Day 25 - Learning the Ropes

This is how I look after a mile.

I'm scratching some itches and advancing in the diet a little faster than "the plan" calls for. I've been focusing on meat (to satisfy my daily protein requirement) and have incorporated some hamburger meat into my diet. I've been real careful to basically liquify everything in my mouth before swallowing, and haven't experienced any significant issues yet. So I'm real happy where I'm at right now as far as the foods I'm eating.

The great thing is that I feel normal again. I can go to restaurants with the family. I don't mind seeing other people eat anymore. Smells don't bother me. It's nice. And aside from not being able to drink with my meal and the extremely reduced quantities, I feel normal.

I'm still struggling to get into a routine as far as the meds go. I still have to take a pill for my thyroid. I also have to take two multivitamins and 4 calcium supplements a day. Right now it's all a lot to remember. That, along with 16oz of milk. 64oz of water. 80 grams of protein. I just need to get into a good routine.

The one thing that I have done successfully this week is exercise. I've walked about five miles over the last five days. My goal is to exercise five times a week. Tonight's walk with be the fifth and will push me over 6 miles for the week.

I'm able to walk a mile fairly easily. I've pushed it to a mile and a quarter without any pain. But right now I'm just trying to stay with a mile. In a few weeks I'll push it up to a mile and a half. It's taking me between 20 and 25 minutes to walk a mile, depending on how I'm feeling that day. When I'm really hoofing it I can do it in 20 minutes. I almost feel good enough to try to jog a little, but I've refrained. I'm still under doctor's order to not do anything strenuous. And dragging 390 pounds around a track at anything faster than a quick walk probably qualifies as strenuous.

Blood pressure is still good and legs are slowly feeling better. I'm not having any pain associated with walking now in the thighs. The numbness is still present, but I can deal with that.

Weight this morning: 391 (-50lbs)

Regards,
John