Diet Department: I am now ten pounds below my target short-term maintenance weight. I’m already lighter than I have been in twenty-five years. My new target weight is 174 pounds. I have gone back to my pre-maintenance diet of 1800 calories per day. I’m only concerned about averaging that and losing 1 or 2 pounds per week. Part of what goes into that count is the supplements that I use on workout days. When I was on the metabolic project (see episode 57) I added a few things, fruit in my oatmeal, grape nuts in my yogurt, and wheat thins with my chili. So I am cutting those out now for this cutting phase. I’m going back to turkey as my ground meat of choice, a taco or two less, or with no chips. Small adjustments now are all that is necessary.
Fitness Department: I’m coming off a series of physical therapy sessions. And I need to adjust my workout routine now that I’m on my own. I did go to my very economical gym this week. There are some deficiencies, I might upgrade if my situation improves. It’s good to be back walking after a few weeks off.

Abundance: It is important to have an attitude of abundance. I do have shortcomings. I’m not rich, I don’t have a family of my own. But maybe I’ve just learned to love my life and that loving makes life better. There are a few famous examples I think of, people who were obviously very fortunate, in a material or vocational way at least. But they didn’t understand this and wound up with very unfortunate ends. Michael Jackson comes to mind.

I have a bad knee and a bad neck, but I can walk. I can walk five miles at a time. Not everybody can, I am very grateful for that. That’s abundance. And everyone has something to give. If you can stand up for a couple of hours, volunteer at a food back, for example. That will show you your own abundance as you meet people who depend on others for their food. My life changed when I started giving of whatever I had to give. Those who horde what that have, whether time, talent, or treasure, really have nothing. The more we give, the more we have to give. It’s been true in my life.

Assumption of Goodwill: Recently I encountered people giving away tickets at a baseball game. No one was taking the tickets, and I almost walked by them. I had to ask them a couple of questions to make sure there wasn’t some kind of catch. Why didn’t I assume they just meant well? There was no obligation, the tickets were free, but no one wanted to believe it. People are essentially good, even if it is the kind of good only they believe in. Most people are trying to be good in the way that they understand good. In philosophy this is called the apparent good.

Weight (change since Jan 2018): 203 (-71)
Workout time: 112 Minutes
Total Distance (total since Nov 2017): 4.35 Miles (149.46)
Steps: 16,140
Goals: (1) Run 10.5 miles in one day by 11/18/18 (2) Lose 100lbs by 12/25/18