Aiming for a Year of Transformation

  Summary of Progress (Week 3) Well, I’m a little late posting this update, but overall I’m fairly pleased with my progress this week. While I won’t do the Perceived Stress Scale and the Depression/Anxiety measures until the end of the upcoming week, I do feel like my overall mood and feeling of well being is much improved. My weight is continuing to trend downwards at the goal rate, and I have been keeping up with doing regular, if not heavy workouts. I would like to increase that, but slow steps to avoid injury after years of neglect. My blood pressure readings have been good and pretty much have been meeting my target for the last week. I’ve been keeping up with my prayers and meditation, and did get to go to Church and receive Communion, which is always a blessing. I am also very much looking forward to seeing my son, who has been living in Japan for the last year, when he comes home at the end of next week! Average sleep: 5 hours 49 minutes Average sleep score: 77.25 Average r...

  Who am I? That really is the question. This is one of the things I want to try and discover over the course of this year. Who am I? I mean, who am I really, at the core, outside of all the labels that I have acquired since birth.  Human being, person, son, boy, man, husband, father, white, heterosexual male, married, high school graduate, university graduate, paramedic, outpost nurse, emergency nurse, emergency nurse practitioner, mainline Protestant, Buddhist, Anglican, Charismatic Episcopalian, Eastern Orthodox Christian, crazy (I prefer “eccentric”), grief stricken, depressed, compassionate, caring, shy, introverted. I have had so many labels and roles that have formed my identity over the years, some constant, some changing. All of these labels (and many more) have defined me and added layers to my identity, but “Ogres are like onions” (Shrek, 2001, Andrew Adamson/Vicky Jenson). I want to peel away these layers, until all the labels that I have accumulated are gone, and ...

  Summary of Progress (Week 2 ) Well, I am making slow but sure progress, having dropped another few pounds this week, with an overall downward (albeit slight) trend in body fat percentage as well. I have kept up my prayer and meditation practices and worked out each day except Sunday. I have continued with my language learning and Lumosity each day to work out my mind. I have noticed a significant improvement in my mood and attitude. Onwards and upwards. Average sleep: 5 hours 34 minutes Average sleep score: 79  Average resting heart rate: 51 bpm Average resting BP: 113/65 Average weight: 205.9 lbs Average body fat %: 28.9 Average physique score: 2 (obese) Date: Sunday 20 March 2022 (Day 14) Inspirational Quote of the Day: “I was not born to be forced. I will breathe after my own fashion. Let us see who is the strongest.”  ―  Henry David Thoreau Sleep (hours): 5 hours 24 minutes Sleep Score: - Resting HR: 51 Resting BP: 110/64 Weight: 205.6 Body fat %: 29.7 Physique...