As of today, I have completed a full two months of taking really great care of myself.
I suppose I should add, "…and I've NEVER felt better!"
I feel good. Don't get me wrong. But I'm actually the type of person who feels good whether I'm eating well and exercising all the time or if I'm eating Oreos and snagging copious amounts of couch time.
I know. It's not supposed to work that way. I'm suppose to have crazy amounts of energy and clearer skin and a smaller muffin top from all this self care.
I guess you could say I'm lucky that eating like shit doesn't necessarily equate feeling as such.
The key difference, however, is in the level of chub that sets up on this 47-year-old body.
The biggest change is on the scale. 14 pounds since January 1. And that doesn't suck.
In fact, it's a bit faster than I'd like, if I'm being honest. My goal for 2014? Slow and steady.
I want to lose a little extra chub slowly and keep it off.
So what am I doing exactly?
I eat as many whole foods (read: no processed food of any kind, save for the occasional baguette or tortilla) as I can every day. Real food. Real fat. Real protein. Real carbohydrates.
And I'm avoiding as much sugar as humanly possible.
Yes, I'm keeping a tally.
I shoot for about 1,650 calories a day. I use the awesome Lose It app. It's a quantity issue for me. Last year, I was eating too much food, not to mention too much processed food. This year I'm fixing that and keeping track.
For example, a bowl of fresh fruit is a great treat. Three of them in a row, not so much. (That's too much natural sugar in one shot.) Part of my problem is taking a good thing a little too far. I'm working to give my body what it needs.
Harder than it sounds, believe me.
And I am moving more. Right now, I'm a walker. (Not like the kind from The Walking Dead, mind you.) I'm a treadmill walker. Until the mercury gets consistently above 40, I shall remain that way. I've been lacing up every day, loosening up that toe of mine and getting my heart rate up.
I know that I should lift weights or add this, or add that, but this is what I'm doing right now and it feels right for me.
It feels do-able.
Everything is about sustainability for me. I know how to be really black and white and hard core. I know how to burn out really well. Right now, I'm shooting for a sensible approach. Not for dramatic before and after photos.
And lo, I'm a little less puffy.
I'll take it.
How's your year going as far as your health and fitness? What is working? What's not working?
By all means, do tell.
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