Mind, Body and Soul

At Dunnet campsite I had weighed myself and found the result a little surprising - indeed it was wrong. Back home, on my own pretty accurate scales, I am still weighing in at 10 stone 11 lbs. I started out at 12 stone 8 lbs, so that's a total loss over the seventeen weeks of 25 lbs.

For the technically minded that's a 14% drop in body weight. There is not a scrap of fat left on me! The problem beer belly is no more - it is history! Lynnie says l resemble a pipe cleaner and is not happy with the result! I am currently eating like a horse - devouring lemon drizzle cake for breakfast, having huge lunches and massive suppers, yet it is still not going back on! I think this may be that my metabolic rate is still zooming along, so when it settles down I can get back to being the old chubby git on the sofa...

About a third of the way along my walk I noticed that my toes were singing to me - a soft sensation, a little like pins & needles. I had put this down to the constant walking and thought no more about it, but slackened the boots around the toe box just in case I was cramping them. They didn't get any worse, but they didn't stop tickling either. I also noticed that my feet were actually getting bigger - my Innov-8's hotel shoes were getting snugger and more cramped in length. I suppose this is not surprising considering the work they were doing.

Anyway, the toes are still singing, but more quietly now, but they are a happy reminder of the walk! I tried on my black brogues (I have Rick & Lindsey's wedding to attend this Saturday) and they were stupidly tight! All my suits hang from me like I have pinched them from a fat bloke. I shall look a sight, hobbling around in tight shoes and enormous clothes.

I have not had a huge amount of time to think back to the walk since returning home as I have thrown myself back into work - but first having to overcome whopping IT problems with transferring stuff from the old computer to the new. However I can honestly say that I am really enjoying being back and relish the work side of it. I have come home with the mind freshly laundered and all wrapped delicately in tissue paper. Each new work challenge is actually fun! It could not have had a longer wash cycle, so I feel mentally fresh, if physically tired.

Has this walk changed me in any way?

I think it has, in small ways that are difficult to quantify. I find myself more patient, willing to plug away at a problem until I sort it out, rather than leave it for later. One of the things I am sure you will have noticed during the walk itself is that now I really quite enjoy meeting new people. The 'Old Alan' would have been a lot more cagey with people he did not know - this new version leaps straight into conversations with complete strangers. I wonder how long that will last? I have been invited to a 'bloggers meet' in the Brecon Beacons in August and am very keen to meet this bunch of disparate souls! In the past I would have politely declined the invitation. So - New horizons are opening up for me and I am looking forward to having more fun because of it.

I have started actually liking salad! And more weirdly - Curry! I had always hated the smell of the stuff, but now I find the delicate flavours and perfumes far more attractive than I ever would have thought possible. As far as Lynnie is concerned this is a Major Breakthrough!

I suppose the biggest single thing that has come out of this adventure is that I have realised that I am only getting one chance at this 'Life' thing. I have returned home deciding to grab it with both hands, give it a big smacker and go for it with every possible opportunity.

Perhaps in the past life might have seemed a bit of a struggle, with obstacles at every turn and facing problem after problem. However I have decided that if you look for it, Life is all dressed up in a little black dress with nice perfume and looking gorgeous. My suggestion to you would be to grab her by the arm, nip upstairs with her and have a wonderful life.

I certainly intend to.