Day 248

During my run this morning, I noticed just how much my pace has picked up over the months.  The first few months, I pretty much only walked and indeed, my original intention was to simply be sure that I covered my minimum 10 K steps each day with no intention of ever running; however, it wasn’t long before I threw in a few jogging steps here and there.

I distinctly remember setting markers at the Mission Beach that I would walk and then job, though truthfully, my jogging wasn’t much more than a fast walk.  I’d joke that old ladies with walkers were passing me as I jogged.  This pace kept up for quite a while and I was okay with it.  Then a lot of times when I needed to cross at a light or hurry to beat a turning car, I’d actually run.  This soon turned into jogging a little faster.

Now, eight months into this diet, I find myself jogging faster and faster…at least for what I call faster considering what I started out doing.  Most joggers pass me easily but I’m getting better at putting them up and putting them, so to speak.  I continue to jog/walk/jog/walk as this was a product of research that said it’s more conducive to weight loss to do this as it speeds up the heart and brings it back down.  I bought into this practice because I have seen the results.  I’m just happy to be picking up the pace and it doesn’t seem to be hurting me or having any negative effects. 

I continue to run on an empty stomach as I read this is better for weight loss (about 20%) more than eating first.  After I get back from my run each morning, I take out my fruit and a cup of coffee and relax and cool off.  It seems to be working.  I continue to be very thankful that I have yet to get sick or have an injury this year (knock on wood). 

It’s time to start getting rid of all my fat clothes.  I went to Walmart and bought a couple more shirts (L) and hoped to get some more shorts, but they didn’t have what I was looking for so I got three shirts and a carton of egg beaters for my morning omelet.  Speaking of which, Papa had given me some ham from Wednesday’s dinner and I cut some up and put in my egg scramble with the veggies and it tasted great.  It only adds about 100 calories to the meal, so it’s all good. 

I went my closet and collected all my XXL and XL shirts (maybe about 35) and took them to the Disabled Veterans store.  Included was the suit I had bought at the Men’s XL store that I paid almost $1000 and wore twice.  Wow!

Now, I’m going to have to very slowly add a new wardrobe.  Interestingly, a couple of the shirts that were large almost seems large on me but I do want to be comfortable, but I seriously have to wonder if at the end of the year, I will need to downsize to Medium—that would be crazy!

I went to the movies and saw Searching which turned out to be much better than I had anticipated. I end up the day with just over 14 K steps.  I went to the gym for my swim, but all the lanes were taken and the swimmers were just getting into the pool, so I skipped it.

Food intake: grapes (100); chicken wings (400); popcorn (300); chicken nuggets (750)