Alligatorob's Diary
- Thread starter alligatorob
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alligatorob
Respected Member
Yesterday went well enough. I ate well but probably walked too much.
I almost made my goal of getting to the top. Problem is the "top" is less clear when you get there than it looks from below. It's really a ridge with several highs and lows. I thought I had made it to the ridge, now after mapping I am less sure, but I got pretty close. It was a hard hike, quite steep and mostly without trails, just bushwhacking. I went about 7.8 miles (12.5 km) and gained about 3,300 ft (1,000 m), really hard and slow. My app says I walked for 8 1/2 hours, with breaks I was out for about 11 hours. I was feeling pretty tired on the way down, the steep hill is a lot harder for me to descend than climb. It is harder to see good footholds and I have to tense my muscles and lower myself slowly on each step. My knees were hurting, but I made it.
View of the next peak to the south from my top:
Knees are better this morning, but I am not sure I will try this again soon. I was feeling kind of shaky towards the end, I did not fall but had a couple of close calls. Maybe for now I will declare success and move on to less hazardous walks and hikes for a while. I know I can walk well over 12.5 km in a lot less time without risk elsewhere. We'll see but maybe I got the mountain assault out of my system yesterday. When I started this challenge a friend warned me that I am not 20 anymore. I think I have proved her right, but it still felt good to do this, or attempt anyway.
Got some more wildflower pictures and will post as I figure out what they are. In the meantime one is on the way up, the trees are Canyon Maples, native to Utah. They don't get very large or grow quickly but are able to live in some of the ravines on our dry slopes. This shot also shows what much of the hike slope looks like, but mostly without the maples.
I almost made my goal of getting to the top. Problem is the "top" is less clear when you get there than it looks from below. It's really a ridge with several highs and lows. I thought I had made it to the ridge, now after mapping I am less sure, but I got pretty close. It was a hard hike, quite steep and mostly without trails, just bushwhacking. I went about 7.8 miles (12.5 km) and gained about 3,300 ft (1,000 m), really hard and slow. My app says I walked for 8 1/2 hours, with breaks I was out for about 11 hours. I was feeling pretty tired on the way down, the steep hill is a lot harder for me to descend than climb. It is harder to see good footholds and I have to tense my muscles and lower myself slowly on each step. My knees were hurting, but I made it.
View of the next peak to the south from my top:
Knees are better this morning, but I am not sure I will try this again soon. I was feeling kind of shaky towards the end, I did not fall but had a couple of close calls. Maybe for now I will declare success and move on to less hazardous walks and hikes for a while. I know I can walk well over 12.5 km in a lot less time without risk elsewhere. We'll see but maybe I got the mountain assault out of my system yesterday. When I started this challenge a friend warned me that I am not 20 anymore. I think I have proved her right, but it still felt good to do this, or attempt anyway.
Got some more wildflower pictures and will post as I figure out what they are. In the meantime one is on the way up, the trees are Canyon Maples, native to Utah. They don't get very large or grow quickly but are able to live in some of the ravines on our dry slopes. This shot also shows what much of the hike slope looks like, but mostly without the maples.
I put some cotton around it and it was fine. However I developed a couple more, lol.
Should have read this before the hike, I wore one pair of cotton socks.
Thanks Liza, in the end I think it did. For now I am going to declare success at getting to the "top" and feel like I did pretty well.
jackbenimble
New member
Congrats on conquering that hill/mountain, Rob. It sounds like quite a battle, well done!
alligatorob
Respected Member
Got the wrong food list for yesterday, the right one:
Rob, fantastic stuff, well done.
I’m not surprised you felt a bit shaky on the descent! It seems like it should be easier but you have to do a lot of work not to slip! Any time I’ve done a climb like this, my legs have been jelly at the end, and that’s when I was in my 20s! So I wouldn’t put the shakiness down to age.
Please take it easy today, maybe go for a nap, and have a hearty dinner to let your body recover.
I’m not surprised you felt a bit shaky on the descent! It seems like it should be easier but you have to do a lot of work not to slip! Any time I’ve done a climb like this, my legs have been jelly at the end, and that’s when I was in my 20s! So I wouldn’t put the shakiness down to age.
Please take it easy today, maybe go for a nap, and have a hearty dinner to let your body recover.
misty22
Well-known member
I like how you are so diligent with the food diary. What app is this, Rob?
I think I will have to start back up a food diary. I have never been able to be consistent but I will give it a go.
misty22
Well-known member
I think anyone's knees would be shaky with all the exercise you are doing! Amazing.
alligatorob
Respected Member
Today was a good day, ate well and I feel good tonight. Actually I went over 1,300 calories for the first time in a long time, but not much and we had a bbq tonight. It was my first day without any proper exercise, but I had an excuse, resting from yesterday's hike. My legs and knees seem to be sufficiently recovered to start walking again tomorrow. I had contemplated going to the lake and swimming, but it was too windy. Did go to check on the boat, but did not get out of the marina.
Thanks Jack, it was a battle for me anyway. I think others here probably could have done it with ease.
Thanks Emily, I did!
Yes, it was. I am amazed I can do it. Most of my resting was on the way down, going up I only stopped a couple of times, it was the downhill that really got me.
Thanks Cate, not sure it was 100% accomplished but close enough. Three apples seemed to be plenty, I did not want to be carrying a lot in my stomach.
I use myfitnesspal.com I like their food diary, easy to use and they have a lot of food in their database, so calorie counting is relatively easy. I suspect the shaky was due to a bit of dehydration. I took along almost 2 liters of water, but that probably was not enough.
alligatorob
Respected Member
It was a good day, ate well, exercised and I feel pretty good right now. However I am having a kind of funny feeling as I know my weight loss journey will be ending soon. I know maintenance is next, I just don't yet know what that will look like. Different I guess...
Yes, it was good to take a day off. Back to it today.
Thanks Petal, it feels accomplished so I guess it is. Not sure what's next.
Thanks LaMa, more amazed than anything else. I know my string of weight loss and activity achievements will be coming to an end, or changing anyway. Leaves me wondering what the future will bring. I guess we'll see.
That is an interesting new phase to be coming into Rob. Especially since you've been working within such a big calorie deficit for so long. Might be worth it to start bringing the calories back up to what would be closer to a maintenance amount for you so it's not such a huge leap all at once?
Petal001
New member
If and when you need to start adding calories I would be focusing on the salad and fruit or adding in some extra protein. For example a hard boiled egg or extra piece of turkey, or 20g of cheese . Extra fruit with your breakfast. You seem to manage well without treat foods ( not like me ) and that's where danger lies.
I have not yet been let into the magic world of target at SW so I don't really know how the plans change for maintenance but I think things like an extra slice of bread or extra syns allowed . If I ever get there I will let you know .
I have not yet been let into the magic world of target at SW so I don't really know how the plans change for maintenance but I think things like an extra slice of bread or extra syns allowed . If I ever get there I will let you know .
overlandflyer
Well-known member
from flying, you can realize just how much your vision/ brain interface can be deceiving. heading toward a mountain range, i don't think i ever had a passenger who didn't make the comment that they thought i was flying too low even though i was typically a few thousand feet above the peaks.
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Cate
Long term member
Love it.
I wonder how long it will be before you can start at the wildlife sanctuary. You will be able to do different things now, Rob & do most things a lot easier.
I like Petal's suggestions to gradually add a little bit more of the healthy stuff. I know that would have done the trick with me. I think maintenance is a huge challenge & I also have a feeling you will approach it with the same science you have approached weight-loss. I hope you stick around & let everyone else learn how to do it as I'm sure you will be successful.