It’s strange being back!
For the last month I have experienced things differently. Whether these count as leaving my comfort zone, or they are just a symptom of changing scenery, some changes from the norm include:
- Maintaining an average velocity of 1.8 mph for 27 days.
- Consuming over 3,000 calories daily (including bacon, beer, donuts, and pasta) and losing ten pounds
- Blogging two and a half times daily.
- Taking an average of 35 pictures per day without days off.
- Talking to strangers every day.
- Making new friends. (Should this be on the list? Why is it harder to make new friends at 30 than at 20?)
- Flirting.
- Receiving unsolicited hot food from strangers.
- Reading food containers trying to maximize calories per dollar and per pound.
- Finding fruit by the road and eating it.
So what do I do now? I had to mentally shift gears as I walked into the grocery store tonight. I was able to buy things that require refrigeration, and I had to think about meals that are appropriate to my reduced level of activity. I lost some weight on this trip, and although that wasn’t the point of any of this it would be cool to keep it off or continue to lose a few more pounds. If I go back to how I’ve been eating for the last month, I’ll outgrow my pants in no time! I also found that it didn’t feel right to just sit around all day, and I needed to go climb the Lake Chabot hill on my bike just to get the blood moving. If this trip turned me on to regular exercise, how weird is that?!?
The “plan” now is to find a job as an engineer, and to move into my own apartment. In the meanwhile, I am aiming to get rid of some of my physical possessions and to work on a couple of projects that will get their own pages here. Keep an eye out, and I’ll have more here soon.