Fourth Friday

I need you to help keep me honest about something.  I can't be trusted, so I'm not hiding anymore.

I am obese, and I am sick of it.  It's not only unhealthy, it's embarrassing to me, and I need to make a change.  There it is.

A February visit to the doc gave me a nice fat dose of wakethehellup after seriously neglecting my health for a while.  I know I've needed to really pay more attention to what I put in my body, and how much of it.  So, since the first of March, I began to diligently watch what I intake, limiting the hours I intake, and trying to get no less than 30 minutes each day of walking or some other exercise to get rid of that intake, plus some extra.   Doc said it's important to consider the role that stress is allowed in my life, and that exercise would help me deal with that better, perhaps taking on a secondary role as a mental release mechanism.  The main goal is to get physically lighter.  Much lighter.  So I began paying attention a month ago and making more of an effort to take a walk every day, at very least.  Doc also suggested that I make this journey public and hope my friends can help keep me honest about it all.

So...This little place is where I will spill my guts about my journey.  I'm tired of where I am physically and if I want to enjoy my retirement years, I need to get my act together NOW.  Doc says I need to drop 50, even more.  Damn...  I've tried a lot of things that weren't the answer, but I've always been pretty private about it.  Today, I come out of that hole.

In 28 days, I'm down four.  Only four, but without putting forth much effort over the last four weeks.  I don't feel any different, and I really don't feel like I've done much to that end.  But, four is four.  It's also about 8% closer toward my goal.  I can't run much because of bad knees.  I'm not much on swimming.  I like yoga and cycling, so I took a yoga class in January and February.  I've fallen off the wagon several times since beginning.  I skipped the last two yoga classes because I thought the teacher was going too fast.  But, I've also made conscious good choices for dinners out on the road, and spent time in three hotel workout facilities in the last month.  I can go harder, faster, further.  The weather is improving, and I have fewer excuses to stay in.  The bike needs to come down off the hook and I need to see if I can still fit into my bike pants.  That should prove to be good for a laugh.  Should I post a picture?

Today, I remind myself that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.  I've made it that far.