Make my body as healthy as it can be

I know I’ve got a long way to go, and by some measures (i.e. the scale) February was a complete wash. But in the last week, I’ve noticed considerable improvement in how well I swim. Just working in the lap pool for fifteen minutes most every morning has, in very short order, seen real improvement in my stroke.

I’m not ready to learn a flip-turn or anything yet, since one length is enough to have me stopping to catch my breath. But I’m actually able to swim that length, with pretty decent form, before having to take a few seconds to recover.

• Weight: 250# is my near-term target, at which point I’ll have a better idea of where I’d really like to be.
• BMI (which is just weight again—do the math)
• Blood pressure: 120|80 or “better”
• Measurements: 36” or smaller waist?
• Other: In the words of Lester Burnham (American Beauty), “I want to look good naked.”

• morning walk
• stretching/yoga (sun salutation)
• strength training
• daily weight tracking (with a moving average to smooth out the bumps and give me a nice trend line)
• having lots of fruits and vegetables on hand
• going easy on the alcohol
• artistic outings (museums, galleries)
• active outings
• maintaining a self-care routine
• lots of sex
• quality sleep (wearing CPAP)

It’s got to start with the weight, obviously, because at this point everything else is secondary. And I actually made a nice chunk of progress in the first half of last year, and held steady at that new level for the balance of the year.

Now it’s time for more progress.

No, the numbers aren’t what matters, but it is the most convenient way to measure. Last year, I went from 360# (in early February, when I finally acquired a scale that was equipped for those of us the size of an NFL defensive tackle) down to 325# (in early July). I dipped as low as 316# between then and now, but have been mostly pretty close to that July mark ever since; I got through the holiday season right about where I started.

If I’m going to complete goals #22-#25 of my Mission101 by my end date (April 23, 2009), I need to get this weight loss thing back on track and keep it there. Hence, my first 43T Challenge: 300# by the end of April 2008.