Week 5

This was another stalled week – not a step backward, but no much of a step forward either. I stayed mostly on track, just hovering in neutral. Still, having you as my accountability partner really does keep me moving. Even on weeks like this, I remind myself: neutral is better than reverse.

I worked on the NLP exercise of communicating with my symptoms, since I was still experiencing some pain. what message emerged was very clear: I need more balance in my life. Balance between work and rest; between getting things done and simply sitting still with a book or taking a quiet walk and listening to the world around me. That shift in awareness helped ease muscles that had been pulled too tight, helping to relieve a lot of the pain.

The win this week? Even though I was in neutral, I did lose inches. My clothes are starting to get baggy. That’s a win in my book and I’ll take it.

For Week 6, I’m making some small but meaningful changes. First, I’m moving my stationary bike to a place where it’s easier to use. Inspired by James Clear’s idea of making habits attractive and accessible, I’m setting myself up for success. I’m also placing my weights in the same area so I can start using them consistently.

On the diet side, I’m experimenting with removing one carb that may be slowing me down. I love potatoes—especially red potatoes—and I’ve been having one with breakfast each morning. They’re a better option than white or yellow potatoes, but I suspect they’re still holding me back. So… away they go (for now!).

I’ll check in again next week. And to all of you on a similar journey: keep going. You’re stronger than you think, and we’re in this together.