A Healthier Mike - January 2019

Another month is upon us and my health goals from December are carrying forward into January. I didn’t quite make the mark last month with fitness and health, so we’ll keep pushing through striving for greatness this month. I don’t do resolutions at the new year, but I do have ongoing goals through the year that I edit as necessary. These goals range from financial goals to hiking goals, with everything in between. I plan to write every month, probably at the beginning, about the previous month and where I am with my goals. These posts will be specifically related to a healthier mind and body. Last year, I attempted to write about these things weekly and I didn’t see it necessary. Most people don’t care, and I don’t want to take the time as I’m already writing and recording about my goals in a journal and spreadsheet.

Ongoing General Goals

  • Eat less food (overall)

  • Move my body more (overall)

  • Eat more fresh and whole foods

  • Sleep more

  • Read more

  • Hike more often

Specific Goals

  • Lose 35 pounds by my 35th birthday

  • Run a 5K by summer

  • Hike 52 times in 2019

  • Run a trail (or several, but at least one)

The Plan

  • Meal plan for each week (rough or detailed, just a plan)

  • Cut out processed sugars

  • Walk, run, workout, or hike 30 minutes at least 5 times per week

  • Limit eating out to 2 lunches per month, dinners TBD

  • Eat more vegetables with every meal

  • Track food intake in My Fitness Pal app

  • Get to bed before 10pm

  • Track fitness with Apple Watch

Things I’m not doing

  • Weighing myself daily

  • Beating myself up for missteps

  • Comparing myself to anyone else and their journey (though, I do look up to people and their abilities when it comes to certain things like hiking and running)

Generally, I have issues with eating the correct portions of food. I overeat, regularly. It’s something I struggle with and work on every day of every year. Being conscious of what I eat and tracking every item is the only way for me to grasp just how much is going into my body. When I track my food, I feel better and often maintain a better heads space about food and fitness.

I’m not doing this with weight loss as a main goal; I want weight loss to be a side effect. I am working on my health and fitness to ensure I’m around to enjoy life. I want to hike, kayak, and backpack without having to slow down all the time. I want to feel confident in group settings and get out with people a little more advanced than myself. I want to feel less smashed on an airplane and I want to be even more comfortable with myself just about everywhere. I want to run some trails and actually run an entire 5K. I want to do so much and I am going to keep trying.

The vanity of it all is that I want to look down and not see a giant belly. I want to look nice in my puffy coat and vest. I want to feel comfortable with fitted clothing on my body. So, all of the health things aside, I want to look good too. I don’t want to be some ripped guy and I know I’ll never have a skinny body, but I just want to be a little less fluffy.

Follow along, or don’t, I’ll be here the first week of every month recapping and rerouting the plan as necessary. I wish you a healthy month ahead.