525,600 minutes

My journey to develop a healthier lifestyle began a year ago today. You'd never guess that with all the food I just ate at a Christmas party, but it is very true.

I’ve spent a good part of the last 525,600 minutes cooking more than I ever have, eating healthier foods that I never would have tried, clocking uncounted miles on the treadmill, and rowing thousands of meters on the rowing machine. And I've spent hours and hours researching ways to improve my heart health. I’ve gone from not being able to hold plank for 15 seconds, to being able to hold plank for a minute and 15 seconds. I’ve learned that I love sweet potatoes and my go-to snack is now hummus and crackers or carrots. Good health is worth every minute of the effort.

A year ago, I started out on the Mayo Clinic diet, then switched to counting calories. I've lost over 60 pounds, and I'm well on my way to reaching my weight loss goal.

I got a gym membership in January, and started working out 2-3 days a week with Gary, my personal trainer. I committed to keeping my training appointments and to keeping my personal workout schedule, so I have been at the gym 5-6 days a week this year. I only missed 3 days, and each of those days, I would have rather been at the gym. I missed a day for snow, a day for spring-time allergies, and a day for a meeting at work. Not too bad.

Here are just a few things that I’ve gained from training with Gary, my personal workouts, counting calories, and living a healthier lifestyle this year:
1. I sleep better.
2. I haven't needed to take allergy medicine in a long time.
3. I’ve gone from a size 22 to a size 14, from size 2X to Large.
4. General health is better. I’ve been able to drop one blood pressure medication, and I’m likely to be able to drop the next one in the next few months. My blood pressure didn’t change when I dropped 50 pounds on WeightWatchers without working out at the gym. Working out makes the difference.
5. General mood is better.
6. Water intake way up, caffeine intake slim to none.

Looking ahead to the next 525,600 minutes, I'll be running my first 5K, reaching my weight loss goal, and staying with my healthier lifestyle. I'm sure there will be many other exciting things coming up next year on this journey, those are just the things that I know right now.