One year later, how did it go?

The million dollar question from Andy:

Andy said... It's Christmas a year later. Merry Christmas! Are you just as happy (happier?) but much less fat, as you hoped?

The short answer to both questions is yes. I dropped 20 kilograms (44 lbs) in the past year. My stated goals were "...to counteract this upward [weight] trend and engrain lifestyle changes that will allow me to maintain a healthy weight. Quantitatively, the goal is to get down to 100 kilos, weight by body hasn't seen since elementary school, and run a 5K race by 31 December 2007. " But, as Andy pointed out, it was really about being happier and less fat. On those points, it was a success. I feel good, or at least better. J.J. Syvrud (former NFL player and my former college resident assistant and teammate) once prophesied, “The only thing that feels better than being drunk is waking up not hung over.” True words that took nearly a decade to finally register for me. Perhaps it was that he was in the middle of ten hour session of Nintendo64 Bond and opining from the comforts a dorm room couch that prevented this nugget from really taking hold at the time. Though it’s about more than just not drinking (or drinking less). It’s about taking care of yourself – taking that commitment seriously in the lifestyle choices you make. Eating better, watching the booze, getting exercise, and making sure you get enough rest.

I have a long way to go though. I still tip the scales over 300 lbs – a threshold that means a lot. I work too much and need to manage my stress better. I recognize that I am human and it’s a process. With that in mind, I am extending this whole program for another six months. In reality, it is about a lifetime commitment. However, I do hope someday not to have to spend the majority of my weekends in the gym by getting to a healthy weight and being reasonable.

So what’s the plan for next year? We’ll stick with two quantitative goals. On weight, I am actually going to scale back even from last year’s goal. I am shooting to hit 115 kg (250 lbs). In the chart below, you can see it’s a threshold I have flirted with a few times but never actually reached as an adult. On running, I far exceeded last year’s mark, running a few 5k’s and doing at 10k too. This year, it’s a full marathon or bust. Part of the training for this will be a Nike+ Challenge with Dale and Yanny, our goal is 300 kilometers in 100 days. You can see our progress in the widget on the right. We'll gladly take praise for our achievements and hope you'll bust our chops if we get off target; we need to log over 20 kilometers a week to stay on pace.