Hiya folks!

As is pretty typical for people at the start of the new year, one of my goals (one of my perpetual goals to my chagrin) is to get healthier. I’ve had fits of success with long fallow periods of utter, cratering failure. Since it’s roughly three months into 2019, I thought I’d take a moment to log an update of my progress.

I’ve always struggled with my weight. In high school, whenever that torturous time of year would roll around where we were all corralled into the high school cafeteria to have our BMI measured in front of all of our classmates, I always ranked “obese.” That has given me substantial body image and health issues ever since. Nothing like the recurring trauma of your persistent bullying at the hands of your schoolmates being reinforced via school-issued reprimand, amirite?

Anyway, the BMI is garbage nonsense and I hold no quarter with it as a measurement of health at all. I have set myself a weight (and fitness) goal that is based on my body and my understanding of my health, and I’ve been trying to hit it for a few years now. Last year, I made really good strides until about August, and then several stressful things all caught up with me, and then it was the holidays, and then I just never got back into either my diet nor my exercise.

2019 is all about trying to improve myself and reach goals I’ve been trying to for years. I have successfully lost 11 pounds this year! I’m being more aggressive than I have in the past with my calorie count — not in an unhealthy, starvy kind of way. I’m just being very mindful of my portion size and where my calories are going. The vegetarian diet has actually helped a lot, although I’ve had a few stumbles. (Note: in spite of being vegetarian, most of the veggie subs at Quiznos are NOT low calorie.)

In addition to calorie counting, I’ve been trying to work in more exercise as I’ve had time and ability, either walking trails near my house or around my work building for 20 minutes. However, I can’t really guarantee I’ll have time at work to step away, and the weather has been way too cold to get out reliably, so this particular piece of my goal has been seeing fits and starts so far. Here’s to spring and warm weather so I can get outside more easily!

And that’s all for now. Just wanted to take a moment to celebrate a little victory. I still have quite a way to go to meet my goal, but it feels more achievable than it has in a long time.

‘Til next time!