This year was tough on my health & fitness.
Switching from working in an office setting to being entirely at home gave me an excuse not to exercise. I developed some problematic eating habits. Since I was wearing my sweatpants & oversized T-shirts every day, I didn’t really notice the weight gain. Because I had easy access to a supply of tasty snacks, I was always munching on something. When I was getting ready for the family Christmas party, I discovered that none of my clothes fit the same anymore. I took a close look at myself in the mirror and was appalled with what I saw. I’d obviously put on quite a few pounds. I’d also lost muscle tone and gotten soft. I immediately made a New Year’s resolution to take better care of my health and fitness. I began with a visit to the grocery store. I looked for healthy foods, including baby carrots, celery, broccoli, apples, bananas, grapes, humus & a variety of fruits & vegetables. I bought a case of bottled water. I returned home & emptied my refrigerator, freezer & cupboards. I got rid of all of the cookies, pretzels, potato chips, cupcakes, candy & ice cream. I also bought some workout equipment to create a home gym. I chose a yoga mat, a set of free weights, weighted balls & a jump rope. I forced myself to get up earlier in the morning so I’d have enough time to workout before starting my workday. The first several workouts were torture. I wound up extremely sore for the rest of the day. However, I had more energy. I was more productive and enjoyed a more positive mindset. I suddenly felt better about myself & came up with new goals for all areas of my life. I’ve included walks, runs & bike rides before and after work.