It's All In The Reflexes

I see you.

Chapter 13: Sunday

It's pretty early for a Sunday. 7:30 and I'm doing laundry, poring over a schedule for work, and writing. And, God help me, Piano Man by Billy Joel is playing in my head. What is it doing in there? Why has it come to the surface now? Get out. Out. Now! I'm going to have to open itunes and replace it, fast. There we go. Ah, yes. My friend Stephanie has a new band called Like Lightning... look them up on Facebook. Listening to Steph sing is like being inside during a blizzard, in front of a well-fed fire with a hot cup of chocolate. Music hath charms, and all that... though to tell the truth, the breast isn't all that savage today. It is sore from lifting weights last night, but I've come to like that feeling. Also, I'm very happy to be working a half-day today, and leaving to drive to Missoula right after. I'll be staying with Bobby and Suzanne, my now-married-half-a-year friends. I love them, and they have a nice healthy lifestyle that will fit right in with my own, so I'm not worried about eating poorly while I'm away. I need to get away for just a little bit. My brain won't shut up about work.

Anyway, I want to get in a little bit about weight loss somewhere in this disjointed ramble, so here goes. Yesterday was a little panicky at work due to technical difficulties, but I didn't eat at the problem. I mean, I ate... but I didn't use it to medicate the difficulties I was having. I can only think that practicing mindfulness is having good effect, and the process of deciding to eat healthy things is becoming habit. Also I got out of my Big Chair about 8:30 and went to the gym. A mile and a half on the treadmill, 3.5 MPH at 4% incline (6% the last ten minutes) and a weight circuit. Exercising at the gym has become a huge part of my Physical Reclamation project. In a short workout, like last night's, I burn maybe 500 calories. That's an entire meal. Plus, I can really see and feel my body changing... I know that adding muscle slows the weight loss a tiny bit, but I'm not concerned with that. First, at my current BMI, fat is going to burn off way faster than muscle is going to grow. Second, my deal is not so much about the number as it is the shape, ya dig? When all that extra fat comes off, there will be a much more pleasing shape waiting underneath. I can see bits of it coming to the surface even now, and I'm very happy with how it's going.

I'm not sure if I'll be posting while I'm kind of on vacation. I might, but I might decide to give it a pass until Thursday. I have a lot to think over and do between now and then... I'll let you know all about it when I get back. So! Until then:

Keep a watch out, keep the home fires burning, and if I'm not back in half an hour... call the president. -Jack Burton

Steve "Big Daddy" Hodgson

February the fourteenth, 2010

290 pounds