Well, this has been a week! I was feeling pretty good about it when I posted last time. I had survived a practice hike, had been watching my diet, and started a good week.
I hit a spot on either Tuesday or Wednesday ( Sometimes busy weeks blend, and I don't remember well which event took place on which days) where my weight was actually down 3 pounds. I know that is not really enough to be very excited over, because it is probably just "water weight", but still. I drink a lot of water, and I had been eating more carefully, and I'll take 3 pounds.
I am even trying to add more movement to my normal days. At school, I take the longest way to and from the office, without getting ridiculous. I only have so much time, but I try to add multiple trips up and down stairs between my room and the other places in the building. We actually have 9 staircases in the building......, no wait, i left out 3 I never use! we have 12. If I alternate going up and down, I can get a pretty good walk in between my class and the office by using the 4 different stairs. If I really want to walk (rarely have time), I have a map of alternating the stairs and hallways that allows me to make 3 trips through the entire school before I move down any given hallway section going the same direction as the last time I passed. What that means is anybody seeing me would just think I was going to and from someplace, unless they look at the security cams.
Also, at UALR, for my evening classes, I park in the highest level of the parking garage, and then, after class, I climb the stairs, then walk down trhough the entire garage, back up, and then do the stairs twice. Parking on the 6th level, this really gets me breathing hard by the time I am done. It is about a 30 minute workout. I hope I will see some more weight loss because of it, being 2 times a week. It definitely will help my strength and stamina. Those last 2 flights were tough last night. My legs felt like jello.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Practice hike 1
Well, I might make it! Today, saturday Feb 4th, I took all the kids, and we went and hiked a trail over by Greer's Ferry dam. The trail is probably up to 2 miles, and has some pretty steep spots, and one LOOONG staircase, because the trail would be treacherus at that point otherwise.
I was honestly worried if the pain in my knees this week was from somethiing other than "muscle" soreness, but I figured this little hike would give me a good indicator. I could still feel the "tenderness" in my knees, but they never did hurt. YaaY!
The trail is really pretty. It snakes along the edge of the canyon below the dam. The top of the trail is blacktop, designed to give wheelchair access to a couple of overlooks. Then, the long stairs drop you off the face of the wall, and down to a trail level well below the rim, but still high enough to give nice views down the canyon. The Little Red River is prime fishing, and we could watch some of the fly fishermen working the river as we hiked. The rock formations and walls were striking! And there are a few run-off streams that work down the side of the canyon towards the river. Overall, a very pleasant hike. And one that will become familiar. The boys and I will hike this at least once a week until Philmont, just to help stay in shape!
I will try to figure out how to add some pictures to this blog, because I want all of you not living in Arkansas to see just how pretty it is here!
I was honestly worried if the pain in my knees this week was from somethiing other than "muscle" soreness, but I figured this little hike would give me a good indicator. I could still feel the "tenderness" in my knees, but they never did hurt. YaaY!
The trail is really pretty. It snakes along the edge of the canyon below the dam. The top of the trail is blacktop, designed to give wheelchair access to a couple of overlooks. Then, the long stairs drop you off the face of the wall, and down to a trail level well below the rim, but still high enough to give nice views down the canyon. The Little Red River is prime fishing, and we could watch some of the fly fishermen working the river as we hiked. The rock formations and walls were striking! And there are a few run-off streams that work down the side of the canyon towards the river. Overall, a very pleasant hike. And one that will become familiar. The boys and I will hike this at least once a week until Philmont, just to help stay in shape!
I will try to figure out how to add some pictures to this blog, because I want all of you not living in Arkansas to see just how pretty it is here!
Friday, February 3, 2012
Work to do!
This may be short, but if you've read my posts before, you also know how long winded I can become. (sorry?)
Wow! Am I middle aged? is life catching up to me, or maybe even about to run me over? I have got some work to do! For those who don't know, I am "doing" Scouts with Ian and Ben, and I have joined the ranks as an assistant scout master for troop 200, in Heber Springs. The troop is sponsored by the Methodist Church, but has quite a mix of boys and leaders from various community churches.
We don't have a troop in the Batesville branch, because for many years, the only boys interested have been ours, and adult male leadership was (ans still is) sparse. Troop 200 is very active, and Ian really wants to get his Eagle rank. He will have to work hard, but this troop is making that a real possibility.
Well, I got excited, and volunteered to be one of the adult leaders to go with the boys to Philmont Scout Ranch this summer. That is in New Mexico, and is a great experience. Then, I got "voluntold" that I was needed as a crew chief (or whatever title), because we were going to need 2 crews, and I had been there before. Yeah, as a 16 year old Scout! and not in bad shape at the time, I might add. Working out with our top ranked high school basketball team really helped my stamina.
well now I am......older than 16...... and I have just seen the writing on the wall. Last weekend, we did a practice hike down at Petit Jean mountain. It is a nice plateau, with some great trails. Significant up and down, absolutely gorgeous. The total hike was about 12 miles. I did great for the first 6. I was not huffing and puffing, inspite of some pretty steep climbs, and I thought I would make it without major mishap. I expected my legs would be really sore in the days to follow, but that's no big! One long (easy?) downhill stretch ended that confidence.
It was an old service road, winding down the hill for maybe 1-1.5 miles, to a point where we had to cross a stream. One knee started hurting because of the jarring motion from hiking downhill. On the other side of the creek was a long climb. Not too painful going up, but the first downhill stretch after that, and I knew finishing the hike would be very hard. Both knees were "screaming" at every step, especially any going down. The tendons, muscles, and joints were just done. I managed to finish about 9 miles of the hike, but when the last three included some of the toughest up and down canyon walls trails in the entire hike, I knew I would only become a problem. Fortunately, this trail system is intertwined with sevice roads and highways ( it is a state park with great camping and recreation) so Jim, our injured scoutmaster, was able to get a pick-up vehicle to my location. Needless to say, I was not happy with that performance.
I have hobbled round all week, particularly taking stairs at school with great care. My legs are feeling much better today, but now the real work begins. I have to get in shape! That's it! I have about 40 pounds to lose, and even as important, I have to get this bod, particularly these legs, ready to spend two weeks hiking up and down mountains with a loaded backpack! I felt fine in terms of breathing and strength, but there is always room for improvement. The real issue will be, are my joints and muscles going to take the "beating" without complaint? I'll keep you posted.
Wow! Am I middle aged? is life catching up to me, or maybe even about to run me over? I have got some work to do! For those who don't know, I am "doing" Scouts with Ian and Ben, and I have joined the ranks as an assistant scout master for troop 200, in Heber Springs. The troop is sponsored by the Methodist Church, but has quite a mix of boys and leaders from various community churches.
We don't have a troop in the Batesville branch, because for many years, the only boys interested have been ours, and adult male leadership was (ans still is) sparse. Troop 200 is very active, and Ian really wants to get his Eagle rank. He will have to work hard, but this troop is making that a real possibility.
Well, I got excited, and volunteered to be one of the adult leaders to go with the boys to Philmont Scout Ranch this summer. That is in New Mexico, and is a great experience. Then, I got "voluntold" that I was needed as a crew chief (or whatever title), because we were going to need 2 crews, and I had been there before. Yeah, as a 16 year old Scout! and not in bad shape at the time, I might add. Working out with our top ranked high school basketball team really helped my stamina.
well now I am......older than 16...... and I have just seen the writing on the wall. Last weekend, we did a practice hike down at Petit Jean mountain. It is a nice plateau, with some great trails. Significant up and down, absolutely gorgeous. The total hike was about 12 miles. I did great for the first 6. I was not huffing and puffing, inspite of some pretty steep climbs, and I thought I would make it without major mishap. I expected my legs would be really sore in the days to follow, but that's no big! One long (easy?) downhill stretch ended that confidence.
It was an old service road, winding down the hill for maybe 1-1.5 miles, to a point where we had to cross a stream. One knee started hurting because of the jarring motion from hiking downhill. On the other side of the creek was a long climb. Not too painful going up, but the first downhill stretch after that, and I knew finishing the hike would be very hard. Both knees were "screaming" at every step, especially any going down. The tendons, muscles, and joints were just done. I managed to finish about 9 miles of the hike, but when the last three included some of the toughest up and down canyon walls trails in the entire hike, I knew I would only become a problem. Fortunately, this trail system is intertwined with sevice roads and highways ( it is a state park with great camping and recreation) so Jim, our injured scoutmaster, was able to get a pick-up vehicle to my location. Needless to say, I was not happy with that performance.
I have hobbled round all week, particularly taking stairs at school with great care. My legs are feeling much better today, but now the real work begins. I have to get in shape! That's it! I have about 40 pounds to lose, and even as important, I have to get this bod, particularly these legs, ready to spend two weeks hiking up and down mountains with a loaded backpack! I felt fine in terms of breathing and strength, but there is always room for improvement. The real issue will be, are my joints and muscles going to take the "beating" without complaint? I'll keep you posted.
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