Days 42 and 43 112912

I rested on day 42. I plan on resting every other day for the foreseeable future. 

For breakfast I had honey nut crispy oats. Lunch was a turkey and swiss sandwich. I had some cashews as an afternoon snack. Sups was a tuna sandwich and chicken noodle soup.

I walked two miles on day 43 at twilight. The hills were especially unforgiving today and I cherished the few flat stretches. I was pitch black when I finished and it wasn't easy to see the sidewalk where a couple street lights were out.

It was 45, mostly cloudy and calm. It was borderline gloves weather and I didn't have any on. I had to put them in the pouch of my hoodie a few times.

For breakfast I had oatmeal. Lunch was spinach salad with cheddar cheese and raspberry vinaigrette and a vanilla yorgurt. I had an orange for an afternoon snack. Sups was spaghetti with turkey meatballs. I had a chocolate chip granola bar for dessert. 

miles walked today: 2

total miles: 39

Day 41 112712

Day 41 and I walked one mile today. Trying to ease my way back into it. Walked at a casual pace and finished in 26 minutes.

The temp was 40, partly cloudy and a slight breeze out of the south at twilight. The wind was at my back the second half. I could make out a full moon through the clouds.

For breakfast I had honey nut crispy oats. Lunch was the last of the meatloaf, mac n cheese and vanilla yogurt. I had an orange as an afternoon snack. Sups was two hamburgers and  sweet potatoes. I had a chocolate chip granola bar for dessert.

miles walked today: 1

total miles: 37

Day 40 112612

Day 40 and I got back on track and walked one mile today. I was lucky enough to avoid the flu but the rest of my household took a few days to recover. It put a damper on Thanksgiving as I was the only one to attend out family get together. I wouldn't say I'm rebooting the project because I'm not starting over but will be building on what I've already done. I tried to dial back a bit and take a more casual pace. My right calf was feeling its best best since I had tweaked it doing stairs that day. Still returned after 24 minutes.

The temp was 29 at the start with a clear sky at twilight. I was bundled but the chill was still noticeable. A breeze picked up out of the north the last quarter mile. I didn't check the wind chill but the temp had already dropped to 25.

For breakfast I had honey nut toasty oats. Lunch was meatloaf, mac n cheese and vanilla yogurt. I had an orange for an afternoon snack. Sups was meatloaf and mac n cheese again since there were so many left overs.

Being Monday I weighed in and the scale said 220. Coming off Thanksgiving that was not too surprising to gain three pounds. It was also motivation to get back out there.

Pounds lost: (3 gained) Total lost: 4

miles walked today: 1

total miles: 36

pause

This project is on pause while I tend to my youngest who has the flu.

Day 39 111512

Day 39 and I did a two mile walk at twilight. Today was one of those days were I had no interest in walking but did it anyway. I was tired before I started. I was feeling discomfort in my shins and high ankles around the half mile so I slowed down although it took until the turn at the mile before I felt better. My left knee did twinge some so that is new. The third hill seemed steeper than it had been. The games your mind plays when you are tired. I had planned on taking tomorrow off from walking and this clinched it. No stairs either.

The weather was 49, mostly cloudy and windy. After the mile turn the wind picked up out of the west.

For breakfast it was honey nut crispy oats. I had plain chicken breast, green bean casserole and vanilla yogurt for lunch. An orange was my afternoon snack. For sups it was pancakes and sausages. 

miles walked today: 2

total miles: 35

Days 37 and 38 111412

On day 37 it was early afternoon when I realized my schedule would not allow me to get a walk in so I decided to do some stairs. I did two sets of four flights of stairs an hour apart. On the way down on the second set my legs started to feel rubbery.

For breakfast I had oatmeal. Lunch was plain chicken breast, green bean casserole and vanilla yogurt. I had a banana as an afternoon snack. Sups was box tie pasta with spaghetti sauce and turkey meatballs.

On day 38 I did a two mile walk at twilight. I was really feeling it in my calves as I reached the half mile point. When I hit 1.5 miles I wished I had taken the previous day off rather than doing the stairs. It certainly does work different muscles but it might be good to use that as cross training.

The weather was 47, overcast and slightly windy.

For breakfast I had honey nut crispy oats. For lunch I had turkey, mashed potatoes, scalloped potatoes, green beans and a piece of pie. It was an early Thanksgiving special. For sups I had turkey stroganoff and corn.

miles walked today: 2

total miles: 33

Day 36 111212

Day 36 and I did one mile at twilight. It was the third day of walking in a row and the heel seems to be feeling good. We'll see how the week progresses.

The weather was 39, clear and a slight breeze. It may have been a few degrees warmer than yesterday but it was downright toasty when the windchill wasn't dipping below freezing. 

For breakfast I had oatmeal. Lunch was cheese burger mac n cheese, peas and vanilla yogurt. I had an orange as an afternoon snack. Sups was a couple pieces of pepperoni pizza and some pumpkin spice chex mix.

Monday is a weigh in day and the scale read 217.

Weight loss: 0 Total loss: 7

miles walked today: 1

total miles: 31

Day 35 111112

Day 35 and I did a one mile walk late afternoon. The walk went fine other than battling the elements. I returned after 27 minutes.

The weather was 32, windy and mostly sunny. It was the coldest day so far and I wished I had been able to get out earlier to take advantage of radiant heat from the sun. When I started out the sun was just above the tree line and on the return it was behind the trees. The wind was out of the north and I had to put my hood up over my baseball cap less than a quarter in. I wore gloves for the first time because I had seen the wind chill was 22.

For breakfast I had scrambled eggs with salsa wrapped in a flour tortilla. For lunch I had turkey meatballs in gravy and crescent rolls. I had pumpkin spice chex mix as an afternoon snack. Sups was chicken breast with BBQ sauce and green bean casserole.

miles walked today: 1

total miles: 30

Days 33 and 34 111012

Day 33 was a planned day of rest to heal. It was a weigh in day and the scale read 217.

Weight loss: 1 Total Loss: 7

For breakfast I had oatmeal. Lunch was a roast beef and turkey sub on seven grain and a bag of regular potato chips. In the afternoon I had grapes and a few cashews as a snack. Sups was spaghetti with turkey meatballs. I did also have a couple Jack and Cokes after the 9 to 5 gig.

Day 34 and I had a one mile walk at night. I could tell I was pressing to much in the beginning because I felt it in my shins and upper ankles. I backed off to a more comfortable pace. There are a lot of uneven sloping sidewalks on the route and I found it easier to walk the top of the sidewalk. I find it more natural to have my left at the normal level and be extending with the right leg rather than having my right normal and the left stride being short.

The weather was 69, very windy and clear. The wind seemed to be from the west at the start and was from the south as I finished. It might have been the last really nice year of the year.

For breakfast I had oatmeal. At lunch I had a chicken sandwich with bacon and some chocolate milk. If I don't mention it my usual drink of choice is either water or unsweetened iced tea. I the afternoon I had some jalapeno poppers while watching football. Sups was turkey meatballs in gravy.

miles walked today: 1

total miles: 29

Day 32 110812

Day 32 and I did one mile today. Only did one mile because I don't want to over do it and aggravate my right heel again. Tomorrow I already plan to rest it and not walk.

The weather was 53, mostly cloudy and calm at twilight. 

For breakfast I had oatmeal. For lunch it was a spinach salad with shredded cheddar and raspberry vinaigrette plus vanilla yogurt. I had grapes as an afternoon snack. For sups it was cheeseburger mac n cheese and peas.   

miles walked today: 1

total miles: 28

Days 29 30 and 31 110712

Day 29 started with the frustrating realization that I had aggravated my right heel again. I had tried walking in my boots again with the inserts I had bought on Sunday. I felt fine during the walk and thought the inserts worked fine only to learn the truth Monday morning. The pain wasn't as severe with the previous injury and I didn't have a limp so I knew the recovery time would be quicker. I also showed the importance of proper foot-ware. I'll likely be pitching the boots.

For breakfast I had oatmeal. For lunch it was two turkey burgers and vanilla yogurt. I had a banana as an afternoon snack. For sups it was chicken mixed with cream of chicken soup over mashed potatoes and broccoli.

Monday was a weigh in day and the scale showed 218 again. No weight loss again but I am noticing a difference in the mirror in my face and neck. Plus I have been able to tighten my belt by one loop.

Weight loss: 0 Total loss: 6

Day 30 and I held off walking to heal another day.

For breakfast I had honey nut crispy oats. For lunch I had a spinach salad with shredded cheddar cheese and raspberry vinaigrette plus vanilla yogurt. I had a banana for an afternoon snack. For sups it was spaghetti with turkey meatballs.

Day 31 I did take a one mile walk. I donned the Dr Scholls and made my way out as soon as I got home. I made sure not to push too much and pulled up on the reigns because I don't want to be put down like the horse in True Grit.

The weather was 49, mostly cloudy and a slight breeze at twilight. Still getting used to the time change.

For breakfast it was honey nut crispy oats. For lunch it was spaghetti with turkey meatballs. I had a banana as an afternoon snack. For sups it was french toast and scrambled eggs.

miles walked today: 1

total miles: 27

Day 28 110412

Day 28 and I did a two mile walk in the mid afternoon. Today I confirmed what I noticed last night that I neglected to see that there is another hill near the start of my route. It is not as pronounced and obvious as the other two but there is certainly a gradual incline coming and going from an apex. So there are three hills on my two mile route. I felt really good today although my legs started to get heavy around the 1.5 mile mark. I finished in 43 minutes.

The weather was 57, overcast and a slight breeze out of the south. I saw at times the sun attempted to push through only to have the clouds get thicker each time. 

For breakfast I had oatmeal. For lunch it was two cheeseburgers and fries. For sups it was two turkey burgers and cheetos. I had a handful of candy corn afterward.

miles walked today: 2

total miles: 26

Days 26 and 27 110312

Day 26 turned into an off day. My intended window didn't work into the schedule of others.

For breakfast I had honey nut toasted oats. For lunch it was chicken parm with egg noodles and green beans. I had cashews as an afternoon snack. For sups it was a cheeseburger, a chicken sandwich, fries and confetti cake for dessert.

Being Friday it was a weigh in day. The scale read 218 again. Disappointing but not surprising considering the extra sweets taken in during Halloween week. Trying to get back on the right path food-wise.

Weight loss: 0 Total loss: 6

Day 27 and I did a two mile walk at night. There were some nice smells in the air as I could tell a couple people in the neighborhood were grilling. As I walked by one driveway I could even pick up the scent of a cigar smoker who had recently been there. Walks like that are much more enjoyable than trash day.

The weather was 43, clear and calm. I believe it was the coldest day yet and three layers may be the norm until I start wearing a heavier coat when the temp drops. I was thankful for the lack of wind.

For breakfast I had oatmeal. For lunch it was a chicken sandwich. I had a handful of peanuts in the shell as an afternoon snack. For sups it was two ground turkey softshell tacos. I later had a handful of candy corn.


miles walked today: 2



total miles: 24

Days 24 and 25 110112

Day 24 was Halloween. Although did some walking following the girls as they went from house to house it was more stop and start so I'm not logging that time. 

For breakfast I had a vanilla yogurt and a breakfast drink. For lunch it was a swiss and mushroom Runza and fries. I had a half dozen bite size candy bars through out the afternoon. Isn't it law that you eat candy on Halloween? For sups it was chili and a faux mummy which was half a hotdog wrapped in a crescent roll. Had a piece of confetti cake for dessert.

Day 25 and I did a two mile walk as soon as I got home. I did start to sweat before I hit the one mile point and wondered if it was due to exercise or the three layers I had on. The hills really kicked me today but I think I get more out of it than just a flat route. I did the 2 miles in 45 minutes.

The weather was 49, mostly cloudy and a slight breeze out of the north. As I made the return on the second mile the wind picked up and I was thankful for the third layer. 

For breakfast it was vanilla yogurt and a breakfast drink again. For lunch I had grapes, a banana, pumpkin puree and pears. It was the first time trying pumpkin and pears mixed together and the flavor of the pears was muted too much by the pumpkin. I like pumpkin and pineapple better because the pineapple offers an nice distinctive contrast to the pumpkin. For sups it was chicken parm over egg noodles and green beans. Had a piece of confetti cake for dessert.


miles walked today: 2


total miles: 22