Leaven Leaving

Thru-hikers are a rare breed. They choose to walk several miles on the same long-distance trail, end-to-end. It takes weeks, months for these courageous (foolish?) souls to complete there journey. For several days in a row, they wear the same clothes and eat the same package calorie-rich foods. Living in Oregon, I have at least heard of the Pacific Crest Trail , but thru-hikers get their kicks all over the globe. Because they walk every day, the miles really do add up. But what happens when they decide to stay in camp for a day? Or they leave the trail for a nearby town and replenish their stores? Or, worse, they become ill and cannot carry on? On those days, they don't walk any miles. That is where the term, "taking a zero," comes from. Whether they are compelled to or it's completely voluntary, they walk zero miles that day. Sunday came and went with so much activity and distraction, that by the time the dust settled, I was too tired to do anything--it was the e...

I don't normally take the advice of TV personalities, but I came across something that was very insightful. I can point to this very list to help describe where I was in relation to food. Now that I try to follow the plan--eating every 2-3 hours--I can attest to the fact that there are different types of hunger. Moving from Emotional Hunger to True Hunger has been the most difficult part of this journey. Admittedly, there are times when I am low and the emotion takes hold. In my current phase--the maintaining phase--I find it more difficult to fight it off. One more reason to keep running!

I noticed yesterday that my old running shoes had dust all over them! Yet when I put them on again today, I didn't bother to dust them off. I say let the road do it! After all, it is the journey that gets me to the destination. Today was a scorcher. It reached 94 degrees in my neck of the woods. When I returned from my run I had to peel off my clothes! I felt a little sore from yesterday. I felt muscles that I haven't felt in awhile. It felt good. Afterward, crunches, leg lifts, pushups, all felt good. I've been working on the lighter, now it's time to work on the fitter.

I am a runner. Well, I ran today. Does that make me a runner? I suppose by running I am a runner. Yes, I am a runner. I have been off of my "diet" for a few months and the new goal is to maintain my weight loss. I started walking and disc golfing regularly. But I am looking for more ways to burn more calories. So I started running. I've run before. I never kept it up. It felt different today. I actually thought, "Hey, I can do this!" Yes, I am a runner.