Just In Time

I've had a pretty good week on South Beach "Phase 1" -- it's in quotes because carbs sort of crept back into my diet in both weeks we were supposed to be avoiding them (Including lunch in a few minutes and dinner tonight).

However, we've been pretty well behaved, and I've hit the excercise hard (including as soon as I finish this post, and before lunch -- the boys are pretty excited about getting to help walk the dog)

The good news is . . . next weekend is the Boy Scouts "Lincoln Pilgrimage."  Every year since 1946, the Scouts have assembled in Springfield.  For the first several years they gathered at the State Capitol Building and paraded to Lincoln's Tomb.  Then for many years it was reversed.   Nowadays we walk from Lincoln's Tomb to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

Next Sunday will be my 21st Lincoln Pilgrimage (I was a participant for 20 consecutive years, 1981 to 2001, and haven't been back since). . . and to celebrate, I've managed to reduce to the point where I can wear yet more old clothes.

My dark green uniform trousers now fit, and I'll be wearing them for Sunday's parade.  My long sleeved uniform shirt is a size L, and it's slightly tighter than I wish it was.  But if the weather is cool enough for long sleeves. . . the shirt fits, and I'm going to wear it.

Alas, my beloved 24-year-old "Red Jac-shirt" is still awfully tight.   It is possible to wear it, but it looks awfully tight.

I tried it on this morning and the boys each reacted strongly.  John said "Wow, look at all the patches!  What do they mean, Dad?" and Joshua said "Dad!  That's too small!"

So progress remains to be made.

Doughnut Disaster

Ugh.  I've spent the last two weeks proving that stress + opportunity = overeating.

Since Easter, I've theoretically been on "phase 1" the most restrictive part of the South Beach Diet.  In practice, not so much.  We abandoned Phase 1 entirely over the weekend (pancakes Saturday morning and Pizza for dinner tonight), and that was the BEST part of the week.

We had a couple of minor problems at the office this week, both of which were coincidentally on the days when someone brought goodies.  So in a work week when I was supposed to be avoiding carbohydrates completely, I managed to eat four doughnuts and a slice of cake.

And the scale shows it. . . on March 23, I hit 222 pounds.  The next day, 221.  By the Monday after Easter I was back to 224.  Phase 1 was good to me the first half of the week, bringing me back down to 222 by Wednesday . . . but then the doughnut disaster happened, and by Friday I was back to 225.  Other than pizza crust and pancakes, I've behaved over the weekend, and Friday was pretty good.

And, most importantly, I exercised hard over the weekend.

And so I was back down to 223 this morning.   Hoping next week is better than last.

Visible Progress

I cut the grass tonight, and NEED to wear a belt with my old jeans or face arrest for indecent exposure.  So I was sorting through my belts and decided to take a quick picture to show my progress on this diet.   The belt on the left is a size 48, purchased in December 2010. The one in the middle is a 40, from October 2011.  The one on the right is a 36. . . purchased in July 1984 at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimmeron NM.  I wore it tonight while cutting the grass.  I suppose I haven't worn it since I bought its replacement (a size 38) in 1994.