The Walking Thread

[WLWildlife]

No rain today and it finally warmed up enough to walk this evening. This morning it was literally freezing out side and we hit a high around 65, though it didn't feel that warm. The air was chilly, but warmer than the last couple of days. I got my 3 miles in. It always feels good to move my body and work out the stress. As if I don't have enough going on iny personal life, I can't leave work at work. I worry about some of my students.

 

[citruscurtis]

Wow who said dandelions can't be valuable crystal... worthy of photo contest image

 

[WLWildlife]

Wow who said dandelions can't be valuable crystal... worthy of photo contest image

Thank you! I figured if that dandelion can survive being frozen 2 days in a row, then I can handle what God has put on my plate this week. Even if I don't want to.

 

[citruscurtis]

Yep... the last verse of Colossians has a fellow who thought the same way....we are about ready to finish that letter.... I peaked ahead when David Jeremiah used him in a book titled Forward... take to heart what you see...it works for me or I would never overcome my disfigurement

Thank you! I figured if that dandelion can survive being frozen 2 days in a row, then I can handle what God has put on my plate this week. Even if I don't want to.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

Thank you for all that! Very insightful and inspiring. My issues are different than yours. I have to fight to keep weight and build muscle. I am on a restricted diet because my body doesn't like a lot of things. I have developed a lot of food allergies and sensitivities. I LOVE JUNK FOOD! I think I ate myself sick. My gut just doesn't do well with a lot of plants and I crave sugar and wheat based food. I have been off gluten for 14 years and pretty much the same for sugar. I still crave it and sometimes I cave. Like you, I try portion control. I'm going to take your advice and wait until later in the day to eat junk and maybe I will consume less. I have started eating a lot more animal protein and less plants and I am feeling better. Maybe I am on to something. I am going to try to be as creative as you with indulging and see if that helps. I have noticed that I am going for much longer stretches before I give in to cravings because I remember how bad I feel when I eat it and it just isn't worth it. These shares are helping too!

Sorry, I made the assumption and went in the wrong direction. I went off of gluten for a while and cut way back on sugar. The sugar cut I think is good all around but after a lot of trial and error, I found that cutting gluten wasn't really very beneficial for me. Of course, that's just me. I know others for whom it's been incredibly helpful. Then there are the friends with Celiac who need to cut it. I try and make sure I get a decent amount of plant based food but a lot of that is volume eating, texture and simply because I like certain things. My weekday cottage cheese bowls are absolutely loaded with cucumber and carrots...simply because I love the crunch and taste while also loving how it makes it look like I have a massive bowl of food. Mind games! While harder on the stomach, chickpeas and avocado are also musts in my world. All in all, these are the kinds of foods that help me consume less while getting to consume more. Of course, from the animal protein standpoint, ultra lean ground chicken and turkey, chicken breasts, the 96% lean beef, smoked salmon, Ball Park's 45 calorie turkey dogs, and Trader Joe's mahi mahi burgers are my protein staples beyond nonfat Greek yogurt and lowfat high protein cottage cheese. That "bad" feeling you speak of is also what helps keep me from going overboard as well.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

Happy Wednesday! Put in 6.24 miles today. I did throw in some interval work because I'm seriously thinking about taking that approach to this weekend's race. It was a little touch and go in the beginning because it was dark and we were under a dense fog advisory. It's kind of funny to be thinking about visibility on the trails while using a clip on lamp light. Nothing too exciting out there this morning but at least it wasn't raining. Although, we may have severe weather later...right when family is supposed to be flying into town.

Pardon my crazy hair...it's pretty humid and things curl up as I get sweaty. Also wondering how much longer before I toss these shoes. They are my oldest pair. They still feel better than the two I bought after them but my knees and hips are telling me that they are not long for this world. The soles also are getting what I call "the look." This particular model literally starts falling apart and these are super close to done. I wear them once a week, so they'll likely make it to the beginning of May. With six pairs, including them, in rotation...it's not like I need to buy something to replace them.

 

[citruscurtis]

My two hour walk this morning... thru landlords Forest.... they are leaving Sunday back to Central Oregon and I helping the departure... weaving my way thru heat resistant plants

 

[WLWildlife]

TiggerTigger, how long does it take you to walk 6 miles? How long if doing interval? In my younger days a couple decades ago, I could do 12 minute mile pushing a double jogger stroller. Right now it takes me about 20 minutes with my walking companion. I'd like to get back to at least a 15 minute mile this summer.

We had a BEAUTIFUL Wednesday! I was able to get 3 miles in. Always makes me feel better. More positive and hopeful about things.

 

[WLWildlife]

Citruscurtis, I like that you have different plants than I do. This is for you. You make me look at dandelions differently now!

 

[citruscurtis]

Citruscurtis, I like that you have different plants than I do. This is for you. You make me look at dandelions differently now!

Your dandelions have a more full bloom and this variety could be the dandy mane of a lion ...my Yuma and Oregon blooms are not even close to the fullness

 

[citruscurtis]

.... okay..16 different names and our name references lion teeth...odd.. never paid attention to lion teeth.... however... many of the names do refer to royalty and their head neck wear...

 

[WLWildlife]

Your dandelions have a more full bloom and this variety could be the dandy mane of a lion ...my Yuma and Oregon blooms are not even close to the fullness

That is probably due to all horse and cow manure that the land owner is spreading over his fields in the off season. It's great fertilizer for most plants.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

TiggerTigger, how long does it take you to walk 6 miles? How long if doing interval? In my younger days a couple decades ago, I could do 12 minute mile pushing a double jogger stroller. Right now it takes me about 20 minutes with my walking companion. I'd like to get back to at least a 15 minute mile this summer.

Just for comparison, the first graphic is today’s walk. It was 100% walking and I’d put it at a moderate effort. So, faster than my casual pace (which is a little over 14) but slower than my walking race pace (upper 12s to low 13s). The second graphic is from last week when I did intervals. I’m still exploring and I never know when my lungs are going to cooperate. So this was just a comfortable effort during the running portions. You can see the total time in the bottom left. The third graphic represents elevation. I intentionally take this route for the hill work. Theoretically, I should be faster and more consistent on an even/flat course but these hills also work me harder and make me stronger for race efforts. We don’t have much in the way of hills around here but I’ll take what I can get.

 

[citruscurtis]

Glad I didn't have modern technology.... I love to keep records of my daily life....golf cart brother in law has a step counter... and tell him.... that is not the way to measure aerobic steps or life style goal

 

[longboard55]

Nice trail walk yesterday. One huge deer, a baby rattle snake, a small garter snake and my favorite a couple of road runners. Road runners are just so fun to watch, they go after the lizards.

 

[citruscurtis]

All of our deer live in California flood plain

 

[WLWildlife]

It was BEAUTIFUL today! It hit 82 briefly, but then started to cool, but was warm for walking. I know most people prefer it to be cooler, but I am comfortable at 75-85. The sky was blue for a change. We covered our 3 miles, but switched our root a little for a change of pace. We saw our first butterfly, a swallow tail! I couldn't get a photo since there was nowhere for it to land. It seems a little early for those around here, but what a sign that summer is coming!

 

[WLWildlife]

TiggerTigger, thanks for the info. It gives me an idea of how we are performing. We do a little hill work daily. I add in the big hill when I am alone. I like the challenge.

 

[WLWildlife]

Had a few sprinkles, I got my 3 miles in!

 

[TiggerTrigger]

Sorry…last few days got chaotic. I had family fly into town on Wednesday, I have had more drama than planned with the dr, DD17 is in softball playoffs, both kids have had other things demanding my attention, etc.

Thursday was my standard 6.23 and yesterday was 8.02. Today is a break day since tomorrow is race day. I wish I felt better about this but everything is really weighing on me… especially the dr. I’ll try not to get too long winded but sharing in typed form may be what my mind needs…so…

- I get to my appointment at 8am on Thursday (30 minutes early) just to have confusion over whether I’m scheduled. Turns out they supposedly tried to call me to say that location was out of network for these services but I never answered. So, they have authorization to leave messages and text about test results but are incapable of leaving a message about this??? And why wasn’t this seen by the scheduling agent 1.5 months ago? Surely they have system that shows network clearances when booking!?!?
- They say they can get me an appointment same day or next day at a location that is in network. I have been waiting and nervous for 1.5 months and now you’re able to work me in same or next day?!??! Again…scheduling agent really dropped the ball.
- I picked a Friday appointment due to time. I was told the other office was only 10-15 minutes away. I believed her! I got into my car a bit early yesterday “just in case.” It was nearly an hour away on the other side of town. I made it (speeding) but more unnecessary stress and bad information. Yes, I probably should have mapped it ahead just for confirmation but I honed in on what I was told and they do have a location on this same very long road that is only 10-15 minutes away. Ugh!!!
- The appointment started off fairly normal but during the second half with my ultrasound, the tech mentioned things they saw of concern in my original mammogram. Not a bad image or lack of concern like my dr’s office said… but legit concerns. I allowed this wait for 1.5 months because I was told it was just a bad image. Now there’s concerns and she’s being REALLY thorough with the ultrasound.
- I was originally told the radiologist was in office yesterday so she’d come in to talk if there were any real concerns. She came in to talk She was very nice, but she saw some things. Supposedly super low risk stuff but with my family history she’s going to be more cautious. She’s got one area she’s probably going to just monitor over time but she’s going to suggest some future testing to my doctor and the big thing… I now have a biopsy scheduled in 2 weeks I was advised to eat well beforehand because a lot of patients don’t eat enough and get woozy over their nervousness. Great. As it is…this is throwing my eating off.

So now I wait…again. My parents are here and my mom is a survivor but I really don’t want to share too much because I can’t take being smothered right now. So, I’m hoping tomorrow will be like yesterday… where I pour my frustration into powering my miles. Here are some pics… including a super pretty blue tail skink.