01 / MOVE
Movement after a setback
Running and lifting were a big part of my life. After a hip injury, I am figuring out what getting back to movement can look like for me now.
THE GOAL WEIGHT PROJECT
Small habits.
Stronger days.
Starting again after weight regain.
Building habits that fit my life now.
I lost more than 50 pounds, found my way into running, and completed a half marathon. After an injury and a difficult year, I am finding my way back. The Goal Weight Project is where I share that process as it happens.
MOVEMENTFOODMINDSETREAL LIFE
NEW HERE?
A place to begin.
If you are rebuilding your routines too, you are welcome here. Follow the story and take something useful into your own week.
- Meet the project
The experience behind this space.
- Read the first entry
An honest account of starting again.
- Plan a small reset
A free worksheet for the week ahead.
- Stay in the loop
Get new journal entries by email.
01
STARTING AGAIN
The story
behind the goal.
In 2022, I weighed over 200 pounds. My doctor told me I was prediabetic and that my cholesterol was elevated. I joined WeightWatchers, started going to the gym, and slowly lost more than 50 pounds. Along the way, I went from my first 5K to my first half marathon.
Then I injured my hip. Running became painful, and I eventually stopped. My cholesterol was still a concern, even after all that work. In less than a year, I regained almost 40 pounds.
Now I am working long hours and struggling to make time for the routines I used to have. Starting again has brought up sadness, comparison, and a fear of letting people see me struggle.
I want this space to hold an honest account of what comes next: finding movement I can manage, making meals fit a busy life, and learning how to keep going when progress is difficult.
Follow the journey02
INSIDE THE PROJECT
The little things
I'm working on.
Fitness, food, and habits.
All with room for real life.
02 / EAT
Food around a busy life
Long workdays have made quick snacks easier to reach for than prepared meals. I want to find ways to eat that fit the time and energy I actually have.
03 / SHARE
Learning to share the process
Weight regain and comparison have made it hard to post. This journal is a place to be honest about that and notice the things that help me move forward.
03
REAL-LIFE FOOD
Something simple
for a busy day.
A starting collection of meal ideas to try. Personal reviews will be added after I try them. Preparation times are estimates.
Yogurt, berry & oat bowl
A bowl you can assemble with a few fridge and pantry ingredients.
Ingredients & method
Makes 1 bowl
- ¾ cup plain yogurt or a dairy-free alternative
- ½ cup berries, fresh or thawed
- ¼ cup rolled oats or granola
- Cinnamon, to taste (optional)
Spoon the yogurt into a bowl, add the berries, and finish with oats or granola and cinnamon.
Make it fit: Use the fruit you already have. Keep the topping separate if you are packing it to eat later.
IDEA TO TRY · Personal notes to follow
Chickpea & cucumber wrap
A quick lunch with a filling that comes together in one bowl.
Ingredients & method
Makes 1 wrap
- 1 large tortilla
- ½ cup canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- ¼ cup diced cucumber
- 2 tablespoons hummus
- A handful of lettuce
- A squeeze of lemon (optional)
Lightly mash the chickpeas. Mix with cucumber, hummus, and lemon. Add the lettuce and filling to the tortilla, then fold and roll.
Make it fit: Serve the filling with crackers if wrapping feels like one step too many.
IDEA TO TRY · Personal notes to follow
Rice, bean & salsa bowl
A warm meal built around ready-to-heat ingredients.
Ingredients & method
Makes 1 bowl
- ¾ cup cooked microwave rice
- ½ cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
- ½ cup frozen corn
- 2 tablespoons salsa, plus more to taste
- Lime or diced avocado (optional)
Heat the rice and corn according to their package directions. Warm the beans until hot, then combine everything in a bowl. Add salsa and any optional toppings.
Make it fit: Use a ready-to-heat grain you enjoy and any canned beans already in the cupboard.
IDEA TO TRY · Personal notes to follow
A FREE PAGE FOR YOUR WEEK
Your Weekly Reset.
Make a little room for the week you actually have. A simple place to plan meals, choose one manageable habit, and notice what helps.
- Meals and busy-day plans
- One small habit and a way to make it easier
- A small win and an adjustment for next week
Free, one-page PDF · US Letter · Print a fresh copy whenever you need it.
Open the PDF
NOTES FROM THE JOURNEY
The part of the story
I am living now
Read about the years it took to lose weight, the setback that followed, and the work of beginning again. These are personal reflections from someone still figuring things out.
Read the journalPersonal reflections on Substack.
THE JOURNAL COLLECTION
Find a story that meets you here.
Personal reflections on starting again, fitting habits around work, and learning to share the difficult parts.
1 published entry
FIRST JOURNAL ENTRY ·
Starting again after weight regain
- Starting Again
- Busy-Life Routines
- The Emotional Side
I reached the 140s after years of effort. Now I am close to 180, and I am trying to understand how to begin again without letting shame keep me quiet.
No entries in this topic yet. Choose All topics to read the journal so far.
Follow the project as it unfolds
Get new journal entries by email as I work through weight regain, everyday routines, and the challenge of starting again.