Update: Progress

I have realized that over the past month or so, I stopped posting any updates here about my progress or effort at continuing exercise and seeking to lose weight. For awhile, I would mention something on Twitter about it, but even those mentions have stopped in the past few weeks. Thankfully, this is not because I haven't been continuing the effort. To the contrary, part of me believes the reason for the lack of motivation to do a post here about it is that it is becoming more and more part of the routine of life, not something out of the ordinary that deserves a post on here (if that makes sense). I still have committed to 45 minutes a morning, for anywhere between 4 days (last week due to Spring Break) and usually 6 days a week.

Looking back, I realize that I pretty quickly committed to the 45 minutes each morning. But I also find that I started at around 1.75 miles on average. All of last week, and the two days so far this week, I have been just over 2.5 miles. So, in the course of 3 months or so, I have been able to increase my distance by 3/4 of a mile within the same time. Its nice to see measurable progress.

There has been other measurable progress as well. For my birthday last month, one of the things Jackie got me was a scale, because she knew how much I was struggling to determine if I had lost any weight. Its still somewhat difficult to know exactly, because the last time I was weighed or weighed myself was about two years ago at a doctor's appointment...so I have no idea if I stayed the same weight from then until I started exercising, if I gained or lost weight or whatever; but I have used that weight as my starting barometer because I really don't have any choice. So, based on that, I have lost a little over 25 pounds so far this year, and am closing in on 30. Again, nice to see measurable progress.

Haven't really notice much difference in the way any of my clothes fit...when you have as much to lose as I do, 25 pounds doesn't have as much of an impact. The things I do notice, well, I joke with Jackie that I have lost all of it in my fingers (my ring keeps getting looser), my neck (work shirt collars aren't as tight), and from my knees down (probably the most evident, my calves have much better definition from all the walking). All of this means is that I have lost the weight in areas where only I really notice, the big areas haven't changed, thus making it difficult for someone else to notice. At times, it would be nice to have that recognition; and I am sure if I am patient it will come in due course. For now, I have been pleased and very surprised at the progress I have made, and am simply glad that I have stuck with it this long to make that progress, and to be able to measure it so concretely in terms of my exercise endurance and weightloss.

It makes dealing with the constant aches and sore muscles in my knees and upper legs so much easier. I don't imagine I will go back to posting weekly updates...its become part of the life routine now, which is what needed to happen to reach long term goals and success. But from time to time I think I will find the need to post on the progress, if for no other reason that it encourages me to continue to press forward.