Meridian Kessler: Washington Blvd.

I had company on my walk yesterday on Washington Blvd.; Janie was nice enough to join me.

She had mentioned the other day that Washington Blvd. is one of her favorite streets in Indianapolis because of the older, stately houses and their large, well-maintained yards. And I would agree. They just don't build houses like these anymore -- and no, those so-called McMansions aren't in the same league. Sure, they're big. And they have some rather imposing features. But while they're nicely built, compared to the vinyl villages that are springing up like dandelions in the spring, there isn't the obvious craftsmanship that there is with "nicer" and even "standard" houses built in the first half of the 20th century.

Yesterday's walk went from just south of Kessler (5900 block) to 49th St.. We then walked over a block and went back up Pennsylvania, cut over to Delaware, and then over to Kessler before turning back on Washington. I don't know the exact distance we covered, but I do know that we walked for an hour, on the nose. Since we weren't walking especially quickly, I'm guessing that we covered three miles.

Three miles is a pretty good distance, especially considering that I had cut the grass an hour or so before that. By the time we got back to the car, my knee was a bit sore and I was quite hungry. I was reasonably good, though -- for dinner, I had a quarter-pound burger with cheese and no bun, corn on the cob, and half of a Little Debbie Nutty Bar...about 600 calories.

Yes, I do give in to junk food occasionally, but as long as I balance it with healthier food and beverage choices, it won't hurt me. Calorie intake is the most basic element to weight loss and maintenance. As Jillian Michaels, from The Biggest Loser, would say...calories in, calories out. As long as my overall meals' calorie counts aren't in excess of what I burn through exercise, along with mere existence, I won't gain weight. If my daily intake is 1800 calories, and I do an hour walk a day at 3-3.5 mph, I'll lose weight at a reasonable pace. And if I don't feel "deprived" -- which is how I do feel when I try to cut out sweets entirely -- I won't go overboard when I do indulge in treats.

Another friend that's been quite helpful: Splenda. I can now drink Kool-Aid, thanks to Splenda's Quick Pack envelopes. Add one envelope to one package of unsweetened Kool-Aid mix, and you can make two quarts of Kool-Aid...without any added calories. With a cup of sugar, you add 80 calories per 8 oz. serving.

I'm already contemplating my next neighborhood walk. Since yesterday's walk covered just a few streets in a rather large neighborhood, I will probably need 2, maybe even 3, more walks to cover all of Meridian Kessler. I do like variety, though, so the next walk will probably be somewhere other than MK. But I'll surely return before the end of the summer.