By the numbers 

Everyone has that day they remember, when things changed for them. Okay, maybe not a full day, no one recalls precise details from a cycle of 86,400 seconds. But there is a moment of clarity that is etched forever. It’s been a year since I recognized I was fat. 

No euphemisms, please. Big boned doesn’t apply. Carries it well, simply not true. Even my dear old Nan, who with great understatement, said ‘Oh, you’ve finally filled out’ was being economical with the truth.

Reality is that my professional career has consisted of journalism and politics, a pair of occupations that are sedentary by nature and carb heavy by choice. 

And the scale wasn’t telling a falsehood. The problem was it was the beginning of a holiday, so no immediate work was undertaken. The Oregon coast cuisine and beers were enjoyed. 

The one concession that change was coming: purchasing a pair of running shoes at the Adidas outlet store in Tulalip. 

That was step one. The next steps upon returning home: purchase a scale, download an app and buy a cookbook. 

The most frequent question posed by those who haven’t seen me in awhile is: Are you okay? One friend cut through the politeness and baldly asked: Is it the cancer? No. It’s a choice. 

From that flows the follow-up: how did you do it? Simple, in theory – exercise, eat better and portion control. In practice, more difficult to achieve. Balancing all three is essential to success. 

Stubbornness also helps. 

When it came to eating better there was a need to skip the frozen pizza section. Big Macs weren’t the problem but whole pies were. The cookbook Skinny Taste proved invaluable. 

Foods had taste, there was variety, lots of meat recipes and no sense of deprivation to reach the target. And key, it came with calorie counts which helped with portion control. 

When people would extend an invitation to dinner, they always ask if there’s anything you don’t like. My response has long been: ‘Do I look like I’m a picky eater?’ (Funnily enough, as an only child, I was quite selective as to what I consumed)

My problem had become I left no space uncovered on the plate and almost none of the piles would be constructed of anything green. 

So as the attempt to eat better began in earnest, I went all measuring cup crazy. If the recipe said a portion was a third of a cup, so be it. That’s what was served, no room for leeway. Pleased to report portion apportionment is now slightly less strict. 

The byproduct of one good, appropriate portion meal a day was the need to consume calories consistently throughout the day. This was not a habit practiced, but now there’s breakfast, snack, lunch, dinner and two McVittie with tea. 

And that’s where the app came into play. MyFitnessPal was perfect for tracking calories and making sure the intake was within the range. It also adjusts based on exercise. I don’t use it as much right now but it played an integral role in the beginning days.

Quick word on the scale. Not everyone likes it, rightly so. It’s easy to become obesssed with it, allowing your moods to go up and down with the numbers. First thing… it will go up and down, so work towards the range of weight you want to achieve. And use other measurements to map success. 

The primary component has been exercise. My ambition was driven by a desire to be fit… I also knew it would be a long-term project.

Goals were fitness focused, not weight related. So it began with trying to shuffle around a few blocks, aiming to do 5k three times a week. Building up strength in legs, lungs and mind. Allowing the healthy eating to play its role, as it is easier to run when not lugging around a bowling ball. 

And it was about setting targets. 

This time last year I signed up for the Victoria Half Marathon and had a goal – finish in two hours. Achieved. 

The Running Room Hypothermic Half followed, even trained in minus-20 weather. Then two more halfs. 

Training becomes part of your routine. Sluggishness intrudes into daily life when you skip running. That time alone allows a refreshing of body and mind. 

And then comes the moment for every new runner: should I tackle a marathon?

The answer now – after 12 months and 70 pounds – is yes. Signed up for  Victoria this Thanksgiving. 

Stay tuned for updates, as I question what ever was I thinking.