Whew!

That's about all I can say. For the past four weeks now I've been working with a trainer at 24-Hour Fitness. I meet with him twice a week for 50 minutes of sheer torture and then do cardio at least five times a week for about an hour. I've been trying to watch my food and eat healthy but when I got weighed and measured on Tuesday I had only lost one measly pound. Though I had lost several inches in strategic spots and my body fat index dropped a bit.

But my trainer decided that I needed to be more focused on the calorie counting. So he gave me a sample diet. I'm allowed 1,150 calories a day, with about 60% being carbs, 20% proteins and 20% fats. After two days I've decided that since Chris hasn't killed me yet with the torture (aka exercise and weights), now he's going to starve me to death. I told him today he had to come to my funeral. He just laughed an evil laugh. Go figure! He's halfway between my son and daughter in age. What the heck does he know about being old and fat?

Actually, in truth, it is easier to cut down the calories when I know how hard I have to work to burn them off. And it's kind of fun to figure out all the ratios and find interesting and yummy foods that stay within my limits. But the truth is, this could be a full-time job. Today, for instance, I got up and fed Charlie and had a cup of coffee and then cooked an egg in 1/2 teaspoon of butter and had it on 1/2 a non-fat English muffin with a slice of lowfat cheese melted over it. I finished it off with 1/2 a grapefruit. Then I went to the gym for two hours. Then I came home and fixed a lunch of 1/2 a tuna sandwich on whole grain bread and a couple spears of fresh pineapple. So I've ingested something like 535 calories. But after lunch I took Charlie for HIS walk for about 1/2 an hour. So now, at not quite 2 p.m. I have burned something like 950 calories (not counting all those regular calories burned just by living and moving) and more than half a day. I'm exhausted. See why I think my trainer is trying to kill me?! And the worst part? He's limiting me to having wine only one night a week. Nah, that's not really the worst part; it's actually very good for me. When I drink alcohol, I tend to eat indiscriminately.

I keep telling myself someday, if I keep this up, I will be much healthier and able to do more things. I am shooting for late April on Kauai, where I am spending a week with my daughter and son-in-law. We will do some hiking and snorkeling and kayaking and I need to be in better shape so I don't hold them back. Frankly the pounds aren't that important to me; it's the getting in shape and looking better, getting rid of some of the fat. It'd be nice to drop a couple sizes.

Then when I go on my book tours I'll look good. Well, gotta have things to shoot for, right? But I do have to make sure I carve out enough time to work on the book. I'm on Chapter 12, getting close to New York so it is progressing. But there is so much yet left to do. Realistically I could send out proposals at any time and finish it up once I get someone who is willing to market it and then someone who is willing to publish it. Writing it is only a small part of getting it done.

My friend from Florida, Kathleen, is in town for the weekend so am looking forward to seeing her tomorrow and spending some time catching up. I miss her but I am glad she has a great life in Florida where she gets to spend plenty of time with her granddaughter. In honor of her visit, I will probably skip the gym tomorrow and go Saturday instead, though I hate going on the weekends because it's always so busy there. But I cannot give myself a pass on the calorie and carb counting. Now, on to the book. How many calories do you burn typing?