Break Time!

Early yesterday morning I did a quick calculation and determined that I had already topped 300,000 steps for the month. When Chris got up, we decided that yesterday would be a day off from unpacking and getting settled in.
We spent the day doing nothing. I barely made 2000 steps and didn't even get out of my pajamas.
I also skipped logging food yesterday. It wasn't a bad diet day. I just didn't log anything.

Back at it today.

Be well,
John

The Unhealthy Guy Still Sets the Rules

Sometimes I laugh at the name of this blog -- Healthy Living (by an unhealthy guy).
I laugh because I realize just how true it is.

Here's an example of how unhealthy John tries to be more healthy:

Early yesterday afternoon I realized I was at around 6,000 steps.
The 4,000 steps I need is a little under two miles of walking.
The nearest convenience store is a mile away.
The plan? Walk to the store. Buy a six pack of beer. Walk home. Sit on the shaded deck with a cold beer, a good cigar, and feeling good about another 10,000 step day!

So walking to buy beer and sitting around smoking a cigar probably aren't the healthiest options for healthy living, but I got a bit of productive work accomplished in the morning, took a short walk in the afternoon, and enjoyed the quiet time on the deck.

12,276 for the day.

The unhealthy guy's diet included a few cookies and a couple of beers, but was well under the calorie count for slow but steady weight loss.

Life is good.
Be well,
John

Busted -- again

So yesterday was another bust on the steps. I'm okay with it since we got plenty of things accomplished around the house. The grand total was a mere 6,382.
My knees needed a rest day. The hill stepping and stairs from Sunday took its toll on them. Carrying my fat butt is never an easy task.

I restarted using the MyFitnessPal app to keep track of my diet. Overall, yesterday was a good day. Tracking food keeps me mindful of what I'm eating and helps me to eat better as well as eat less.

It's a new day and time to get going.

Be well,
John

Moving in the Right Direction

With last week's move, I managed to stay pretty active. Yesterday's activity was moving related as I relocated many boxes, tubs, and other items from the garage to the basement. Walking around the house instead of using the stairs (it's a walkout basement) helped me to my 11,461 step total for the day. Thunderstorms are in the forecast for this afternoon, so I'll either have to walk early or figure on something else for today.

I stepped on the scale again today and was down a pound from last Wednesday. I'll probably go back to Monday morning weigh ins as my weekly check. Today's number was 254. It's high but at least it's moving in the right direction.

Be well,
John

Time for a Change -- Almost

I missed 10,000 steps twice last week; the only two times I missed this month. I have just a few days left (5 including today) and hope to end the month by hitting each day's goal. Yesterday's step total was 10,585 and included a three+ mile walk.

I still need to get the weight machine put together and the basement set up for exercise. I'd like to add some variety to the daily exercise. I would still like to maintain the daily step count, but wouldn't mind some bicycle time or weight lifting as an alternative exercise during May.

My diet isn't too bad. I just need to have some healthier snack choices available.

John

Hills and Stairs

After just a couple of walks around our new location, my butt is noticing the difference a few hills can make in a daily walk. A couple of miles here is a bit more work than the relatively level Greenway Trail that I've been walking for the past few months.
Also, there are a few more stairs in my day. Most of the time I seem to be carrying something either up or down as we get settled and move things to storage or bring things up from the basement.

All this to say that I'm feeling the 10,478 steps I took yesterday.
Have a great weekend!

John

Oops! Starting over -- again!

Even though I began the day with the idea that I might fall short of 10,000 steps, the truth is I could have easily managed it. I was a little lazy and indulged in an afternoon cigar while enjoying what turned out to be a beautiful, sunny afternoon. I took a short walk with Chris and had 8,662 steps for the day.
My weekly count is over 52,000 so I'm still averaging over 10,000/day if that counts for anything.

After five months in the little apartment without the weight scale -- it's back!

Weight is an odd issue. I don't want to be consumed with it, but I know that a healthier me would weigh a lot less. Right now I weigh about the same as I did a few months ago (actually, a few pounds less). I really think that we will be doing better on the daily diet in our new place.
With more to do, snacking is less of a distraction. The kitchen is nice and we both enjoy cooking. We are a little farther away from a grocery with fresh produce or a farmer's market. That will play a role in what we have on hand or how often we need to go to the store. We are both looking forward to cooking healthy dinners in our new home.

This morning's weigh in was 256 lbs (that's 116.1 kg if my international friends want to know how fat I am!). I know that I need to be back around 200 lbs (90.7 kg). I'm not going to obsess with losing the weight; I just want to be moving in that direction.

I'm a believer in --
Eat for weight management
Exercise for good health

So there it is. Eat well. Keep moving. That's the plan.
Simple, right?

John

Another Rainy Day

I managed 10,593 steps yesterday. It was day that included finishing up with getting out of the apartment and unpacking things in the house. Although I figured it would be another day that I was short on steps, when I saw that I had 9200 at about 10pm I decided to pace the basement long enough to reach my daily goal (it was raining outside).

Today looks to be another rainy day so I may resign myself to setting up the exercise room. I might even manage to get on the treadmill for a bit.

John

Earth Day!

I hope to enjoy Mother Earth today with a nice walk. It is cool this morning and there is rain in the forecast. I can use a day of gentle rain to help this new lawn get started so no complaints from me.

I didn't get a walk in yesterday, but moving was enough to get me 13,670 steps.
The streak is at 2!

I hope you have a grand day.
Enjoy the Earth that God has given to us.
Take care of it.

Be well,
John

Day 1 of a New Streak

Getting a little later start than usual today. I guess a couple of days of actually doing something wears an old man out. I did manage to get my steps in for the day. At some point I realized that about half my steps were weighted, meaning I was carrying something. That would have also been true for Sunday.
I did take a short 1 mile walk in the afternoon.

My 12,402 steps yesterday almost made up for the steps missed on Sunday.
In any case, it's the beginning of a new streak.

John

Starting Over

It was expected.
The streak of consecutive 10,000 step days ended yesterday with only 7,404 steps for my day's total.
March 31 through April 18, 19 consecutive days.

Today is a new day. It's another day of unpacking so a new streak may have to wait until tomorrow, but today will be another day of activity other than taking a long walk.

Be well,
John

Still Stepping

Moving day was a strange day.
We hired Two Men and a Truck (actually four men and two trucks) to empty the storage units and bring our stuff to the new house. Although I was on my feet all day, I really didn't do that much work.
I did manage just over 10,000 steps and ended the day at 10,372.

Between unpacking, setting up the house, and some rain in the forecast, this week may be a bust.
I'm okay with that. I'll keep an eye on the count and activity level and do what I can to keep the numbers up, but there's always the next streak to look forward to if this one comes to an end.

So far I have a perfect month of April with enough extra steps that I can afford to miss a day (or two) and still reach 300,000 steps for the month.

Be well,
John

Moving Day

I'm glad I got an early walk in yesterday morning. That got me close enough to 10K steps that it only took a short stroll last night to make the daily goal.
10,533 was my step count.

Today is anybody's guess. It's moving day, but most of the work will be done by hired movers. I don't know if I'll get in the steps supervising the move. I'm not going to worry about it much. I just may have to make a withdrawal from the step bank!

Have a great day.
Be well,
John

Weird Day

Yesterday's exercise turned out differently than I expected. I thought I was going to walk the area around our new house -- but I didn't. I did walk to where I'll need to put up a mailbox -- .26 miles (.42km) there and back to the house. The perimeter of our 5 acre lot is .46 miles (.74km). and has a couple of good dips and rises. Other than that, I didn't do any walking at the new (today) place and had to put in some time on the walking trail here at the apartment. I ended the day with 10,738 steps.

I'll try to get a walk in this morning before we close at noon. This afternoon we'll be prepping for the movers and moving some stuff on our own. Who knows what the next few days will bring. I'll have to find a new normal routine in the coming days.

Be well,
John

Not a Great Food Day

Maybe it's just being restricted, but there is way too much snacking going on. Most days aren't too bad. Yesterday was worse. Time to focus more on what I'm eating.

Step-wise it was a good day -- 12,411.
It's a new day.

Be well,
John

Looking ahead to next week...

I'm still stepping out.
I keep thinking that I'll skip a day. Maybe I'll keep getting out for as long as I'm confined to this tiny apartment. This weekend we will be moving. I imagine that Saturday will be an active day. I seriously doubt that I'll get my walk in, but I shouldn't have a problem with the step goal.

My step total for 4 - 14 was 11,572.

While walking daily is good for me and I feel pretty good, I'm still carrying way too much weight. I'm not too concerned about the actual number and haven't had a scale to check it for five months. That will change next week.

I still want my overall focus to be on feeling good, but I know that the science of feeling good at a more healthy weight beats the crap out of what I'm feeling now. I'll be able to add some variety to my activity and exercise. We'll have our bicycles, a stationary bike and treadmill for the nasty weather days, our weight machine, and some dumbbells. We'll also have plenty of space -- both inside and outside -- for exercise.
Plus there will be the activity of landscaping, gardening, and caring for the five acres of our home. It all begins next week!

For today, I'll be back out for another walk.

Be well,
John

What Happened to Spring?

Sunday night's temperature dipped below freezing. Yesterday's high was only in the mid 40s (around 7C). Last night it was back at freezing and it might make it up to 50 (10C) today.

I put off walking until 4:30 or so, but managed to get my 10,000 steps for the day. (10,209)
It's overcast and cold to start today and I have a few errands to take care of this morning. It will probably late afternoon/early evening before I walk again today.

Stay healthy, my friends.
John

4 - 12, 10,802

So with a light rain coming down, I thought I'd do something different yesterday. Although our apartment building is only four stories, I thought I'd do some stairs. The stairs are outside but covered and sheltered from a light rain.

I did 400+ steps up (I used the elevator for downs) and then decided that the rain was light enough for a walk around the building. I figured to stay close enough that if it got heavier it wouldn't be too bad. As it tapered off to nothing, I ventured farther away, first in larger circles, then on down the trail. I never started the app to track my distance, but using the step count I figure it pretty close to 4 miles.
The daily total was 10,802.

It's a new day out, sunny and cool. I've a few things to do this morning, but should get my walk in this afternoon.

John

4 - 11, 10885

I spent most of yesterday sitting around and not feeling like going out for a walk. It was evening before I forced myself out the door to walk 4 miles. Even with that, I barely made my 10,000 steps. By the end of the day I had 10,885.
It ends up a good week with the streak still intact.
My diet sucked yesterday. Overdid the carbs in a big way. Today's a new day.

At some point, I know I'll take a day off and I'll do it guilt free.
Maybe today.

John

4 - 10

A nice long walk (4 miles) and that was about it.
I took 10,496 steps.
Today is going to be a rainy day and I may give myself a pass. I have enough steps to average 10,000 per day for the week. I'll post my decision tomorrow.

John

Still going ... barely!

I managed to keep the 10,000 step streak alive yesterday, but it took some pacing the hallway in the apartment building at around 10pm.

I did get a short walk (2.5 miles) in before dinner and enough activity that I only needed to walk the length of the hallway a couple of times. I better be sure to get today's walk in. Tomorrow is supposed to be stormy.

One week to closing and then into the new house!

Be well,
John

From 30C to 30F

Spring in the Ozarks!
If the thunderstorms and pollen aren't enough to mess with your senses, there are always a few extreme temperature changes to see who prematurely packed away their winter gear. It was 87F (30C) here yesterday. It will be a few degrees below freezing tonight.
The next few days will be cool enough that even a mid-afternoon walk won't be too hot.

I managed a nice walk early in the day and then a shorter one in the evening. My daily step total was on the plus side of 14,500. I already have more than 10,000 extra steps for the week so I can do absolutely nothing for a day and still carry a 10K average. I've no plans to do that, but if Saturday's storms turn into an all day rain -- I'm covered.

Be well,
John

The Struggle is Real

It was a beautiful day in the Ozarks of Southwest Missouri -- and I didn't feel like doing anything involving activity. In fact, I considered giving myself the day off. I spent a good chunk of the afternoon sitting outside, reading a book, and enjoying a good cigar.

From the morning trip to the grocery store, an evening trip to check on our new home, and just normal activity, by evening I had enough steps in that I knew a 2.5 mile walk would put me at 10K steps for the day. Even though the sun had already set and the full moon was well above the horizon, I got my steps in -- 10,533 for April 7 and my eighth day in a row of topping 10,000 steps.

I should get today's walk in early as it's supposed to be mid to upper 80s this afternoon (30c)!
Don't pack away the sweatshirts and jackets yet. It's still spring in the Ozarks. Tomorrow (Thursday) night is forecast to dip below the freezing point!

Don't let "stay at home" keep you from getting a little exercise. One of my friends says movement is medicine.

Be well,
John

Stepping Out!

Yesterday was a beautiful day!
The sky was a high overcast layer that blocked out the sun, but it was warm and a great day to be outside for a long walk. Today will be even better as the clouds should be gone and the thermometer makes its way to 80.

It turns out that I didn't start my day with yoga. I'm not sure why it happened that way, but it did. Today I have to go grocery shopping with the old people.

Day 6 step count was 11,373.

The phone app I use to track steps and activity shows a significant decrease in average steps (for men using the app) and minutes of activity over the past several weeks. Three weeks ago the average was 4500 steps per day. Two weeks ago it had dropped to 3700. Last week it was just over 3000.
I guess the shelter in place orders and the working from home are also taking their toll on physical activity.

Be well,
John

Day 5

4/5 was another good day as far as stepping and walking went. I took a 2.5 mile walk with Chris in the early afternoon and then a 2.2 mile solo walk a little later. I ended the day with 14,376 steps.
Again -- no yoga, but I think I'll start the day with a session today.

John

Day 4

Another day of no yoga, but I did manage to get my steps in -- 10,396.

I need to write about diet, as well. So far it seems that I may be doing comparatively well under the current conditions. Like most people, we are eating out less. That usually translates to eating less as restaurant portions are generally quite large.
I'll make diet a part of future posts.

Be well,
John

Day 3 gets a C

C -- as in an average letter grade.

I took a nice walk. I'm starting to get my pace back up to what it was when I wasn't so damned fat. I'm not real concerned about walking faster, but it does allow me to walk farther in the same amount of time.
Yesterday I managed 10,830 steps but skipped Day 3 of my yoga. Maybe I'll do two yoga sessions today and skip the walk. Or maybe I'll just let it go and call it the past.

Have a great day and be well,
John

Day 2: a small victory

We live in a time when every small plus is a victory of sorts. Perhaps, that's an attitude that I can carry forward beyond this current crisis. My small win was just in successfully completing day 2.
I had to add a short evening walk to top 10,000 steps, but I did it. I didn't move much after that (the apartment is only 500 sq ft) and finished the day at a mere 10,186 steps.

I managed my yoga session around midday, right after my 3+ mile walk. One wouldn't think you could be too out of shape for beginning yoga, but... this old fatboy needs some help! Hopefully, by the end of the month I'll be doing much better.

Here's an article on the online yogi I've been following.
I've been following Adriene for a few years and have used different 30 day series as daily practice in the past. Sometimes I imagine myself able to accomplish complex poses and balances, but then I remember that I can't even gracefully step from a plank to a forward lunge!
Ha! I can't even gracefully get up from or down to the mat! Maybe I'll be able to manage that in 30 days!

A couple of rainy days in the forecast will make stepping a challenge. We'll see what happens.

Be well,
John

No Fooling

So April is off to a good start.
I took a nice 3.17 mile walk early and did Day 1 of a 30 day plan of Yoga with Adriene (YWA).
I finished the day with a mile walk in the evening.
11,515 steps plus the yoga.

I have to say that I really suck at yoga. Even this simple beginner session caused some struggle.
First, it has been a long time.
Second, dang my arms are weak, as well as my overall upper body strength.
And my core strength and flexibility are also in need of some serious work.

Today is Day 2.
I'm going to try this daily logging thing again.
Wish me luck!

John

Healthy Habits

So in the past couple of weeks since I stopped posting my daily steps I've pretty much sucked at staying active. I guess I need the personal accountability of posting to a blog that nobody reads.
sigh

Well it is a new month -- a new quarter, in fact -- and another opportunity for a fresh start.
My daughter-in-law has me starting a 30 day yoga series. It's way more reasonable than starting that P90X crap that she convinced me to do a couple of years ago. Chris says that she'll do the yoga with me, although neither on of us seems too enthusiastic about it. Any exercise will be easier once we get moved out of our apartment and into our new home mid-month.

So...
It's April 1st.
It's Day 1.
I'll let you know how it goes.

Be well,
John