The New Me

I had to poke another hole into my belt so that it would hold up my pants, rather than just hang around my waist like a fashion accessory.

My dress shirts hang somewhat loosely on me, now feeling oversized. Older shirts, that I haven't been able to button up without fear of sending the buttons popping off in all sorts of direction, fit me once again.

It's not a total transformation, as my stomach isn't exactly flat. But it's a healthy transformation, one that has me feeling better than I have in more than a decade.

Since I started my virtual challenges, in January, I've lost more than five kilograms. I've lost more more than two of those kilos in July.

Not only do I feel better, physically, I feel good, mentally. I think that some of this mental wellness also has to do with the fact that we're starting to turn the tide in the pandemic, where I can see myself willing to be out in public. Being double-vaxxed, myself, and seeing that the majority of eligible Ottawans have had their jabs, I'm not as stressed about going to the grocery store. DW and I have been to a pub patio, and there is a bit of feeling of normalcy.

I'm ready to start hugging again. If both of us are fully-vaxxed, I will forego a mask. If a friend has had his or her first jab, awaiting the next dose, I'll don a mask, ask them to cover up, and then go in for a squeeze.

I'm looking forward to my first social gathering, this upcoming weekend. And I like that, when I get together with others, I'll look better and feel better.

My Dry July challenge showed me what I can do without and what I really need  to watch. I knew that I could withhold on alcohol: I've done it several times in the past. I was really worried that chips would be too much to resist, but I did it. Going forward, I'll only indulge after I have burned the calories that chips will add.

I've discovered that I have a closet sweet tooth, so I really need to watch that I don't cave into it. It's weird that I was able to resist sweets before the challenge, and maybe I'll be able to do so again, now that they're not forbidden (but should really be regulated).

I'm continuing with my Conqueror virtual challenges. On Saturday, I finished the 1,332.5-kilometre Icelandic Ring Road, and yesterday, I began the next challenge, which is a 503K trek from Florence, Italy, to Vatican City, in Rome.

I start, virtually, of the front steps of the Basilica of Santa Croce, where I first visited in 2004 and saw again, from atop Giotto's Bell Tower, which famously stands next to the Duomo, when we returned in 2009.

My shot of Basilica of Santa Croce, Florence, in 2009.

St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, 2009

In real life, I've been to both: I absolutely love Florence, have so many wonderful memories. It also is the home to the best pistachio gelato in the world. The second-best gelato is here, in Ottawa, at Stella Luna Gelato Café. And, as part of my current St. Francis Way virtual challenge, I plan to cycle to the Stella Luna location, in Merrickville, where I'll treat myself to a scoop of pistachio gelato, before I cycle back home.

It's about a 116K round-trip ride, so I'm confident that I'll easily burn off those calories.

Yes, I like the new me. The trick, going forward, will be to keep this new me.

I'm up for that challenge, too.