All Things Bright

Right before 2020 turned into 2021, I had a faint recollection of thinking that 2020 was going to be my year to get into The Best Shape Ever. Like essentially everyone's hopes for 2020, things did not go as planned. I could be in worse shape, but my jeans could fit a little better, and my general strength and cardiovascular health could be a lot better. My diet can verge into territory that's more the stuff of teenage boys' dreams than a nutritionist's. In other words, I'm a pretty typical adult.

The barrier for better health for me is not that I don't know what to do; rather, it's that I don't know how to go about making the habit stick. It isn't really about weight so much as health for me, and it's important to me that the changes I make are sustainable for the long-run. I'm not interested in dropping a quick 5 pounds by cutting out carbs for as long as I can stand it. I just want to break out of my worst habits and replace them with healthier ones.

For this reason I decided to join Noom. Noom is all about empowering you to get healthier for life by hacking into the psychology of food and exercise and making changes in small, incremental steps. I studied animal behavior in college; this really speaks my language. Without giving too much intellectual property away, I really like the program so far. The app is easy to use, and I'm much more likely to log my weight and meals when the place where I record that info is already in my hand. Pictured above is my Noom Notebook and a Noom-sanctioned afternoon snack. I use my notebook to make sure I don't just burn through my daily articles, and I actually implement what I'm learning. One of my favorite aspects is that the whole program is based on fun, positivity, and moderation--nothing is off-limits (not even pecan pie!), and there are very few Always-Do's or Never-Do's. I need some wiggle room, and Always and Never are a little too heavy to take on for the rest of my life.

That small decision to download an app has spun off into the purchase (and use!) of a little compact strider (see title image, and imagine if a stair climber and an elliptical had a tiny, compact baby) and the impulse buy of a giant exercise die from the Target Dollar Spot. (Sidebar: I know that's the not the name anymore... but it will forever be the Dollar Spot to me.) I bust these out when I've been sitting for too long or I need a little endorphin pick-me-up in the afternoon. I'm already down a couple pounds which is nice... but more important, I'm proud of myself for jumping into the program and following through on it.