Ahh... my weight is now down to 177 pounds, which means that, for the first time in years, I'm no longer considered "overweight" by the admittedly-limited BMI calculators. (I don't remember for sure how fat I used to be, but I do remember weighing at least 220 pounds, possibly more than that, in the Summer of 2002. It was gross.) I'd like to lose about another ten pounds, but even if I can't, I'd be pretty pleased just staying at this weight.
My blood pressure is now down to 110 over 70, where it used to be 130 over 90. Still waiting for the results of my blood test to come back to see whether my cholesterol and triglycerides are down -- they were never all that high, but they could still stand a little improvement (my last cholesterol count, about six months ago, was 192, which isn't bad, but isn't all that great, either).
I've reduced my coffee intake, which is probably partly responsible for the drop in my blood pressure. I used to drink 25 ounces a day, but starting about a month or so ago, I reduced that to 20 ounces. Doesn't sound like a big drop, but it's made a big difference in my mood.
My attempt to quit smoking has once again failed, unfortunately... *sigh* I hate those god-damn cigarettes, but I'll kick the habit, one way or another...
On the up side, I haven't had a drink in over two months! (Except for some nighttime cold medicine that I took for a few nights when I had a cold... that kind of thing is a little controversial in recovery circles, and I'm not sure whether it makes any difference in my own case, but I mention it in the interests of full disclosure.) It's actually to the point now where if I even smell an alcoholic beverage, I feel somewhat ill. This is the longest I've ever been sober since... well, probably in about seventeen years, I think. It's hard to describe the effect... it's kind of just an overall general sense of well-being rather than any one pronounced effect I can put my finger on. Except for my blood pressure -- I'm sure the drop is at least partly attributable to my not drinking.
I've also made a bigger effort to avoid sodium. In addition to being yet another blood pressure elevator, I've also noticed that eating a meal high in sodium often triggers a very severe bout of depression (a phenomenon my doctor says he's seen in a number of other people as well).
This is the best shape I've been in physically in who knows how long. Things are looking up, up, up!
Posted by Zathras at February 28, 2004 11:54 AMNot only do you look like you're in much better shape in a variety of ways, but you look a lot *younger* as well. (I was a bit startled at how much younger when I saw your webcam last night, in fact.) I think your body is thanking you for taking better care of it. :-)
Posted by: Moggy at February 28, 2004 02:25 PMLosing weight will do that... being fat makes you look a lot older than you are. (I wonder whether being generally happier makes me look younger, too...?)
Posted by: Zathras at February 28, 2004 02:33 PMYea . . .
Your bare ass looked JUST GREAT when you mooned me on your webcam a few days ago.
Why? Why do I see (and hear) all of these things?!?!
Posted by: Shaw at February 28, 2004 10:59 PM