Beginner Hammocking

I've always enjoyed the outdoors.  My parents took my RVing in primary school, and as I became older I would tent on their camp site.  It was more rugged and independent that way.  During secondary school I did not camp too much, but still enjoyed hiking, walking and biking with the occasional inland kayaking.

During my college and early adult years I have tent camped on rustic and regular Michigan State Parks.  It is a goal of mine to camp more, and it has been a goal of mine to go backpack ing.  I already own a backpacking tent but never used it for backpacking, just regular camping but I have decided to give hammocking a try.  And so, the gear acquisition ramps up.

Hammock
Tarp
Backpack
Cook Kit
Hiking poles
Top Quilt/blanket
Bottom Quilt (DIY poncho liner)

2015 and The Road to 30 (cont.)

I have mixed feelings about new year's resolutions since many do not complete them, but I do believe evaluations and goal setting is important.  The start of a new year is a natural time to do so since there are the celebrations and the calendar change.

This year I have a few goals:

• Stop my yo-yo weight journey.  I have worked on my weight and fitness levels since junior year of high school  I have had some successes, some plateaus and then gradual gains back and forth.  Now that I am a Dad, I really need to get motivated and make this a priority in my house.  I need to do it for myself, for my wife and for my son.  My goal is to achieve a lean body mass 10-12% body fat which most likely will put me at around 200 lbs.
• Train and participate in two U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary areas:

1. AUXCOM
2. Vessel Examiner

Parenthood & The Road to 30

I have nothing mind-blowing to share on parenthood, but I am now a member of the club.  Liam, a 7 lb 19 inch boy joined us late January.

With parenthood comes a greater motivation on my personal health.  True it first has to come from within and this has been something I have been working on, but being a new Dad makes the stakes even higher.

While I have a short bucket list, more and more people are creating a 29 list.  That is that the year before they turn 30 there are items one wants to complete.  This sounded like a good idea to me and this April I will be posting one of my own.

Being more like a truck

I have friends who eat healthier than anybody, but it takes them all day. And if they don't have their sprouted bread, they go into a seizure. I can eat a Big Mac. I'm not going to love it, but it won't put me into toxic shock. It's like if a car is too high-performance, then it's sensitive to any kind of fuel. I like being more like a truck. If a little diesel gets in there, maybe a little water, it'll cough and burp a bit, but it's gonna get through it and keep running. 

~ Laird Hamilton. Source.

The whole article list is good, but this particular point really stood out to me.  I may lose weight faster on a cleaner diet but when/if I do cheat the repercussions are bad.  When I eat mostly clean and then cheat, I still feel it later but it isn't halting me in my tracks.

I believe cutting out the junk and eating clean to restart your system, curb your cravings and reprogram your psychological need for certain foods is a great thing.  In the long term I think 80/20 is best for me.  If I need to tweak it then I can go up to 90/10.

EDC & Survival Bag

My EDC and Basic Survival Bag on Amazon

While I don't believe in doomsday, I do believe in being prepared.  My goal is to create a kit that is both useful for every day life, work (I travel a lot) and basic survival.

Just because there are cellphones, help might not be able to get to you.  You may not have service and can't call for help.  During a natural emergency (snowstorm) you may be stuck and help can't get to you either.  For all of these reasons, I want to have some basic tools on me or close to me at all times.

This is a work in progress and the list will be updated and modified.  This is actually what I have.

FG Hawaii 2013

Music Credits

• Five Armies Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
• Chee Zee Beach Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
• Seed (cloud mouth) / CC BY-NC-SA 3.0
• Idiot Heart (Carsie Blanton) / CC BY-NC-ND 3.0

FG Hawaii Trip 2013 by Chris Goeth is licensed under a CC BY-NC-ND 3.0
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at about.me/coldglory.

Keto Weight Loss

This is just a quick little update on my progress thus far.

I started about January 1st at over 272 lbs.  It was during break, so I didn't technically weight myself (I know right) but I did weight myself about 2 weeks before and it was 272.4.  I am pretty confident I did not lose any weight over break, maybe even gained some.

It is now January 20 and I weigh 259.4.  That is some considerable real weight loss.  It is very exciting.

I find it is easier to be strict then to give a little.  For instance, sure I can chips but only X amount to keep me under my carbs for the day.  Instead, I avoid all foods that are based solely on and have a lot of carbs.  No rice, flour, potatoes, sweets or fruits.

This is not a new year's resolution, because those have a bad completion rate and this is happening.  This is a new life resolution.  My goal is to reach 200/190 lean pounds.  Then I would like to do some races and sky dive.

Cheers!