Today marks the midway point. When Zac Spinosa and I started this, we committed to each other for at least three months. That's 12 weeks, and six of them are now complete. This past week I did every home workout, every walk and every run. Feeling pretty good.

Cravings are real

I've been rewatching some of my old food reviews, and let me tell you, that gave me some serious gold medal pizza cravings. How do I deal with it? I plan. Between myself and Alright Robyn we always know what we're cooking: meat out of the freezer, vegetables to go with it, and wild rice or grains on the side. I've been light on processed carbs, not much bread or pasta, and keeping things pretty clean. Weight loss isn't rocket science: eat well and exercise. The food planning is the hardest part.

On a budget? Start walking

Working with Zac has been awesome, but trainers aren't free. If money is tight and you want to start your own Health Happenings, the best thing I can tell you is to start walking. An hour a day. I didn't think I had that time either. Sometimes I multitask on calls, and sometimes it's just a nice walk with Alright Robyn and our dog, Gold Medal Patsy.

New phase: hypertrophy

At the gym Zac moved me into a new phase: slightly lighter weights, higher volume, in the 8 to 12 rep range. More reps, more sweat, and I could feel the lactic acid building up. That feeling at the end of a workout, and right after finishing a run, is my favourite part of this whole journey.

Exercise breakdown: the plank

Zac broke down the plank, a great core exercise for your abs and lower back. Elbows and toes, straight back, and here's the key: crunch your midsection together so you're actively engaging your core instead of just hanging there. He wants me building toward a full minute. Give it a try at home.

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.