rest of my life, that I should have a lifestyle change rather than a “quick-fix, make me feel good in the moment” type change. So, I set my step counter to a higher number than I had previously and attempted to reach that mark.

Yes, you probably caught the “attempted” in that last sentence. I say that because an every day effort in the last month has been difficult. I live in the Northwest and there is wet…and cold…and sometimes even snow and ice…and it is dark for major portions of the day. They sound like excuses, and they are of sorts. BUT, I have had at least one day a week where I go over my step goal and typically I have another day or two that are close. So, I am getting more steps in, but not really making a conscious effort at this point to make that happen.

Highlights:

I have purposely not done a lot of the physical activity because I have decided to start more with watching the type of food and how much of that food I put in my body. THAT is a big step because that not only requires a physical lifestyle change, but also a mental one.

My job now doesn’t lend itself to much movement and so I find myself getting munchie. It is easy to plow through snacks without really taking notice of how much I have consumed. So, food – type and how much – has been my focus this month. Places I have made changes and track in a food app:

1. Eat some fruit or veggies for breakfast, to go along with my coffee (I never/rarely ate breakfast, so this has been a weird shift).
2. I am aware of how much water I am drinking, or not, and aim to get three to four 16.9 ounce bottles of water.
3. I am limiting the amount of calories during lunch.
4. I am working on portion size and not getting seconds at dinner.
5. I try not to eat after a certain time at night (except for maybe some popcorn, because popcorn is life).

Over the last month, the changes have been good and I anticipate they will continue to improve as I develop good habits and find what works, and doesn’t work, for me.

The Chase:

210 = official starting weight 2/15/18

-5.2 = pounds lost as of the morning of 3/11

204.8 = current weight

Thanks for you thoughts and encouragement as the journey continues!