My 3 Year Journey to Better Health and Happiness, Part 2

As 2023 unfolded, I embarked on a personal journey starting at 199 pounds, and decided to embrace the challenge of Dry January for the very first time. After indulging a bit too much during November and December, I was equally motivated to commit to a no-sugar month. The results were quite gratifying: in the first 120 days of the year, I successfully shed nearly 20 pounds!

January

January was a standout month for me, as I managed to lose 10 pounds—my best performance to date! Reflecting on my journal entries from that month, here’s what I implemented:

• I established a realistic yet ambitious goal, aiming to reach 189 pounds by the end of January. I proudly achieved this milestone on January 29th.

• I embraced Dry January wholeheartedly and steered clear of sugary foods for the entire month.

• I ramped up the intensity of my cardio and strength training workouts, pushing my limits.

• I kept active by walking my dogs 1-2 times daily and tackling various housework and projects.

• I meticulously planned my dinners a week in advance, ensuring all shopping was completed early, and utilized grocery pick-up services to avoid store visits.

• I diligently tracked my daily calorie intake, although I opted for a simple tally on my phone rather than detailed food journaling.

February

For February, I set my sights on reaching 185 pounds. I maintained the strategies from January but decided to ease off on Dry January by limiting myself to 9 drinks throughout the month. Additionally, I allowed myself 4 sugar treats. Although I knew replicating January’s success would be challenging, I still managed to lose another 4 pounds, reaching my goal of 185 by February 25th.

March

March brought a new goal: 181 pounds. I achieved this by March 13th, prompting me to adjust my target to 179. Early in the month, I had a stellar week where I limited my calorie intake to 1,400 per day, maintained excellent workout sessions, and stayed active. I reminded myself, “I’m not starving to death; let’s keep going!” On those nights when hunger struck, I opted for extra water and an early bedtime. By the end of March, I weighed in at 177.8 pounds, successfully losing another 7 pounds!

April

In April, I set my sights on reaching 174 pounds. While I made some progress, hitting 176 pounds, I noticed a dip in my momentum as the weather warmed up. Throughout the summer, my weight fluctuated between the high 170s and low 180s. As we transition into September, I have some thrilling updates to share! Stay tuned!