Eight months in, health check

At the start of the year I decided to take steps to improve my health. Now that we're eight months into the process, I thought it'd be useful to check in.

The two biggest changes are that I'm down about 25 pounds since December 2012, and that my blood pressure has reached reasonable levels without medication. (I self-monitor with one of those wrist-band devices.) Besides the physical, I've made changes mentally. I've taken quite a few classes with the nutritionist to learn how to prepare and cook vegetables and fish, and do some basic meal planning. I've also worked with the nutritionist to come up with strategies to combat old habits.

As part of this process, I've also switched gyms and have an appointment with a personal trainer once per week. And I finally cancelled my Weight Watchers membership so I don't have that as a crutch anymore.

Yes, I could have lost the weight faster, but I wanted this to be a long-term change. And changing habits like this is a major process for me.

The best part is that as of today--and the reason I thought it'd be a good time to talk about this--I'm entering the fun phase. Finally. I'm starting to be able to wear clothes I haven't worn in a few years. Muscles are appearing. And I'm able to do all sorts of things physically I wasn't able to do back in January.

There is still a lot of work left to do and I am fighting like hell to continue seeing improvements and maintain my progress, but I feel good. I feel stronger than I've felt in a long time. And I just need to remember this feeling when it gets hard again, which I know from experience it will.

Happy Wednesday.