Miraculously, 10 days after the end of 2013, I finally have some free time to write a summary…
2013 has been the year with the most changes so far. Starting from March, it hasn’t even been a full year yet.
First, let’s review what was written on March 17th this year.New Year ResolutionThings I wanted to do:
1. Go to the gym every day
Although I didn’t go every single day, I still managed to go 5-6 days a week,
usually 6 days with one rest day to prevent injury and avoid getting too bored..
I did the math: in the 310 days since I started working out in 2013 (Feb 25), I went to the gym for about 245 days~~~
That means I worked out on roughly 80% of the days, so I’ll consider this goal accomplished~~~
2. Drink fewer sugary beverages
I did pretty well on this one. Basically, I only drink water, tea, coffee, and fresh juice now.
I rarely drink milk tea or sweetened tea drinks, and I’ve completely cut out carbonated sodas.
3. Pick up the camera again
Judging from my blog posts, it seems I’ve basically achieved this. Of course, it’s entirely thanks to buying a mirrorless camera;
otherwise, how would I have had the motivation to lug such a heavy camera around…
4. Write more blog posts
In 2013, I wrote a total of 58 blog posts, which is significantly more than any previous year (2012: 15 posts, 2011: 34 posts, 2010: 23 posts).
Let’s talk specifically about the changes this year:
1. First and foremost, the most obvious change is in my physique, or rather, my physical body.
Although my weight loss was less than expected—only 10kg—my body fat percentage dropped by 10%,
so those 10kg lost were almost entirely fat. As a result, I look noticeably slimmer than others at this weight.
The results actually exceeded my expectations.
Previous issues like weakness, discomfort, back pain, and neck pain have all disappeared as my muscles gradually developed.
My resting heart rate dropped from 85 to around 60, my blood pressure is lower than before, and I haven’t caught a cold in ages.
2. Mentally, I feel much better too. I have more energy every day; I don’t get drowsy as easily as before, nor do I feel tired.
I’m more confident than ever. Working hard at something and seeing the results is a very effective way to boost self-confidence.
3. There’s also a shift in mindset. What I want is different from before, and I’m more willing to try new things.
For example, when I was overweight, I never dreamed of having a good figure, but now I see a glimmer of hope.
Back then, I wouldn’t dare go hiking—even a stroll around West Lake felt exhausting—but now I want to explore more places.
4. This year, due to the opening of Global Harbor and the smog invading Shanghai, I’ve definitely become more of a homebody than before.
But that’s not the real issue. The problem is that after living a simple routine of work, meals, and gym for so long, I’m back to the same question I had at the beginning of the year:
I’m starting to get a bit bored. I need to find a way to make some changes again.
In another 10 days, I’ll be heading home for Chinese New Year. That will wrap up 2013, and upon returning, I’ll embark on a new journey in 2014.
Plans for 2014:Some of these aren’t concrete plans yet, just thoughts:
1. Continue losing weight; hoping to lose another 10kg.
Since winter set in, I’ve barely controlled my diet, causing slow progress in weight loss.
But taking it slow is fine; health is the most important thing to me.
During my weight loss journey, I experienced hormonal imbalances, insomnia, and knee discomfort,
but I successfully adjusted and recovered from all of them. I’m optimistic about next year’s weight loss goals.
When the weather gets warmer, my cravings for sweets and high-fat foods decrease, so continuing to reduce sugar and fat intake should do the trick.
2. Keep taking photos and writing blog posts~~~ Hope to visit more places.
This year I visited Shenyang, Shaoxing, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Qiandao Lake, Nanjing, Chengdu, Xiamen, and Sanya.
I also successfully took my dad on a trip~~ Next year, I might consider visiting some places I’ve never been to~~~~
3. Hope for better career development.
No matter what, a good life is built on a certain material foundation.
Obviously, a frugal lifestyle can ruin a good life, so the only solution is to find ways to earn more~~~
So, I hope to make some changes in 2014: earn more, live better. Yep~~~
Here are some recent photos to fill the blank space below:
Photos in this post taken with SONY NEX-5R + 35mm f1.8, post-processed in Lightroom.
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