It’s time for another update on my February health goals to lower my cholesterol as well as lose a bit of weight. To recap my health goals for this year:
- Walk 3 to 6 miles a day – I have a goal to achieve 2023 miles this year
- Hike every other week – I live by the Blue Ridge Parkway with plenty of trails to choose from!
- Annual Physical – since I just had one this will be in December.
- Mammogram – already scheduled
- Change diet – still working on food choices
What’s working?
As someone who has done running for the last 10 years, I am more into the walking bit right now. I feel challenged because walking takes longer if I want to get those miles in, but I am enjoying the walks with a good audiobook right now.
When it comes to food, small changes seem to work best. I do most of the grocery shopping so it’s been a bit easier to buy the healthier options of food and I cook from scratch 6 out of 7 nights. We allow ourselves to eat out once a week – but really I don’t want to cook every day and for one day my partner is in charge of the meal.
I am still tracking my food intake and still staying within range of my calorie goal. It really makes me think about what to eat, I also added intermittent fasting from 7 pm until 1 pm.
What isn’t working?
The food. If I really want to lose weight, I need to reduce my carb intake. I know it works because I have done this before, I just don’t love the idea. I like rice, pasta, bread, and potatoes but when I replaced them with cauliflower or zucchini, I was able to lose weight.
I am still walking but again I am not able to achieve that every day not just because I say to heck with it but because of scheduling conflicts.
Why is everything so far away? I kid, I kid, … kinda … we have some nice trails in the area but man I hate driving and leaving the house sometimes. The trails near my house, I know them. All of them. Forwards and backward and while it’s nature and nothing really stays the same, it also gets a bit boring.
What will I change?
I will need to change the food in terms of what I consume and replace some of the carbs with protein so that I will stay full long enough. Oh and stop eating the junk food that keeps ending up in my house, specifically bought for me.
Find new trails to walk or rather be willing to drive a bit further to trails that are only 15-30 minutes away from my house.
Thanks for reading my February health goals update – see you in a month!