ANOTHER DAY WHEN WORK INTERFERES WITH HIKING TIME (DAY 121)

I did not find time to hike yesterday... In fact, I was particularly INACTIVE - check out my 'steps' for the day - I didn't get past 7000.  On the other hand, I am a salesman. It is my selling career that propels me about the state and affords me the opportunity to hike in all kinds of different locales. Wednesday was a hikeless day, but it was a particularly fruitful day at work - and that is important too.

THANKSGIVING (DAY 114)

Today is Thanksgiving.
It is more than likely that I will overeat, yet again.
I think on Friday - I will need to get 'back on the program'

ANOTHER DAY WITHOUT EXERCISING (DAY 112)

A one day tradeshow in Shipshewana, Indiana kept me busy all day from 7:00AM until 5:00PM.  After the show, I had to drive 3 hours to Indianapolis. Another day without exercising. I did not forget to eat.

MONGOLIAN GRILL (DAY 110)

I guess I did not successfully cut down on calories on Saturday.... A trip to BD's Mongolian Grill in Bollingbrook nixed that plan after a quick trip to Ikea.

NOTE TO SELF: DON'T PANIC (DAY 109)

I know that I have recently been 'off my game.' 

I know that I have not been walking as much as I did in the summer and fall.

I know that I will not be able to walk as much as I did for the next few months.

I know that I have 'forgotten' portion control recently.

I know that I have 'forgotten' to record each and every candy bar that I have eaten recently.

I know that I have been snacking way too much recently.

I know that I have given in to temptation and made friends with hotel vending machines.

I know that I should not panic and that I should again start doing what I had been doing so well.

How about I start today?

Weighed myself Saturday morning and I am at 234 lbs. 

No particular reason to panic.... I weighed 283.6 lbs on July 31 of this year.

I have every reason to be proud of my accomplishment....

and I am.

SNOVEMBER (DAY 108)

There was much more snow from DC through New England.... Still even in southern Illinois, I had to deal with a couple of inches of snow that fell overnight on Wednesday. Which means that I was trudging through it on Thursday during my 6 mile hike in Effingham.

ELLIPTICAL (DAY 106)

It has been a very, very long time since I have spent time on an elliptical machine... I am guessing that it's been way more than one year... And yet, that is precisely where I found myself for one hour on Tuesday night... 

one hour on an elliptical machine, allegedly burned 535 calories

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN TOUR in ANN ARBOR (DAY 105)

Woke up in Ann Arbor.
Daughter and Dad had breakfast, toured University of Michigan
Hopped back in car.
Headed home to Chicago.
There was no hiking, aside from the walking tour of campus.

GAINED ONE TENTH POUND (DAY 102)

Not bad....
I knew I was eating more.... with the reduced daylight and busy work schedule I have walked less...
And still, after all that... and no weigh ins for the past two weeks.... I have gained one tenth of one pound.   Actually, I am happy about this....

10% CHANCE OF RAIN - MEANS IT MIGHT RAIN (DAY 98)

Woke up early Sunday, checked the weather and saw a 10% chance of rain.  Naturally, I though that there was virtually no chance of getting caught in any downpour.  I was wrong. The last 2 miles of my hike were through a hard rainfall shortly after sunrise... My walk was shortened to 'only' seven miles.

SMILE, Y'ALL ARE IN HOUSTON (DAY 97)

Houston Saturday.
Woke up 4:45AM
Checked the weather: 57°
Checked sunrise 7:35AM
Left for my 10 mile hike at 5:03AM and returned to my hotel room at sunrise.
Great way to start a day!

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FRIDAY MORNING, ON MY WAY TO HOUSTON (DAY 95)

Thursday I spent the day preparing for my trip to Houston for International Quilt Market. I made time for an eight mile hike.

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.

IT'S TRUE - WEAR BLACK - APPEAR THINNER! (DAY 93)

You have probably heard that wearing dark black clothing can make someone appear thinner. That may or may not be true - but in this photo below, I don't think it's only the color of my outfit that is making me appear thinner. I am guessing that is has something to do with the fact that these two photos, taken about 12 weeks apart show me about fifty pounds lighter.  Me in the yellow shirt, August 6 at a White Sox game, was before my first week of concentrated fat-losing effort had just ended and I probably weighed about 280 lbs. and me in black was taken just a couple of days ago when I most recently checked in at about 230 lbs. I believe I look thinner now. I also believe it ain't just the color of my outfit.

The difference between Mr. Yellow Shirt (me at 280 lbs on August 6th) and Mr. All-Black Sports Outfit (me just two days ago about 230 lbs) is about a foot, that is, twelve inches. My waist has shrunk from a giant bloated 50" to a much more reasonable 38".  This means that once again, I can shop for clothes at a regular store where normal people go to shop. Now the thing is, even at 230 lbs, I am NOT thin, but I am thinNER!

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After a two day abbreviated trip to the middle of the Illinois I returned home to Chicago and did what I often do. I changed clothes and took a walk.  Tuesday's walk was ten miles.

THESE GUYS ALL LOOK THIN.