New Walking Incentive

Between the eating holiday, you know the months from Thanksgiving to New Years, and then spring break travel and Easter, I got way off track in my eating and exercise. I stutter-stepped to get back on track, being good for a day or two and then falling off the wagon.  
The day after Easter I went whole hog into what I know works for me. Eating fruit, vegetables and protein and walking more than I sit. I am back in the grove of the downward movement of the scale, but realize that dieting is my profession. It takes most of my time to plan, shop, cook and exercise, especially since I need to exercise many multiple hours a day.
Over spring break my friend Suzanne introduced me to a great game Catan. I bought the real life version and then so did my game obsessed friend, Mary Lloyd. She and her son Jack and I played together this weekend. When I mentioned this to my friend Deanna, also a game enthusiast, she said, “They have an online version too.”  
This could be a bad news story, one where I spend all my waking hours playing this online game. But I discovered that while playing the game on my treadmill desk I have no recollection of walking whatsoever. The walking time passes so much faster playing this game than it does if I am working, watching TV, or playing something like solitaire.
Today I walked over eleven miles and I did not even notice. I did it at a good enough pace so that I got sweaty and had to take off my sweater. Over 23,000 joyful Catan playing steps and I think I can go further. The other great thing about playing this game is that I almost forgot to have lunch, it so took my mind off food.
Yes, it is trading one obsession for another, but at this point in life it is just about obsession management. I would still rather play games with live people, but I am yet to find a four person walking Mah Jongg Table — Perhaps in a Bocca retirement community.
I know that I am never going to be a person who can maintain my weight in a two pound range, but at this point if I can keep it in a one clothing size range I am doing OK.