2 down, 2 to go

Of the holidays during the holiday stretch (Halloween to Valentine's Day), I think Thanksgiving is the hardest to survive successfully.  Not only is the house often filled with fun-loving relatives (who might or might not want to join in your exercise routine), but the day is also food-centric.  The combination (family, friends, and fun instead of exercise + ridiculously huge meals) can easily derail even the best laid plans.  As a result I decided to let the chips fall where they may and didn't track my weight as closely as I have.  Last night B and I enjoyed an amazing dinner with his family at the chef's table, which was actually in the kitchen, at the local swanky hotel.  It was a seven course meal (complete with 7 glasses of wine) and I was sure that scallops, lobster, duck, Kobe steak, sorbet, lamb, and dessert would serve as next week's motivation to reaffirm my exercise intentions.  It was fantastic and what was absolutely amazing was that while I was pleasantly satiated, I was not nasty full.  The portions were perfect.  So when I emerged this morning from a week long buffet and a much reduced exercise routine, I was pleased to discover that I had pretty much stayed the course on all fronts.  I think my new regime has also reigned in my eating-out-of-boredom in a positive way.  Since beginning this experiment, I have noticed that I eat only when I am hungry and often I am not crazy hungry -- I think walking has replaced the boredom that brought on eating -- particularly over weekends or long holidays.  I am excited to launch in to week nine tomorrow morning!

5500 calories !?!???!

After reading that the average American eats approximately 5500 calories on Thanksgiving day, and after preparing the caramelized onion + apple + bread stuffing , garlic mashed , and sweet potatoes casserole, and after starting my father-in-law's Christmas present on ArtsCow, I jumped up on the treadmill desk to get some personal work done while watching the end of the Macy's T-Day parade and the beginning of the Purina National Dog Show.  As I write this blog I am reminded of how thankful I am for the many blessing in my life: my faith, my loving family, my good friends, a good job, improving health and fitness, a warm house, and many unique gifts and talents.  I hope as you surf the web today you have time to reflect on the many blessings in your life (no matter how few or how many) and that you take an opportunity to reassess the things you can do in the coming year to provide blessings for others.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Chainsawin', Wood Haulin', & Treadmillin'

What I have happily figured out is that my treadmill desk addiction has become so ingrained in my daily bodily needs, that even though I spent an hour this morning learning to use a chainsaw (thanks K) and another hour or so safely and properly wielding said chainsaw, and then a bit more time tossing about the "rounds" that I made quick work of with my new friend, Mr. Chain, followed by a walk with a friend, shopping with my mother-in-law, a few hours as a spectator of various grades of schoolboy basketball, and a minor computer meltdown at our house -- even after all that, after the dust settled, the kids were asleep, and I had brushed off most of the wood chips, I jumped up on to the treadmill desk to check email, watch some tele, and write this post. I also have discovered that my daily use of the treadmill desk has enabled me to work stronger, longer, and more efficiently. While the chainsaw wasn't especially heavy, it was awkward. While the walk wasn't long, it followed a morning of hard labor. I felt strong, empowered, healthy, in shape, and ready to tackle whatever life might toss at me - be it mother-in-laws, basketball spectating, or computer meltdowns. While I half expected to jump on the tread to burn some residual stress, what I noticed was that my routine has strengthened my resolve in so many areas of my life.

Day #28

As I walked home to my parents house from church (after walking to church earlier in the day) - several things struck me with increasing clarity: 1) although it was warm out and I was in a long sleeve shirt, I am fit enough to walk 3.5 mph across town without breaking a sweat, 2) it is true what folks say, you do see another part of the city, town, or neighborhood when you are on foot, and 3) day #28 has arrived without much fanfare, fear, or failure -- walking is now clearly an addiction (albeit a good one). I feel better if I have walked, tired if I haven't. I am heading to the end of my day with a great sense of accomplishment, satisfaction, and the appropriate level of exhaustion.