Workout routine is just that...a routine.

My love/hate journey with weight loss/fitness/health and well-being has been going on for years. I have a tendency to gain a lot of weight, decide I'm not happy with the weight and the toll it's having on my health, lose the weight, and then somehow end up back to square one.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who goes through this see-saw method of health routine and maintenance (or lack thereof). I saw a meme that said nothing tastes as good as skinny feels and I bet they have never sat down at a Los Tres and got stuffed on the chips/queso/salsa combo they bring out at the start of the meal. 

All that being said, I'm on the health upswing again and I've lost 25 pounds since last summer. It's thru a combination of exercise, watching what I eat, and how often I eat. I will tell you that I DO feel better when I weigh less - and that's not an indication everyone should lose weight. For me, it's obvious that I have less joint pain and better mobility if I keep moving.

I did not accomplish this alone. I use a variety of apps and videos to help me along the way. Will I have to use/subscribe to them forever? I don't think so. I hope not. But for now, it's helping me to be accountable and set new goals and routines.

I've been meal prepping using the app listed here in one of my previous blog posts. Plan to Eat has been so helpful for me to make sure I know what I'm going to eat during the week - breakfast, lunch and dinner. (*Full transparency: If you use the link in my previous blog post, I will receive credit for it)

If I don't plan ahead that's when I run into issues with eating whatever I can, whenever I can.

For exercise, I  walk every day (aim for 10,000 steps) and no I don't make it to 10k every day. It's especially difficult in the winter. But I try. I bought an under the desk treadmill on TikTok so I can walk while I'm working from home and I try to take walks on my breaks even if it's cold outside. 

I also do weight lifting. I don't lift heavy, but I definitely lift enough to feel it. I do that two or three days a week and I am on of those people who wakes up at 5 am to get it done and over with. It's the only way that works for me. I used to do Beachbody, but I decided there were enough free programs out there online. I use Caroline Girvan, Juice and Toya, and Fit by Mik. I find that these are just enough for me to handle timewise and ability-wise. I rotate between them so I don't get bored. 

I use My Fitness Pal - and I pay for the subscription. It just makes it easier for me to log my food and actually see what I'm eating. It makes me think about whether or not I have enough calories left over for the day to have those extra snacks or a candy bar. Let's be honest, the only way for me to lose weight is to be in a calorie deficit. There's no other way for me. 

Bottomline, I think routine is a key for me. It helps me stay sane and keeps me on track. Will I ever fall off the wagon again and go rogue with the McDonald's French Fries and chicken McNuggets? Who knows. I'm not going to judge myself either way. It's a journey. But the older I get I'm realizing it is harder on my body in every way when I don't prioritize my health. 

What do you do to maintain your health? Are there any routines that help you? 

Talk soon,

H

Disclaimer: Check with your doctor before beginning any exercise/fitness/wellness program. 

Footwear and feet stuff

As soon as I decided to write about my issues with my feet and aging, I thought, "Oh no, here come the foot fetish guys." And if you don't know what I mean, just mention the word "bunion" or "toes" in a post on X, and almost invariably, you'll get some dude with an auto-follow asking "wyd" or something like this.

I'm not shaming anyone who's into that. I'm just saying that there's a time and a place, and this isn’t either one of them when I talk about my feet and what's happening to them now that I'm 50 years old.

Having worn very high heels for most of my 20s and then business office heels for the rest of the time, my poor feet have suffered. 😞 Of course, the other side of the coin is that walking in heels is ACTUALLY good for you! But I have developed bunions on both feet, particularly on my large toes, and they can be painful, especially during the cold winter months.

I went to see my podiatrist, Dr. Papson in East Lansing, and I highly recommend him. We discussed my options, and we are going to start with less invasive procedures first. This means I had to have orthotics made for my shoes. I don't mind them, but they also limit me in terms of what shoes I can wear.

I had to say goodbye to my Steve Madden pink sparkly heels - sad face.

Now, I usually wear flats in some form. However, I still have heels that I'll wear occasionally; I just have to accept that my feet will be sore the next day.

Gone are the days of not even caring about what I put on my feet or the consequences for the next day. I never thought I'd reach the point where I had to be mindful of my footwear.

Anyway, that's the story behind my #FridayFootwear hashtag. Shoes have become a daily consideration for me, and I'm trying to find a balance between sexy and comfortable. And no, I won't be posting any photos of my feet (see the post above! Haha) unless you pay me. (Just kidding.)

Take care,

H