October 4, 2026
Welcome to this eight-part monthly series following my journey toward 240 pounds before my Hawaii vacation in May 2027. Along the way, I’ll share my progress, the behaviors I’m working to change, and the lessons I learn about getting healthier while keeping up with everyday life.
I have always wanted to see Hawaii, and I’m finally making that dream come true. My departure date is May 18, 2027, and I’m looking forward to Waikiki Beach, visiting Pearl Harbor, and hiking Diamond Head.
Of course, I would also like to look good on the beach! But I want to feel good while I’m there, too—to enjoy the walking, sightseeing, and exploring that I’ve been looking forward to.
That gives me something concrete to work toward. The question is: can I change my daily behaviors enough to get there?
Knowing What to Do—and Actually Doing It
I know I should eat better. I know I should exercise more consistently. But knowing those things hasn’t always translated into doing them.
Too often, the excuses in my head win. I’m tired. I’ve had a long day. I’ll start tomorrow. I don’t feel like cooking. I can get back to the gym next week.
August and September were especially busy with my work in college athletics, and my eating and exercise routines took a backseat. I underestimated how much those months would disrupt my plans. Now I need to build habits that I can follow when work gets busy again.
I also recognize that losing weight and keeping it off will require more than a burst of motivation. I need to change what I do on an ordinary Tuesday evening, when I’m tired and the couch is calling.
That’s what I want this series to follow.
My Starting Point
I weighed myself this morning, October 4, and the scale read 265.2 pounds.
My goal is 240 pounds by May 18, 2027. That means losing 25.2 pounds over a little more than seven months. Although there will be eight monthly posts from October through May, the time between today and my departure works out to roughly three and a half pounds per month.
My intermediate goal is 255 pounds by the end of December.
Those are the targets I’m working toward, but I also want to pay attention to my consistency, energy, and how I feel. The number on the scale will tell part of the story. My daily choices will tell another part.
I’ll continue weighing myself on Sundays and publish an update once a month here on Second Act Pursuits. Each post will look at what happened during the previous month, which habits are taking hold, and what I want to work on next.
October: Getting Back Into a Routine
My October plan starts with a few things I know I need to work on.
First, get to the gym at least three days a week. I want exercise to have a place in my schedule again. Some days I’ll have more time and energy than others, but I need to get back into the habit of showing up.
Second, develop a short routine at home. That might include push-ups and core work, or mobility and flexibility exercises. I want something manageable that I can do in the evening without turning it into another task I keep putting off.
One behavior I want to try is doing that short session before I settle in at the computer or turn on a game. Once I get comfortable, “later” has a way of becoming “tomorrow.”
Third, put more thought into my meals. Sandwiches have become my easy answer to just about every meal. There’s nothing wrong with having a sandwich, but I want more variety and more meals built around protein, vegetables, and foods that leave me satisfied.
I also want to cut back on fast food and be more deliberate about portions. That means making it easier to prepare a meal at home—including keeping the dishes done so a dirty pan doesn’t become my excuse to eat something else.
That may sound like a small thing, but I’m realizing how often one postponed chore affects the next decision.
And Then There’s Chocolate
I need to address my sweet tooth, too.
Chocolate is something I enjoy, and I’m currently learning about craft chocolate and bean-to-bar chocolate for my upcoming website, Chocolate Curious. So chocolate will continue to be part of my life.
What I need to change is how I approach it.
A small, intentional tasting is different from eating chocolate simply because it’s sitting nearby. I want to take a portion, pay attention to the flavor, and stop when the tasting is done.
That’s a behavior I’ll need to practice. Research can’t become an excuse to eat as much as I want!
Learning to Follow Through
The holidays will arrive before long, and there will always be busy weeks, tempting food, and evenings when I don’t feel like exercising.
I want to get better at following through anyway—and at getting back to my routine when I slip.
If I miss a workout, I can return for the next one. If I eat more than I intended, I can make a thoughtful choice at my next meal. I don’t need to wait for another Monday or the beginning of another month.
By my November update, I hope to have more than a lower number to report. I want to be able to say that I’m getting to the gym regularly, moving at home, preparing more of my meals, and catching some of those familiar excuses before they make the decision for me.
That’s where I’m starting.
I welcome your encouragement, practical tips, and stories about habits that have helped you. If you’re working toward a goal of your own, I’d enjoy hearing about it.
Hawaii is on the calendar. Now it’s time to put the daily work on the calendar, too.
Chasing perfection, catching excellence!