New beginnings in 2008

While I don't do the typical New Year Resolution thing, I do tend to start things over with the changing of the calendar year.


For instance, I've gone into my Virtual Trip Across America account and wiped out all the 2007 data while adding the 1.7 miles I rode today. I won't be reposting the pictures for the first 30 or so miles, and even after that I may not post them at all. It's still too early to know how I'll feel about it.

I've also started adjusting my eating habits. During the months of November and December (2007) I was looking over my food logs and discovered that on days following a series of low carb days, I felt more energetic, ached less, and generally felt better. So! While I'm not exactly working towards a low carb life-style, I am working on keeping my carb intake per day lower than what I have allowed it to be in previous years.

And, finally, my weight. As I enter this new year it's up again, but I did spend a great deal of time not exercising during the later part of 2007. When I stepped on the scale this morning I was told that I weighed 273.8 pounds. I haven't yet set any weight goals for this year. I'm focused more on feeling better and having fewer days that I spend curled on the couch because it simply hurts too much to move. If I shed some pounds along the way then yay! I get new clothes! If not, then I'm ok with that too. And I still get new clothes.

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mile check: 1.7
weight check: 273.8

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Checkpoint - 26 miles

I was a total slacker today. I only did four miles tonight after dinner. I'm still in Jamestown, VA and only three miles away from Chickahominy River, VA. This is where I'm at now:





I have a lot of thoughts twirling about inside my head but I'm not grasping anything too firmly just yet, so I'm heading to bed. Maybe I'll get things worked out in a day or three.

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Checkpoint - 22 miles

I didn't ride yesterday. Life was just wonky that way. However, after several hours of tossing and turning and not sleeping, I got up a little before midnight and rode 2 miles. I went back to bed, read for half an hour or so then slept. I didn't sleep well, but I slept.



This evening I rode 3 miles before cooking dinner, and then rode an additional 2 miles. I'm not sore, but I am tired. I think it's the not sleeping well lately. And not going to bed on time. Though I've been sleeping enough hours most nights, I've been going to bed at midnight or later each night, then sleeping later than I like in the mornings. I need to fix that.

Anyway...

I'm 7 miles from Chickahominy River, Virginia. This is what it looks like at 22 miles.

I think it might be time for bed now.

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Checkpoint - 15 miles

I rode 2 miles earlier in the afternoon then 3 more miles tonight after dinner. This afternoon's miles were... less easy... than they should have been, but I got almost no sleep last night. Factor in the not riding Saturday or Sunday, and yeah, I was surprised I made it two miles.



Tonight's miles were fairly easy. I planned on riding two miles, but felt strong enough to go to 2.5 when I hit 2. I ended up going three miles, and even then I think I could have gone another half mile without any real damage being done. I didn't want to push myself too hard, though, since I'm adding the morning ride to my routine.

So in all, I rode 5 more miles today. I'm in Williamsburg now and have 6.13 more miles to go before I hit Jamestown.

The picture is at the 14.8 mile mark.

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Weekend update

Normally this post would be on Saturday, but I was busy. And since it's so late tonight, I'll keep it short.



I didn't ride on Saturday or Sunday. While it was nowhere a lazy weekend for me, I decided it was better to take a day or two off. I plan to incorporate a morning ride into my days starting this week, so that I'm riding a few miles in the morning and a few miles in the evening. It may only happen a few days at first, but the whole idea is to build everything up slowly so that I don't hurt myself.

My weight as of Saturday morning was 275.6 pounds. Not a bad start at all.

And this is the map that shows the trail I'm taking all the way across the United States. The entire trip is 4063 miles. I've ridden 10 (that black dot is me). I have a loooong way to go.

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Checkpoint - 10 miles

Another 3.5 miles down the road brings me here:




I'm only 3 miles away from Williamsburg.

I can tell my stamina is building quickly. My period has me drained, but I rode easily tonight. By the time I hit three miles, I was still doing ok so instead of stopping I went on. The last quarter of a mile was a bit of a struggle, but still! Three and a half miles!

That's it for tonight. I'm distracted by Pan's Labyrinth.

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Checkpoint - 6.5 miles

Tonight's adventures took me another 2.5 miles down the road to here:




I believe I'm still in Yorktown, but I'm 6.5 miles away from Williamsburg, VA now. Yay me!

I rode at the usual resistance setting of 10 and kept the speed between 10 and 11 miles per hour. My thigh didn't cramp up at all, and I got only a little winded. My thighs did get a bit tight during the last half mile, but nothing too terribly painful.

I'm on my way to bed, and between the computer and bed I plan on doing some stretching.

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Checkpoint - 4 miles

Tonight I rode 2 miles straight. Again I had the bike's resistance set at 10, but this time I kept the speed between 10 and 11 miles per hour. I had no problems as far was breathing, getting hot or anything like that. I probably would have pushed myself to try for a third mile if I hadn't developed a stitch in my upper right thigh near the end of the second mile. The stitch eased up almost instantly once I stopped riding. I should probably start stretching or something before and after I ride.



I'm still in Yorktown, but there's only 9.10 miles to go before I'm in Williamsburg!

This is the 3.9 mile picture (they don't have a 4 mile picture):


Normally I wouldn't post the map, too, but since this is only the second day I'm still a little giddy and giggly about the black line showing how far I've gone.

This is the map of how far I've gone:


As final notes before I fall asleep watching the AFI 100 Years 100 Movies thing, I really don't expect to see any real change in weight for at least a week or more. I've set my first goal as to weigh 270 pounds by the end of July, 2007 because that should be fairly manageable without being too demanding on my joints or unrealistic. I'll be posting a weekly update on my actual weight on Saturdays. I still don't know if I want to post what I eat every day. That can get tedious, not to mention boring. And I believe that's it.

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Check Point - 2 miles

I took it rather easy on the exercise bike today. I did one mile earlier in the morning then a second mile after dinner. Both times I kept a steady pace of 10mph with a resistance setting of 10 (I don't know what that translates into, but it's a mid-range resistance on the bike).


I didn't want to push my legs or my joints too hard too fast, and although I didn't really feel any pain, there was a little strain and quiver in my thighs the second time but that faded rather quickly after I stopped riding. I did get a bit winded, though. Apparently my day to day activities haven't kept up my stamina. I'll take it slow while I build that up.

But! I rode two miles today. I'm still in Yorktown, Virginia.

This is the picture at 1 mile:


This is 2 miles:

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Virtual Tour Across America

This is the starting point for the virtual tour.

This is what that starting point - Yorktown, Virginia - looks like.

Later tonight I'll post my progress for today as well as pictures of my stopping point.

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