Week 19. One week shy of five months. Last week I broke into the sub-200s for the first time in years. This week is different from the previous 18, because the time has come: the losing streak is over. I got on the scale and I didn't lose any weight.

Honesty over a better number

Yes, I thought about taking off my shirt and shorts to squeeze out a down week. But why would I lie to myself now? I'm disappointed. I'm also glad I didn't put any weight on. So I asked myself: what changed this week?

What went right

Lots of walks with Alright Robyn and Gold Medal Patsy in the sun. A great evening walk with Brian and Cole from the Right Choice team. More tennis. The activity was there.

What went wrong: excuses

• Dinner timing. Alright Robyn went back to work, so when dinner was ready I'd stop and eat with her instead of finishing my exercise first. I didn't want to miss those dinners together, but it threw my routine off.
• Review leftovers. With burger reviews, once the camera's off I don't need more burger. But with recent food reviews I ordered a lot of great dishes and kept eating the leftovers all week.

Full of excuses. I'm lucky I didn't add any weight to the chassis.

Reasons, not excuses

Even when I reach the weight I want, I want to keep improving my health. So this week my schedule is already set out better. Alright Robyn will be working late, which means no pausing to eat before my exercise. Let's get back to making happenings.

Joe is not a doctor or a dietitian. This is his personal journey. Talk to your healthcare provider before making big changes to your diet or exercise.