It’s good to see your sticking with your plan. I’m curious, though. What do you do when you’ve reached your goal. Try to find a plan you can maintain indefinitely.

The Finicky Scale –
Increase salt or diuretics, like alcohol or caffeine, can make for significant weight fluctuations, in the plus or minus direction respectively.

Running 5 days a week is pretty intense if you’re starting from zero workouts, at least at my age. If your alternating HIIT days with easier recovery days, and you feel good, I wouldn’t worry about it. If it starts to hurt, you might need more recovery time. Part of the adaption of beginning a workout regimen is the strengthening of your ligaments and tendons, so if you can get them used to the abuse, the muscles should be able to keep pace.

On Jury Duty –
I hope this will be some consolation. I’ve been on jury duty notice list twice in Ingham County, once I was never needed, the second time I totally forgot to call in. I called in afterwards to apologize and was relieved to find that I wouldn’t be jailed for my oversight.