THE BIG 200

This week I hit one of my first BIG milestones. Something that I had as one of the biggest goals I've had for years now. I finally saw the scale drop below 200 lbs.! It was absolutely exhilarating. I have been trying to figure out the last time I was below 200. I've tracked my weight in various locations for the last many, many years, and I saw for a very, very brief moment in 2022 I was 199.8 lbs., but otherwise it has been at least 4 years since I was sub 200 lbs. It's been so satisfying to see changes happening with myself as I've worked diligently the last 7 weeks to accomplish my goals and develop habits that can last. 

Here are some of the biggest highlights so far: 

1. 10,000 steps a day is the new normal. Before starting to do this I probably averaged around 6,000 steps a day. A couple of weeks ago I challenged myself to get 10,000 everyday. I've been perfect for the last 17 days. 17 days ago it was work to get 10,000. Today it's just normal life. 

Moving your body a little more each day makes a huge difference. Take 5 minutes every couple of hours and move your body. Play outside with your kids. Go on family walks. It makes a huge difference both physically but also for your mental health. 

2. Hearing my body. I've become so much more in tune with what my body is telling me and much better at LISTENING to what it is telling me. Your body knows what it needs and will let you know. It will also let you know when it's gotten too much, or something it did not need. As I've started to actual hear what my body is telling me I've felt so much better everyday. 

3. My food choices have changed and my preferences are shifting too. This in part goes back to #2, and learning that a lot of things actually don't make my body feel good, but it also comes from modifying the way that I eat and developing new favorites.

4. All the changes have been sustainable. I'm not working out daily, I'm not starving myself, and I'm not going to the extremes. All the changes have been changes that I could continue for the rest of my life while living life just as anyone else would. 

"Some people don't do well simply because they don't feel well." – Jim Rohn.