Bella and Albus, two of the three fur-lizards that allow Bobby and Sue to provide for them. In the morning, when I went into the kitchen to make coffee, Albus would roll onto my feet so that I could propel him around the house.
Back from Missoula. I had a really great couple of days; I visited with loving friends, learned to fold paper cranes, played with lunatic cats, got treated to a couple of movies, and ate healthy meals. Also, Bobby and I went to the gym at the university... ooh, fancy.
Their gym has a big indoor track for running and walking... hard-rubber coated, nice on the feets. Bobby and I walked at a quickstep for a mile, then commenced to running. We alternated running and walking until we reached two miles, then walked one final lap: one lap = one tenth of a mile. Added up, we ran four tenths of a mile; just shy of one half a mile! Maybe that doesn't seem like a lot to smaller people, but for men of a certain stature, that is big news. You that have known Bobby and me for some time will understand. I had a vision, which I shared with Bobby, of what might have happened in the mind of one of our old friends had they happened to accidentally catch a glimpse of us running by. I imagined stunned disbelief followed by a swearing-off of whatever intoxicants they might have recently ingested, or even a quick thought to enter the priesthood. In any case, I'm going back in a month or so in order that Bobby and I might attempt to run a full mile. Golly. Reading that last bit, it looks absolutely insane. I better hit the gym here as much as possible.
As far as eating goes, only Monday was difficult. I wanted to charge full-tilt-boogie into the places that I loved to eat at in the past and just go to town. Hu Hot mongolian grill was at the top of the list, followed closely by the italian deli with the monster sandwiches, Taco Del Mar, Taco Bell, China Buffet and Thai Spicy.
I believe I might have given in to some or all of those temptations had Bobby not also been trying to alter his lifestyle in a healthy way. He has lost a lot of weight, and having him there to talk me down provided just enough accountability so that I could resist Hu Hot's siren song. He and Sue even resisted buying popcorn at the movies when we went. I'm very thankful.
All in all, a lovely visit, and another milestone reached: it is possible to go out of the home-area and routine and still make good eating choices. Not easy, but possible... and every victory adds more hard-welds to the structure of the new lifestyle.
Farther up and further in!
Steve "Big Daddy" Hodgson
February the eighteenth, 2010
288.6 pounds
Grand job! Travel is my hardest, but I don't travel much.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your new lifestyle and weight loss. Next time you're in town you may not need to be so austere in regards to HuHot. We've been promoting "Healthy HuHot" lately, and have some resources here for people looking to make some healthy eating choices at HuHot. http://huhot.com/html/healthyhuhot.html
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
Genghis
o_O
ReplyDeleteTravel is hard. But you went to the gym! On the spring leg of Mockingbird I was pretty good about working out. Not so much the second leg XD
Sounds like you're really getting a handle on the food craving...remembering that whatever hole a good burrito-feed might fill at the time, you still..hm..end up with heartburn. Something like that. :D
Hm...maybe I shouldn't try to write thoughtful metaphors without coffee :D
Welcome home. We're home, too, back from Austin. We did not eat as healthily as you did, due primarily to our forays into and around Austin. But Mark cooked every night, and he is very good at it, with emphasis on things Mediterranean and Indian. That was some healthy AND delicious eating.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I'm a few pounds over my preferred weight, and I definitely can't run a mile; probably not even a half. So I'm looking to you for inspiration in these departments, as well as elsewhere.
Be in touch.
Dad
Wow. Hey, guys... HuHot Mongolian Grill busted me talking about them. For real. Ahem... Dear HuHot, my desire to avoid you has nothing to do with the choices of food that you offer. I still love you, and will cherish the time we had together. The problem for me is my own inability to control myself when I'm near you. Portion control completely escapes me... perhaps I can be with you again when I reach my goal and a stronger measure of resistance has become habit. Your friend, Steve
ReplyDeleteI missed you! Welcome home!
ReplyDeleteDidn't mean to bust you :) just inform you... but yes I think portion control is the real variable when it comes to weight loss. Looking forward to seeing you in the restaurant when you feel comfortable in the face of bottomless bowls.
ReplyDeleteGood luck,
Genghis