Change in weight (9/30/20 – 10/5/20): -0.2 LBS
The end of summer went like a flash. I feel that just the other day I was lamenting the heat of August and now it is October. This is good though, I am a man who loves his fall weather.
The Past
Really only the past 2 months. Most of the early summer saw my flailing to stay steady. Stay steady with weight, steady with exercise, and steady with my emotions as the dog days of Covid were taking their toll. And that flailing is okay! Expecting perfection and constant growth/success with goals is simply not realistic and can do more damage to your long term outlook than good.
But what the past months and those difficult summer weeks have done is punctuate my success with consistency and a continual effort to try. By pushing through, have found a more movement and success in these past few weeks. Again, this success is paved by the toil.
Since August, I have found a groove. My weight loss is far more consistent and regular, with fewer swings. It is low and slow, the mantra of my 10 month success story. My exercises have gotten more routine with PRs sprinkled in and I just feel like I am living a lifestyle. This all capped off with me running my first 5k straight the other day. I am filled with pride and confidence.
The Future
As I look to October, I want to continue this consistency. I plan on cutting out takeout for the month. Not only do I not really need to spend all that money, but I also ruin my intake as I never am good about disciplining myself to eat takeout in moderation. In addition to the cutting takeout, I am committing to 30 minutes for exercise per day and 5 minutes (per day) of quiet reflection to calm my mind.
Other thoughts
I will keep this momentum rolling. Running my first full 5k on Friday morning was a signal to myself that my body is capable of more than my mind often thinks. It was also an indication of how positive the past 10 months have been on my life. I will continue working towards my weekly goals and remember that above all else, I am worth the effort.
I will close with a brief synopsis of the meaning of finishing this 5k. I am so thrilled with this. Running has always been hard for me. Being such a big guy, it has always been tough. I put, side by side, the picture of me from Friday and the race two years ago I did. Man does that picture tell the story. I did something that I didn’t think I could do. I never actually thought I would be able to push through the 3.1 miles. I thought I would get to 2.5 and be cooked. I was wrong. I was wrong about myself, yet again.
It is super easy to blame others or blame things outside of ourselves when we do not attain things. But doesn’t it start with us? If we gave ourselves the true credit we deserve and if we went through life with confidence that we can actually do more, what would we be capable of? I now realize I have settled for too little from myself. I will continue to expect more.
Leave a like or a comment. Do you need to give yourself more credit? What did you do recently that was greater than your expectation?
How did I do on last weeks action plan?:
- 5 Cardio workouts. 1 45 min ride, 1 HIIT Ride, 1 Low Impact ride, 1 run. Attained
- 2 Strength Sessions (Tues/Sat) Not attained
- Plan out my meals, stick to them, and portion snacks. Attained.
- 2 additional outdoor activities. This can include walks with my daughter, disc golfing, skiing, etc. Attained
- 3 dedicated stretch sessions. 2 10-min lower body and 1 10 min full body (Mon/Wed/Fri). Not Attained
- 20-30 minute midday walk on work days. Attained
- Track every bite. Attained
- Drink 10 glasses of water per day. Attained
- Find some quiet time to calm my thoughts and mind. 2 5-10 minute sessions. Attained
Action Plan
- 5 Cardio workouts. 1 45 min ride, 1 HIIT Ride, 1 Low Impact ride, 1 misc ride, 1 run.
- 2 Strength Sessions (Tues/Sat)
- Plan out my meals, stick to them, and portion snacks
- 2 additional outdoor activities. This can include walks with my daughter, disc golfing, skiing, etc
- 3 dedicated stretch sessions. 2 10-min lower body and 1 10 min full body (Mon/Wed/Fri)
- 20-30 minute midday walk on work days
- Track every bite
- Drink 10 glasses of water per day
- Find some quiet time to calm my thoughts and mind. 2 5-10 minute sessions
Please stay tuned for more updates. If you have been enjoying this, please become an email follower or a wordpress follower. Having this public audience has been a positive motivation for me to continue working towards my goals and so I really am thankful for all of you!
| Date | Change in Weight |
| 12/1* | – |
| 12/2* | -5.4 lbs |
| 12/9 | -5.4 lbs |
| 12/16 | -3.4 lbs |
| 12/23 | +2.8 lbs |
| 12/29 | -1.2 lbs |
| 1/6 | -1.4 lbs |
| 1/13 | -1.6 lbs |
| 1/20 | -1.4 lbs |
| 1/27 | +0.4 lbs |
| 2/3 | -1.2 lbs |
| 2/10 | -4.6 lbs |
| 2/17 | +0.4 lbs |
| 2/24 | -1.6 lbs |
| 3/2 | -3.2 lbs |
| 3/9 | +1.8 lbs |
| 3/16 | -3.2 lbs |
| 3/23 | -0.6 lbs |
| 3/30 | +0.4 lbs |
| 4/6 | -1.6 lbs |
| 4/13 | +0.8 lbs |
| 4/20 | -1.8 lbs |
| 4/27 | 0 lbs |
| 5/4 | +2.4 lbs |
| 5/11 | -5.2 lbs |
| 5/18 | 0 lbs |
| 5/25 | -1.0 lbs |
| 6/1 | -1.2 lbs |
| 6/8 | -0.4 lbs |
| 6/15 | -0.8 lbs |
| 6/22 | +0.8 lbs |
| 6/29 | -1.4 lbs |
| 7/6 | -2.4 lbs |
| 7/13 | +2.4 lbs |
| 7/20 | -1.6 lbs |
| 7/27 | -0.4 lbs |
| 8/3 | -1.2 lbs |
| 8/10 | +0.4 lbs |
| 8/17 | -1.4 lbs |
| 8/24 | -1.4 lbs |
| 8/31 | -0.2 lbs |
| 9/7 | -0.6 lbs |
| 9/14 | -1.4 lbs |
| 9/21 | +0.2 lbs |
| 9/28 | -1.8 lbs |
| 10/5 | -0.2 lbs |
* I first weighed myself on a Sunday night and began the regular weigh-ins the following morning
-Ben
a better ben 