This entry is really just a follow up to my entry from January of this year as I continue my journey to be healthier. Without any doubt, I am on the right path. But, also without any doubt, the amount of effort it takes to be healthy increases with age. Sometimes, it also requires assistance. But, as long as you’re willing to do the work, it can be done.

I am very proud to state that since the start of 2026, I have lost 20 pounds. That’s the good news, the bad news all of the weight that I had gained before the start of the year. But, let’s focus on the positive and the fact that I did lose weight. I still want to lose more and I know that it will take work and discipline.
How did I get to where I am now? I didn’t diet. But, just like the success that I had with weight loss a few years ago, I’ve mostly changed how I eat. While I have cut out basically anything that has a lot of sugar in it, I haven’t necessarily stopped snacking. It’s just a different snack. I’m much more likely to have some grapes or pineapple than I am a donut.

I watch my calorie intake, to the best of my ability, and track it on an app. I’m paying attention to what I’m eating. I also try to take in more more calories on days when I’m likely to burn calories in a cardio workout.

And speaking of workouts, I am being very good about that too. Between yoga, stretching, strength training, and running, I’m trying to average 30 minutes per day. Time doesn’t always permit that, but I will accomplish that at least 12 times per month, since that is the minimal requirement to get a bonus from my health insurance provider. Yes, bribery works.

Just a few days ago, I completed my first official 5k of the year. Out of the 51 official races that I’ve done, it was one of the slower finishes that I’ve had, but that fact wasn’t a concern of mine. It was simply that I did it. And I have two more races over the next few weeks that I’ll be competing in. I’m not looking to break any personal records, I’m just looking to do them as part of my health journey.

I’m not doing this on my own. I have started seeing a nutritionist to help me on this path to healthiness. I’ve enjoyed the lessons so far and from those sessions and from reading that I’ve done, I’ve learned a lot about metabolism and what is required and what should be avoided.

But, also as I’ve mentioned, I use a CPAP machine when sleeping. It’s almost impossible to describe how much my energy levels have increased in the almost two years since I began that sleep therapy. The results of my initial sleep study were frightening. I was averaging around 25 times per hour when I would not be breathing well. With the help of the CPAP, it’s now under 3.

I’ve been seeing my chiropractor again somewhat regularly as we attempt to fix some discomfort that I have. I see a dermatologist once per year. I make regular appointments with an ENT specialist. I speak to a therapist every few weeks. I’m bringing up all of these things here to again make it clear that I cannot get healthy on my own. I need assistance from professionals. I’m lucky enough to be in a position where I can get that help, and I am most definitely grateful for that luxury.

Doctors, websites, apps. There’s so many resources out there for our health. We just need to take advantage of them. Even with the stresses that I deal with on a daily basis, I’m so far from the miserably depressed person that I was for many years. I don’t know if I want to say that I’m optimistic, since that would be such an incredible turnaround from what people are used to, but I’m leaning more towards that side of the coin than I am the pessimistic version of myself that I’ve been.

Setbacks will happen. There will be days on the scale where the number that I’m looking at is the same as yesterday or higher than yesterday. There will be a day when my optimism gets crushed. There will be days when my back is bad. There will be days when things aren’t going well. The trick is to keep that forward momentum. And for once, I think I’m heading in that direction.