The hike started out ok, but there was a heat and humidty warning issued, which I generally do not pay attention to. Most of the hike was in forest, out of direct sun, so I figured there would be no problem. After over an hour, I was able to find myself on a map, and realized I was not even half way to the destination. I was also felling more exhausted that I expected, so I decided to cancel and reverse. On the way back, I was stumbling and feeling a bit drunk, and was concerned I might not be able to make it, or possibly would have to stop and recover. I had water with me, but probably was not drinking enough.

In the end I decide to take the risk of a short cut return, and hoped I was reading the map correctly. Luckily that worked. Total time was only two hours, which would be a typical short hike, but it felt like five hours.

I managed to get back to the car, but was very wiped, Drank about three cups of water, drove home and drank more water. After I ate something I felt better. However, I got on the scale, and despite all the water drunk, I’d lost five pounds since the morning, so I must have been extremely dehydrated.

What causes heat stroke?

Sweat works really well as long as there is plenty of water in your body — it takes water to manufacture sweat. If you run out of water, sweat stops and your body rapidly overheats. It turns out that it is extremely easy to run out of water — your body can produce 0.5 gallons (2 liters) of sweat every hour in a hot environment. Unless you are drinking water at the same rate, you will dehydrate and then stop sweating. Your internal thirst meter often is not sensitive enough when you need that much water (and it has been said that by the time you feel thirsty, you’re already dehydrated), so you have to keep drinking regardless of how thirsty you feel.

I came across this climbing plain and wondered if it was Poison Ivy since it’s known to grow where I was

It seems not - from checking with Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac Facts

I can now understand better the dilemma of those who end up in accidents and take so long to recover.

I don’t like this Broken Toe Most broken toes obviously have an acute onset. What surprises most people is that the symptoms of a broken toe may last 8-10 weeks

On top of that, this toe has been broken at least once before, maybe twice.

Then my trainer invited my down to his gym, for a late night strength session. My toe hurts badly, but I can do the strength stuff, since I don’t have to run around.

Keeping fit and healthy may not require hours of physical exercise every week, research suggests.

Are they kidding? You mean I don’t have to work out at least an hour a day. Well on further reading I guess I have to keep to it, since it seems it may only apply to those who are fit. Maybe some day.

My leg muscles have now much better control, I can sit down in a chair slowly with control, without falling into it, that’s taken two months of slow buildup, but a clear measure of improvement.

On a negative note, my general stamina and energy is low, probably from lack of sleep. And my back is causing problems again, sometimes it stabs as I get out of a chair, so I’ve cut back on the ball exercises for the week.

It’s been a rough week. After my hike last Monday, I stressed myself so much I could not work out on Tuesday. I seems I still have a problem, and might have overworked my semi-permanent problem with my left Achilles tendon.

I got on the treadmill and after a few minutes could not continue. That’s the first time this has happened. So I took a break for a while, did some leg stretches and then it was ok. I kept it down to twenty minutes at a medium pace, rather than a full half hour where I would increase to a high intensity.

Talked to my trainer, who said not to worry. He’s surprised that with carrying so much weight I haven’t had more problems.

Diet

I’m really getting frustrated with the lack of weight loss. After all this time, even allowing for weight gain from conversion from fat to muscle, I should be at least ten pounds lighter.

This week, I’m considering dropping the five meal a day whether I’m hungry or not, and switching to only eating when I’m hungry. The danger of course is that when I do get hungry, I might just grab the first thing in sight.

OK, at least I lost two pounds.

I keep wondering why i’m not losing weight at anywhere near what I should be. But when I look at my kids and how they bounce around from one place to another, and keep slim despite the fact they live on sugar and junk it gives a clue. Conservation of energy. I sit at a computer most of the day. Other than my one hour work out, and making dinner and coffee, I’m sitting. Here is an article from the NY times on the subject [the link probably expires in a week]

New Weight-Loss Focus: The Lean and the Restless

By using special underwear to measure movement, they find that thin people move and fidget and walk around and fat people avoid any movement. The heavier ones tended to sit, while the lean ones were more restless and spent two more hours a day on their feet - standing, pacing around and fidgeting. The difference translated into 350 calories a day, enough for the heavy people to take off 30 to 40 pounds a year, if they would get moving.

Here is another article on NEAT, for nonexercise activity thermogenesis

NONEXERCISE ACTIVITY THERMOGENESIS

But I think I overdid it - around two hours total including up and down the hill with the rocks, and up and down another one. Six hours later, I’m beginning to feel the pain.

Bottom of the first hill about to cross the swamp and up the second hill

In the middle of the swamp

No good pictures of the second hill. This is coming back up to the top of the first rocky hill.

Looking back down