:: Free 2 Be :: the Odyssey ::

Hafta tell ya, I’m pretty excited about realizing I’m wearing the same size I was wearing 15 years ago. That was the year I moved to NC. And, I was too large for it at least half the time since.

Plus, I’m completely healthy (have been for ten years). Feel great, feel like jumping up and doing something. Feels wonderful after so many years sick and wanting only to lie on the couch.

Plus, I’m stronger and more fit every year, or at least, over all. Last year I deadlifted over 200 pounds. Several times! LOL This year I’ll be sixty.

Three things I did that each made a HUGE difference:

• Joined a gym and started working out, at age 43.
• Learned to hike and hike some on the AT, age 49.
• Started CrossFit, which I will get back to, age 57.

Each of these has changed my life, in HUGE ways, for the better. I really think if I hadn’t ever started working out I would weigh 400-500 pounds now.

I also learned to focus on eating good stuff instead of trying to avoid bad stuff. HUGE. Huge.

Plus, I keep getting happier with my life. It was almost three years ago when I was invited to leave my job and let God lead me step by step. It is an adventure and it keeps getting better.

I am truly content. I can easily see many things I want to change and improve on, but, hey, I’m contented with my life today. And, I can see it keep getting better.

At 21, I saw my life as an accelerating downward spiral. This is better. Way better. What’s not to like?

Play along: What do you especially like about your life?

This is what I took for snacks on my 8-mile hike. Two boiled eggs and two peanut bars (held together with some kinda hard syrup). A folded piece of aluminum foil that contains salt and pepper for the eggs. Also, four 1/2 liter bottles of water.

As mentioned, I used to have exercise induced hypoglycemia (and reactive hypoglycemia as well). The Lord hooked me up with all the teaching that I needed to figure out how to handle these, and then healed me. I no longer have problems with either. Yea, God!

In my twenties, it was bad enough that I wasn’t expected to live through my thirties. But, I did. And, I don’t have diabetes! =D

Anyways… What I did that beat the exercise induced hypoglycemia was:

1. Eat a good, balanced meal within two hours of leaving to hike or workout.
2. Bring a bunch of small, balanced snacks along.
3. Stop and eat a snack every fifteen minutes

That’s it. And, it worked!

Now I don’t have to eat right to keep from passing out. But I still like to pay attention to my body and know that eating good food on time and especially balanced snacks when hiking keeps me stronger. So, this was my makeshift attempt to get some carbs and protein available for a several hour hike.

Examples of snacks I used to use would be half a fruit plus one of these for protein:

• a handful of nuts,
• chunk of cheese,
• a little meat, or,
• one slize ezekial 4:9 bread with crunchy peanut butter, folded in half.

I would prepare a variety and choose a carb and a protein on the trail. My carbs could be something other than fruit but that was my favorite and a whole fruit would be too much.

Note: Yes, the eggs pictured are really boiled. I waited for them to boil before taking the pic. No, those are not the actual eggs and peanut bars I ate that day. This pic is a *re-enactment.* These I may eat tomorrow, or over two days of hiking if I don’t do a long hike tomorrow.

Play along: Have you ever *crashed* or run for the food immediately after working out?

Well, I did it. Later I will get you a pic of the snacks I took on my hike yesterday: 2 peanut bars and 2 boiled eggs, plus 2 liters of water. I drank 1.5 liters.

The first week, I walked/hiked a total of 15 miles. This week, I walked/hiked just over 20 miles, but in twice the time (slowed down).

This week I made it to the local state park (Umstead) three times to hike and spent almost all my time on trails marked *moderate.* Yesterday ended up being about 8 miles and too much for this tired puppy. Then slept 14 hours!!

But, I really did enjoy it each day and also I’m learning. I’m back to remembering to carry my hiker *10 essentials* every hike, no matter how slight the chance of emergency. One day I forgot water! LOL Here is my new HIKER PAGE!

I am also learning to start thinking ahead in terms of what I eat every meal and having hiker snacks on hand. The first hike I felt the need for a snack was on a 4.5 mile hike, my first hike over 2 hours.

So, I’ve cruised about 36 miles in 12 days, and today is a rest day. Learning from CrossFit, I’ve decided to take fewer and longer hikes in general (but mixing it up) with usually 2-3 rest days a week. I believe I’ll make more progress faster if I both push more (stretch myself) and rest more (to recover).

Next week my goal is again 20 miles and see if my time (10 hours) improves.

The ultimate goal is to build up stamina. I *feel* more fit already, like I move easier and enjoy it more.

Yesterday I ran out of LP gas (cooking and hot water) so today ate at MickeyD’s. =p I’ll get back to eating better tomorrow after filling up on LP. Today I wore a suit to church that I couldn’t wear for many months. =D

Play along: What do you *heart* doing?

Please forgive me faithful readers for failure to post. My love is back again… HIKING!

You have to know a little background to know how great this is. Most of my life was one of sickness. About age 16 I fell in love with the idea of hiking the Appalachian Trail, around 2,170 miles. But, never did learn to hike. Never was well enough. At age 49 Jesus had healed me of many things and I learned how to control exercised induced hypoglycemia. I celebrated by learning to backpack and hiking three days on the AT. I fell in love with hiking!

A few years later I got really busy and put on 50 plus pounds. I got too heavy (150 pounds overweight) to carry the additional weight of a pack or hike. I got to where I would park illegally to keep from walking 1/2 mile.

Now I am back at my hiking weight and my hiking duds fit! And the hiking bug has bitten me again. I walked/hiked 15 miles last week and 7.75 so far this week with a 5.5 mile hike next today. This is working on getting in shape to backpack. More later…

These are the two dinners I ate tonight. Both are Healthy Choice.

Do they look like their pictures? Sorry about the lack of light.

First, Beef Tips Portobello, showing 18 grams protein, 5 grams fiber, 270 calories. On the back we see also, 7 grams of fat and 34 grams of carbohydrate (14 sugar). Sodium is 600 mg.

Second, Roasted Montery Chicken, showing 19 grams protein, 21 grams “whole grain,” and 340 calories. On the back we see: 8 grams fat, 48 grams carbohydrate (13 sugar). Sodium is 600 mg.

To their credit, the brown rice pilaf is listed as made with actual whole grain brown and wild rice, and all the ingredients in the rice pilaf and the fiesta vegetable blend are pronounceable words - actual foods - not chemicals. Not so fortunate on the chicken tenderloins  and peach multi-grain crisp.

So, why two dinners???

Because, I need more than 270 calories! Brunch was a heart-healthy serving of oatmeal with (honey-ized) peanut butter and molasses. That’s it. Oh, I had a gingerale and a cup of decaf at various times in the day.

Then, at 8:00 p.m. I needed more than 270 calories. Both dinners together are 610 calories and 37 grams of protein. So, I had an apple and a cookie. I’m not going to look those up, but, you get the idea.

I need at least 1,500-2,000 calories a day, with a good bit of protein. If I don’t get enough calories, I don’t lose weight. If I don’t get enough protein I get non-functional. I know, that sounds backward, but, it is documented. I prefer not to get my calories from snacks (contrary to evidence above). So, I need to eat.

These were a blessing! And, I enjoyed them. I admit it is so much more fun to cook, and, better for me, too. But I wouldn’t have made all these *fancy* dishes for myself. Tomorrow, I think I can make some more of my new fav fish stew. Yum…

By the way, some people have a *thing* about saying foods are *healthy* for us. As in, if a food is healthy, *it,* the food, is not ill, it is in good condition. But if a food is good for *my* health, is nutritious, then it is *healthful,* for me.  Just thought someone might want to know…

Please understand, I do sometimes buy these *time saving* types of dinners, especially when they are buy one, get one. There are times when it really is a more healthful choice than skipping dinner or fast food.

Play along: What do you watch: calories, carbs, or do you just try to eat what’s good for you?