Countdown to Amicalola: Springer Saturday #5

The view from atop Springer Mountain. This is taken in front of the first blaze and plaque. 

Date: February 7, 2015
Current Week: 02/04/15 - 02/10/15
Days until Amicalola: 46
Pounds to next weight goal: 5.4 (+1.8)
Total Gain Last Week: 0.6
Weight Goals Met: 0
Minutes Exercised, Yesterday: 15
Minutes Exercised, Last Week: 202
Minutes Exercised, Week: 55
Miles Hiked, Yesterday: 0
Miles Hiked, Week: 0
Miles Hiked, 2015: 2.66

So I kind of took Friday off, and while it wasn't the best result, it was still better than last week. The increase this week was less than 50% of the one the previous week. While not necessarily a good result, it was an expected result, considering I knowingly had a snack and some drinks after the 8:00 cutoff point. Keeping to that schedule during the work week is one thing, but doing it on the weekend is a different issue entirely.

Countdown to Amicalola: Heading Into Rough Seas of the Weekend

Some large ferns growing along the Ice Age Trail's John Muir segment. This picture is a good reminder that this cold, snowy weather won't be here forever. Soon enough we'll be griping about warm, buggy weather.

Date: February 6, 2015
Current Week: 02/04/15 - 02/10/15
Days until Amicalola: 47
Pounds to next weight goal: 3.6 (-2.0)
Total Gain Last Week: 0.6
Weight Goals Met: 0
Minutes Exercised, Yesterday: 20
Minutes Exercised, Last Week: 202
Minutes Exercised, Week: 40
Miles Hiked, Yesterday: 0
Miles Hiked, Week: 0
Miles Hiked, 2015: 2.66

Adhering to the 8:00 rule has worked out pretty well for me this week, as every night I've done since Monday has resulted in a good result the next morning. It looks like it's the lynchpin in my daily weight loss strategy, right along getting regular exercise. I'm happy that I'm on a four day winning streak.

Countdown to Amicalola: Just Keep on Keeping On

Date: February 5, 2015
Current Week: 02/04/15 - 02/10/15
Days until Amicalola: 48
Pounds to next weight goal: 5.6 (-2.6)
Total Gain Last Week: 0.6
Weight Goals Met: 0
Minutes Exercised, Yesterday: 20
Minutes Exercised, Last Week: 202
Minutes Exercised, Week: 20
Miles Hiked, Yesterday: 0
Miles Hiked, Week: 0
Miles Hiked, 2015: 2.66

Not much to report today, it's a pretty typical Thursday during this countdown. I appear to be back on pace again after last weekend, and I've walked two days straight in the cold of the parking garage. I look anxiously towards the weekend, hoping that I won't have another reversal like last weekend. We'll just have to wait and see.

Countdown to Amicalola: The Days Are Falling Away

Anna Ruby Falls, near Unicoi State Park in Northern Georgia. Two streams actually meet below the falls, which explains the two separate sets of falls shown in the picture.

Date: February 4, 2015
Current Week: 02/04/15 - 02/10/15
Days until Amicalola: 49
Pounds to next weight goal: 8.2 (-2.4)
Total Gain Last Week: 0.6
Weight Goals Met: 0
Minutes Exercised, Yesterday: 25
Minutes Exercised, Last Week: 202
Minutes Exercised, Week: 0
Miles Hiked, Yesterday: 0
Miles Hiked, Week: 0
Miles Hiked, 2015: 2.66

So this week ended as it began, with two straight days of going in the right direction. Now only if those three days over the weekend hadn't gone as they did. I'm a bit disappointed in that, but am pretty realistic about the situation. I'm fighting over 30 years of instincts, inclinations, and bad habits, and to expect to just be rid of them overnight is a bit delusional. Instead of looking at this week as a failure, I consider it just a tough week in the journey that still had some promise. After all, I tried out some equipment that may be necessary. I conquered Hawk Hill. And most of the days of the week I did lose weight.

Countdown to Amicalola: Return to Normalcy?

Fontana Dam, the highest dam east of the Rockies. The Appalachian Trail crosses the dam to enter Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Date: February 3, 2015
Current Week: 01/28/15 - 02/4/15
Days until Amicalola: 50
Pounds to next weight goal: 10.6 (-0.6)
Total Loss Last Week: 2.2
Weight Goals Met: 0
Minutes Exercised, Yesterday: 0
Minutes Exercised, Last Week: 250
Minutes Exercised, Week: 177
Miles Hiked, Yesterday: 0
Miles Hiked, Week: 1.16
Miles Hiked, 2015: 2.66

After three days of going the wrong way, I waved farewell to the weekend with a return to the downward trend of last week. It wasn't much, but it is down. This was good especially considering my lack of exercise yesterday.

Countdown to Amicalola: Monday Morning Quarterback

I was very happy to let my trekking poles rest for a bit at this juncture along the Appalachian Trail. The trail ahead is where my brother and I hiked up (always up) from Lake Winfield Scott. The rocks in the lower left are part of a staircase marking the "fun" approach of the Appalachian Trail up to Blood Mountain, highest point on the trail in Georgia.

Date: February 2, 2015
Current Week: 01/28/15 - 02/4/15
Days until Amicalola: 51
Pounds to next weight goal: 11.2 (+0.8)
Total Loss Last Week: 2.2
Weight Goals Met: 0
Minutes Exercised, Yesterday: 21
Minutes Exercised, Last Week: 250
Minutes Exercised, Week: 177
Miles Hiked, Yesterday: 0
Miles Hiked, Week: 1.16
Miles Hiked, 2015: 2.66

Upon first glance, this weekend was kind of a bust.  I went up every day from Saturday to Monday, which was certainly not my goal. There are many explanations for this, but the biggest one I think is my breaking of the "no food after 8:00" rule. True, even on the day I adhered to that I still went up. However, considering this was Super Bowl Sunday, and the amount of food I consumed in the two-three hours leading up to 8:00 was immense, I consider that 0.8 a victory, considering it was better than the two previous days.

Countdown to Amicalola: The Occurrence at Hawk Hill

Looking across the Vermilion Valley towards Indiana, from atop the Forest Glen tower. The day was as gray as this picture shows.

Date: February 1, 2015

Current Week: 01/28/15 - 02/4/15
Days until Amicalola: 52
Pounds to next weight goal: 10.4 (+1.2)
Total Loss Last Week: 2.2
Weight Goals Met: 0
Minutes Exercised, Yesterday: 45
Minutes Exercised, Last Week: 250
Minutes Exercised, Week: 156
Miles Hiked, Yesterday: 1.16
Miles Hiked, Week: 1.16
Miles Hiked, 2015: 2.66

In a lesser, more measurable way my hike yesterday was of little consequence. I only averaged a bit faster than 1.5 miles an hour, and hiked just a bit over a mile. However, in a sense that is not measurable but much more important, it was kind of a big deal.