Mid-term progress report

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We have now reached October, which means that we are at the half way point of this challenge. I thought, what better way to mark this moment than with a “midterm progress report”? What you see below is an honest self-assessment of how I’ve done the last four months.

Eating/Nutrition: B-

Comment: I have made many adjustments in regards to my diet, including smaller portion sizes and eating more frequently. Vegetables, lean meat cuts and generally getting rid of sodas and sweets were the first things I did. I soon realized that just eating the right things once or twice per day wasn’t enough to complete a transformation. I have to eat the right things almost all the time, leaving myself small windows of “food freedom” to stay sane. I’ve incorporated various new foods and healthier options.

The results have been a mixed bag. I feel like, more often than not, I’m conscious of what I eat and know when I’m eating badly. That, however, hasn’t stopped me from never eating badly. Timing and location dictate how well I do with eating and nutrition almost as much as what foods I eat. If I know I’m going to be out for a while, I need to do a better job of planning and fixing meals ahead of time. Those are the days I’m having the biggest issues with. That’s something that, with proper planning, can be corrected. Overall, I think I’m doing well but know I have tons of room for improvement.

Exercising/Conditioning: B+

Comment: I was oh so close to giving myself an A in this category, but not just yet. This has been the most consistently – and hardest – I’ve exercised probably in my entire life. Each month of the challenge, I feel like I’ve done something new and challenged myself in unique ways. Throughout June, I was doing things around the house, going to walking tracks and taking short runs with my dog. In July, I hired a personal trainer and went through multiple, grueling training sessions each week. I learned several new exercises that I can do at home, without a gym membership.

In August, I started going to the gym regularly and gaining confidence to do things on my own – confidence I’ve never had before. Then from mid-August to now, as I detailed a couple of weeks back, I’ve really been working with C25K. My endurance is up, my stamina is up, my confidence is up and my weight is down. The only reason I’m not giving myself an A is because there have been some lapses in my gym going. Whether it was because I was sick, out of town, too busy with school work or just not wanting to go, I missed too many days to give myself an A.

Attitude/Mental Perspective: C+

Comment: I had to include this because I wholeheartedly believe it is a crucial part of weight loss. As you make changes in your lifestyle, your mindset has to continuously evolve also. You would think this would be the easiest part, but it is not. The way you think about food, yourself, and health all have to change. I admit that this is tough for me at times, and I am still a work in progress. It can be difficult to always stay positive especially when you are not getting the results that you want. Even when the pounds are dropping, the way I view myself doesn’t always match with my shrinking body. It is an adjustment that takes time.

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