Losing Weight. (About 2,400 Pounds.)
This month I am trying out a new diet -- the "low-car diet" sponsored by the popular car-sharing service Zipcar.
As part of the Zipcar Low-Car Diet, participants in 12 cities have pledged to give up their cars for a month and commit to getting around by public transportation, shared cars, foot-power, bicycle -- basically, anything but our own cars. The DC group had a kick-off yesterday with short speeches by "my" DC Council member (go, Sassy Sixth!) and the head of the DC Department of Transportation. Then we threw our keys in a bag (symbolic gesture only -- they gave them back), and the diet had begun. (Photo from DCist)
I have been disabled for a couple of years, and lack of energy has changed my attitude from yay-public-transportation to if-I-can't-drive-door-to-door-I'm-not-going. Among other things, my weight has slowly crept up as the walking tapered off. And doctors say some exertion is good, but the trick is making myself do it. So, this is the experiment.
And how did Day One go? Er, let's call it "mixed."
After the kickoff, I had a doctor's appointment. My knowledge of the area is questionable, but for some reason I didn't see the need to check a map. I just figured, "it's in Bethesda [wrong!], so I'll get off the Metro in Bethesda and all will be golden." As it turned out, I got out on the right street, but 20 blocks from where I wanted to be. And in some crazy fit of wanting to live healthy, I decided to WALK. Picture Girl With Heart Problem, carrying a heavy bag of magazines, crimson-faced and sweating out of pores I didn't know I *had*, as I labored 1.7 miles in the brutal sun and 90+ degree heat. By the time I arrived, everyone was giving me the "if she collapses, I really don't want to be the one to have to do something" look.
On the plus side, the ride home from the correct station only took 30 minutes -- less time and much less traffic aggravation than the comparable drive.
Will the World's Least Active Girl make it a month on her new Diet? Stay tuned!
