My biggest focus in 2023 was taking back my health, and I’m proud of the slow progress I made – and want to share my timeline!

TW: some discussion of weight & eating stuff

First, some history – I’ve been a runner since 2006, and even taught small group fitness classes from 2013-2020, but have always had binge eating problems. It’s gotten better this year but I haven’t mastered it yet.  And that’s okay, progress isn’t linear. I’ll keep at it.

All that to say, while I’ve been active for many years, since I’ve never had the diet portion of my life figured out, my weight has fluctuated during all that time. At the beginning of 2023 I was at my heaviest weight ever and felt like garbage – because I was eating mostly garbage. I also wasn’t running (I hadn’t since 10/26/22), because running didn’t feel good or bring me joy anymore.

I didn’t feel like myself. I missed feeling healthy, eating nourishing foods, and running. My 2023 goal started out with a focus on wanting to lose weight so it would feel better to run again, but it evolved into a physical and mental health journey.

Note: this timeline is just the highlights and doesn’t include everything in those categories

January – December
Physical:
I tried to eat reasonable portions and not binge eat but also not have anything off limits (except when I took a break from sweets). I very much have an “everything in moderation” mindset.
Mental: I continued to read, paint, and take baths for relaxation. I went on some friend dates in the beginning of the year and that trailed off when my summer got nutso busy.

January & February
Physical: I walked every day and did a half assed strength workout at home every few days.
Mental:  I took time off work and went to Tucson to spend time with Tiff and Val. I stopped tracking my workouts as intensely as before or being concerned about ending workouts in “.00.”

March
Physical – I started running again – I had lost some weight and had more energy and was excited to try again (after four months off!). I walked on days I didn’t run (and sometimes did those half assed strength workouts at home).
Mental – I took time off (full time) work in LA with Steven (although it was partially a work trip for Fake Meats).

April
Physical – I continued running and got my bike tuned up. I walked on days I didn’t run (and sometimes did those half assed strength workouts at home).

May
Physical – I started riding my bike again, and continued running (Steven and I did a deliberately slow and cautious buildup to a 5K in June). I walked on days I didn’t run (and sometimes did those half assed strength workouts at home).
Mental – I started therapy for burnout (I started working for Steven parttime in January and started teaching some rock painting classes but didn’t reprioritize my time and hobbies and was struggling).

June
Physical – Steven and I ran our 5K, I started half marathon training, and I started massage again. I walked on days I didn’t run (and sometimes did those half assed strength workouts at home).
Mental – I continued therapy.

July
Physical Steven and I ran another 5K, I did lots of long runs and long rides and LOVED THEM, and I did RAGBRAI (56 mile bike ride) with my Dad and snister.  I got a standing height desk for home. I continued massage. I walked on days I didn’t run (and sometimes did those half assed strength workouts at home).
Mental – I took time off work for trips to Iowa (trip 2 with Tiff and Val and family, trip 3 with Steven and family), I continued therapy.

August
Physical – I completed half marathon training but didn’t run a half. I started doing group fitness at WWM. I continued massage. I kept up with cycling outside. I walked on days I didn’t run.
Mental – I took some time off work in Denver and hung out with Val and Carrie. I continued therapy. I flew with Steven for the first time and realized it makes me extremely happy and giddy.

September
Physical – I tried acupuncture and liked it! Unfortunately they would not work with my insurance so I haven’t been back. I did a 10K with Rachel. I kept up with group fitness. I continued massage. I kept up with cycling outside. I walked on days I didn’t run.
Mental – I started journaling and stopped sharing my weekend recaps here (which lifted a self-imposed “must document everything!” weight, and helped with some uneasy feelings of all that being public). I took this month off therapy, which was a bad idea.

October
Physical – I got balayage. I ran a half marathon and made two new friends. I kept doing long runs after the half. I kept up with group fitness.  I continued massage. I kept up with cycling outside. I walked on days I didn’t run.
Mental – I took time off work for a trip to Maine with Steven, Val and Steve. I dabbled in meditation. I started therapy back up. I set boundaries.

November & December
Physical – I kept up with long runs and group fitness.  I continued massage. I kept up with cycling outside. I walked on days I didn’t run.
MentalI traveled to LA to spend time with Tiff and Val. I kept up with therapy and journaling. I said no to co-hosting a rock painting challenge again to protect my mental health (and am so glad I did – December was nuts with work).

Hopefully the very repetitive nature of this timeline demonstrates how I slowly built all of these things up. That is what has made keeping up with them all possible – I didn’t try to do it all at once. And I think slowly building up my fitness has kept me from getting injured, too (*knock on wood).

It wasn’t all sunshine and roses though – my mental health has gone up and down throughout the year. I felt mentally burned out for most of December. I’ve been struggling to come up with creative ideas for months. My eating has been off since October (but I’m determined to get back on track so I feel my best again). I wanted to try fitting yoga in and still haven’t. Etc, etc. There are always improvements to be made!

But! I’m extremely proud of the progress I’ve made this year and am excited to have this foundation going into 2024. I’m curious to see how consistent strength training transforms (or doesn’t?) me, and if my body will feel healthy enough to run a marathon (I plan to see how I feel in late February/or mid March then decide. Or heck, maybe even April. Ha!).