Embarking on a new year

My horrible habit of not blogging regularly creeps back up - it has been almost a year since my last post. Let's hope I can do a little better this year, huh?

So my 12 Weeks to a Better Me went as planned, and I successfully trimmed 15 lbs., bringing me down to 180 lbs. from 195.

Me with a friend at a martial arts tourney in March 2012.

Now, I am back at 190 lbs., but I am not upset. Why, you may ask? Well, my double chin has disappeared, I have lost some weight from my midsection and my thighs do not touch as much as they used to.

In the last year, I have stepped up my training. I do martial arts about twice - sometimes three times - a week, I have gotten back into running again, and Artemis and I love our walks. Also, during a recent doctor's visit, I learned that my body fat percentage is at 30.5 percent. It used to be 35 percent. So while it may be higher

Me this past December. Would you believe I weigh the same?

than it should be, I am celebrating the fact that I have shed 4.5 percent body fat! And it is just the beginning!

So while my scale may be telling me one thing, I know the truth: I have traded some of my fat for muscle, and muscle weighs more than fat. I used to look at the scale, look at the mirror, and hate myself. Now, I am thinking, my weight is not that bad. I would like to lose another 10 lbs, but I am quite happy with how I look.

That being said, things are not perfect. I have been having lower back pain recently, and as it turns out, my pelvis, lower lumber and neck are out of alignment - my neck is actually out of alignment in 2 areas! So my running has taken a hit, and my martial arts, at least until my spine gets back in place.

But I am hopeful that things will work out, and I am not allowing myself to give up completely. I do some stretching on a balance ball, and still get out for short walks. I stick to eating healthy meals, and look forward to slowly trimming the fat, one inch at a time.