One year ago on February 1, 2008, I began a journey to lose some weight and get healthy. I don't know what expectations I had, but I had put on 40 lbs in 20 years and at 4'9 3/4" I looked pretty awful - a short, fat, toad was my description. Over the 20 years I had tried on a few occasions to get it all under control, but life got in the way. Always excuses. So I found myself with very bad numbers - high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high weight. Besides all of that, everything hurt.
I joined a team at work through N-Lighten Nebraska. I weighed myself - or rather had a co-worker weigh me and refused to look - and I began to follow some of the guidelines of the plans. I journaled what I was eating. I tried to eat what I was supposed to eat. I tried to get some more sleep. I tried to relax. And I tried to get some exercise. I had the co-worker weigh me weekly, still not looking - until I lost 10 lbs. Then I began to wonder where I actually was. By that time I was around 132 lbs.
On March 17, 2008, I found The Daily Plate and since that time have been logging in everything that I put in my mouth - almost daily. By the end of October I weighed 117 lbs. I have put on a couple of pounds since then and today I am starting another N-Lighten Nebraska journey, hopefully to get a few more pounds off and remain healthy.
Over the last year there are several things that I have decided work well for me and things that I need to do to maintain my health for the rest of my life.
1. Journal everything that I eat. When I don't, I am wont to put more in my mouth than I should, and also probably putting in some wrong things.
2. Portion control is most important. I really need to measure because sometimes my eyes are bigger than my stomach. OK, that is an old expression of my mother's.
3. Be extremely vigilant and be aware of what I am actually eating, when I am eating, how much I am eating, and where I am eating.
4. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.
5. Get some exercise at least 5 days a week. I have been mostly walking, even walking the treadmill. I still use the age and time excuses for not doing more.
6. Find a support system. The co-worker who helped me begin this journey is still encouraging me. Another co-worker is walking with me. The groups on TDP have been great encouragement. Even oldman is joining me on my journey now.
7. Cook my own meals. Pack my own lunch. This way I know what I am eating and can make good decisions. If I must eat out, I try to make reasonable decisions on both the choice and the portion.
Thank you to all who have supported me along the way. Here's to another year of good health!
