From alpha testing to the QUERCUS 200

That's the only time I've raked since the leaves started falling in late 2013. We have mild enough weather that the grass still needs mowing while the leaves are faling. Mown or raked they are a small inconvienience for living in the woods. I can go out and hunt for food or cut wood for heat any time I please. Shoot guns or take a leak off my front porch. I can do whatever suits me and nobody hassles me. Best of all I can just go sit in the woods. Once my wife feels better we are going to start building a cabin on the ridge between our two creeks. I miss the culture and diversity that comes with living in a city and I loath the cultural backwater that is East Texas, but nature has always been a huge part of my life and I hated all the people and the lack of privacy that living in the city meant. C'est la vie.

run
2.1 miles
30 min
avg HR 147

The old phone was bogus on the distances for the last 2 runs. I used the same app on the new phone and got a distance similar to the old app on the same phone. Not having service for the old phone must make it work poorly or the GPS is less accurate. Either way, I'm pleased that the two out of three that mathched were the longer distances becuase otherwise my total mileage and 5K time would be crapier than they are.

It was below freezing, but the run went well. I ate right at 2,300 calories including a yummy vegan oatmeal banana cookie that my wife made me.
 
run
2.04 miles
30 minutes
avg hr 145
30 degress with sleet and rain. Miserable, but I'm happy to have gotten it done. Lots of clothes, mouth covered and the sleet had stoped melting towards the end so I was a little slower, but not much.
 
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Ouch, tough crowd. I would have accepted "dedicated runner" or "idiot", but damn. I do like the idea that any passersby wouldn't feel welcomed. My neighbors thinking I'm batshit crazy and perhaps dangerous will encourage the relationship I want to have with them. My social graces are as honed as my fashion sense I suppose, but I'm too antisocial to be preemptivley antagonistic.
 
So I'm toying with the notion of getting up early Saturday to do a 5K with the local running club. I can just show up and pay $5 without joining the club to try it out. Past results have people finishing slower than I would so it won't just be fast diehards out there. It might foul up my plans to run every day because I know I will push myself in a race compared to my solo runs in the aerobic zone. Thoughts?
 
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I had to chuckle at the remarks... the unibomber, rapist... LOL You do look pretty intimidating in that get up, but honestly you carry your weight very well! I would never guess you to be as heavy as the scale says you are. I hope you take that as a compliment because that's what's intended. :)

As for the 5k Saturday. I say why not go for it! If you really want to get into this type of thing it'll be good practice. If you don't do as well as you hope you'll know to stick with the solo runs for a bit longer. If it does foul up your plans for the week you can always do other exercise in place of running until your body is feeling normal again. :)
 
I certainly take it as a compliment Mandy. Especially when you consider that I was wearing a tshirt under a long sleeve tshirt under a pullover hoodie under a zip up hoodie. :blush5: Being tall helps I suppose.

Thanks for the running advice. I know my time won't be good compared to most of the rest of the runners, but that's okay by me. I just hope that the group would be accepting of my being there. I will likely run the rest of the week and decide on Friday. The weather is supposed to be very nice and the roads where it is being held are remote, but rather hilly.
 
run
1.92 miles
30 minutes
avg HR 144

I'm slipping on my mileage the last couple runs, but it's been very cold and I've been 5 bpm under my max aerobic range. The run felt good. I got some new threads tonight. A fancy wicking fleece and neoprene hat.
 
Quercus said:
I think my new method of measuring progress will emphasis long term change and make me learn patience. I get very impatient when it comes to weightloss which is a sure recipe for failure.
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Interesting.

I was also very impatient. In fact if you go to the first post of my diary it's about how I was off to a good start but was frustrated at how long this was going to take. I think there's a way to be emotionally impatient while still focusing on physically remaining patient while doing the gradual work you need to do to get where you want to be.

'Patience' has never been much of a personal strength for me, regardless of the topic, and so on the weight loss thing I've sort of trained myself to think of it in terms of how much longer it will take if I don't stick with things.

And I think you look more like you're going to rob a convenience store than anything else. But then when it comes to keeping warm in cold and wet conditions, comfort is pretty much all that matters.
 
Hi, Quercus, just wanted to stop in and say hi :) I don't really have time to read your diary all the way through as my baby is taking his afternoon nap at the moment and I only have two hours to look briefly through everybody's diaries and also get to mine! You look cozy in that outfit :) Will continue to watch your progress, though, now!
 
Vee, it sounds like you managed to transfer your impatience to being impatient with your bad habits. That's something I need to focus on as I feel frustrated or impatient. Thanks!

Kimmy, I appreciate you stopping by. I could use a nap myself.

The shortish version:

I've been over 300 since I was a young teen.

I have a back injury (herniated disc engulfing my sciatic nerve) that had me suffering for the better part of 6 months last year.

Since the start of the year I've quit drinking, gone vegan (except for wild game), and started run/walking which became running on Jan 10th. I can now run a slow 5K. My goal is 30 min 5K in the aerobic HR zone.

I've done some amount of exercise every day since Jan 2nd.

I've quit weighing myself and I am relying on calorie counting, belly measurements, and clothes to track my progress.

I'm a Biologist so I work out in the woods a good bit and will nerd out given the slightest provocation.
 
run
2.12 miles avg hr 149
cold but warmer than the last 2 nights
Run felt good. Fastest pace with the HR monitor on and 13 seconds slower mile pace than my fastest 5K time without the monitor. In other words I was most likely above the aerobic zone during the 5K.

Right at 2,300 calories today. I've been over the last couple days.
 
I had a big salad for lunch. Vegan and without dressing. It was all raw veggies with some olives, pepperocini, and hummus to give it some more flavor. The problem is that I tore a pair of jeans this morning. They were my favorite and worn threadbare and they gave out at the pocket edge when I was cramming into our car this morning. The silver lining is that I bough the same pants in a smaller size so I changed into them. They are still rather snug and I ate a huge plate of raw vegetables for lunch. I'll let you parse out the dilemma there.

My wife got a clean bill of health at the Doctor's office this afternoon! That means she can start exercising and that none of the junk she had growing in her was cancerous. I'm so relieved and happy! She can do what she feels like except for straining or lifting more than 20 pounds for 4 more weeks.

I'm so happy it's Friday. It's been a looong week.
 
Aww, sorry you tore a pair of pants this morning! That always sux. I guess you can add that to your pants retired on your signature! Retired for good. Being worn that badly, sounded like you needed a new pair anyways. Nice, that you can wear a smaller size now, though, even with being snug!

That's great to hear about your wife! Make sure she takes it easy for a little while.
 
I thought about the pants retired count and decided that I will count them, but only once I fit into a smaller replacement pair. That might be this weekend as I just haven't gotten around to trying on pants again in the last couple weeks.

I'm trying my best to get her to take it easy and I think she will. She has felt poorly for most of 2 years and so healing from surgery is an improvement to how she felt before I think. Walking and light house work are on the plan for this weekend. How bad has it been that those things sound exciting to her?
 
You are doing really well Q! I have been reading your diary each day, but haven't felt like commenting much as it's been one hell of a week for me too. We're about to go back in to sit with my husband's Mum, who is dying. Bad news about the torn pants, good news about your wife& also fitting into the smaller size, tmi about the combination of snug pants & eating lots of raw veg! :eek: Cheers, Cate
 
Thank you Cate!

run
30 min
avg hr 144
1.9 miles
Tonight sucked! Running with gastrointestinal distress is so not pleasant. Got it done. I give myself a gold star for the day.
 
Run
30 min
2.22 miles
avg hr 149
I decided against the 5K because I was hurting this morning. My whole body was achey and my feet especially and I'd planned on taking a break from running. I felt much better by tonight and went for my run around 10pm.

I tried on a couple pairs of pants today. Even though they were closer to fitting, they didn't fit. It'll happen when it happens.

I'm a vegan, a runner, and a tee-totaler. I won't be fat forever.
 
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Running with stomach problems? That's dedication, my friend. And even though the pants didn't fit, they were closer to fitting, which is great. They will eventually, I'm sure of it. Especially since you're a "vegan, a runner, and a tee-totaler" now. Love that statement! :)
 
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