Susanna –> I’m thinking it’s the muscle mass as well because really, that’s all that’s changing these days. My food more or less (usually less) remains the same. As to the shoes, I actually wear regular sneakers in spin class and use the toe basket side of the pedals however I’m going to treat myself and take in my bike shoes to have the clips put on the bottom and then use them exclusively in spin class since I will NEVER install my feet in clips out on the road. I have such a phobic fear of stopping and tipping over I can’t even tell you!

I found a little mirror that’s inscribed “You look fabulous!” I keep threatening to buy it for my step-daughter, but I’m beginning to think that Bev & I could use it too

When I started my “journey” of weight loss and healthy life style, back in November, I decided that I had only two objectives in mind, 1) to be healthy and 2) to be strong. I made a conscious decision not to worry about what I look like or what the numbers on that infernal scale were (not that I don’t weigh, I just try not to fret over it). Be healthy and strong, that’s all I care about.

I go to the gym, usually, at lest three days a week and while I’m there, I see guys who are over-weight, I see guys who are just a little soft, I see guys who are skinny as a rail and I see guys who are muscle bound and well defined. I catch myself, on a regular basis, looking at those last guys and thinking, “Man I wish I looked like that” or “That’s what I want to look like. Eventually, I will.” I have to stop myself when I have those thoughts and remind myself that is not what I’m there for. I’m there to be healthy and be strong.

I know that a natural part of that will be losing quite a few pounds of excess body weight and also, most likely, gaining some muscle definition. Will I have chiseled abs and rock hard pecs? Alas, probably not, but that’s OK.

My objective (I don’t use the word goal because that implies there’s an end and this is a lifelong endeavor) is to be strong and healthy and that’s all I need to worry about. If I have to tell myself that 100 times everyday, that’s what I’ll do. I don’t think it’s going to have to be that many though.