There is no next!

My exercise and fitness have been going really well. My doctor got back to me on my blood work, and I showed improvements in all categories. He advised me to, "Keep up the good work." I have seen some great results with my weight loss, 18 pounds since late November, and I am getting very near to my weight loss goal.

So, I started thinking, "what's next?" When I reach my weight loss goal, can I start eating all those things I miss, like greasy cheeseburgers and chocolate malts? No, not if I want to keep my weight down and my liver healthy. Plus, those things don't make me feel as good as they used to. Can I start working out less? No, not if I want to keep the weight off and achieve all of the fitness goals and races that I have set for myself. And again, I like the way working out makes me feel. Can I sleep past 4:30am? No, not if I want to keep working out and spend valuable time with my family.

That is when I came to the realization that there is no next! I have chosen this new healthy lifestyle because of the way it makes me feel and the health that it gives to my body and mind. When I do reach my weight goals, I may miss a workout or two, but I am not going to plan for it and I am certainly not going to feel good about it. I may splurge on some of my favorite foods, but I am not going to do it with regularity because it sometimes it makes me sick. This is my new life, and I am going to cherish it. If I don't have a weight goal in mind, I will find new challenges. I will continue to perform in races and rides, and I hope to improve on my times and speeds. I may even branch out into some new adventures, things incorporating my health and fitness with other parts of my life or goals that I have.

Maybe part of me wishes that I could go back to living the way I used to, while still maintaining my health and fitness, but my past has shown me that is impossible. So I am happy about my choices to live a healthier life. I will stop concerning myself with what might be next, and worry more about what I am doing today.