OK, I get it. Today’s walk was flat, very much like the kind of terrain I have at home in Chicago. I practiced using duration and pace to “feel the burn” without inclines. We strode about 4.5 miles in approximately 90 minutes. I know that I am not going to devote that kind of time to walking on a daily basis. But if I can do a solid 45 minutes at a good clip 5 days out of 7, that would make me feel very successful.
Today I noticed that the stiffness in my lower back and legs seems to dissipate as I’m walking. I’ve been getting out of bed feeling like an old codger, but once I air it out a bit on the trail things start to loosen up and I move with a kind of fluidity that I’d forgotten was possible. Stretching, especially after walking, helps allay the stiffness too. My calf and lower back muscles still feel sore, but I’m hoping that is a function of the newness of this regimen. Over time maybe those muscle groups will get used to this level of activity and stop complaining.
On the sustenance front, I think I have a good handle on how I want to proceed when I get home. Whether or not I’ll be able to consistently keep a lid on the emotional eating is another story, but I’ve learned that I can live well on substantially less food than I normally take in. I know how to eat healthy foods in healthy amounts; I just have to do it.
Last night the food person here (she’s not a nutritionist so that’s the best I can do) suggested that we make a list of the reasons we want to be healthy going forward. Here’s mine: I want to be able to continue playing music at a high level without pain, to travel, to enjoy my future grandchildren (if any), to do some active volunteer work, to keep my partner happy, to avoid being a burden to my children and to escape the kind of decrepitude that plagued my father.
But otherwise I am bored and ready to go home. I miss my loved ones, I miss my house and my basses. I miss the feeling of playing in a rhythm section. I miss my own bed, my music collection, my books. I’m starting to feel like I’m treading water here; like I’ve gotten what I came for and now its time to return to my life.
