I plan to do a weekly check-in with my weight each Sunday, and on the first day of the month, I'll do a check-in with weights and progress measurements.

I know what I need to do, and I'm going to use the #LessAllie2024 to talk about it and vent about it, and maybe record my thoughts and successes and failures.

Along with being able to do 60 minutes of exercise a day by December, I want to be down to below 140kg by December 31. That's at least 24kg, which is 2kg per month, which is considered a safe and slow weight loss goal.

I also want to improve my lean body mass, and plan for part of my exercise goals to target muscles that will (hopefully) give me a more feminine silhouette.

The reasons for #LessAllie2024 are in my next post, which is a lot more personal.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #LessAllie2024

Over a decade ago, I got stuck into a keto diet at my doctor's recommendation, with weekly check-ins with him. I made videos that I posted to YouTube, I listened to a fantastic podcast that taught me a lot about losing weight in a healthy way, and the importance of weight training and lean muscle.

I *know* how to lose weight. I lost weight, and got down to 108kg (238lbs). That was less than I weighed in high school. I'd started at 174.8kg (385lbs).

Yet when I looked in the mirror, I couldn't see a difference.

Not long after hitting that weight, I hurt my back badly while we were moving house, with the end result being that I put on 32kgs, and my weight hovered around 140kg (309lbs) for many years.

The problem is that eating has always been my main coping mechanism. In that same period of time, I was trying to come to terms with my #GenderDysphoria, and find a cure for it. I used food (and for a long time, alcohol) to numb the pain. My weight crept back up until I hit a plateau of around 160-165kg (353-364lbs).

When I had the breakdown in 2020, I lost a whole lot of weight dropping back down to just under 140kg for six months because I just wasn't eating, and the meds weren't helping, until Duloxetine, which fixed my brain within two weeks.

I also gained 20kgs (44lbs) in 4 months(!), which brought me back to that 160-165kg plateau.

It's hard on my body to carry that much weight, particularly on my heart (hello high blood pressure!) but above all else, that fat is distributed in an explicitly male-coded way, which is a huge #GenderDysphoria trigger for me.

It also means that I can't buy or wear any cute clothes that I like, because they don't fit properly, which becomes a vicious dysphoria circle.

#HRT should cause some fat redistribution over time, with my body becoming more female shaped, but there are no guarantees for how that will turn out, if at all.

That moment when I looked in the mirror and I couldn't see any difference in my body between my start weight and 108kgs? That was retroactively diagnosed as body dysmorphia by my psychologist (on top of the gender dysphoria, yay!).

My "eating-to-cope" is not just a coping mechanism. It's Binge Eating Disorder. Again, that was a formal diagnosis.

These are both things I'm working on with my psychologist.

Please understand that my reasons for losing weight and not ones I'm willing to debate. I understand fat acceptance, and HAES (Health At Every Size), but this is a deep and complex issue for me.

If this is the kind of thing you find triggering, please don't read it. Please mute it.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #LessAllie2024

January 1, 2024 - Day 1 - Weigh-in #1 / Measurements #1
Total Weigh-ins: 1

Here's my starting point:

My overall weight loss for 2023 was 3.8kgs (8lbs6oz)

Starting weight: 164.3kg (362lbs3.5oz)

Neck: 47cm (18.5")
Chest: 162cm (63.8")
Waist: 160cm (63")
Hips: 134cm (52.75")

Left bicep: 46cm (18.1")
Right bicep: 46cm (18.1")
Left thigh: 76cm (29.9")
Right thigh: 78cm (30.7")

[This post intentionally left blank]

I know there will be something I want to add later in the year, figure I'll make space for it now. It's literally what happened last year when I realised I wanted to add some extra commentary and I had no room.

January 1, 2024 - Day 1 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 1

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 2L

Exercise goal: 5m
Actual: 6m

Exercise: Walking
Location: Outdoors

Distance: 0.55km
Pace: 11m12s/km

HR: 113BPM

Comments:
Turned out to be harder to motivate myself than I expected.

Gotta get my shoes and socks on, put on a sports bra, and I was *really* sleepy, to the point I dozed off for an hour ~6pm.

I haven't been taking my anti-inflammatories for a few days, which meant that it felt extra painful on my back. I don't want to keep relying on anti-inflammatories though, so... pushed through.

I need to look up some core strengthening exercises tomorrow, and put something small together there too.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

January 2, 2024 - Day 2 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 2

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 2L

Exercise goal: 5m
Actual: 7m

Exercise: VR Boxing
Location: Indoors

Distance: n/a
Pace: n/a

Kcal burned: 142

HR: 108BPM

Comments:
Slept badly last night. Couldn't get back to sleep this morning. Dozed off this evening, and it was raining when I woke up.

"OK, BoxVR!"

That was when I realised that I hadn't set up my OG Vive since building the new PC, which meant that I had to go through the whole kerfuffle of pairing the base stations again, and drawing out my playspace, then convincing Steam VR that it does fit (only just).

But my heartrate and calories tracking app isn't working correctly, so none of that got tracked either, but BoxVR said I'd burned 142Kcal, and my watch said my HR was at least 108BPM, and I definitely feel like I worked out, so counting that as a win.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

January 3, 2024 - Day 3 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 3

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 2L

Exercise goal: 5m
Actual: 6m

Exercise: Walking
Location: Outdoors

Distance: 0.55km
Pace: 10'42"/km

Kcal burned: 60

HR: 108BPM

Comments:
Another day, another mid-afternoon doze out. Except this time I woke up super-cranky.

Then I decided to fix my reviews blog so I can start moving the reviews across to there as a more easily searched home, and if you want to improve your mood, don't go digging around in the guts of a Wordpress theme trying to work out why it's broken.

Finally just forced myself out the door after 9pm.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

January 4, 2024 - Day 4 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 4

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 2L

Exercise goal: 5m
Actual: 5.5m

Exercise: Walking
Location: Outdoors

Distance: 0.55km
Pace: 10'06"/km

Kcal burned: 84

HR: 114BPM

Comments:
Improved my pace today.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

January 5, 2024 - Day 5 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 5

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 0L

Exercise goal: 5m
Actual: 7m

Exercise: Walking
Location: Outdoors

Distance: 0.55km
Pace: 12'34"/km

Kcal burned: 79

HR: 102BPM

Comments:
Today has been a shitshow from go to whoa. If I didn't know better, I would have been convinced it was a Tuesday.

Yesterday I forgot my water consumption until mid-afternoon, and I was up multiple times during the night as a consequence.

I forgot the water again today, but I'm not making the same mistake. I've had liquid, but it was coffee in the morning, and sugar-free soft drinks in the afternoon. Not a lot of sugar-free cola, which is an improvement.

I had to force myself out the door to walk, but at least I did it.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

January 6, 2024 - Day 6 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 6

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 0L

Exercise goal: 5m
Actual: 1h46m

Exercise: Walking
Location: Indoors

Distance: 7.2km
Pace: n/a
Steps: 10440

Kcal burned: n/a

HR: n/a

Comments:
Drank a lot of liquid, none of it water, almost all of it sugar-free, except for a Lime Jarritos with my "naked burrito". The water thing is a lot harder than I thought. I've installed a water-reminder app on my watch, so... let's see how that goes.

Walked... a lot. Even did a specific non-stop five minute walk around Chadstone, but... I definitely got my "five minutes" in today.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

January 7, 2024 - Day 7 - Weigh-in
Total Weigh-ins: 2

Start weight: 164.3kg (362lbs 3.5oz)
Last weight: 164.3kg (362lbs 3.5oz)
Current weight: 163.6kg (360lb 10.8oz)

Weekly change: 0.7kg (1lb 8.7oz) loss
Goal change: 0.5kg (1lb 1.6oz)

Total change: 0.7kg (1lb 8.7oz) loss

Comments:
Diet has been harder than I expected. What I really want to do is track my food intake, because when I've been successful in the past, it's been because I was tracking.

Thinking about it now, part of that may have just been ADHD, in that I could actually remember what I'd eaten, which meant I neither over-ate nor under-ate.

The other side of that is inconsistency. When I can just dump a meal into the meal tracker, it's easy. When I have to add each separate ingredient, it becomes too much effort, so I just... don't.

The solution to this is meal planning. Something to look into more in the coming week.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024 #LessAllie2024

January 7, 2024 - Day 7 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 7

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 1.6L

Exercise goal: 5m
Actual: 38m

Exercise: Walking
Location: Indoors

Distance: 3.9km
Pace: n/a
Steps: 5574

Kcal burned: n/a

HR: n/a

Comments:
Water tracking app is a helpful reminder, but less so when walking around a Bunnings or Eastland.

More walking again today, but my feet and back and hips are all unhappy. Didn't intend to end up at Eastland today, but unexpected circumstances.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

January 8, 2024 - Day 8 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 8

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 2L

Exercise goal: 5m
Actual: 6m

Exercise: Walking
Location: Outdoors

Distance: 0.56km
Pace: 10'55"/km
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: 84

HR: 108BPM

Comments:
Bought another water bottle yesterday. Only 1L, but turns out that size does matter, as it feels far easier to grab a 1L bottle than a 2L bottle. The Water Minder app is helping too.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

January 9, 2024 - Day 9 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 9

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 1L

Exercise goal: 5m
Actual: >5m

Exercise: Physical labour
Location: Indoors

Distance: n/a
Pace: n/a
Steps: 5592

Kcal burned: n/a

HR: n/a

Comments:
I'm trying to get my brain out of the space that only "proper" exercise "counts".

We replaced our slowly collapsing pair of Kmart TV cabinets with an upcycled timber TV cabinet that we got for free via Facebook. My wife did the painting & upcycling, I did the drilling holes and mounting TV retention straps, and recabling EVERYTHING, and somehow managed to rack up over 5592 steps as well, and everything hurts right now.

I have been moving and lifting and climbing up and down stairs, and walking through Bunnings, and I think I can fairly say that I exceeded five minutes "exercise" today.

Didn't drink anywhere near enough water (did drink over 2L of fluid, but only 1L was actual water; thanks funky new water bottle!).

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

January 10, 2024 - Day 10 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 10

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 0L

Exercise goal: 5m
Actual: 6m

Exercise: Walking
Location: Indoors

Distance: 0.56km
Pace: 11'3"/km
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: 59kcal

HR: n/a

Comments:
Could hardly stay awake all day, and finally dragged myself out to walk at 9:30pm, because of the accountability of the thing.

Now it's midnight, and I'm not quite tired enough to sleep.

Didn't even manage 2L of liquid today, let alone any water.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

January 11, 2024 - Day 11 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 11

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 2L

Exercise goal: 5m
Actual: 7m

Exercise: Walking
Location: Outdoors

Distance: 0.57km
Pace: n/a
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: 61

HR: n/a

Comments:
Today marked my first binge of the year. I ate an entire tub of Ben & Jerry's Phish Food.

I was diagnosed with #BingeEating Disorder a few years ago, and after the Dx, the psychologist just left me with the knowledge that I have it, but no help on how to deal with it.

I'm sitting there as I'm eating it, unsure of why I asked my son to pick it up, but more frustratingly, unable to stop myself from eating it. I'm staring into the tub as I take spoonful after spoonful, and thinking I should leave some, and then... I just kept going.

My tooth broke off during this binge, which didn't help my emotional state.

Curiously, my inability to stop myself found context in an ADHD video that popped up on my Facebook feed as I was going to bed.

Apparently it's a common ADHD thing for high-dopamine response foods (y'know, like a pint of sugar) to get eaten in a single sitting.

It's something I've felt terribly ashamed of for literally decades, but for the first time I feel like I can actually make some sense of it.

I've known for a long time that I can't have sugary foods in the house, because I'll just eat them, but now I can understand the why.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

January 12, 2024 - Day 12 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 12

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 2L

Exercise goal: 5m
Actual: 50m

Exercise: Gorilla Tag (VR)
Location: Indoors

Distance: n/a
Pace: n/a
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: 414kcal

HR: 138bpm

Comments:
...and now for something completely different.

My son has been begging me to play Gorilla Tag with him. It's his favourite VR game. We've both got ancient OG Vive headsets, his was made from broken parts I collected on Fb marketplace.

I'm kind of happy that he's been into a VR game that's quite physical and he'll play for one or two hours.

I've got fitness app call YUR.fit that tracks movement and pairs with an Apple Watch app, which I finally got working correctly.

Got the headset on, fired up the app, got into Gorilla Tag, and... I did not see that coming.

Your character is a cartoon gorilla torso, and in-game locomotion is by running with your arms, like a gorilla.

50 minutes of that and everything hurts. Parts of me that I didn't know could hurt are hurting.

Finished the game utterly dripping in sweat, and feeling like I'd done the hardest workout I've done in the past 12 months.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

January 13, 2024 - Day 13 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 13

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 1L

Exercise goal: 5m
Actual: >5m

Exercise: Walking
Location: Outdoors

Distance: n/a
Pace: n/a
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: n/a

HR: n/a

Comments:
We took the boy out to the pool for his swimming lesson yesterday, and while we were watching, I drank my way through my bottle of water, so I drank a litre of water yesterday.

Then we left the pool, and headed towards the shops.

By the time we got to the shopping strip, I needed to *really*...go. No public toilets.

The shop assistant waved in the general direction of the nearby shopping centre. I can't tell you how long it took me to get there, but I was walking as fast as I could, and I didn't stop to put my workout tracking on, but I was power-walking for over five minutes because I did not want this to be the first time I wet my pants in public since I was a child, y'know?

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

January 14, 2024 - Day 14 - Weigh-in
Total Weigh-ins: 3

Start weight: 164.3kg (362lbs 3.5oz)
Last weight: 163.6kg (360lbs 10.8oz)
Current weight: 162.7kg (358 lbs 11.1oz)

Weekly change: 0.9kg (1lb 15.7 oz) loss
Goal change: 0.5kg (1lb 1.6oz)

Total change: 1.6kg (3lb 8.4oz) loss

Comments:
Still not tracking, although my breakthrough this week in terms of simple carbs & sugar consumption, and my ADHD, means that when we went shopping yesterday, I mentally skipped over the high-sugar content food realising that I would almost definitely eat them in one sitting once the packet was opened.

Started working on the meal planning, but I basically spent most of the week doing things that needed to be done, and skipping the things that should have been done.

C'est la vie.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024 #LessAllie2024

January 14, 2024 - Day 14 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 14

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 1L

Exercise goal: 5m
Actual: 26m

Exercise: VR Fitness Apps
Location: Indoors

Distance: n/a
Pace: n/a
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: 158

HR: n/a

Comments:
Didn't want to push myself too hard today, as I'm back to work tomorrow.

Thought I'd try some of my other VR "Fitness" apps. I played "Oh Shape" for 15min and Beat Saber for 11min.

It was a reasonable workout, but nothing like Box VR. The funniest part is that I burned just as many calories in Beat Saber as I did in Oh Shape, but only one of those is a "fitness" app.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

January 15, 2024 - Day 15 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 15

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 2L

Exercise goal: 5m
Actual: 6m

Exercise: Walking
Location: Outdoors

Distance: 0.56km
Pace: n/a
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: 63

HR: 117BPM (peak)

Comments:
On call this week, so it's about fitting the exercise in where I can. This is something I need to think about more.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

January 16, 2024 - Day 16 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 16

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 2L

Exercise goal: 5m
Actual: 6m

Exercise: Walking
Location: Outdoors

Distance: 0.55km
Pace: 11'00"/km
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: 83

HR: 108BPM (avg)

Comments:
Ducked outside at 10pm and walked around the block. It's been a very long day.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

January 17, 2024 - Day 17 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 17

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 1L

Exercise goal: 5m
Actual: 6m

Exercise: Walking
Location: Outdoors

Distance: 0.56km
Pace: 10'51"/km
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: 81

HR: 103BPM (avg)

Comments:
Hard day, did walk, not enough water. Exhausted, going to bed.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

January 18, 2024 - Day 18 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 18

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 1L

Exercise goal: 5m
Actual: 6m

Exercise: Walking
Location: Outdoors

Distance: 0.56km
Pace: n/a
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: n/a

HR: n/a

Comments:
Day late check-in. Did walk, more on today's check-in.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

January 19, 2024 - Day 19 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 19

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 1L

Exercise goal: 5m
Actual: 6m

Exercise: Walking
Location: Outdoors

Distance: 0.56km
Pace: n/a
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: n/a

HR: n/a

Comments:
I did not account for how much on-call would screw with me this week. Every day has been "just drag myself outside for five minutes". I'm physically and emotionally wrecked.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

January 20, 2024 - Day 20 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 20

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 1L

Exercise goal: 5m
Actual: >60m

Exercise: Walking
Location: Indoors

Distance: n/a
Pace: n/a
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: n/a

HR: n/a

Comments:
Crashed out this afternoon, then dragged myself out to the supermarket, and spent over an hour shoving a shopping trolley around the supermarket. Learning to recognise that even that is exercise. It also left me too wiped out to go for a "proper walk". Bed now.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

January 21, 2024 - Day 21 - Weigh-in
Total Weigh-ins: 4

Start weight: 164.3kg (362lb 3.5oz)
Last weight: 162.7kg (358lb 11.1oz)
Current weight: 161.3kg (355lb 9.7oz)

Weekly change: 1.4kg (3lb 1.4oz) loss

Total change: 3kg (6lb 9.8oz) loss
Goal change: 0.5kg (1lb 1.6oz) p/w
Actual change (avg): 1kg (2lb 3.3oz) p/w

Comments:
Continuing to mostly try and avoid sugars and simple carbs.

I wanted to be down 1.5kg at this point, and I'm down 3kg, so I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Remembering to grab my water bottle and refill it are the main challenges to the 2L of water per day challenge, but overall I'm happy with my progress so far.

I've managed to collect most of the ingredients to make a meal and do food prep for a second serving, it's just remembering to do it.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024 #LessAllie2024

January 21, 2024 - Day 21 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 21

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 500ml

Exercise goal: 5m
Actual: 53m

Exercise: Mowing
Location: Outdoors

Distance: 1.5km
Pace: n/a
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: 601 kcal

HR: 121 BPM (avg)

Comments:
I'm trying to make this about finding exercise where I can; rather than "I MUST WALK FIVE MINUTES A DAY" like I did in the past.

Yard work had to be done, and I did it.

Water? Not so much. Just to clarify, I might have hit 2L of liquid yesterday (maybe), but I'm aiming for 2L of water, and less alternatives.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

January 22, 2024 - Day 22 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 22

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 2.5L

Exercise goal: 5m
Actual: 48m

Exercise: Yardwork (Line Trimmer Edging)
Location: Outdoors

Distance: 0.7km
Pace: n/a
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: 473 kcal

HR: 110 BPM (avg)

Comments:
This was the follow-up to yesterday's work. Lots of long overdue cleaning up the edges of the lawn in the front yard. Who wants to do more than the basic mowing when the house is about to be knocked down?

It's more than that though... part of this change and caring more about myself is that it feels like it extends beyond me now.

More than nailed the water goal though.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

January 23, 2024 - Day 23 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 23

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 2L

Exercise goal: 5m
Actual: (see comments)

Exercise: n/a
Location: n/a

Distance: n/a
Pace: n/a
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: n/a

HR: n/a

Comments:
Writing this on the 24th. There was no active exercise yesterday. There was incidental exercise, walking through a shopping centre, and that was probably 5-10 minutes.

Yesterday was a hard day, not just because the lack of sleep, but because I had complex conversations with the psychologist, followed by a disaster of a dentist visit (I was prepared for the worst, and yet things were actually worse).

I went to the shops between these two appointments.

Got home, and what started out as a brief chat with my wife around 6pm turned into one of *those* conversations that went on until almost midnight.

It was well after 10pm before I noticed the time, and my exercise window was closed. Exercise too close to bed, and it wakes me up.

I don't feel like it was a "failure" though.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

January 24, 2024 - Day 24 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 24

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 2L

Exercise goal: 5m
Actual: 6m

Exercise: Walking
Location: Outdoors

Distance: 0.56km
Pace: n/a
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: 66 kcal

HR (avg): 107BPM

Comments:
Nothing really to say today! Did my walk, drank my water. OK day.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

January 25, 2025 - Day 25 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 25

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 1.25L

Exercise goal: 5m
Actual: 0m

Exercise: n/a
Location: n/a

Distance: n/a
Pace: n/a
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: n/a

HR (avg): n/a

Comments:
Starting the day at 8:15am with a stressful call to the ATO, then dealing with Centrelink, lead into a workday that was completely upended by events, and interrupted by the plumber showing up, and then me having to head into the city for an event, only to get home and have to have another heavy duty conversation... I didn't find 5 minutes. By the time I realised, it was too late (I could exercise for five minutes, but then I wouldn't get to sleep until 2am).

I guess some days do be like that?

/sigh

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

January 26, 2025 - Day 26 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 26

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 750ml

Exercise goal: 5m
Actual: 6m

Exercise: Walking
Location: Outdoors

Distance: 0.56km
Pace: 11'12"/km
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: 61

HR (avg): 116BPM

Comments:
4 hours sleep two nights in a row is rough, and today was a barely functional day, but got the walk in.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

January 27, 2025 - Day 27 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 27

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 1L

Exercise goal: 5m
Actual: 0m

Exercise: n/a
Location: n/a

Distance: n/a
Pace: n/a
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: n/a

HR (avg): n/a

Comments:
Writing this on the following day; in the back of my head, the thing I've been worried about is what would happen when I got sick. It feels like I do that a fair bit, with a penchant for colds and other respiratory games.

Yesterday afternoon, I started sneezing, then coughing, then my eyes turned red, and it's either some kind of allergy, or I'm coming down with something. Again.

Within an hour or so, I'd crashed out in bed for a couple of hours. Then got up again around 8:30pm. I did not manage to get my "5 minutes" in.

I'm feeling about 70% this morning, and not sure whether to get out and push myself, or just rest. If it's just allergies, then rest isn't going to do much, but if it's my body teetering on the edge of another URTI, pushing myself could end badly.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

January 28, 2024 - Day 28 - Weigh-in
Total Weigh-ins: 5

Start weight: 164.3kg (362.2lb)
Last weight: 161.3kg (355.6lb)
Current weight: 161kg (354.9lb)

Weekly change: 0.3kg (0.7lb) loss

Total change: 3.3kg (7.3lb) loss

Goal change: 0.5kg (1.1lb) p/w loss

Actual change (avg): 0.825kg (1.8lb) p/w

Comments:
Well, it was going to hit at some point, but all is not quite as it seems.

One of the recommendations for weight-loss is not to weigh in daily, but over the years of doing it anyway, I've come to recognise that the scales can vary wildly, and it no longer has the emotional hit for me. It's just data, and I'm less interested in the number each day, than the overall trend.

Getting past that emotional hit has another effect though; I recognise that my weight can vary wildly from day-to-day.

Back in 2012 when I lost all that weight the first time around, when I had a week like this, where the weekly public weigh-in was a much smaller loss than expected, I'd be devastated.

The daily weigh-ins mean that I've seen my weight fluctuate, I know that a lot of it is water weight, and I also broke through the 160kg barrier yesterday for the first time since July 2023.

I also drank a lot of liquid yesterday, with over a litre of sugar-free lemon-mango Solo, which is something I'm low-key obsessed with right now (and isn't cola, yay!)

Some of these weigh-ins won't be what I hoped, and I'm OK with that. The trend, however, is down, which is what I planned.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024 #LessAllie2024

January 28, 2025 - Day 28 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 28

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 2L

Exercise goal: 5m
Actual: 6m

Exercise: Walking
Location: Outdoors

Distance: 0.54km
Pace: 10'29"/km
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: 66

HR (avg): 110BPM

Comments:
Still a bit sneezy today, but did the things. Have had trouble staying awake all day, and now I'm awake. Joy!

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

January 29, 2025 - Day 29 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 29

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 2L

Exercise goal: 5m
Actual: 9m38s

Exercise: Walking
Location: Outdoors

Distance: 0.87km
Pace: 11'/km
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: 93

HR (avg): 112BPM

Comments:
Tried out a new route tonight prepping for the 10mins per night in Feb. Just shy of it, but I know how I can extend it a bit.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

January 30, 2025 - Day 30 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 30

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 1.5L

Exercise goal: 5m
Actual: 9m22s

Exercise: Walking
Location: Outdoors

Distance: 0.88km
Pace: 10'35"/km
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: 103

HR (avg): 110BPM

Comments:
Reversed last night's route. Managed to do it quicker. Oops.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

January 31, 2025 - Day 31 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 31

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 0.5L

Exercise goal: 5m
Actual: 6m

Exercise: Walking
Location: Outdoors

Distance: 0.56km
Pace: 10'49"/km
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: 63

HR (avg): 110BPM

Comments:
I started writing today's post with "Today is going to be my first 'no' day."

I didn't finish that sentence. I was looking at it, half-finished, and thought "It's only five minutes. Yes, I'm utterly exhausted, and struggling to stay awake. But it's *only* five minutes."

In the end, today is still a 'no' day, though.

"No, I'm not going to repeat the past 24 hours again."

Once again, I threw myself in harm's way to save someone else from having to deal with the issue, that STILL required me to work today anyway.

So I learned something, but I also pushed myself out the door when I didn't feel like it, and a big part of that was simply the accountability presented by these check-ins.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

February 1, 2024 - Day 32 - Measurements #2
Total Stats: 2

Starting weight: 164.3kg (362.2lbs)
Today: 160kg (352.7lbs)
Change: 4.3kg (9.5lbs) loss

Neck: 47cm (18.5")
Today: 46cm (18.1")
Change: 1cm (0.4")

Chest: 162cm (63.8")
Today: 157cm (61.8")
Change: 5cm (2")

Waist: 160cm (63")
Today: 156cm (61.4)
Change: 4cm (1.6")

Hips: 134cm (52.8")
Today: 131cm (51.6")
Change: 3cm (1.2")

Left bicep: 46cm (18.1")
Today: 45cm (17.7")
Change: 1cm (0.4")

Right bicep: 46cm (18.1")
Today: 45cm (17.7")
Change: 1cm (0.4")

Left thigh: 76cm (29.9")
Today: 73cm (28.7")
Change: 3cm (1.2")

Right thigh: 78cm (30.7")
Today: 75cm (29.5")
Change: 3cm (1.2")

Comments:
Uhhh. I hate measuring myself. I'm used to the numbers, it's the process I hate. My chest is the worst; trying to keep the tape measure in place, and not pull it too tight, and not let it drop as I'm checking it, means that the chest measurements are the ones I trust the least.

With that said, it took me a lot more time to measure this morning, because I thought I must be doing something wrong, and kept re-measuring, but no... apparently I've lost 1cm on my neck and arms, and at least 3cms everywhere else.

So... that's a nice way to start my day off, but I'm really shocked.

February 1, 2025 - Day 32 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 32

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 1L

Exercise goal: 10m
Actual: 10m43s

Exercise: Walking
Location: Outdoors

Distance: 1km
Pace: 10'43"/km
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: 116

HR (avg): 120BPM

Comments:
Worked out the route, kicked its arse.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

February 2, 2024 - Day 33 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 33

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 1L

Exercise goal: 10m
Actual: 10m36s

Exercise: Walking
Location: Outdoors

Distance: 1km
Pace: 10'18"/km
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: 116

HR (avg): 113BPM

Comments:
The route is about 1050m, so just over 1km, which is why the pace & actual vary against the distance.

Late check-in for yesterday, because yesterday was a pretty big day. :)

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

February 3, 2024 - Day 34 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 34

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 1L

Exercise goal: 10m
Actual: 10m36s

Exercise: Walking
Location: Outdoors

Distance: 1km
Pace: 10'54"/km
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: 110

HR (avg): 110BPM

Comments:
Late one, which means I'm probably going to be wide awake in a couple of hours.

Knocked off the first litre of water, forgot to refill the bottle.

Guess who didn't take her ADHD meds today...

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

February 4, 2024 - Day 35 - Weigh-in
Total Weigh-ins: 6

Start weight: 164.3kg (362.2lb)
Last weight: 161kg (354.9lb)
Current weight: 161.8kg (356.7lb)

Weekly change: 0.8kg (1.8lb) gain

Total change: 2.5kg (5.5lb) loss

Goal change: 0.5kg (1.1lb) p/w loss

Actual change (avg): 0.5kg (1.1lb) p/w

Comments:
A gain. I expected it at some point, did not expect it to be that much. Again, all is not as it seems, thanks to my daily weigh-ins.

Thursday: 160kg
Friday: 159.3kg (yay, broke 160!)
Saturday: 160.6kg (1.3kg in a day?)
Sunday: 161.8kg (1.2kg in a day??)

Clearly I have not gained 2.5kg of fat in the space of two days, so something else is going on here. I suspect some water retention due to the heat, plus the late dinner on Saturday night didn't help.

I do remember a time that this would have devastated me, but now it's just part of the process. The trend is still down, and right on target.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024 #LessAllie2024

February 4, 2024 - Day 35 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 35

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 1L

Exercise goal: 10m
Actual: 10m8s

Exercise: Walking
Location: Outdoors

Distance: 1km
Pace: 9'47"/km
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: 123

HR (avg): 119BPM

Comments:
Yesterday was a hot one, peaking at 37C. I decided to get my walk in earlier in the day, figuring (correctly) that the heat would wipe me out, so I walked at midday, in the relatively cool 30C temperature.

I came SO close to cracking the 10m mark for the walk (it IS a goal).

Still struggling with the water.

When I switched to a 1L water bottle, suddenly it was easy to drink water. The 2L bottle was too much.

I kept the 2L sports-bottle in the fridge to refill the 1L bottle. Turns out, that's the pinch-point. The 2L bottle is hard to remove the lid, and it's messy to refill the 1L, and my brain just goes "nope, too hard."

Off to Kmart for a second 1L bottle.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

February 5, 2024 - Day 36 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 36

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 1L

Exercise goal: 10m
Actual: >10m

Exercise: Walking
Location: Indoors

Distance: n/a
Pace: n/a
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: n/a

HR (avg): n/a

Comments:
A day of erratic weather, and then I had to go shopping, and so pushing the trolley around at a medium pace was the thing.

Bought another 1L bottle while I was out though.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

February 6, 2024 - Day 37 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 37

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 1L

Exercise goal: 10m
Actual: 10m53s

Exercise: Walking
Location: Outdoors

Distance: 1km
Pace: n/a
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: 119

HR (avg): 123 BPM

Comments:
The weird thing is that the iPhone health app has some-but-not-all of the information that the summary on the Apple Watch shows, but once it's gone from the Apple Watch screen, it's gone.

I didn't so much forget to drink the 1L, as I was tied up with all of the minutiae of the consequences of changing my name.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

February 7, 2024 - Day 38 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 38

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 1L

Exercise goal: 10m
Actual: 23m2s

Exercise: Walking
Location: Outdoors

Distance: 2km
Pace: n/a
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: 232

HR (avg): 110 BPM

Comments:
Was far too tired to write this up last night. I ended up doing two walks. The first one, I finally cracked the walk in under 10m (9m58s). Figured I could let the 2s slide.

In the evening, my wife asked if I wanted to go for a walk. Eh, why not?

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

February 8, 2024 - Day 39 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 39

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 2L

Exercise goal: 10m
Actual: 10m46s

Exercise: Walking
Location: Outdoors

Distance: 1km
Pace: n/a
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: 109

HR (avg): 107 BPM

Comments:
Walked, drank water, tired makes the ADHD worse.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

February 9, 2024 - Day 40 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 40

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 1L

Exercise goal: 10m
Actual: 11m54s

Exercise: Walking
Location: Outdoors

Distance: 1.1km
Pace: n/a
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: 121

HR (avg): 105 BPM

Comments:
I forgot to check in last night. Boo. Did the walk though.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

February 10, 2024 - Day 41 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 41

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 1.7L

Exercise goal: 10m
Actual: 11m1s

Exercise: Walking
Location: Outdoors

Distance: 1.1km
Pace: 10'01"/Km
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: 121

HR (avg): 111 BPM

Comments:
Was still drinking my water when I did the catch-up check-in, so didn't check in, then forgot. Oops.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

February 11, 2024 - Day 42 - Weigh-in
Total Weigh-ins: 7

Start weight: 164.3kg (362.2lb)
Last weight: 161.8kg (356.7lb)
Current weight: 160.2kg (353.2lb)

Weekly change: 1.6kg (3.6lb) loss

Total change: 4.1kg (9lb) loss

Goal change: 0.5kg (1.1lb) p/w loss

Actual change (avg): 0.68kg (1.5lb) p/w

Comments:
Last week, I asserted that the scales can lie, which I reiterate this week. Because last week looked like a gain, this week's weign-in looks like a much larger loss than it really is.

I should start graphing this.

A little bit of mood whiplash this morning, though.

When I stood on the scales this morning, I was a *little* disappointed. So tantalisingly close to breaking the 160kg mark "officially".

Almost nothing lost since last week...[record scratch]

It wasn't until I sat down to write this that I looked at the numbers, and the trend, and realised that my memory was completely out of whack, and that not only is my weight down since last week, my weight is also down overall.

In writing this, I discovered something else, something a little... nasty.

One of the ways I've described my experience of gender dysphoria is of being disconnected from my body, of being "me-but-not-Me".

Turns out that one of the places I do feel a sense of identity is in my weight.

I edited a paragraph above to change the phrasing; from "I'm down since last week" to "my weight is down since last week".

I am not my weight. I am not my excess fat.

I will no longer define myself by my weight.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024 #LessAllie2024

Oops, broke the thread. Continues here.

https://aus.social/@grissallia/111925516892374702

Allie 🏳️‍⚧️ (@[email protected])

February 12, 2024 - Day 43 - Check In Total Check Ins: 43 Water goal: 2L Intake: 2L Exercise goal: 10m Actual: 11m40s Exercise: Walking Location: Outdoors Distance: 1.1km Pace: 10'40"/Km Steps: n/a Kcal burned: 115 HR (avg): 110 BPM Comments: On call this week, and it feels like everything is falling apart. #Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

Aus.Social
@grissallia if your on Android, i like Libra for tracking these things and it can graph and smooth it for you
@jen I'm part of the evil empire, unfortunately.

@grissallia Also try to remember that weight fluctuates a lot. It's totally normal to have weeks where nothing seems to change and that doesn't necessarily mean you aren't making progress.

Also just changing your habits is progress. Even if it doesn't feel like it's working now, those habits will pay off eventually.

February 11, 2024 - Day 42 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 42

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 1L

Exercise goal: 10m
Actual: 11m48s

Exercise: Walking
Location: Outdoors

Distance: 1.1km
Pace: 10'44"/Km
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: 119

HR (avg): 106 BPM

Comments:
Ooof, today just went sideways.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

February 12, 2024 - Day 43 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 43

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 2L

Exercise goal: 10m
Actual: 11m40s

Exercise: Walking
Location: Outdoors

Distance: 1.1km
Pace: 10'40"/Km
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: 115

HR (avg): 110 BPM

Comments:
On call this week, and it feels like everything is falling apart.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

February 13, 2024 - Day 44 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 44

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 1L

Exercise goal: 10m
Actual: 0m

Exercise: None
Location: n/a

Distance: 0km
Pace: n/a
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: n/a

HR (avg): n/a

Comments:
I hoped this wouldn't happen, but it did. Nightmare Tuesday (even relative to Tuesdays).

Between the storm, and blackouts, and being on call, by the time I *could* get a walk in, I hadn't eaten for so long that I was shaking, and by the time I did get some dinner, I hard to start my evening shift, which finished at 11pm, leaving it too late to walk (unless I wanted to be up until 2am due to the energy boost).

I know, get back on the horse, yada yada yada, but I'm still disappointed that I broke this streak.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

February 14, 2024 - Day 45 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 45

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 500ml

Exercise goal: 10m
Actual: 11m43s

Exercise: Walking
Location: Outdoors

Distance: 1.1km
Pace: n/a
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: 112

HR (avg): 108

Comments:
I'm going to have to plan ahead for on-call weeks, but based on today (16th), I think I was struggling so hard because I was running down, and not in the exercise way.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

February 15, 2024 - Day 46 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 46

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 300ml

Exercise goal: 10m
Actual: 11m15s

Exercise: Walking
Location: Outdoors

Distance: 1.02km
Pace: 11'00"/Km
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: 105

HR (avg): 103

Comments:
For whatever reason, the Health app doesn't show all the data that the Apple watch exercise app does, but the exercise app loses the data unless I screencap it.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

February 16, 2024 - Day 47 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 47

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 1L

Exercise goal: 10m
Actual: 0m

Exercise: n/a
Location: n/a

Distance: n/a
Pace: n/a
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: n/a

HR (avg): n/a

Comments:
It finally happened. I got sick. Worse still, I dove headfirst into a binge because I felt so crap. I'm feeling pretty disappointed in myself right now.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

February 17, 2024 - Day 48 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 48

Water goal: 2L
Intake: Yes

Exercise goal: 10m
Actual: 0m

Exercise: n/a
Location: n/a

Distance: n/a
Pace: n/a
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: n/a

HR (avg): n/a

Comments:
So the challenge here is that I've accepted that I'm marginally unwell. I have tried to do almost nothing today, in an attempt to rest, and intend to do the same tomorrow, and then back into the saddle on Monday.

I'm concerned that come Monday, I won't be able to motivate myself to get out there again, because that's what's happened so many times before.

So I'm telling you my plans and fears now, in an attempt to circumvent that lack of motivation.

Also, I drank some water today, but paid no attention to how much. Not enough.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

February 18, 2024 - Day 49 - Weigh-in
Total Weigh-ins: 8

Start weight: 164.3kg (362.2lb)
Last weight: 160.2kg (353.2lb)
Current weight: 159.8kg (352.3lb)

Weekly change: 0.4kg (0.9lb) loss

Total change: 4.5kg (9.9lb) loss

Goal change: 0.5kg (1.1lb) p/w loss

Actual change (avg): 0.64kg (1.4lb) p/w

Comments:
400g down this week. Under the circumstances (on-call, mild cold) I shouldn't be too down on myself about it, but I'm feeling pretty flat right now.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024 #LessAllie2024

February 18, 2024 - Day 49 - Check In
Total Check Ins: 49

Water goal: 2L
Intake: 1L

Exercise goal: n/a
Actual: n/a

Exercise: n/a
Location: n/a

Distance: n/a
Pace: n/a
Steps: n/a

Kcal burned: n/a

HR (avg): n/a

Comments:
Rested all day. Still feel like rubbish. Drank plenty of fluid, but only 1L of actual water.

I'm not going to force myself into going walking if I'm still unwell tomorrow. Doesn't seem wise.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024

February 25, 2024 - Day 56 - Weigh-in
Total Weigh-ins: 9

Start weight: 164.3kg (362.2lb)
Last weight: 159.8kg (352.3lb)
Current weight: 160.4kg (353.6lb)

Weekly change: 0.6kg (1.3lb) gain

Total change: 3.9kg (8.6lb) loss

Goal change: 0.5kg (1.1lb) p/w loss

Actual change (avg): 0.49kg (1.08lb) p/w

Comments:
I've hit "discouraged". Getting sick has been, historically, the thing that derailed me. I'm still struggling with some upper airway symptoms. Check-ins fell apart. I'm not drinking anywhere near enough water. My sleep has been broken, and I'm just exhausted all the time.

I am going to try to get out for a walk today.

#Project365 #2024Project #2024HealthProject #HealthyAllie2024 #LessAllie2024

@grissallia You needed a bathroom trip.... (you can lose over a kg on the loo...)
@stufromoz I had multiple, TBH. Reflected in a slight loss today.
@grissallia I hate when i get those days where it seems randomly higher for a few days, I'm sure it'll pass

@grissallia I did a cycle to and from my Dr. it’s a bit shorter than my normal weekday type ride, but I did a ride, so I’m good…

Also my BP was the lowest we have seen from me….