So a while back, I wrote about my attempt to get in shape and lose the poundage I gained after nearly a year of being sedentary (damn old back). Being a couch potato didn’t suit me much. But when just about every step felt like what I imagine a lightening bolt to the back feels like, the thought of exercising never entered my mind.

And you know what goes along with being a couch potato? You guessed it. Eating, that’s what. During the height of the pandemic, I, like millions of Americans, ate more than my fair share of potatoes.

So with my lack of mobility, those spuds headed directly for my thighs. And stomach. And hips. Pretty much everywhere except my ankles. Those were unscathed, thank you very much. But then I got an epidural for my back, which didn’t help much. Months later I got another and lo and behold, the pain was gone. Strike up the band!

Now don’t get me wrong; I now hold great sympathy for people with chronic ailments. I was spoiled, having been healthy and active all my life. So not being able to turn over in bed without groaning like a cow in labor was disheartening. For the first time I felt old.

But hey, that’s all in the past, just a fading memory. I’m healthy again and on the move. Not that you could tell if you watched me play tennis when first back on the court. Turns out my feet boycotted movement of any kind, I wasn’t anticipating the ball at all, and my timing was slightly short of horrendous. But what fun it was to be out there again (although probably not as much for my doubles partner).

Being physically out of shape, I set my sights on changing that. So on December 28 I started regularly using my Total Gym and also joined the Noom program, a Health app designed by behavioral psychologists, nutritionists and personal trainers. I saw my my friend lose 26 pounds (and counting) on Noom and an acquaintance has lost over 100. No, it’s not about deprivation, which immediately sparked my attention. Besides, they were offering a HUGE discount for the new year so I thought, what do I have to lose — except weight and bad habits?

Turns out Noom is more about the psychology of food: what we eat, when we eat and why we eat what we eat. Heavy stuff, huh? It’s not a diet, per se. I’d call it an awareness app. Yep, there’s an app where I log what I eat, read short daily “lessons” and take funny little quizzes. Noom is big on humor, which I appreciate. Surprisingly, it’s actually not awful.

On Noom you weigh yourself daily, which I’ve never done. (Scales give me the heebie-jeebies.) But I found this also keeps me on track and accountable for what I ingest; otherwise I simply ignore my tightening jeans. Noom is about eating healthy and wisely choosing our calories. But, and here’s the good part, nothing is off limits. That’s music to my ears, especially being a sugar addict.

I’ve been on Noom 11.5 weeks and have lost 10.5 lbs. So I’m less than 2 lbs. from my goal. And that’s with having a daily Sanders Milk Chocolate Salted Caramel (or two). And since my triceps aren’t waving in the wind as much, I’m also loving my Total Gym workouts. You know, now that I think of it, I don’t believe I’ve ever used the word love and workouts in the same sentence before. But there you go.