Checkpoint: where I am and where I’ve been

It seems like a good idea to document my progress so far and my current situation before diving into everything else I have to say.

About a year ago, I found my weight had somehow managed to drift up to 175 pounds. I’m 5′7″ (although I swear I used to be 5′8″—how does that work?!) and 175 is definitely too much. Like most people, the weight added up gradually. I remember the first summer I lived in Boise (2001, five years ago now), my weight was hovering right around 150. In college, it was less, and the upward trend kept going until 175.

I’m a person who likes challenges but also gets bored easily. I signed up with eDiets and that worked well for a month or two. I managed to get back into the 160s but just kind of stuck there (I know, everyone seems to do this!). Around the beginning of this year, I signed up with SparkPeople but didn’t really use it.

My current downward trend started this spring/summer when I got a little bit more serious about biking (it would be a big overstatement to say I’m really “serious” about it!). I got a new mountain bike which made the twice-weekly mountain rides nicer, and focused on training for the charity road rides I would do.

It turns out that all those exercise-and-diet experts are right! I do need to eat right and burn calories! (Novel concept.) When I focused on my eating with SparkPeople, and got regular exercise, I started seeing success. I got out of the 160s, through the 150s, and am currently working to stay below 150 for a consecutive week (I weigh in daily)—then I’ll get a new pair of pants as a reward.

My eventual goal is 130—125 if my body will support it. I want to hit this goal by October 31, which is still within the realm of possibility. Halloween is a significant date for me; I’ve been at my worst and at my best on Halloweens past, and for some odd reason, they seem to mark this era of my life, so I’d like this one to mark a permanent life improvement.

In future posts, I’ll get into motivation and all that good stuff, but this is my “one-inch frame” for my current situation.

Where are you at?

ShareThis