How long does it take to form a habit?  Some say 21 days; others, 30; and some even suggest that it can be as short as 15-18 days, or as long as most of a year.  The one thing that seems to make a major difference, though, is early repetition.  The sooner you throw yourself completely into a new habit, the sooner it becomes habit.

Five weeks in to this plan, I’m finding that to be very true.  My most recent weight loss effort, which was the start of this blog last year, shows that I didn’t start exercise for several weeks after getting on plan.  This time around, exercise was included from the first week, and I’m happy to report that although I missed one exercise session in the very first week, every week since then has been an exercise success, and my body seems to be liking the change.  Last time, it was tedious.  This time, I’m enjoying going down and getting in the pool.  Last time, I played mental games with myself about putting off exercise for another day.  This time, I’m sticking to a schedule as much as possible.

Five weeks in, I’m handling food fairly well.  I did have a talk with myself, last week, about meal replacements; I had stockpiled Atkins bars when I first started the program, and quickly discovered that it was just too darned easy for me to use that as an option instead of a healthy meal.  So, the only time I’m buying them is when I know I’ll have to have meal replacements because of a schedule or location problem.  Other than that?  I won’t have any on the shelves.

I’m going through the normal bumps that anyone faces while sticking to an eating plan, but they don’t seem to be as major this time around.  Perhaps that initial fake it ’til you make it got me off on the right foot, and it’s been easier to fall into a habit.

In other news…

I’m glad to report that my body continues to improve.  Yeast skin patches are getting better; they’re not quite gone yet, but they’ve definitely improved.  Heart palpitations have disappeared altogether.  I can’t even remember the last time I had one.  My knees are feeling better.  A hip problem I was having seems to be improving.

I sleep a LOT better than before; I’m a very light sleeper, and if I didn’t take something at night to help keep my eyes shut, my mind would be working in the small hours of the night.  Now, I sleep solidly and often don’t awake at all until morning.  I’m rising earlier and feeling much better rested as a result.  I’m pretty sure that’s because of the swimming.

Exercise

I have worked my sessions up to 45 minutes each session, three sessions a week.  As of this week, I’m adding a fourth session.  I’ve also been able to do some limited swimming; this works really well.  If I can get in the pool and not disturb anyone else, I can swim laps, which I have always felt was the absolutely ideal exercise for me.  If space is a problem, I can water jog in place.  Most times, it’s been a combination of the two.  Today, I swam 21 laps.  Go, me!

At this point, my goal is cardio, and only cardio.  My heart is already getting healthier, and I’m breathing better; if you want to work your lungs, the pool’s the place to do it.  I want a lot of cardio, so I can bring up my cardiovascular system while my body drops weight.  Eventually, I will work up to five workout sessions per week, and stay somewhere between 45 minutes and an hour per session, depending on how my body is reacting.  I see myself staying in cardio mode for several months; probably until the end of the summer.  At that point, I should be ready to return to strength training.

That’s it!

That’s all there is to report, as if that’s not enough!  I’m glad that things seem to be going well.  Each day that goes by, the more I want to progress.  Honestly, while I talked a good game last time, I’m not sure I ever really got my head in the right place.  Now, I feel like it is.  And it feels damned good!