Atrytone Buckles Down: Phase 3

[NeuroPunkNonsense]

Phase 2 was ambushed by illness and doldrums but I’m nothing if not resilient and so I’m back for round three. I am really liking the continuity of framing my Challenges as Phases.

 

Goal One: Stop Eating Like an Asshole

I feel like I’ve hit my stride with this goal. It’s becoming second nature to follow the segments. I almost never need to rely on Distraction Tea anymore but it’s still there, and still effective, when I need it. No changes this challenge as I want to focus a little more on my other goals but I’ll be looking into some information about nutrition and the like. I’m aiming for small, good lifestyle changes that add up over time. I’ve already noticed a huge difference just by following the segments I have laid out below.

i) Stop eating after 8 pm

ii) Stop eating for the sake of boredom

iii) Cut back the junk

iv) Three cups of coffee maximum per day

 

Goal Two: To the Fish and Back

I’ll be repeating my walking goal from last challenge. I didn’t complete it to my satisfaction so I’ll try again. The Fish is a landmark, approximately 2.5km away, so walking to it and back will give me about 5km. As I’ll be walking for an hour I’ll only do this 5 times a week.

 

Goal Three: Physical Conditioning

I’m still preparing for a kayak trip over the Easter weekend and still need to work on upper body strength for that. I also want to start putting on more visible muscle if possible.

i) 100 pushup challenge - I leveled up on this at the end of last challenge when I did an impromptu exhaustion test and managed 10 pushups in a row. I’ll do the pushups on an M, W, F schedule. I’ll start from the challenges Week 1 again at the middle difficulty; if I’m unable to do a plank form pushup I will do knee pushups instead.

ii) Core training - I’ll start with this Darebee workout on a Tu, Th schedule since I didn’t manage to do it even once last challenge. I still need to come up with a way to reinforce this behaviour.

 

Goal Four: Kayak Trip Prep

There are a number of things I need to do before this trip. Mostly I need to get together everything on the kit list. The timing of this challenge is actually pretty perfect since it ends on the April 15th and my trip starts on the 14th. I’ll post updates as I work through this.

[NeuroPunkNonsense]

So this is the kayak trip kit list my Uncle sent me (I'll cross items out as I acquire them):

 

• Kayak/Paddle/Paddle float/Throw bag/Extra paddle/Bilge pump/spray skirt
• Greenland/personal - bring Pfd
• Rain gear
• gloves (rubber/neoprene/leather)
• Guide tarp/vestibule
• flashlight
• sunscreen
• sunglasses/strap
• ziplock bags
• knife
• matches/lighter/bbq lighter
• laminated charts/tide table (Buy & Make)
• shorts
• first aid kit
• whistle (fox 40)
• waterproof bags (several)
• toilet paper
• nylon shell jacket/paddling jacket & pants
• gatorade
• duct tape
• neoprene boots
• tent
• sleeping bag (0 C)
• stove/fuel/bottles
• books & games
• rope/string
• ensolite pad
• compass
• cup/ plate/ bowl/ utensils
• mess kit (pots/pans)
• water bottles/containers
• water purifier ?
• towel
• granola bars/snacks
• extra wool socks
• big carry bag
• swiss army knife
• shortie
• toiletries
• area information (historical/cultural)
• day pack
• hiking boots/runners
• towline apparatus (make)
• dish scrubby/sponge
• shovel
• fleece jacket and pants
• flashing navigation light (blinking light - dog collar/bike light)
• spare batteries
• street clothes
• 2 - 3 changes of clothes
• head lamp
• cooking utensils
• quick dry shirt/pants
• emergency blanket/bivy
• garbage bags
• cell phone (c/w local numbers)
• spending money

 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Following again.

[NeuroPunkNonsense]

1 minute ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Following again.

 

Happy to have you.

[Sylvaa]

Sometimes coming back from an illness is so hard! So getting back in the game is so important! 

 

I am following to watch you get back in the groove and come back stronger!

[NeuroPunkNonsense]

4 minutes ago, Sylvaa said:

Sometimes coming back from an illness is so hard! So getting back in the game is so important! 

 

I am following to watch you get back in the groove and come back stronger!

 

Thank you. I was surprised at how much it knocked me down. I feel great now and I'm happy to have you along. 

[NeuroPunkNonsense]

Small body comp. update from last challenge:  My waist measurement went from 29.5" to 28.25" and my hip measurement went from 37.5" to 36.5". I've lost 2.25" and 2.5", respectively, since the beginning of January.

 

Kicking myself for not taking before shots but current pics under the spoiler.

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

[Terra]

Much excited for you kayak trip!!!  Hi!

[NeuroPunkNonsense]

7 minutes ago, Terra said:

Much excited for you kayak trip!!!  Hi!

 

Same here! I live in such a beautiful region and it'll be nice to spend time with my Uncle too. 

[Tialoredron]

*slips into the shadows*

[NeuroPunkNonsense]

7 hours ago, Tialoredron said:

*slips into the shadows*

 

*sees you and offers a nod on the sly*

[NeuroPunkNonsense]

Tonight I made dinner. I tackled a beef bourguignon for the first time. It was seared stew beef with a mirepoix cooked low and slow in the oven for 3 hours in an broth made with Okanagan Pinot Noir, beef stock, garlic, thyme, tomato paste, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. After it finished cooking I strained the sauce into a pot and separated the beef from the mirepoix (which was discarded). Then the beef was topped with sauteed mushrooms and onions and the broth was reintroduced and simmered for a couple minutes. It was served over boiled potatoes and steamed carrots. 

It was amazing. A pain in the ass but amazing.

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

That dinner sounds amazing. Why was the mirepoix (which I had to google) discarded?

[NeuroPunkNonsense]

2 hours ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

That dinner sounds amazing. Why was the mirepoix (which I had to google) discarded?

 

It was so good. I had leftovers with rice for breakfast today. (I had to google the proper spelling of mirepoix due to differences in dialect). It was discarded because the veg was thinly sliced and after 3 or so hours in the oven it was mush. It would have detracted from the meal. It was only really added to help flavour the broth.

[NeuroPunkNonsense]

I ordered a Sawyer mini today. The cost pained me (I also picked up a 2-pack of 64oz bags for it and a pair of wool socks) but I've heard nothing but good things about it and I'll need a water filter for the kayak trip. I have the day off tomorrow so I'm going to go through my list (now posted) and ask my Uncle about a couple of the items listed as well as make up a separate list of things to price out. I have the money set aside but if I don't figure out approximately what things are going to cost before I get them the totals tend to make me quite anxious. I don't like being surprised when it comes to expenses.

[NeuroPunkNonsense]

I've had really bad munchies all day. I had two cups of distraction tea earlier and they helped a little and then I had dinner and even though I wasn't really hungry I still had the overwhelming desire to snack on something sugary or salty or just generally bad for me. I was looking around for something to distract me from the microwave popcorn my mom loves or the partial bag of chocolate chips in the fridge. I happened across some dried cranberries and pecans. I filled a small cup with them since I just ate dinner and they completely took the edge off. I'm going to have to remember to pick some more of that kind of stuff when what we have runs out. Sometimes distraction tea isn't enough and even though I want junk I don't really want it anymore. It's important to have alternatives around so it's easier to make smart snacking choices.

[NeuroPunkNonsense]

So I've updated my kit list slightly. There were a number of items I either didn't know the use of or wasn't sure why they were included. I asked my Uncle about these items and most of them were either for longer trips or only requirements for one or two people in the group to have (and he has them all). So it cut down the size of my list a little. I also grouped the kayak and kayak accessories together because I'm going to be renting, not buying, and rentals have all the necessary items. 

 

At first I was cringing over how much everything was going to cost but my mom suggested I try a couple thrift stores before buying new. I'm not sure if I'll be able to buy a second hand wetsuit but it can't hurt to take a look. Some of the other stuff - fleece jacket/pants, shell jacket, rain/paddling clothes (read waterproof), etc. - shouldn't be too difficult. I do live in a coastal region after all and there are any number of highly active people here.

[NeuroPunkNonsense]

Hiking-related Rangerbrain is beating me over the head with a large, club-like stick. I haven't even done the WCT yet and I'm already planning a trip to Scotland to hike the John Muir Way. I'm trying to convince myself that it would make a great 30th birthday present even though I want to go NOW. Haha oh man what am I going to do? Send help. Or reality checks.

[DJtrippyT]

On 3/21/2017 at 10:20 AM, Atrytone said:

 

At first I was cringing over how much everything was going to cost but my mom suggested I try a couple thrift stores before buying new. I'm not sure if I'll be able to buy a second hand wetsuit but it can't hurt to take a look. 

 

Phase III in effect! Your kayak trip sounds amazing, can't wait to hear more about it.

 

Also for second-hand stuff try ebay. Sports gear is really well priced on there and people buy stuff and either upgrade or decide they aren't using it so there's always lots available.

[NeuroPunkNonsense]

1 hour ago, DJtrippyT said:

Phase III in effect! Your kayak trip sounds amazing, can't wait to hear more about it.

 

I'm actually getting pretty stoked about it to be honest. I was a little iffy at first but the closer it gets the more positive about it I feel. Hopefully I'll be able to take some pictures while I'm there. I live in such a beautiful region of the world and I'm super happy to share that with people.

 

Quote

Also for second-hand stuff try ebay. Sports gear is really well priced on there and people buy stuff and either upgrade or decide they aren't using it so there's always lots available.

 

I'll check that out but I'm pretty uncomfortable buying things online and I'm not sure if I'll have enough time left to get it. I'm not sure what ebay shipping times are like. I'll definitely keep it in mind for backpacking gear though since I have more time before I have to get all that together.

[NeuroPunkNonsense]

Just finished walk 3/5 for this week! Came home and grabbed the mail and it had my Sawyer and socks in it. That was pretty cool.

 

I'm really enjoying my walks lately. It's cool but not cold here and lately the weather has held steady. No more than a drizzle during my walks which beats the alternatives we've had over the past couple months (namely snow, sleet, and downpours). I spent my last two walks re-listening to Alice Isn't Dead in anticipation of Part 2 next month. I highly recommend it if anyone is interested. I'll put the synopsis under a spoiler.

 

Spoiler

A truck driver searches across America for the wife she had long assumed was dead. In the course of her search, she will encounter not-quite-human serial murderers, towns literally lost in time, and a conspiracy that goes way beyond one missing woman.

 

(And then I encourage you to let me know if you listen to it so I can scream about it because I've had no luck getting my irl friends to listen to it).

[Sylvaa]

WHY DO ALL THE FUN THINGS HAVE TO BE PODCASTS?!

 

Okay - done there. I will see if I can listen, because that sounds really really cool! Alas, as a rule, I am horrible about being able to listen and absorb information. 

[NeuroPunkNonsense]

24 minutes ago, Sylvaa said:

WHY DO ALL THE FUN THINGS HAVE TO BE PODCASTS?!

 

Okay - done there. I will see if I can listen, because that sounds really really cool! Alas, as a rule, I am horrible about being able to listen and absorb information. 

 

Haha sorry sorry. I don't usually listen to podcasts. Really only Welcome to Night Vale and Alice Isn't Dead because they kind of remind me of those old radio shows? Those are neat to listen to when you're driving. 

 

I definitely feel your pain though. I can't just sit and listen - I have to be doing something that doesn't take up any thought as well. So they're good for walks for me. I also find knitting or sewing while listening works well because it keeps my hands busy but I'm comfortable enough with those tasks that I can focus on the podcast without any difficulty. Actually it makes it easier for me to focus. Not sure if any of that would help you or not though.

[Terra]

How are things going???  

[DJtrippyT]

On 3/23/2017 at 8:33 AM, Atrytone said:

I also find knitting or sewing while listening works well because it keeps my hands busy but I'm comfortable enough with those tasks that I can focus on the podcast without any difficulty. Actually it makes it easier for me to focus. Not sure if any of that would help you or not though.

 

I'm this way about baseball. Can't stand it on the TV - too slow - but on the radio while I do the dishes it's awesome.

 

That podcast sounds cool, I have to check it out. I love podcasts but I havent' listened to any fiction ones.