I Joined The Team of Sue, Mary Kay And Rocky

Sometimes you aren't looking for something and it finds you anyway. A few months ago I started my adventure with gout and I have been surprised by some of the things I've been finding out.

Less meat or chicken works out ok so far. Years on and off Atkins had me thinking how much of a carnivore I am. But we can change. Some days I don't even have meat or chicken or fish.

I had forgotten how much I like smoothies. When you make them at home you can add Stevia instead of sugar and still make them sweeter if that's how you like them.

An old friend and former Toastmaster got back in contact with me and told me about Isagenix and she is sensitive to my individual needs with regard to gout and doesn't try to make me fit into a one-size-fits-all regimen. She's also kind as well as smart and her mentors seems the same way. So I joined the team of Sue, Mary Kay & Rocky and now I start my Isagenix adventure. Here's my new site!

http://bigmanwalking.isagenix.com

Keep walking!

Coming Home Tomorrow

We have definitely had some big fun here in The Bahamas at Paradise Island this week and, after discovering The Marketplace buffet on Thursday we have eaten there four times. More walking and pictures are in store for today. We heard from family that our son is doing ok, though we heard he's been sick. It would be nice to hear from the horse's mouth, but...

So far I have walked 62.5 miles in 2009. Atlantis, Paradise Island is one heck of a place to take a walk.


Keep walking!

More Fun In The Sun

Today we found a place called The Cove here at Atlantis, Paradise Island. What a beautiful pool! There were beds as well as lawn chairs there and four beds in the middle of the pool. Lots of dance music, swimming, and generally laying in the sun and then back to our room to freshen up. Only after we left did we find out that we were not technically supposed to be there because we stay at the Coral Tower. We also tried out the water slides fairly early before the crowds got there and they are a blast. I haven't gone on the scariest one yet. We have gotten a little bumped and bruised on the slides and the rapids. Nothing serious, but you really have to pay attention. I'm not 100% sure they would have these in the U.S. without some restrictions making them safer. I haven't heard of anyone getting hurt seriously, but you really do have to be awake. I wouldn't go on these if I had had any alcohol. Still, if I could afford it, I would want to take all my family and a few friends here next year.

So far in 2009 I have walked 58.5 miles and what an incredible place to take a walk!

Keep walking!

Boromir Is Dead

Yesterday the Orc hunt did not go so well. We lost Boromir, yet we will live to fight another day. I did not last in my second day of the Pokerstars Caribbean Adventure when I got a set of threes beaten by a flush on the last card. For those of you who are poker novices, a set of threes means three threes with two in your hand and one among the common cards.

I have walked 50.5 miles so far in 2009. The Bahamas is incredible. When I lost yesterday I was in shock for a little while, but this place is a wonderful place to regain that step in your stride. I've also been reading a book by Tony Campolo and both of those things combined have me back to 99%. (This is the biggest tournament I've ever played in as well as this vacation being the grandest prize I've ever won.) If you come to The Bahamas, you must stay at Atlantis and eat at The Marketplace buffet. We may not eat again today and for The Bahamas, that place is a great deal.

Bahamas Update

Yesterday I started the Pokerstars Caribbean Adventure tournament at noon and survived the first day. We started with 20,000 in chips each and, unfortunately, I am down to 14,800 while nearly all of my opponents will have multiples of that when we start again on Wednesday. The tournament is so big that there are two "first" days and we are combined on Wednesday. Late in the day I was moved from my first table to one where Tom McEvoy was on my immediate left. If you Google him you will find that he has extensive poker experience. I have one of the tournament books that he co-wrote with me here in the Bahamas! The good news is that I have today off to rest after finishing after 1:00 a.m. last night.

At this morning's buffet I finally gave in and have more carbohydrates than I've had for a while. I realized that I failed to mention that I ended the year at 112.2 kilos which means I lost 24.2 pounds in 2008. I'll share more about that later as my time on this computer is running out. I have walked 33.5 miles so far in 2009.

Keep walking!

We're Leaving Imminently

My brother should be here to pick us up in less than 20 minutes. For those who might have been wondering, yes, I am still walking and so far I'm a little behind for 2009. I have walked 5.75 miles as of about 1:30 p.m. January 2. I expect that moving through the airports will catch me up to my expected above 5 miles a day average. Gotta go! Next post will hopefully be from the Bahamas.

Keep walking!

Disneyland Christmas Present

Today we are going to Disneyland which is a major part of our son's Christmas present. We will pick up our son's girlfriend in about an hour and then we're off! Yes...I will be walking and I'll let you know what the pedometer says. Did the temperature in the car really read 39?

Keep walking!

Overcast Walk In Solana Beach

My wife and I took our son to soccer practice and then Rubio's Fiesta Salad. Next stop - the beach! We haven't yet gotten into the habit of checking the high and low tide. It was definitely high tide and the sky was gray. We walked about two-thirds as far as last week as the water was rising and crashing on the rocks, leaving us no sand to work with.

We saw half a dozen sandpipers who seemed to be a group and a little later two of them might have perceived us as following them. If they had bigger brains they might have thought, "What do these people want? We take several steps and they keep coming. We can't even be a full meal for either one of them, let alone both of them! Help!"

Marianne and I did manage to get in 2.5 miles by walking the neighborhood when we left the beach. We saw a guy with a bicycle decked out in pink "fur". Last week he was wearing a hat so we didn't notice his matching pink hair. Definitely stood out on the beach. Seemed pretty harmless.

Keep walking, everyone!

Start Walking In Paris

Yesterday I had a friendly phone conversation with Lucille Shaw, a financial advisor at Finances for Life. Lucille is a friend from Expressions Unlimited, my home Toastmasters club. Click here to see a photo of her and two other walkers from a recent post. Lucille is on the left.

While I started walking because I know I really, really need to do something about my health while I still have it, Lucille has been working out regularly for a while. She told me that when she was at the University of Illinois, she walked in some pretty nasty weather as a student. This experience turned her off to walking for a while and over the years she has done plenty of exercise in the gym. A few years ago, she and her husband visited Spain, Italy and France and she made reservations at hotels that were within walking distance of the museums and other sites she wanted to see. In Paris and Barcelona Lucille didn't have to fight snow while walking and she found out that she might actually like walking at temperatures above freezing. She even does half-marathons now.

What a fun way to rediscover walking!

You might find walking fun or you might be doing it to get in shape or lose weight or all three. Take that first step at home or in some exotic location, but take that first step. Then take another. And another.

I am walking. (So is Lucille.) You can walk. Please walk today. No matter what.

Walking With My Honey On The Beach

We parked near Heritage Hall and walked to my newfound stairs down to the beach in Carlsbad and I took off my shoes. Marianne and I walked on the beach together in February(!). I realized this was the first time I've walked on sand in a while and it is incredibly gentle compared to concrete and asphalt. We walked with waves alongside. She said the waves in Florida were bigger when she was there recently for the Avatar seminar. She had a great time and I'm glad she's back.

Soon we walked up the ramp to street level and continued on to Fresco Trattoria. Unfortunately, the restaurant doesn't open until 4:30 on Saturday. So we walked a little further to Las Olas and shared a carnitas burrito plate. There was an antique luxury car parked outside ten feet or so from where we were eating on the patio. I thought it might be a Pierce Arrow, but I can't find a picture that matches the hood ornament I saw today. We enjoyed lunch on the sidewalk (almost) and then walked back past the Episcopal Church to our car. The whole walk was less than two miles. We had a nice time together because it was Saturday and I wanted to share with my honey a place I like to take a walk.

I am walking. You can walk. Please walk today. No matter what.

---

Click on the title of this post to visit Fresco Trattoria and remember FreeRice.com.