Week 11 Update -36lbs and 5km walks

Three months is closing in from when I started this lifestyle change. The change is dramatic and so far most impactful in my mobility and energy. There is some difference in my appearance and a few people have noticed but this is not as important to me. Being able to move again, has been what is just amazing.

5km (3.17mile) Walks

I have brought up in several posts about how hard it was for me to get my mail. I don’t mean to repeat myself with it but I cannot stress how awful that was. Not being able to walk to the end of my block without hurting my back was literally causing me to be depressed. At 37 years old it was a totally self inflected issue and at my age and a huge red flag to my future. In contrast the past few days have been filled with over 5km walks. A full kilometer over my previous distances. All this is done with no back pain to speak of. I have focused on looking after my feet as I do battle some issues with blisters. But for the most part, my body is functioning like it should be again which makes me more happy than any image change could.

Mobility Beyond Walking

Being able to walk is so freeing that it is hard to explain. When you can just move your body to go anywhere without any assistance from vehicles you suddenly feel open to the world. I think people who are able bodied often take their mobility for granted. It is something I am trying to be very aware of and appreciate now. But improving my movement has gone beyond just being able to transport myself longer distances under my own power. Simple acts like getting dressed or doing errands have all felt better. Just having energy to tackle projects I have for long put off is so great. It all feels like so many small improvements compounding into one big better life.

The Future

It is impossible to predict the future, but optimism is becoming my new pursuit. I think every small improvement I make is just snowballing into something greater down the road. Maybe it will be as I expect, maybe something different. Maybe I will discover new ways to improve myself and my life. I think whatever is in store it will be good. Not easy, not without obstacles and with lots of hard work, but also very worth it!