Feb 13

It has been a while since my last post.  I have been sticking to my "diet".  Which is not really a diet, but it has been working.  I am now down 8 pounds from where I started.  


I have been slacking on my workouts.  I had been doing the uphill/downhills next to the house with a pack weighing about 35 pounds.  I have been slowed because of the almost constant snow and ice we have had in the recent month.  


We have had snow on the ground for over a month.  Last week we were without power for 120 hours straight.  It was a real treat.  The temp never got above freezing either.  We were loaned a generator, which kept our furnace and woodstove working, so we had heat anyway.  We were able to cook on top of the stove, but we couldn't use the oven.  It was an experience!


Today it was up in the 50's though.  I hope this at least lasts long enough to melt the snow and ice away.  I am ready to see the ground again.  


I will catch up more next time.  

Jan 20th

Tomorrow is weigh in day.  I hope all goes well.  I only hope to lose a couple of pounds a week. My eating habits this week have been better than those in the past.  I have had oatmeal and either grape or orange juice for breakfast every morning.  Lunches have consisted of not much more than a snack, other than today - I had fish at Long John Silvers - I know...bad move.  Suppers have been pretty much the usual - although we did have frozen pizza one night.  


The biggest thing I have accomplished this week is - NO SODA.  This is really a big feat.  I usually have about 4 a day.  I quit cold turkey.  Bad headaches.  But I have had some caffeine via sweet tea on some mornings.  I would like to eliminate, or at least greatly reduce my caffeine intake, but we'll see how that goes.  


Check in tomorrow for the weigh in.  

Jan 17

The last couple of days I have started my conditioning for the walk in the Grand Canyon.  There is a road next to my house that is actually closed due to the bridge being unsafe to drive over.  I walk down the first hill, then through the bottoms, up the other hill on the other side of the bridge, then back.  Round trip is about one half mile.  I do this about 4 times carrying a pack loaded with about 35 pounds.   


It must be doing some good...my calfs are aching.  I am going to do a little less today to try to give them a rest.  


My dog who usually goes with our family any time we go on a walk, started down the road with me.  When I turned around, he was confused, but turned back anyway.  We usually walk a lot farther, but because its flat, I turned around so I could just walk the hills.  When I got back to the house, I turned around again to do the loop again.  Again, he just looked confused, but joined me again.  This went on a couple more times.  Poor guy, I think he thought I lost my marbles.  Even when I came back to the house, he wasn't sure I was done.  


Today I am going to start a 40 day devotional/bible study.  I have had it a while, and I just never got to it.  Its called "every man's challenge" by Stephen Arerburn & Fred Stoeker with Mike Yorkey.  This study is about sexual purity mainly.  However, it also is a book about good moral character...Christlike character, and how to love as Christ loved.  


Just one more note.  I have decided to weigh in every Friday, and post the weight here.  Hopefully that will keep me accountable.  I have given my diet some thought as well.  While I am going to change some eating habits, I am not going radicle here.  I want to lose some weight, but my larger goal, at leaset physically, is to be healthier.  I just turned 40, so why not start here.  

Jan 14th - The Beginning

It will begin today.  In order to accomplish my goal of trekking to the Colorado and back - and enjoying it along the way - I have to get into better shape.  As of right now, I weigh 260 in my skivvies.  My cardiovascular system is not what it needs to be, and I need to start preparing my legs for a one mile vertical climb out of the canyon.  But most of all I have to get my mind in the right place for this challenge.  


I have started by doing some steps.  I won't be doing any running.  I will be walking, with a pack up as many hills as I can find.  Hopefully I can get a treadmill to use during these nasty winter months.  


Next I am going to start on my diet.  I have to start eating better.  More fruits and vegetables.  Less fried foods.  I am not going to go crazy here, but my diet has to change regardless.  I just turned 40 and I have heard numerous stories of going downhill from here.  I have had a pretty unhealthy diet for some time, and its time to change anyway.  
We are just now looking into dates for the trip, and it will be June or July.  HOT HOT HOT!!!  


Yesterday I read an article of the 10 essential items you should have with you anytime you go on any hike.  The most important item listed was a good attitude.  I think the only way to have a good attitude is to impart Jesus Christ.  So, along with preparing my body for this trip, I will also be preparing my mind and soul as well.  This is something that I have been neglecting for a while, and I need to be much more consistent with my devotional, prayer, and bible reading times.   These disciplines have been pretty spotty over the last few months, and they need to be staples of my life.  


So here I go....check back from time to time to see how I'm doing ~