Ben’s Profile Journey: Two Months In

Hi, Ben here, and I’m embarking on a mission to not be fat when I turn 42. To do that I’ve partnered with Profile by Sanford and I want to take you with me on my journey.

I’m about two months into my Profile journey and taking stock, I feel good about where I am. I still need to remind myself that this is a marathon, not a sprint. I’m losing pounds every week. My clothes are fitting better and my pants are sagging. As much as I want dramatic results in a short time, that’s just now how it works for me. Even with some missteps I’m doing good and loving the program. Plus, overall My energy is way up.

That’s the biggest immediate effect that I have noticed. For example, we took the kids to the Sioux Empire Fair last week. When we got home I realized that I wasn’t dead tired. I didn’t even go into the experience with the usual sense of dread that I use to have anytime an activity called for lots of walking. Going around the fairgrounds, mowing the lawn, having to go back to the milk cases in Walmart; all could use up a day’s worth of energy. But, I’ve noticed over the last two months that I don’t have that issue anymore. That alone is enough inspiration to keep on plan.

Another issue that has cropped up, and that I didn’t expect, is that I have found a ton of extra time, especially in the evenings. I noted this while I was talking to my Profile coach about my biggest trouble area: evenings at home. I was finding that after I ate my dinner I’d be board and restless.

Turns out that now that I’m learning to eat like a normal person, I have freed up much of my night. I know now know what I’m going to eat each night. There’s no more wondering, and snacking while I figure out what to have. I’m resisting the impulse to say “forget it, let’s go get something!” I realized that I use to spend much of my evening eating. Preparing, gathering, guessing, eating, and then sleeping because I didn’t have energy to do anything else.

Now that I’m getting into the Profile groove, I don’t have to think about food anymore. I know what I’m eating and when. With that planning I found that I now had these blocks of free time at night. It wasn’t a problem I expected, but a welcome one.

Now, I’m working to add regular exercise into my routine, during that new free time. When my coach and I discuses exercise, she reminded me to not go overboard and do so much that the exercise would make me hungry, because I’m burning so much energy. I really don’t think that’ll be a problem. I board so quickly at the gym that there’s little threat of me going overboard.

But, I have discovered the benefits of finding a ‘treadmill show’ on Netflix, a show I only watch when I work out. I also figured out that I can read a book on my phone while I walk to nowhere. So with The Defenders starting this month and a library gathering digital dust on my mobile, I’m confident that I can cover a few miles of pretend ground each week. And finally get below that 300 barrier.

Keep up with Ben's journey by bookmarking Ben's blog. Got a question or comment? connecting on Twitter or email at ben@hot1047.com.

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