A Little Sunshine, A Little Progress

One of the nicest things about this past week had nothing to do with the scale, the food sheets, or even Program itself. It was the weather.

Spring is finally starting to show up. The days are getting a little longer, the temperatures are creeping up, and for the first time in what feels like months, I can walk outside without the air hurting my face. Anyone who lives through a New England winter knows exactly what I mean — that biting cold that makes your eyes water and your lungs question all of your life choices.

This week, stepping outside actually felt good again.

And Penny has definitely noticed the change too. The moment the weather started warming up, she was ready to take full advantage of it. What used to be quick, reluctant trips outside during the winter has turned into her happily encouraging longer walks again. I’m not sure if she’s excited about the sunshine or just excited about more opportunities to sniff absolutely everything in the neighborhood, but either way she’s been a very enthusiastic walking partner despite the remaining snow.

There’s something about that first hint of spring that lifts your mood a little. The world feels lighter. People seem happier. Even simple things like walking to your car or taking a quick stroll feel like less of a chore and more like something you actually want to do.

It was otherwise a pretty quiet week overall — mostly work and a couple dinners with friends. Nothing dramatic, nothing chaotic, just a normal rhythm of everyday life starting to settle back in.

And honestly, after the last few emotional weeks, a quiet week felt exactly right.

Sometimes those calmer weeks are where Program really does its job. There aren’t big events or distractions — just the daily habits: eating the right foods, staying aware, and keeping things steady.

Apparently, my body appreciated the calm as well, because at weigh-in I was down two pounds.

Not a massive drop, not a dramatic milestone, but a solid reminder that progress keeps happening even during the quiet weeks.

In a way, it feels a little like the season itself. Spring doesn’t arrive all at once. It sneaks in slowly — one warmer afternoon, one longer day, one patch of green at a time — until suddenly everything looks different.

Progress on Program can feel the same way. It’s not always loud or dramatic. Sometimes it’s just steady, quiet improvements that add up before you even realize it.

And this week, two pounds lighter, a few more walks with Penny, and finally being able to enjoy the outdoors again, I’ll happily take that as a win.

This week’s loss:  2 pounds

Total loss so far: 56 pounds