How I lost 10 pounds in a month while eating everything I wanted, and got paid for it too!
Jun 14 '00
I love my computer. I love the internet. I love to eat. I was working at home, writing marketing materials and designing web pages. I love my work,
Ahh, working at home. Sit in front of the computer, design another web page. Refrigerator. Write a brochure about the merits of a particular real estate agent. Refrigerator. Make a postcard for a sale my friends store is having. Taco shop.
Better start washing my clothes in cold water from now on. I think they have been shrinking.
Now I think you know that clothes don't suddenly start to shrink after they've been washed numerous times. But people will expand if they have a sedentary lifestyle. I had to do something fast, before I was totally out of shape.
I decided to find a part time job where I would get out of the house and be physically active. At first, I thought I would find a job that I could walk to from my house. But the only prospects within walking distance were a bakery and a desert café. Not real good prospects for a lifelong sweet tooth. While I was looking through the want ads in the paper, I found several ads for pedi-cab drivers. "Eureka" I exclaimed. That has to be the best possible job for getting in shape.
A pedi-cab is a 3-wheeled bike, with a seat for two passengers. In San Diego, they are along the waterfront and in the historic Gaslamp district. I wasn't sure if I could physically do the job. I had not ridden a bike in years, and was in the worst shape of my life. When I went into the bike shop to apply for the job, I half expected them to laugh at me and tell me to come back when I was in shape. Instead, I was greeted with open arms. They wanted me to come in the next night and start training.
Pedi-cabs work the same as regular cabs. The cab is leased to an independent contractor, who keeps whatever amount they make over their lease. Unlike regular cabs, we don't have to buy any gas.
To drive a pedi-cab, you must pass a test where you drive between cones. I discovered this was harder than it looks at first. It felt awkward to have the seat and two wheels behind me. However, soon I discovered that it was much easier to make sharp turns on the pedi-cab. I didn't have to worry about keeping my balance like on a regular bike.
The next morning I came to work. An experienced driver named Midas showed me the ropes. I followed his every move as we rode out to the harbor bike path. The Coronado Ferry docks every hour, and the first thing we did was meet it. There were 4 pedi cabs waiting to meet the ship. 2 of them got rides. We didn't. So we rode up and down the bike path asking people if they wanted rides. Two couples said yes, and after a short negotiation we were off to Seaport Village with them on the back. It is a lot harder to pull two people in the back. By the time we reached our destination, I was a little out of breath, but felt good. As I worked more, it got easier and easier.
After 3 or 4 days of this (every other day) I started noticing that my clothes were less tight. I was also not getting out of breath as often.
Now it has been 3 months of riding about 3 times a week. I am into clothes that I haven't worn since before I was married, and I'm feeling good. I still write and design web pages several days a week. Plus, being out and meeting a lot of interesting people gives me a lot of material to write about.
If you are in the situation that I was, freelancing and getting fat, I highly recommend finding something physical to do at least one day a week. You'll feel better, make some money, get out of the house, and loose those excess pounds.
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Epinions.com ID:
meowmp3
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Member: Melissa Woycechowsky
Location: San Diego, CA
Reviews written: 83
Trusted by: 20 members
About Me:
I'm an artist, writer, reader, gardener.
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