Getting active and losing weight is one thing. But doing it while working in the food service industry is quite another challenge. Donald, or "Chef Don" for folks in the Triad, is meeting that challenge head-on. Today he tells us how he's faring, no doubt with the help of tasty, healthy fare like the Shrimp Louis Salad featured in his video:
"Last year I started in the IDEA program at Wake Forest University, which stands for intensive diet and exercise for arthritis. So far in the last 12 months I counted what I ate and tried to stay within my daily calorie budget of 1,800 calories. So far I have lost 40 pounds and my goal is to lose 50 pounds.
"That last 10 pounds is very hard. I found that I must adjust my daily budget to 1,600 calories, this is very hard for me because I am a professional chef. I teach at Guliford Technical Community College, and have to taste food every day. I am a caterer as well. I have found that people will always do what they want to do, 100% of the time, and I really want to lose all this weight that I have been carrying on me for the last 16 years.
"This Million Step March has encouraged me to continue with my goal. I won't give up, neither should you. Hang in there. WE CAN DO THIS!!!"
OK gang - forgive the blog headline. A guy's head can turn to mush after 150 miles of walking!
The Blue Ridge Mountains in April were beautiful alright, but nothing like the beautiful oasis the skyline of Charlotte provided. It was good to finally arrive Wednesday at our first major city since leaving Asheville over two weeks ago. And the crowd on The Green Uptown could not have greeted us better. There is a real momentum in the air these days. The Charlotte media came out to cover Kathy and me arriving – WSOC-TV, KATT Radio, and 96.1 FM among them. The video with this post captures our day quite well.
On stage, an eclectic mix of community leaders, sports personalities, Charlotte Bobcats cheerleaders, local Charlotte types, you name it, greeted us warmly and asked for stories from the road. Our rally was a fun-spirited event.
That night we all went to the final Bobcats game of the season, our campaign video was played on the big screen, and Kathy and I were introduced at center court, all while basketball legend Michael Jordan sat just feet away. Now all this was pretty cool... but you know me. My sights are already on the lights of Winston-Salem, just four to five walking days to the north.
That's how you do it here on a 600+ mile walk. You don't think about the distance. You take it a week at a time and a major city at a time. You do the math: 12-mile days times 6 days per week of walking equals more than 70 miles a week. It adds up, doesn't it? And with any luck we'll see you in Winston-Salem on Tuesday for another rally!
Kathy, Gary and the other walkers on the Million Step March team aren't hoofing it alone. Wherever they are on the road, lurking somewhere nearby is the big Million Step March tractor-trailer rig.
Since not everybody gets a chance to come out to one of the events on the road, we thought it would be a good idea to give you a virtual tour. Our videographer, Rod Rich, put together this quick look inside the truck.
At some Million Step March events, the truck will be home base for cooking demonstrations and a look at how we might work - and work out - in the future. See for yourself through the video tour, led by Gary and Kathy.
We've put up the official video capturing the Million Step March kickoff in Asheville. This three-minute clip captures the essence of what the march is all about. It's worth a look on YouTube.
