Got back on the exercise path this past week. Besides all the walking at work, I also started walking in the evening. I found a nice pond with a 1/2 mile sidewalk circling it on some … ahem… ‘private’ property. There’s an industrial park near my hotel, so it’s pretty empty when I get there in the evening.

Oh well, all they’ll do is tell me to leave. Anything else would mean paperwork for someone. I count on the world’s laziness when making marginal decisions.

I picked up a lot of meat and not much in the way of carbs at the store this week. Probably 80% of the dollars were spent on protein. It remains to be seen if it goes into my body in the same proportion.

I’m moving to an apartment from my extended-stay hotel this week. So, I’ll have a fitness center. Hopefully I can be more consistent and get some kind of exercise on those evenings when the legs are too tired from work to go walking.

Friends: Florida Sun Dog keeps track of the insanity that is life in the Sunshine State

I’m under a huge amount of stress thanks to a life decision that will change everything for me and my family.

How’s that for an introductory sentence that grabs attention?

God willing and if the creeks don’t rise, I might actually be comfortable talking about it later. There’s one last “T” to cross though.

But, dealing with the stress - if you visit the site regularly, you may have noticed that the weight loss number hasn’t changed since late last week. That’s probably a good thing because I’m not putting weight back on, but it’s been a real struggle and I need to get past this decision to get back on track as fast as possible. I’m definitely an emotional eater, and when first faced with this possibility a few days ago, I literally got nauseous and started eating.

Oh yeah, it looks like my mother is going in for gallbladder surgery in the immediate future, and my father is having surgery in a month or so. So there’s that, too.

Long day working, doing the day job then hitting the library for some peace and quiet and an internet connection that doesn’t crap out every time I try to see a video. Knocked out a week’s worth of video posts for another blog I have (no, not porn… well, mostly… ;-)  ) and planned to change in the restroom and get my walk in before going home.

When I got in the restroom, however, somebody was in the process of polluting the place. I got out of there as fast as possible.  But when I got outside I found it had cooled down considerably. Since I wear very comfortable shoes at work, I decided to just take an evening stroll in the work clothes. Got in my 20+ minutes, and felt pretty good about the day.

I took my daughter to the Father-Daughter dance last night, and my ass hurts.

Ahem.

What I mean is, the big gluteal muscles are sore. Lots of work for them. The thighs, too.

Damn right it counts. Anytime I wake up this sore, it counts. And to think I left work early to get in my walk. If I’d have thought about it, I could have skipped it.

The diet went extremely well this week. I treated my daughter and myself to a milkshake on the way home. I planned for it in my calories, and did all that extra cardio…

I admit it, I have no idea what “feeling the flow” means. I’m a middle-aged white man, and I would sound ridiculous saying it out loud.

That doesn’t stop me from saying “Dude” to younger guys. Dude.

Anyway, I’m feeling good. Meds are squared away, I’m back on the diet, back tracking my food, back walking at night. Feeling motivated. Working hard at work, working hard at blogging.

The diet is going well, with very few slips. I am pleased, but I’m also getting lazy about keeping up with eating healthy, lean snacks. My slips have been directly attributable to this laziness.

I have not been on a scale, though. I don’t think I’m losing weight yet, but I am feeling better. The reason I’m not losing, I believe, is that I haven’t really started exercising. I’ve been laid low by a wicked** cold for about 2 weeks, and haven’t felt up to dragging my butt out.

Lazy.

Anyway, I’m happy with where I am, and I’m not putting any expectations on myself right now other than to stick to the process.

**Since my Jags are playing, and will probably be beaten by, the Patriots, I use the word “wicked” in pre-emptive honor of your team’s success.  

If nothing else, I ought to be able to post about what I’m eating, correct?

Well, that depends on me sticking to logging my meals… so, we’ll see…

Anyway, here’s yesterday’s food:

January 3, 2008

Real life is killing me right now, but that’s no excuse. I’m doing ok with regard to food, still bringing lunches to work. Mostly, it’s been lean cuisine supplemented with a side salad that I make myself. But exercise?

It hasn’t been happening. I admit it. I’m going to get back out today and try to rebuild a new habit. I hate walking in the dark because of my tendency to sprain ankles. Since the time change, I haven’t wanted to go out at all. I’m going to start going to parts of town that are better lit, but it’s tough to keep that commitment when I get home from work and there’s kids waiting to show me their schoolwork, dishes to clean after dinner, activities that kids need to be shuttled to, and side work that needs to be done. I don’t know how you all do it, but I could use some encouragement!

Oh Lord, I’m sore. I helped my sister-in-law and her husband move some heavy furniture from one $1M house they are selling to another $1M house they just bought.

You’d think with all that, they could afford movers. Or maybe that’s why they have million-dollar houses and I don’t.

At one point, I was standing in a stairwell with several hundred pounds of armoire balanced on my head while her husband literally climbed over a rail, onto my shoulders, and down my body.

No, there was no walking after that. Didn’t need it, either.

Man, I had the worst day yesterday. The subject is most definitely NFB (not for blogging), but when I got home I got into a contest of “I love you THIIIIIIIIIIIS much” with my youngest daughter, which I desperately needed.

Looking back, though, I did pretty well with the food - not perfect, though. If there was ever a day for comfort food, that was it, but I didn’t go there. It was Raisin Bran for breakfast, a protein shake for a morning snack, a salad with boneless chicken breast for lunch, and the worst was dinner - an awesome cheeseburger from The Loop (if you’re in Jacksonville, you know what I’m talking about!). Not a great dinner by any means, but it could have been worse - much worse. They also have my favorite barbecue chicken pizza on the menu. Mmmmmm, but oh-so-bad. But, I stayed away. Yeah, I should have had the salad. No excuses for that. I wasn’t thinking straight at that point, and the Cheeseburger was at the top of the menu.

No desserts though, and the last meal was at 6 p.m., which is always my goals so I’m not sleeping on a undigested food.

How are you dealing with comfort food?