October 11, 2012 - Fast Day

October 11, 2012 (Thursday)
(Post 625, Day 285 of 2012, 650 days since 1st post)

Daily Comment

I used to like to travel a lot more than I do now.

When I was in my early decades as an adult (lets say, late teens to late thirties), any opportunity to travel was seen as positively, as a chance for fun and adventure. It satisfied my appetite for new experiences. I didn't feel limited by health or money matters, even though both influenced where I went, how I went there, and what I did on my trip.

Those details just weren't important enough to overcome the pleasure of travel. And,  I had no responsibilities to anyone other than myself when making my travel plans.

By the time I had a family, and moved away from my New York base, travel had started to become a necessity, if I was going to visit the people I loved, all of whom were (at least) a nine-hour drive or a plane trip away (New York, San Francisco).

The trips I took became purposeful: Father-son time, visiting friends and relatives. There was no travel-for-it's-own-sake, just for the joy of it. Other people were involved. What was new came by transference from Alex, as he was exposed to new experiences, rarely from new-to-me places or activities, but always appreciating sharing them with him. Those father and son trips are some of my fondest memories.

As in most things, the reason for the direction of any particular change is a combination of differences in the internal and external environment.

As Alex grew up and, becoming more independent, began choosing his own new experiences, we traveled less together. Which means I traveled less overall. As a single parent, I almost never traveled alone, except twice when it was mandated by my job and I couldn't avoid it and stay employed. Those times I had a lot of anxiety over the separation.

I think that's how travel lost a lot of its allure for me - when it became a requirement instead of a choice.

There are, of course, other factors as well: I have certainly changed from the days when I saw travel as unfettered adventure. There have been many physical changes due to the impact of my medical history in the last 25 years, as well as just getting old.

I'm less able to tolerate longer trips, need more frequent breaks, and tire more quickly.

I have been reluctant to drive very long distances; I haven't made any trips more than five hours driving time from home since I moved to Syracuse from North Carolina over three years ago. It seems more difficult to drive to New York City, four-and-a-half hours away, then it did when it was nine-to-ten hours away.

I also miss not sleeping in my own bed, not having the conveniences I'm used to around me, such as when I stay in motels. It is also difficult to maintain my eating schedule and style when I am away from home: When I'm home, I rarely go out to eat.

Despite my lack of enthusiasm for travel, I have a lot of enthusiasm for visiting - travel has become the price I pay for that, where it used to be an added benefit, worthwhile on its own.

I'm not even going to talk about the way air travel has become nightmarish and repulsive, where once it was exciting.

Getting there is no longer half, or any part, of the fun - that begins on arrival.

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Food and Diet Section

Today's Weight:        202.0 lbs 
Yesterday's Weight:    203.8 lbs
Day Net Loss/Gain:     - 1.8 lbs

Year 2012 daily weight from December 31, 2011

Diet Comment

A late dinner after sparse calories may have actually limited the loss, but I'm not complaining. Today's fast lasted only nineteen hours, though, because of that. I'm Pavlovian response kid when it gets around dinner time. I ate a massive amount.

Food Log

Breakfast
Skipped.

Lunch

Skipped.

Dinner

Organic Sloppy Joe (beef, black beans, onions, mushrooms, tomato paste, Sloppy Joe seasoning)with peas.

Liquid Intake
    Coffee:  30 oz,  Water: 112+ oz. 

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