Hiking Training Plan 3.0: Week 5 Recap

Weeks: February 14 - February 20
Miles Hiked (Week): 0
Miles Hiked (January/February): 0
Miles Hiked, (January/February Goal): 0
Miles Hiked (Yearly Total): 0
Pounds Gained (Weeks): 0.6
Pounds Gained (Total):  1.8
Weekly Goal Met: No
Nights Camped (Week): 0
Nights Camped (Total): 0
Nights Camped (Backpacking): 0

Eh, so it was another not so great week. However, I'm not quite so disappointed with this one. It was less than a pound, and this included a three day weekend in it. I improved over the course of the week from the high early on, so I'm not too concerned.

Hiking Training Plan 3.0: Weeks Three and Four

Weeks: January 31 - February 13
Miles Hiked (Week): 0
Miles Hiked (January/February): 0
Miles Hiked, (January/February Goal): 0
Miles Hiked (Yearly Total): 0
Pounds Gained (Weeks): 5.8
Pounds Gained (Total):  1.2
Weekly Goal Met: No
Nights Camped (Week): 0
Nights Camped (Total): 0
Nights Camped (Backpacking): 0

As I hinted to in my abbreviated entry from last week, things didn't go so well. Although I have some questions about whether or not the previous measurements were accurate (giving me a more optimistic weight than I expected), the fact is I didn't do so hot Super Bowl weekend. This, coupled with the continued cold weather keeping me trapped inside most days, has not helped.

Hiking Training Plan 3.0: Week Three Recap

Due in part to not writing down the weight from my scale last Friday, I don't have an official number for this week. As such, this isn't much of an update, other than to say the Super Bowl was about as kind to my efforts as it was to the Denver Broncos.

Expect a normal post next week, where hopefully I won't have made it two bad weeks in a row.

Hiking the Lists #9 - Amicalola Falls Loop

Hike: #9
Title: Amicalola Falls Loop
Location: Amicalola Falls State Park
Hike List: North Georgia
Difficulty: Easy, then difficult, then hundreds of stairs, then a moderately easy walk back down hill
Duration of Hike: Two-three hours of hiking, depending upon how many pictures (and rest stops) you take. Be careful, a side trail can take you six months (one way) to finish.

Some of the hikes in this series, particularly the ones in a certain state that rhymes with "thrillinois", are not the most interesting to write (or read) about. They may just be nice walks in the woods, or a sweaty tromp through prairie grasses. They can be a slog to get through, and often put this feature in jeopardy of getting behind.

Hiking Training Plan 3.0, Week Two

Week: January 24-30
Miles Hiked (Week): 0
Miles Hiked (January): 0
Miles Hiked, (January Goal): 0
Miles Hiked (Yearly Total): 0
Pounds Lost (Week): 1.4
Pounds Lost (Total):  4.6
Weekly Goal Met: No
Nights Camped (Week): 0
Nights Camped (Total): 0
Nights Camped (Backpacking): 0

It was a second week of declining weight, although not as good as the previous week. This was due in part to a minor bout of coughing, sneezing, and a runny nose, which was enough to put me out of work one day and left me feeling lazy. In addition, the below zero temperatures on Monday and Tuesday kept me holed up in my apartment, so I wasn't able to get out to Woodfield Mall (or anywhere else) to get my walking in. I suppose I could have walked for 10-12 minutes through my small apartment, but my downstairs neighbors would not have appreciated it.

I controlled my portions on most meals, and stayed away from excessive snacking. This played a big part in it still being a successful week. The good thing about being in as bad of shape as I am is that minor changes like this will have significant positive effects. Considering some of the poor food choices I made, that's a good thing, albeit one that won't last.

Beyond that, there isn't much else to report. Once again another week without hiking, but the clock continues to tick down until that will change. Super Bowl Sunday certainly won't help this week, but I'm still confident I can do OK this week. We'll just have to wait and see.