The Final Fifteen Pounds

On New Year's Day of 2020, I weighed 217. March 31st, I weigh 197. I didn't plan it, but here's how it happened. 1. I started doing intermittent fasting (I.F.). For me that means that I fast for about 18 hours every day and eat during a 6 hour time. Usually that means that my first meal of the day is at noon and I am done eating anything by 6 PM. I drink water, tea, or coffee during my fasting period. 2. I started walking. I like to walk for 30 minutes or more. Recently I have turned my walking into a basic HIIT workout by walking fast for 40 steps, then walking normally until I catch my breath. I do about 4 sets of those on my walk. Then, I just enjoy the rest of my walk. Eventually, I expect to build up to 7 sets or so. If I do too much, my joints hurt. 3. I quit eating grains and processed sugars. This was because my blood work showed that I was allergic to gluten. This has been the hardest change. After two weeks of eliminating the grains, I have more energ

I went on a road trip just before the United States shut down. It was during my Spring Break. During that week the virus went from being casual conversation to the beginnings of the Great Shut Down. As I was driving home, the NBA shuttered for the season and Disneyland shut it's gates.  Just before the trip, I took a blood test and found out that I was allergic to gluten, oranges, and carrots. And that my body was highly sensitive to a host of other foods. I tried to stay away from those foods on the trip, but I didn't know how to plan for it yet.  Also, I did my Intermittent Fasting most of the days, but not all of them.  I gained 2 pounds back, weighing in at 202 or 203. Two weeks later, I'm weighing in at 196 - 197. I've lost about 5 pounds in 2 weeks. This is at a time that many Americans are gaining weight because they are sitting around watching T.V. The truth is that I'm sitting around a lot too. But I am still walking a little. Still it'