Determined To Succeed

Day sixty-one.

Happy weekend, everyone! And what a beautiful weekend it’s supposed to be. Sunny and high’s in the low to mid 70s. Awesome weather (and probably our last chance to really get out and do outdoorsy stuff before the reality that Fall is here finally hits and we have to bundle up in sweaters, jackets and hats – oh, my).

I had a great day yesterday, anchored by the fact I continue to go down in my weight thanks in no small part to the three-and-a-half miles I did on the elliptical yesterday. I did that right around lunchtime and it felt great. It made me remember a time when I worked at the aquarium. When I made the decision to lose weight I would get up and walk around the building and use as many steps as I could to get my lunch. In other words I had to work for it just a little more and it paid off. Hell, it continues to pay off. I am at 238.0 today and I feel great.

I also had a great day yesterday because I had the chance to be moderator for a panel on healthy eating tips for people on-the-go. It was a blast! It was almost like every food group was represented but with people - a “Breakfast Club” of sorts. However, instead of a jock, a basket case, a princess, a brain and a criminal we had a chef, a dual restaurant owner, a mom’s health advocate, a world-renowned author on health advocacy and a City of Philadelphia Councilwoman. Each one of the panelists was fantastic, and the chef (for the restaurant Seasons 52) brought everyone in attendance small samples of healthy-portioned desserts. Again, awesome (and delicious – that pecan pie was amazing).

Most of all I had a chance to share my weight loss story. I get absolutely excited to share with people my weight loss journey and how I discovered the keys to losing weight and keeping it off. That invigorates me and helps keep me going, especially after meeting some cool people including a woman who is having pain in her knees (just like I had) from carrying around extra weight she is trying to lose. I also met a police officer who is on his own fantastic weight loss journey having already lost about 60 pounds, although he now has to contend with a back injury that is sidelining his exercise routine. I wished them and others well and much luck in their own journeys and I will say that hearing people and their trials and successes helps keep me going, too.

Any of you know that I always have a little bit of extra worry about not exercising and eating too much going into weekends. Well, today is Friday and I know I do not have to worry one bit because I am so juiced! I had a great day and night yesterday, I have been making food at home and loving it (and saving a massive amount of money in the process of not eating out so much), I am continuing to exercise (and yes, I am gonna be doing my martial arts workout today and hitting the gym this weekend at least once more) and most of all I am appreciating life. I am human and do enjoy food, sometimes a bit too much, but with each day brings new chances and new beginnings and this day is just as full of those new chances. So today I am going to embrace those chances and make the most of my opportunities to invest time and energy and sweat into the best investment of all – me. And you should, too. Even if it’s just a walk around the block or park, an extra push-up (or just one or two) or sit-up and  jumping jack, invest some of your energy in you.  Not only will it leave you feeling great but it’s a wonderful way to begin or continue a weight loss journey, begin a weekend and make the sky that much bluer and the air that much warmer.

Have a great weekend. I will talk to you all on Monday.