Hello again

Since I graduated college I've been struggling, mostly in vain, to stay in shape. My job requires I sit in front of a computer for 8 hours a day, so it's been an ordeal. I started gaining weight quickly and found myself at 190 pounds about 2 months into my job. I had to stop wearing 32 waist pants because I no longer fit in them. I also checked BMI and I was classified as 'overweight'.

So I decided to lose some weight. This was all new territory to me, I had always been underweight except for a brief period when I was a freshman in college and discovered binge drinking, and when I cut back the weight just melted off. So first, I knew I had to cut way back on beer and switch to diet soda. I started running with Pepper, but it wasn't doing much. Pepper could only run for about 5 minutes at a time and then she would sleep for 6 hours. So I responded to a listing for a free exercise bike. I started using it 20 minutes a day and eating healthier and less.

About a week ago I tried my 32 waist pants and they fit without the danger of popping off the front button. They were a little tight, but whatever, that had been my main goal. I'm not going to go to any weightlifting competitions, but I also didn't want to get all new pants just because I had gained weight.

My other goal had been to get well back onto 'Healthy' range for BMI. Originally, I thought 175 would put me good and well back onto the Healthy side, but that is when I insisted that I was 5'11". Using my new, more accurate height of 5'10" I have to get down to about 170.

I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror this morning. I can see my abs again. They aren't as defined as they once were but they are there. I weighed myself again. 175, my original goal. 1 more pound to get to the healthy side of BMI and 4 after that to get to my new goal.

It's going to be a bit before I can drink beer again, but it's a start.