Happy 50th Birthday to me!

To contact us Click HERE
I've been pretty neglectful in posting lately, but I have been very focused on my health improvement lifestyle changes. So where am I at this milestone? I've been at it for just over four months, and the good thing is that my definition of "normal" has changed. Daily exercise is normal. Not overeating is normal. Being aware of the nutritional content of what I'm eating is normal. This is good. Exercise and good eating have gone from being aberrations to becoming habits.

As of my 50th birthday, I am now down 77 pounds (35kg) in four months of work! Big difference. Where XXL was often too tight, I am now wearing L in polo shirts. My waist is down 8+ inches. I have the beginning of some visible abdominal muscles. My blood sugar has gone from slightly elevated to normal. My blood pressure is normal with no medication. Despite my fast weight loss, my uric acid levels are normal, so I'm not in gout danger.

I've still got quite a way to go, but the results to date are encouraging. I had originally hoped to be down 94 pounds in just under 11 months and I'm down 77 in just four. And this, at age 50.

What's the secret? The secret is there is no secret. Exercise daily. I either walk on an incline on the treadmill or work out on an elliptical trainer daily and I lift weights about three days a week. No running for me -- I'm still over 220 pounds, so I want to take care of my knees and other joints. I journal *everything* I eat. I'm not crazy about it -- if I don't have an exact number, I'll estimate. But I am very aware of everything I put in my mouth. I haven't deprived myself of anything; I eat out, I'll pick up a pizza, I'll have a beer, I just don't overdo it when I do indulge. Who knew that dinner at Ruth's Chris could be a pretty low-cal (and delicious) meal. I don't fall for any fad nutrition -- it doesn't matter when I eat and I try to eat a balanced diet while trying to opt for less-processed foods when I have a decent choice.