MyFitLife2Day

Sometimes we begin a journey thinking it is only about the destination. We set a goal, make a plan, and focus on the changes we want to see. But along the way, we often discover that the journey is connected to so much more than we ever expected. Recently, I lost 20 pounds, and one day I noticed something small but meaningful. My cheeks were getting smaller. It was a sign that my hard work was starting to show. Instead of only feeling proud of my progress, I felt a wave of emotion because I immediately thought of my mom. My mom passed away in 2015, and learning to live without her has been one of the hardest things I have ever experienced. Grief does not simply disappear with time. It changes, it settles into different parts of your life, and sometimes it surprises you when you least expect it. Today, standing in the bathroom mirror, I smiled and said, “I miss you, Mom.” I found myself talking to her in my mind. At first, I thought it was a little strange, but it also felt ...

I've been grieving a death for nearly 10 years, and I'm finally ready to make longevity decisions for myself. For a long time, I had pretty much given up. I'm a 9/11 survivor and I live with complex PTSD. Food became my comfort drug, and by 2008 I had ballooned to more than 460 pounds. I had one session of CBT, but I didn't have health insurance, so I had to figure things out on my own. Before I ever picked up a book on nutrition, I read about 30 books on psychology, trauma, behavior change, and personal growth. Eventually, I lost more than 200 pounds and kept it off for more than five years. Then my mom died. Grief led to comfort choices. Comfort choices led to weight gain. Weight gain led to health issues. Health issues led to mental health struggles. The cycle fed itself for years. Fortunately, I finally gained access to health care about two years ago because my deteriorating health was leaving me disabled. I was diagnosed and treated for severe sleep apnea, and tha...

Years ago I started a blog called The Fitness 400 Project. The goal was simple. I never wanted to weigh more than 400 pounds again. At the time I weighed about 460 pounds. Looking back, it's hard to believe how quickly things had gotten out of control. The funny thing is that I wasn't trying to lose 200 pounds. I wasn't thinking about becoming a hiker or transforming my life. I just knew I was headed in the wrong direction and wanted to turn things around before it got any worse. The name itself tells you everything you need to know about where my head was at the time. I wasn't trying to become an athlete. I wasn't trying to get abs. I wasn't trying to impress anybody. I simply wanted to get under 400 pounds and stay there. That felt achievable. It felt possible. More importantly, it felt necessary. Before I joined Nutrisystem, I had already lost about 40 pounds on my own. That was important because it proved to me that change was possible. But Nutri...

There are plethora of reasons that I love living in South Florida, not the least of which is the ubiquitous best grocery store in America, Publix, where shopping is literally a pleasure! Today I stopped into the Publix in lake Worth Beach and was able to get a delicious lunch for less than $6. The trick to doing this is not ordering the pre-made sandwiches and salads, which are very good. But I do build your own type of lunch.  First, I stop at the deli. I typically get a quarter pound of some boar's Head turkey or chicken breast. But sometimes I'll venture into the Publix brand if it's on sale. Today I got a quarter pound of ham, which brought me a nice amount of protein and low-fat at a cost of about $2.25. Then I went over to the bakery. They had rolls in packs of eight. But you asked the person behind the counter to sell you one of them, and they are happy to repackage it as a single item for you. This was just $0.62! I also got two bananas, and I zipped ope...

I'm currently living in South Florida living in motels and sometimes sleeping in my car, so it makes shopping and planning meals a bit difficult. But I manage. And this is what I ate in December to lose nearly 30 pounds. All this food totals around 2,200 calories and is protein-centric, but I don't cut single food type or macro nutrient totally out of my diet.  As mentioned in a previous post, I eat six meals per day over the course of 12 hours. While this isn't what I eat every day, it's a sample of what I typically at all last month: 1) I have a  snack  at 7 a.m. to break my fast. This is usually a banana and a yogurt. 2) Just before starting work I have a  meal , usually a breakfast sandwich for convenience. McDonald's breakfast sandwiches are a weakness that works for me 3) Then there's a  snack  at 11 a.m. This is almost a vegan protein shake. I'm not vegan, but my wellness coach friend Angela put me on to pea protein and while it's gross at first b...

Moderation in everything, including moderation! That's my mantra these days. So with that in mind, I skipped the "dieting" and simply made these seven changes in December to lose nearly 30 pounds in 30 days in December. 1. Drinking my coffee black Cream and sugar are banished! No explanation needed. It's just a smart idea, and we all know it. 2. Drinking more water Based on my weight I should be drinking five liters of water daily. Well, that's not happening! But I'm up to drinking two 1.5 liter bottles and a cup here and there with meals. It helps flush toxins from my body. I feel the difference. I like my water cold and my coffee black 3. Eating one plain Greek yogurt daily It's got protein to help me maintain muscle while losing fat, probiotics for gut health, and a bit of satiating fiber, Plus, I feel better about this mid-morning snack when I skip the added sugar and hidden weird ingredients in yogurts processed with sugar-laden fruits (or "natur...