Week 23. Time is flying. I'm getting right into the weight this week because I'm always worried about it: I just got off the scale at 191 pounds. So close to that pizza party.

This past week

• Only one yog, but it was a hot, sweaty 5K in the morning.
• Walking every day, including a couple of late ones that started before midnight and finished after it.
• Friday tennis is becoming a tradition. This week five of us were out there rallying at different skill levels. I'm probably the worst one. Still fun.

The food

Lots of salads with organic lettuce and vegetables from the garden, chicken and egg, and plenty of hot sauce, because I put hot sauce on everything, including salads. Sunday dinner at Mom's was a special treat: a friend made Korean food, including simple sliced tofu with a spicy sauce (I've had a lot of tofu I didn't enjoy, this was great) and fresh spring rolls with mango and chicken. We also enjoyed a patio dinner in Welland now that patios are open.

COVID is not an excuse

The most common excuse I'm hearing right now: the gyms are closed, I can't play sports. I started this journey before the pandemic and I've kept it going all the way through. Week in and week out I'm not putting on weight. I've had a week or two where I stayed even or only dropped a little, but I haven't used the pandemic as an excuse. You don't need a gym. You need to start.

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.