FLOATING ON AIR (DAY 94)

Three months ago, on August 1, 2018 I fired up my blog again after months of dormancy. (It wasn't just my blog that was dormant - it was me too)  This is how the blog started after months of inactivity.

On that first day that I blogged, after a months long hiatus I spoke about how I just didn't want to look like a fat pig when I had to spend three days at a national tradeshow in Houston. I will be flying to that tradeshow tomorrow, Friday, November 2.  I was successful. I will not be attending as a fat pig. You wanna know how I feel about this. I will let this picture below answer that question:

Check out the shadow that my body is casting... I am floating on air. I am ecstatic. I have lost nearly 55 pounds since July 31, 2018. I feel great. I know I look OK. I can arrive to Houston in clothing that fits, does not make me look like a blob and I will be able to enjoy socializing with all the people I must interact with: fellow reps, sales managers, company presidents and customers. I am ready.  And just to make sure that I stay ready, I took a hike on Wednesday.

Why is the bear so angry? I am wearing my BEARS hat.

HOW I WALKED TO MICHIGAN (DAY 87)

Yes, I walked to Michigan on Wednesday morning, long before sunrise.
It really was not such a major accomplishment.
My hotel was in HOWE, Indiana less than one mile from the state line.
An eight and a half mile is a healthy walk considering I still had 30 minutes to drive to my first appointment at 9:00AM.

EXCERCISE IN FUTILITY (DAY 85)

Exercise is typically good for you. Sometimes it is futile.

First appointment of the week was right in my 'backyard' in Chicago at 1:00PM. This left ample time to start my Monday morning off with a 10 mile hike before lunch. Along the way I passed my local library where EARLY VOTING just began - I voted. I live in Chicago, Illinois. I am a Republican. Voting is an exercise of futility. 

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RECTANGULAR WALK (DAY 76)

Saturday morning at 9:00AM I set out in the 37° F temperature in Chicago. The cold weather didn't feel so bad as I was properly dressed and there was no humidity in the air.
I walked 3 miles west, 2 miles south, 3 miles east and 2 miles north.
I basically walked a 10 mile rectangle.

I am still counting my days since I began this trip from 283.6 lbs down to my current 233.6 lbs. The first 70 or so days were limited to approximately 1000 calories per day. In the past week or so I have allowed myself to consume 1500+ calories, although I have not exceeded 2000 calories.

Check out the beautiful crisp blue sky hanging over the city.

If I am going to walk over the next few months, I can never let a  37° F temperature stop me.  It's going to get a lot colder in the upcoming weeks. Still it is mildly amazing to me that seven days ago I was walking in 90° F temperatures. 

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ELKHART, INDIANA (DAY 73)

On Wednesday I let my appetite take control.
I have been trying to keep my calories in the neighborhood of 1000.
On Wednesday, I think I left my neighborhood and went into the neighboring town.
My walk was curtailed by rain. Still I managed a four mile hike in Elkhart, Indiana.

MONON TRAIL (DAY 72)

Back in Indianapolis on Tuesday night, same hotel I lodged on Sunday night.
Found time to take off for a hike in the waning hours of sunlight, although I returned in darkness.
For this hike, I headed to 86th street and headed east 4.5 miles to the MONON Trail.
I only hiked about 1.5 miles on the trail before I headed back.
When this hike was over, I had logged 12 miles.
For the second consecutive day, my calories were a bit on the 'high side' compared to recent weeks.
I really hope that when this week is over, I have still managed to shed a pound or two.

COMISKEY PARK (DAY 68)

I walked to Comiskey Park on Friday.
(Well technically I guess it is called Guaranteed Rate Field)
I am pretty sure that I am pretty much never going to call it that...
just like I still call the tallest building in Chicago The Sears Tower - which it no longer is.
just like I will always call the most ubiquitous donut shop in America DUNKIN' DONUTS.
just like I still call a well known chicken fast food establishment Kentucky Fried Chicken.

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WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA (DAY 67)

For the 3rd day in a row, I awoke pre-dawn and set out for a hike. (7miles, 10 miles, 10 miles).
For the 46th day in a row, I took a walk/hike, never less than 2 miles, often 7 miles or more.
For the 67th day in a row, I kept my calorie consumption within the neighborhood of 1000.

This is what a lunatic looks like just before he sets out for a 10 mile hike at 5:45AM (two full hours before sunrise)

PRE-DAWN URBAN HIKE (DAY 65)

On Tuesday, I needed to pick up a colleague at the airport, and immediately travel 100 miles west to visit a customer. After that visit we traveled another 100 miles to be in place for a Wednesday morning appointment in Forsyth, Illinois. I knew there would be very little time to get a walk accomplished as the day unfolded. So, for the first time, in a very long time, I popped out of bed and set out for a pre-dawn 5:30AM walk. That's not to shabby to have logged a seven mile urban hike prior to eating breakfast.