Personal Health Obligations...

...are often not as easy to carry out are some of our other obligations. For example I have let myself balloon up to the highest I have ever weighed in my life over the past few months. Actually I should say I allowed that to happen over the course of 2 or 3 weeks (at most) wherein I gained 10-12 pounds. I was not feeling well, and surprisingly one of my symptoms was an increased appetite especially at night. So there I sat as usual in front of the tube with some snacks, just more snacks than usual. I shot up from about 214 to 226, then leveled off at my present and portly 225 pounds. I figure it is time for me to do something, in fact long past time for me to get started.

With that in mind I have once again started an exercise program. My problem with exercise programs is that I always seem to go at them for a few to several months at most, then I slack off altogether for another few months before I start in again. This time though it is going to have to be more long term. Losing the poundage I just gained will be no easy task for me, especially in light of the fact that even when I exercised fairly regularly I was not shedding pounds all that much. Of course I'll probably diet too, and in that regard I have already cut back on snacks. I am hopeful I will be able to cut out all junk snacks soon. Note I did not say junk food. Several years ago I lost about 30 pounds in a few to 6 months. I kept it off for a year and a half. (Why I gained it back is for another story.) I did that with moderate exercise on the treadmill, and with weights, and with a diet wherein I stopped eating snacks. I kept eating everything else though and that includes junk food meals. I ate Big Macs, pizza, gyros, and all that stuff to my heart's content. I also made sure to eat a large salad as a meal at least once or twice a week, and that will start again soon - maybe even today. I usually do not start two things at once such as working out for cardio, working out on weights, a diet and so forth. I try to start them one at a time, go with whatever I started with (such as cardio this time) for a few weeks before moving into weights also, and then doing both of them for a few weeks before staring a diet. That way I do not shock my system all that much at once. I find this helps get rid of some stress associated with a change in my daily regimen; and man oh man can exercise and diet add stress to a life. Yes I know they are supposed to reduce stress, and eventually they help to do so, but at first - when you have not been at it in a while, or ever - they add lots of stress to one's life as I see it.

So far I have been out walking the new dog, but not as often as I should. I have also been trying to get more regular sleep. I try to pass out by midnight at the latest, earlier is better. Then I try to wake up around the same time each day. This seems to have helped me to get a better nights sleep. Seems if I wake up at the same time each day, I am tired at the same time each night. makes sense I guess. I have also started working out on a treadmill. I did 4 miles two days ago, and 4.5 yesterday. In only one day I improved my pace markedly. I am not trying to do anything for speed, just to hit my desired distance of at least 3 miles per workout, with anything more being better; but I do keep track of the time it takes me to do it. I start with a run of 1.5 miles, then walk at least 1/4 to 1/2 of a mile, then run a 1/4 or half mile, then walk then run, until I hit the point at which I feel I need to stop. As time goes by, and as I become more fit, I'll increase the running portion of the workout. I figure getting to a straight 3 mile run with another mile or two of walking should be a decent workout at least three days per week once I am more fit. Right now I am shooting for 5 days per week with less running and more walking.

Amazingly, even with slightly high, but under control blood pressure, and a so-so diet, and a poor exercise regimen, I have been told my heart and cardio system are in great shape. I hope to keep them that way now that I am getting older. So wish me luck please! Not so much to lose weight at any astounding rate, but rather wish me luck in sticking with it. I realize I am the one who has to do that, to stick with it that is, but I can use all the support I can get. Who knows, maybe if I lose a few pounds the wife will go for walks with me again! One can hope.

All the best,
Glenn B