2018!

I'm pretty happy to see 2017 hit the rearview mirror.

I didn't have very specific goals in 2017, so it's not really surprising that I didn't achieve much.  I was sick early on, didn't get to training early enough to have a good Paris to Ancaster.  My weight went up and down, ended up pretty damn up.

I did successfully go dry for a few months (summer to mid-October-ish), and have generally cut back on my alcohol since.  The Holiday Season notwithstanding!  So that's good. 

2018 Goals!

Weight Loss

First off I really, really, really want to take weight loss seriously.  Not just "oh I'm going to eat healthy and exercise", but a very clear counting-calorie weight loss program.

I had some success in late 2017, but I've given pretty much all of it back over the holidays... too many office parties, too little training motivation, needed a break from running/biking.

But the break is over, time to get serious! 205lbs on the scale this morning... OUCH.  What the hell.

Plan: 30lbs, 20 weeks.  I'll target 2lbs/week with 1.5lbs/week as the fall-back - should be very do-able.

24 Hours of What Now?

Signed up for a 24 hour mountain bike race in June - would like to do really well at it.  We're a tag-team, and I want to make sure I pull my weight!  Preferably a lot less weight when I'm done all that awesome weight loss.  HAHAHA.

Alcohol

I had a lot of success marrying alcohol reduction with weight loss, so I'll keep at it.  I like the general recommendations from health folks:

• Reduce your long-term health risks by drinking no more than: 
• 10 drinks a week for women, with no more than 2 drinks a day most days 
• 15 drinks a week for men, with no more than 3 drinks a day most days 
• Plan non-drinking days every week to avoid developing a habit.

A drink is a 5% bottle (341mL) of beer, 5oz of wine, or 1.5oz of hard alcohol (whiskey etc).

Actually that seems really high, even the women's limit!  I had pretty much cut out all mid-week drinking outside of special occasions, even one wine or beer with dinner and my evening was pretty useless (unlikely to train or accomplish anything, just a TV day from there!).  So I'll stick with that.

Marathon!

I signed up for the Chicago Marathon so I guess I have to go do that!  I haven't decided yet if it'll be a serious effort or a tourist one, but I generally like to give it my all when I get a chance.  Really looking forward to it, love the city.