Alligatorob's Diary

[Cate]

Great pic, Rob. Just pop over & I'll give that hair & beard a good trim. Sun is right. You do have a really kind face & your personality shows through in that pic. The sky there is as blue as it gets here. I don't think I take that for granted but sometimes I realise it must be different in other places. I love the mountains and blue skies. I take pictures on my walks to make myself focus on nature too. I don't want to be tromping through my natural environment without savouring its beauty.

 

[misty22]

It was a good day, I ate well exercised and feel good now. Not as much exercise as I had planned, worked out in the morning and planned a walk this evening, but it got late too fast.

Went out on the boat again and jumped in again, but it is still too cold for me to swim much. Up a little to 61 F (16 C), soon it will be warm enough for me to do some exercise swimming I hope. I was thinking about how much easier the boat is to use this year, easier to get in, get around, standup to drive, ect. Swimming from the boat is one thing I never gave up, in fact I had a super heavy duty swim ladder installed so I could get in and out. That ladder sure is easy to go up now! However as I said last week I don't have the fat flotation now, so I have to work a bit to stay afloat. Picture today, my hair and beard are getting really long! Need to find an open barber shop I guess.
View attachment 33855

That is interesting, I did not know it was an ornamental. I wonder it it is the same species? The wild ones here do attract a lot of bees also, noticed them when I was taking the pictures.

Oh, you have before and will again, its just a matter of when. Actually I am starting to think I will stick with the 160 lb target I set a year ago. Right now I am comfortable with this diet and I know it will not hurt me to lose more weight. I may decide its enough before I get to the 160, but for now that's what I am thinking. I know it will make for a kind of hard bottom, one day 1,200 calories and maybe 2,000 the next, but that's kind of the way I started this thing and it has worked so far. That is just what I am thinking today, could all change tomorrow.

No Misty, not far, but not quite there yet.

Sure, taking pictures on the walk helps make me focus on nature, and knowing I'll be posting here helps keep me taking them. Not sure today's picture would fall into the great category, but its what I got.

What a lovely picture. You look like you are enjoying yourself. Haha, everyone needs a hair cut/beard trim. Have you ever tried shaving your beard off? Would you look good without one?

My dad doesn't have one and he grew a beard in quarantine and we forced him to shave it off so he looked more like himself. Doesn't suit him but it suits you.

 

[alligatorob]

It was a good day, I ate well, exercised and feel good. Did a 10 km walk this morning, not the mountain assault, just a walk. That's my longest non mountain assault hike yet. Trying to build up my stamina a bit for the next assault, probably next weekend. Kind of running out of wildflower pictures, I will try and get a few more. Not sure what this one is, Utah has a lot of yellow wildflowers that look a lot like this. Note it has been well fertilized by the elk or deer.

So great you are really seeing the difference in how much easier it is to get around with all that weight dropped. Must feel very freeing.

Thanks Liza, it really does. Almost everyday I notice something that's easier to do, like getting on or off my lawnmower or just bending over to tie shoes.

Its good you have a plan to meet amd I think you will get there very soon indeed with your determination.

Thanks Petal, I appreciate your confidence. As y'all know I am not big on longer term plans, and for now I will just do what I have been doing, trying to eat well today. If I make it to the 160 that will be great, but if I decide to stop somewhere else that will be fine too. I really just want to stay on track so that when the times comes I can make that choice.

You have such a kind face, Rob.

Thanks, but you know looks can be deceiving, lol!

Lovely photo Rob. Looks idyllic.

Thanks Emily, it is a nice place. Went out today, just to put the new registration stickers on the boat, it was nice.

The water and sky are so blue! I didn´t know the name "Oregon grape berry" but it looked very similar and the Latin name is the same so I´m guessing it´s the same stuff.

Yes, we have a lot of blue sky, and now with the dry season beginning we will be having it most every day and all the time. I think the water color comes from the sky. If you look down into the lake its more of a greenish color. I looked the Oregon Grape Berry up, apparently its the state flower of Oregon, where it gets a lot bigger than here, up to a meter or so high. Yours probably is the same, it would make a nice ornamental.

Rob. Just pop over & I'll give that hair & beard a good trim... I take pictures on my walks to make myself focus on nature too. I don't want to be tromping through my natural environment without savouring its beauty.

Ok, will let you know when I am close! You are right about enjoying nature, and the pictures really do help.

 

[Llama]

Little yellow flowers really do often need an expert eye to keep them apart. There are so many!

 

[Petal001]

Your walking is inspiring me now I have more time to start tackling maybe some longer walks . And Lama too is inspiring me . The most I do unless I go hiking which is still not allowed is 7km .

 

[aiminglow]

I had to smile at the fat flotation device - I've had a fair bit of help from that in that past, too!
Lovely that you're enjoying the water and the blue, blue skies, and that it's almost getting to be warm swimming weather! The skies here are - or they were today, at any rate - beautifully blue, but the air was bitingly cold.

 

[Emilyrose]

It was a good day, I ate well, exercised and feel good. Did a 10 km walk this morning, not the mountain assault, just a walk.

That's great, especially when the weather is nice. It is lovely to be outside for a long time. I think the most I do walking-wise is probably 5 km, but maybe I will do a little bit more at the weekend.

 

[misty22]

It was a good day, I ate well, exercised and feel good. Did a 10 km walk this morning, not the mountain assault, just a walk. That's my longest non mountain assault hike yet. Trying to build up my stamina a bit for the next assault, probably next weekend. Kind of running out of wildflower pictures, I will try and get a few more. Not sure what this one is, Utah has a lot of yellow wildflowers that look a lot like this. Note it has been well fertilized by the elk or deer.
View attachment 33879

Thanks Liza, it really does. Almost everyday I notice something that's easier to do, like getting on or off my lawnmower or just bending over to tie shoes.

Thanks Petal, I appreciate your confidence. As y'all know I am not big on longer term plans, and for now I will just do what I have been doing, trying to eat well today. If I make it to the 160 that will be great, but if I decide to stop somewhere else that will be fine too. I really just want to stay on track so that when the times comes I can make that choice.

Thanks, but you know looks can be deceiving, lol!

Thanks Emily, it is a nice place. Went out today, just to put the new registration stickers on the boat, it was nice.

Yes, we have a lot of blue sky, and now with the dry season beginning we will be having it most every day and all the time. I think the water color comes from the sky. If you look down into the lake its more of a greenish color. I looked the Oregon Grape Berry up, apparently its the state flower of Oregon, where it gets a lot bigger than here, up to a meter or so high. Yours probably is the same, it would make a nice ornamental.
Ok, will let you know when I am close! You are right about enjoying nature, and the pictures really do help.

Just had a look at your food diary. You really are disciplined! Home-made kefir sounds great. A 10km walk sounds lovely, also it shows that you have built up the endurance for it. The most I can do is 5km on a good day on the treadmill, but maybe it is a bit different with scenery around.

 

[Cate]

A 10 km walk is a really good walk. You must really be getting quite fit, Rob.

 

[alligatorob]

It was a good day, exercised, ate well and I feel good tonight. Today's walk was only 8 km, but I did a makeshift workout as well.

Little yellow flowers really do often need an expert eye to keep them apart. There are so many!

Yep, I actually took a plant taxonomy class in college, at Utah State, so I once probably could have identified most all of them, but no more.

Your walking is inspiring me now I have more time to start tackling maybe some longer walks

Glad to hear that Petal, but you know your walks were one of the things that inspired me to start walking. You were doing it long before I. Kind of nice to be able to inspire each other here. And I agree on LaMa's walks, but doubt I could ever equal her.

I had to smile at the fat flotation device - I've had a fair bit of help from that in that past, too!
Lovely that you're enjoying the water and the blue, blue skies, and that it's almost getting to be warm swimming weather! The skies here are - or they were today, at any rate - beautifully blue, but the air was bitingly cold.

Yes, a year ago I could float quite easily, not so much today. Its funny until I joined this forum I never thought of Australia as cold. Its not in pictures or the movies...

That's great, especially when the weather is nice. It is lovely to be outside for a long time.

Yes, it does give an excuse to be outside for a time. Our weather is getting pretty good for walking, soon it will be hot.

You must really be getting quite fit, Rob.

Thanks Cate, and I know I am a lot fitter than I was, but its still hard to think of myself as fit. Getting fit is more my perception.

 

[Llama]

And I agree on LaMa's walks, but doubt I could ever equal her.

I'm never going to be able to be as consistently low-calorie as you are so you've gotta let me have something I'm good at.

 

[Cate]

Today's walk was only 8 km, but I did a makeshift workout as well.

Lazybones!

 

[alligatorob]

It was a good day, ate well, exercised and feel good tonight. I did a workout and an 8 km walk, but the walk was a bit slower and I was a bit more tired. Maybe tomorrow I will give walking a rest, I'd like to do another mountain assault this weekend so need to let my legs rest and repair a little.

What a lovely picture. You look like you are enjoying yourself. Haha, everyone needs a hair cut/beard trim. Have you ever tried shaving your beard off? Would you look good without one?

Thanks for your kind words Misty, I seemed to have missed answering your last couple of comments. It has been a long time since I was without a beard, and it has never been for long. Maybe I am just too lazy to shave!

Home-made kefir sounds great. A 10km walk sounds lovely, also it shows that you have built up the endurance for it.

I do like the homemade kefir, I learned about it here on the forum and tried making it. It was easy and I like it on cereal for breakfast. Yes I have been building my walking endurance for a few months, first by bicycling then by progressively longer walks. It does feel nice to be able to walk 10 km, a year ago I struggled to walk the 300 ft to the mailbox.

I'm never going to be able to be as consistently low-calorie as you are so you've gotta let me have something I'm good at.

LaMa, you are great at a lot of things, and despite your struggles you have managed to keep most of your weight loss off, a real accomplishment. I know I cannot continue to be "as consistently low-calorie" much longer without beginning to starve. I only hope I can be as successful in keeping the weight off in maintenance as you have been.

Lazybones!

Ha, you caught me!

 

[Llama]

I know I cannot continue to be "as consistently low-calorie" much longer without beginning to starve. I only hope I can be as successful in keeping the weight off in maintenance as you have been.

Well, you´ve got one thing going for you: you´ve managed to not binge for pretty much a year now. That´s BIG. I never managed more than a month or so at most, even while losing weight.

Anytime I don't eat to the point of being overstuffed I crave food, always have.

From the first page of your diary. I know you´re still tempted to overeat but are the cravings as strong as they were back then?

 

[Cate]

Rob, do you have kefir actually on your cereal? I keep forgetting to ask

 

[Petal001]

Rob I am laughing at you only managing an 8km walk . You are making the rest of look lazy now. Funny I was thinking back to when you were nervous about cycling your bike around the yard .

 

[misty22]

Rob I am laughing at you only managing an 8km walk . You are making the rest of look lazy now. Funny I was thinking back to when you were nervous about cycling your bike around the yard .

Lol yes my walks are an embarrassment compared to Rob's long walks/hikes. But his dedication is also an inspiration.

 

[alligatorob]

Down 3 lbs this morning to 185, I am happy. That is 135 lbs to date, I am happy!

Well, you´ve got one thing going for you: you´ve managed to not binge for pretty much a year now. That´s BIG.

For me it is BIG, not something I have ever been able to do before. However I am still 2 days away from a year, and I know I am never more than 5 minutes away from a binge, I have times I still want it.

From the first page of your diary. I know you´re still tempted to overeat but are the cravings as strong as they were back then?

Thanks LaMa, I had forgotten that. I don't know, I am sure they are not, but before this diet I was not really fighting them, just giving in. Back then I know I wanted to eat until stuffed all the time, stopping that was hard for a while it has gotten a lot easier, but the urges have not disappeared just gotten less frequent and easier to manage. However as I often say they are still there and at times giving in would be easy. A binge is never more than 5 minutes away, and probably always will be.

Rob, do you have kefir actually on your cereal?

Yes, that is the way I mostly eat it. The kefir I make does not have a lot of flavor (no smell), its kind of like thick milk on the cereal, I like the texture of it all better than milk on the cereal.

Rob I am laughing at you only managing an 8km walk . You are making the rest of look lazy now. Funny I was thinking back to when you were nervous about cycling your bike around the yard .

Thanks Petal, I remember that too, all too well. I have been amazed what I can do with a little work, its a bit embarrassing, for a long time I blamed my knees or feet for my lack of activity. Now I know it was just a combination of fat and laziness, my feet and knees are capable of a lot. Hey you and the rest of you are not lazy, I know what real laziness is when I see it (did it) and it ain't you!

Lol yes my walks are an embarrassment compared to Rob's long walks/hikes. But his dedication is also an inspiration.

Hey Misty when I first started exercising it was, as Petal pointed out, a struggle to do a short ride around my yard. I was embarrassed by how short a ride I could do, and said so here. If I can turn that into the hikes and walks I can do now you surely can do a lot better. You are much younger and lighter, stick to it and you will be fine. So long as you are trying you have nothing to be embarrassed about.

 

[Llama]

Another 3 pounds??? That´s amazing!

 

[Emilyrose]

So long as you are trying you have nothing to be embarrassed about.

I like this. Well done on another outstanding loss.