Today's Hike and July Goal

Thursday, June 30, 2011

I invited some Spark friends to hike with me on July 9. I researched some trails near my home, and thought I found one that would be fun, but not too taxing. Yesterday at work a friend told me the trail I'd picked is quite steep, so I thought I better go check it out. Good thing I did! Friend was right! Up, up, up! Probably not the trail we want, so I'm exploring the trail from the other end. Friend said most of that elevation gain is done in the car, getting to the trailhead ... I want us to enjoy the time together, without exhausting ourselves! Not that I don't ever want a challenge, but that is not the goal this time.

A few interesting things about this morning:
1. The trailhead was NOT where the website said it was!
2. I came across the hoof/leg bone of a deer, just under a tree by the trail. Something I've not seen before. I " know" about the wildlife in our foothills, but this was a "reality check"!
3. I kept getting lightheaded ... Reminding me that I don't push myself in cardio sessions.

And now, for July Goal. Those who know me, probably know I am NOT a goal-setter ... But as I hiked is morning, I realize it is crazy that I enjoy hiking when it's a moderate workout and not just a "mountain to climb so I can say 'I did it!', I only work 3 days/week, and I live 5 minutes from the foothills, but rarely go hiking! So, my July goal is to get into the hills and onto a trail at least once a week. Will post blogs about the hikes I take.

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The Sensation of Evaporating Fat

Monday, June 27, 2011

I have known for a long time that no amount of exercise will overcome an unhealthy diet when it comes to this Journey to Health! Unfortunately I tried it when I joined a gym years ago and thought that meant I could eat whatever I wanted ... NOT!

I came across "The Physics Diet" yesterday, and it reinforced this principal in my brain! I don't like his plan of "no lunch/no snacks" -- but the truth of it is, if we're going to lose weight, we will be a little bit hungry! And I LOVE his way of looking at that sensation of "hunger"!! Read on ... then click on the link to read the whole article!!

"Want to lose a pound of fat? You can work it off by hiking to the top of a 2,500-story building. Or by running 60 miles. Or by spending 7 hours cleaning animal stalls. (It is amazing what scientists have actually measured. This last example is tabulated in the book Exercise Physiology by G. Brooks and T. Fahey.)

Exercise is a very difficult way to lose weight. Here's a rule of thumb: exercise very hard for one hour (swimming, running, or racquetball)– and you'll lose about one ounce of fat. Light exercise for an hour (gardening, baseball, or golf) will lose you a third of an ounce. That number is small because fat is a very energy-dense substance: it packs about 4,000 food calories per pound, the same as gasoline, and 15 times as much as in TNT.

If you run for an hour, you'll lose that ounce of fat and also a pound or two of water. By the next day, when you've replenished the water, you might think, 'the weight came right back!' But you'd be wrong -- you really did lose an ounce. It is hard to notice, unless you keep running every day for a month or more, and don't reward yourself after each run with a cookie.

There is a much easier way to lose weight, as we can learn from the first law of thermodynamics. Eat less...Of course, there is a catch. You'll be hungry.

It's not real hunger–not like the painful hunger of starving people in impoverished countries. It's more of a mild ache, or an itch that you mustn't scratch...How to cope with the hunger? I attempted to enjoy it. I thought of the movie Lawrence of Arabia, in which T.E. Lawrence says, 'The trick is not minding that it hurts.' I told myself that the mild ache was only the sensation of evaporating fat. That interpretation has some basis in physics. When you lose weight, most of your fat is converted to the gases carbon dioxide and water vapor, and so you get rid of fat by breathing it out of your body..."

Read the whole article: muller.lbl.gov/TRessays/22-ThePhysic
sDiet.htm

What do you think? How do YOU deal with the 'hunger' while cutting down on calories?

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My Kind of Camping!

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Here are some photos of our 1 night adventure. Wish we could have stayed 2 nights ... maybe next time! Golden Gate Canyon State Park is only 45 min or so from home, but feels quite remote. I've done my share of tent-camping over the years, and at 59, I'm about ready to say, "That's All, Folks!" But I saw they have Yurts here, and was intrigued. I have been to Kazakhstan twice, on mission trips, and the native nomadic tribes lives in yurts ... so I wanted to try it! Now, I'm guessing our Golden Gate Yurt #2 was a little different than the Kazakh's ... but it was GREAT! Very spacious (2 bunk beds - double and single), a counter/cupboard, and table & chairs for 6. There's a skylight about 3' in diameter, so I could see the stars at night. Windows for ventilation. The picnic table, fire pit, grill are right outside.
All the fun of camping, except I wasn't down on an air mattress on the ground, hoping it would stay inflated! Golden Gate State Park is one of the nicest we've ever been to -- the tent sites had beem leveled and had tie-down pins in the ground. The fire pits and eating areas are all level, too, with landscape timbers around. The kids could stand and roast marshmallows without being in danger of falling into the fire. The restrooms are clean and I even found one with showers, for those who stay longer. Campsites are not too close together, so we didn't feel like we were right next to anyone. If you're near Denver, and looking for a place to get-away-from-it-all, I highly recommend this area! Now for some pics:

Our son, Brad, at Yurt #2 (d-i-l couldn't come with us this time)

Megan & FarFar making sure the top bunk would be OK for sleeping

Megan & Connor testing FarFar's headlamps

We only did a small campfire -- I wanted more, later, but the guys were both too sleepy and went to bed early

Our Princess starting the day with a SP recipe: Twisted Zucchini Bread!

Connor was ready to defend us from attack!

Colorado Columbine along our hike route - we did a 2.5 mile hike on Friday morning.

Found a good rock for the kids to climb when Connor started complaining that there really wasn't any reason for us to be doing all this hiking - he needed to know what the 'goal' was! Notice that even when hiking, Megan is all girl -- pink shirt, ruffled pink skirt and leggings, pink shoes!

Megan needed a ride now & then, but Connor did all 2.5 miles! He & I rested a bit more than the guys, though.

The view from Panorama Point (about 3/4 of the way through the hike)

The big squirt guns FarFar brought were a HIT!!

Hubby (aka FarFar -- which means Father's Father) in his "This is what a cool Grandpa looks like shirt" (You don't find many "FarFar" shirts!!)

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Having Fun At Work

Sunday, June 12, 2011

The maids at the resort we stayed at in Mexico last December found a way to make their job fun. Each time they cleaned the room, they left us different "towel sculptures" -- have been meaning to share them and finally am taking time! Enjoy -- and then let YOUR creative juices flow at work!!

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Vacation Photos

Sunday, June 12, 2011

This is going to be a mix from the last few months ... just haven't taken time to do it.

Sitting on the beach outside Rocky Point, Mexico Dec. 2010

Love watching the waves come in -- always reminds me of God's faithfulness, which just "Keeps on coming!"

We got to see some amazing sunsets!

The waves left such ripples in the sand - very cool!

June 2011 - Sedona

Our Phx. grandkids came to Sedona to see us.

Our 1st son & his family


The courtyard view from our bedroom


Sedona is SO beautiful!! No matter which way you look!
DH & I on one of our hikes

Even a prickly cactus can say, "LOVE"

My Sweetie

Dressed up for dinner out

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