My First "Zero Day"

   Hikers on the Appalachian Trail measure their progress by miles traveled. Ten miles is a good distance, especially for a short trip. Fifteen miles is a good pacer for a long term hiker. Twenty miles is a very long day. The trail stretches over 2,100 miles from Georgia to Maine. The human body is not built to go for extended periods without rest. That's why I always took one day a week off in order to rest and recover (sounds a little bit like a Sabbath rest doesn't it?) Whenever a thru-hiker takes a day off from hiking it is called a "Zero Day".
   Today I had my first "Zero Day" (it's no surprise that it happened on a Sunday!) I stepped in the scale and it said 185.2 pounds, exactly the same as yesterday. That means I didn't gain or lose any weight. Zero days are good for backpackers, they are also good for people trying to lose weight. If you push, push, push, push all the time without any rest then it's easier to give up. I'm not giving up, I'm just taking a break. I'm eating a big salad right now for lunch. Maybe tomorrow I will have lost some more weight. If not, it's ok to have another Zero day. Everyone deserves a break from time to time!