OK, progress check time! It has been eight weeks since the start of the year. I’ve been using my Fitbit to track the days I’ve exercised every week, and so far I’ve logged five days of exercise a week for six weeks! The only two exceptions were the week of New Year’s Day, and the week of my dad’s birthday. (I’ll give you one guess why I skipped exercise more days those weeks…)
This kind of consistency has gotten me some long-lasting weight loss results, with six pounds dropped, an inch shaved off my waist, and looser pants legs. And I haven’t even started doing high-intensity exercise yet. It has been a sweet and sustainable journey so far because exercise doesn’t feel like drudgery (which is how it should be!).
Experts say it takes 21 days to create a new habit. Eight weeks times seven days equals 56 days, which is more than enough time for me to have established a habit of daily exercise.
Now it’s time to build on such a great beginning to the year. I’m looking for additional goals to keep me motivated. This is not my favorite time of the year to go swimming because it’s a little too cold for me still, so that will have to wait until summer in earnest next month. As for cycling, well, my poor Ceepo bike has been gathering dust. It’s really all about running for me at this point. I’m already trying to extend the amount of time I run, but I don’t want to do too much and get sick again so my longest time spent exercising has been only one hour (inclusive of 10 minutes walking as warm-up and 5 minutes walking to cool down). I think I should work on mixing things up more, with some incline and interval work at least once a week.
I am really excited about starting a new running project for the month of March! The Takbo.PH All Women’s Virtual Race celebrates International Women’s Month. Female participants can complete a set distance anywhere and anytime within the month by accumulating mileage using GPS running apps. Upon completion of 21K, 50K, 100K, or 200K you get an exclusive design racerback tank top and a finisher medal! All this for only P900 regardless of distance. Note: this is probably the only time in my life I’ll ever get a medal for running 50K, even if it’s done over several weeks. Hehehe! You can find out more about the Takbo.PH All Women’s
Virtual Race here.
