just an update

i've gotta be honest. my initial reaction to the last couple of weeks was that this crash diet thing is more difficult than i remember! i've lost about 7 pounds, but feel like i've been doing more. then i realized the real reason: the workouts are killing me because i'm in such pathetic shape! on sunday, darrin and i took advantage of the near 70 degree weather to get in a late season bike ride. it was a simple 20 miles. but i worked really hard to average just a little over 16mph. granted, it was fairly hilly, and the 20-30mph wind gusts were relentless, but i just had no power whatsoever. it was all i could do to keep 13mph on a flat 2-mile stretch into the wind. it was encouraging, though, that at the summit of the climbs, i recovered well and was able to get back up to "speed" in an acceptable time. i was going to run last nite, but it poured all evening and then thunderstorms moved in later. i thought it best to stay in, to avoid another confrontation with nature!
but i will say that i do notice a difference already. it feels good to be on a healthier diet, both physically and mentally. i've come to realize, though, that the company i work for is obsessed with food. practically every day shortly after noon, i get an email stating that there is left over food from some meeting or event that has taken place earlier in the morning. within seconds of that email hitting my inbox, my phone rings with the numbers 5521 on the display. that's danny's extension. he's our web developer, and he always knows where to scam some free feast. yesterday was no exception. it was just before 1:00. danny actually called me before i got the email. he must be getting inside information from someone. i took the trip downstairs with him to see what was there. sometimes there's a fruit tray or something like that. and whaddya know? sure enough, orange juice and a nice tray with grapes, honeydew, and good stuff like that. oh, and a big chocolate cake. two of them actually. i resisted, though, and stuck to fruit and a cup of juice. i felt good about it afterwards. danny understood and was impressed at my self control. but he still managed to gulp down a big honkin' piece of cake and some chips. and yeah - i was a little jealous...
i do want to thank everyone for their support and encouragement. the little community that has evolved here is filled with such inspirational people. i'll continue to draw alot of energy and motivation from all of you!