Hello big numbers

Dropped a big 10 this week, which honestly, I needed to see.  Now I'm only 25 away from my lowest, and 60 away from one of my big goals.. both of which will be nice to see.  I'm hoping, crossing fingers, that like what has happened in the past will ring true again - the "winter weight" seems to fall off, then the slowdown kicks in on the rest of the weight.  if it doesn't, I'm cool, I'm really happy just seeing something less than what I previously saw each time I step on the scale.  

It's all coming back to being natural, you know, the whole thing.  Riding feels good, real good every day.  Eating good feels even better than it did, espescially now that I'm really getting to the point where I have a system.  I tried to lunch on Lean Pockets for about three weeks, yeah, that didn't work at all.  I was left feeling hungry about an hour after lunch every day, consistently, and about ready to resort to cannibalism by the time I got home from work.   Calories were within limits, but they obviously provided nothing to actually fill.  So I tried something different and just dig it in volumes I can't summarize.  One piece of pita bread, one boca original vegan, little bit o hummus, and a can of progresso light.  440-ish calories and I was FULL, and stayed that way.  Before I left on my ride I had a granola bar to add some fuel because I wanted to hammer, and hammer I did, arrived home starting to feel the beginnings of hunger - by the time I sat down to eat I was hungry.  

So that works for me, and works good.  Still love Oatmeal in the morning, don't think that'll ever change.  I'm a creature of habit, so if I can figure out a good system again - life'll be good.  

The ride, the ride was the bomb.  I've had now two solid weeks of commuting (well, still Th-Fri left this week, but yaknow) with lots of added miles in, and I feel good.  Real, real, real good.  I hammered it pretty hard and focused on making the most of the clipless situation, which also has worked out dang well.  I'm really starting to figure out how to pedal with 'em, and man when I do I fly.  Best thing is that it's leaving some muscles burnin and sore that don't usually get that - definitely a win.  Shoes?  Wonderful.  Love 'em.  Pedals?  Wonderful.  Love 'em.  

Got to thinkin' a bit about the bike today, I'm getting close to finishing my 3rd year on it, it all started back in '06 on a whim.  I thought "huh, that'd be cool", so I threw my brother's old Raleigh MTB in the back of my pickup and drove out to the Mopac.  I'm trying to remember the distance, but basically I did a Walton to 34 and back ride - and couldn't stop smiling.  I was hooked, it was all over, started riding that old Raleigh everywhere until kept breaking it, so I picked up the Specialized.  The rest is how it is, and it's good.  Real good.