Last week: 437 lbs.

This week: 438 lbs.

Total lost in 2020: 9 lbs.

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The number doesn’t show it — a 1-pound increase from the week before — but I actually had a better week than I’ve had all month, not that we should rely solely on weight as an indicator of health.

I’m pretty disappointed that I haven’t been able to lose more weight, as I’m still adjusting to my new work schedule, but I was more active last week, so I’m feeling a little upbeat.

With the 40th anniversary of the 1980 Olympic Winter Games, and all the events going on to celebrate it, the assignments of covering those events have forced me to get out of the house more during the evenings and get out of the office during the day. Since the celebration began on Thursday, Feb. 13, I’ve been to five different 40th anniversary events for the Lake Placid News, and that means walking more than usual. I’m not talking miles here, but there’s been a lot of standing and walking that I’m not used to, and anything that gets me out of the chair and away from the computer is a big plus.

In addition, I spent some quality time with my shovel on Sunday making a path to the fuel oil pipe on the side of the house — where all that snow from the last storm slid off my roof and slammed onto the ground. The force of the snow hitting the ground compacted it, and it was very dense, so I had to hack through it to make a path to the fuel oil pipe. It was only about 20 feet, but it was a lot of work, so I got an upper-body workout that day.

When I say “I’m pretty disappointed that I haven’t been able to lose more weight,” I don’t mean to blame the scale. I blame myself. People know when they are doing all they can to achieve a goal, and I by no means can honestly say that I’ve worked hard to lose weight over the past few weeks. I’m more disappointed in myself that I haven’t made it a priority. Instead, I’ve made work a priority and made excuses.

When I see one of my heroes — Fitness Revolution owner Jason McComber — losing 20 pounds so far this year, I’m ashamed that I’m only down 9 pounds. I’m so proud of him and all the wonderful people there — including local radio personality Ethan Gawel, who represented the gym by helping carry the torch from Fitness Revolution to the North Elba Show Grounds Friday, Feb. 14 during the torch run for the 40th anniversary opening ceremony. Ethan has been running a lot of half marathons over the past several years, and he’s an inspiration.

I know what it takes to make a commitment to lose the weight, get in shape and train for a race. It all begins with the right mind set, and I’m not quite there yet. I thought I was, but I’m really not.

Luckily, I work in one of the most inspiring places on the Earth — Lake Placid — where there are constant reminders of the rewards of hard work — this village’s Olympic legacy.

On Tuesday, Feb. 18, at the press conference with the 1980 Olympic figure skating team, I asked the three men’s singles competitors — David Santee, Charles Tickner and Scott Hamilton — what advice they had for aspiring Olympians, and I got some inspirational answers for my weight-loss journey.

“It’s just about showing up every day,” Hamilton said. “It’s about being bold enough to put this on your calendar and saying ‘I’m working towards this.’ … Your story is meant to be told, so you’re going to have to participate in it.”

Once I heard those words, I knew I would have to write them down and post them on the corkboard in my office. It’s one thing to dream, but if you don’t show up every day — and participate in your story — the story won’t be about reaching your goals; it will be about falling short because you didn’t put in the effort.

On this Lake Placid Diet journey, I’ve learned to have faith in the effort, but you can’t do that unless you actually put in the effort. Here’s to better days.