#MondayMotivation - September & October Check In

It’s been an interesting few months. I’ll be frank, I have not been eating very well or exercising nearly enough to feel good about myself. I’m out of balance. Working hard to get back to balance - walking, running, eating more reasonably, drinking a little less, etc. I started to feel tight and I felt myself slipping back into my old ways of ignoring everything and just eating and drinking whatever I wanted without thought. Intentions are everything, but the follow through is where it’s at as far as progress and maintenance.

The Good

• I had some great hikes in September and October

• There were some good bike rides in both months

• I was aware of my slip into the dark side of just eating whatever and not being concerned, so that’s a step in the right direction

• I lived another day, another week, and another couple months

• I’m back on the running train and it feels good, but still challenging

The Not So Good

• My food intake was too damn much

• I was not exercising daily, even walks, and I sure can feel it now

• Between work trips and some personal adventures, I was not really giving a shit what I was eating or drinking and it shows

• Didn’t kayak at all

• Basically gave up on tracking my progress because I wasn’t making any

• The Apple Watch was messing up with updates, and still is, so it’s made me adjust how I’m keeping track of what it is I do to better myself

Mental Health Check-In

• The months were alright, with only a few real dark days

• I am kind of adopting a new, go-to mindset that’s helping me compartmentalize work and the rest of my life

• As I got back in to a routine, my mood improved

• Overall, life is good and I’m pretty lucky

Goals and Ambitions for November

• Daily exercise goals

• Run through Couch210K again

• Eat more sensibly and mostly track daily food intake

• Track and monitor fitness again, weights, etc.

• Do daily and weekly intentions

• Daily gratitude journaling

#MondayMotivation - August Check In

As you now, I have a new format, new goals, and a new outlook on getting healthy. It is all about balance and staying consistent. I refuse to deprive myself of the good stuff in life and I will not give up. Now, sometimes things happen and indulgences go too far, that’s life. It is all about consistently trying, moving, and making better choices.

A new resource that is helping me along can be found here: Hamilton Trained Podcast

August was better than July, but still not where I want to be so I am continuing the work in September. There are no barriers between months, it’s just another day, but it does allow me to check in on myself and see where I need to adjust.

I found myself VERY lazy towards the end of the month. I had been riding my bike a lot, walking daily, and even minding my meals mostly. BUT, by mid month I started to give up for some reason or another. Maybe it was a few nights of drinking too much, maybe it was vacation? Either way, it is done and over with and it’s not going to cause me to give up or anything. I’m adjusting. I’m weighing myself again, yikes, and halfway tracking what I’me eating. I am reintroducing exercise into my daily life again, even though it wasn’t fully gone I’m ramping it back up.

This month I’m raising money to fight kid’s cancer - through he Great Cycle Challenge. More info HERE! Please donate if you can, every donation matters in the fight against cancer.

The Good

• Did more miles than July, barely, but it counts

• I biked a few times in the beginning of the month

• My food intake was good overall, but there’s alway room for more of a balance

• Had a few amazing hikes in gorgeous places

• I technically started the month with a kayak trip

• I did run once, and I always feel like I want to run more

• I took a trip (as safely as I could) and saw beautiful places

• I survived, and I have another new perspective to add to the mix

The Not So Good

• Had quite the emotional rollercoaster of a month

• Didn’t hike, walk, bike, or run as much as I’d have liked

• Indulged a little too much on vacation

• Didn’t kayak very much

Mental Health Check-In

• August was a rollercoaster, as mentioned and not as fun as Cedar Pointe

• I had a lot of bad days, some REALLY bad and sometimes felt like I couldn’t really express that to anyone which really hurts the situation even more

• Some of the dark days shed some light on areas that need adjustment in life

• Overall, everything is fine now and life is moving forward

#ForestFriday - The Evergreen State

Just some pictures of trees from visits to one of my favorite states.

#ForestFriday - Cascade Pass Trail

Today I’m looking back at my brief day trip to visit North Cascades National Park. I’ve created a post on it already, found here. Today I’m going to highlight some of the plants and fungi I found along the Cascade Pass Trail. The clouds may have prevented me from seeing the views, but my I was able to focus on the ground a little more.

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The trail climbed steadily, and I was continuously blown away by the lush greenery through the mist. The Pacific Northwest is truly magical and it’s easy to see why my heart can’t rest until I make a return.

The trail had huge drop offs and that may make some nervous. I took it as motivation to slow down, pay attention, and enjoy the moment.

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#MondayMotivation - A Healthier Mike July 2020 Review

July was better than June, but still not on par with the first five months of the year. My weight is up, I’m bloated, my running is suffering, and my body is just blah. I am feeling the effects of being too lazy in the opposite way I felt after mashing my hip and knee from being too active. I have to find a balance in August.

Work is a continued stress ball, but I’m learning new ways to manage it overall. I’m slowly distancing from social media, negative bitches, and people who make me feel less than great. It’s not as easy as just saying “I’m going to avoid people” because saying and doing are vastly different.

Here’s to August, a month of goals.

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The Good

• I kayaked a few times - once being down a river!

• I spent a week deep in thought, trying to find a way through everything

• Food intake was moderate to good all month, despite my lack of logging in Noom

• Had several nice hikes and visited new state parks

• Had some breakthroughs with biking

• Working toward being back on my regular track of better choices

• I read a little bit, but man is it hard for me to sit down and read for some reason

• I had quality time with family and friends

• Had some nice long, healthy walks and jogs

• Realized I can still run, albeit for not as long as I could back in May

• I signed up to ride 100 miles to raise money for kids cancer treatment/research in September - so I’m going to work hard this month to get ready for that by riding more often.

• We have a second kayak now, so together time kayaking can happen!

• I did more activity, and more per day of activity, than June

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The Not So Good

• I had some real shitty days for activity - pure laziness and some days of just driving all day

• I did not track my food for the last half of the month

• My sleep schedule has shifted and I’m not happy with it

• I’m falling short on my overall annual goal numbers

• I did not meet my previous July activity level

• I just didn’t care enough

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Mental Health Check In

• I took a week and just thought really hard about what it is I wanted, where I wanted to be, and what I needed to do going forward

• I managed to regain my positive energy despite these shitty-on-paper numbers this month (again, but with more momentum)

• I made plans, set attainable goals, and got back on the food logging wagon (today, 8/3)

• Managing work stress is easier than ever, now

• I’ve felt kind of lonely, despite not being alone (this is a continued feeling, though it’s fading - ebbs and flows)

• Routines are still my best tool in staying happy, healthy, and optimistic (still true, still something I think about often)

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Goals for August

• 100+ miles of “on-foot” activity (hiking, walking, running)

• 75+ miles of biking

• Wake up before 7 am

• Get to bed by 10:30 pm

• Log all meals (failed to do so on Aug 1 & 2)

• Log in to Noom and work through it

• Write once a week

• Eat less shit and less overall

• Drink less alcohol during the week

• Increase water intake

• Yoga once a week, minimum 15 mins

• Find a body weight workout to do once or twice per week

• Read another book

• Focus on staying clear

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Conclusions - Going Forward

• I’m more on track than June, but I really need to push myself

• I need to get my shit together as far as meeting my annual goals. July and June were huge hits to my goals. I need to balance - not caring and care - a little better.

• I will keep trying - there’s no reason to give up because of a few bad weeks

• I can get fully back on track with a little focus

• I like to give in to my desires too easily - beers, sweets, laziness… in reality, I don’t need those things and I know.

• The worst thing is knowing you’re doing something wrong and not being able to stop yourself

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Questions I’m asking myself

• What’s really important in life?

• Why don’t I do yoga more often?

• Why am I so easily falling victim to my own laziness?

• What are some gym alternatives?

• Why don’t I swim more?

Seven Sunsets

I got this idea from a friend, and it was a long time ago, but I’m just now completing it and sharing them. I’m more of a sunrise guy, so I think that’ll be my next task. My goal will be to get a sunrise photo for an entire month, eventually. I have to get in a routine!

I present to you SEVEN SUNSETS in a row, without much explanation.

July 5 - on a walk through the neighborhood (featuring the pines I see daily)

July 6 - on a walk in the neighborhood

July 7 - in the neighborhood, again, but with more interesting clouds!

July 8 - You guessed it, in the neighborhood again over the suburban houses

July 9 - on an evening walk with friends at a local trail (I had so many I wanted to use, but this one was fun)

July 10 - My other half’s first kayak in his own on Lake Granbury

July 11 - walking the dog, almost forgot, but caught it!

Lincoln National Forest

I figured National Forest Week was still going on so why not share a little from one of my most frequented forests - Lincoln National Forest in New Mexico. I work so close to the this one, at a field office, so I’ve been visiting it more often when I have some down time. Even before I worked near it on occasion, my aunt and I had made a trip to escape the heat of September in Texas. The fresh scent of pine makes us happy.

Lincoln NF has a variety of landscapes, from caves to tree lined trails. I camped, in the summer, comfortably at a place with small trees and walked a snow covered trail in the spring at 9000 ft just a couple of hours away. Such a fun, dynamic national forest. Enjoy some photos from the varying places within the Lincoln National Forest.

(National) #ForestFriday - Chugach NF

I saved my photos from Chugach National Forest in Alaska for today so they could live in a post just for them. Chugach would easily be my number one National Forest, but I have only been once and we will not be going any time soon as far as I know. Enjoy some photos from the family vacation in the Chugach National Forest a few years ago. We saw trees, flowers, glaciers, rivers, and other things in between.

#NationalForestWeek continues! #ThrowbackThursday

I want to share a few more photos from my adventures in the forest - this time, the ones I’ve shared with some of my good friends. The forest can be the most amazing experience alone, but every now and then you want that adventure pal or pals with you along the way.

Kayaking down the Salt River (Tonto NF)

I had made the journey out to Phoenix to meet up with a longtime online acquaintance for a backpacking trip in a special canyon. The fear of a flash flood kept us out of the area, and we made a backup attempt in the Superstition Mountains within the Tonto National Forest. The whole thing didn’t work - rain, illness, etc - so we trekked back out and had pizza and beer. The silver lining of all of this was that a day was freed and the Salt River was calling. I had never kayaked. The adventure was fun, I tipped, which felt wonderful, and got to meet another longtime online acquaintance.

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Lazy Days at Blanchard Springs (Ozark/St. Francis NF)

The pandemic was raging and I was in a cabin on the White River near Mountain View, Arkansas with one of my dearest friends. Life was good. We had drinks, we had a campfire, and we had a grill daddy. That’s as funny as it sounds. Nicknames. HA! Anyway, it was great, but only got better with a day trip to Blanchard Springs. The water was turquoise, the trees extra shade, and the streams cold as ice. It was a casual, lighthearted day of no agenda or plans.

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Hammock Beers in the most Superior NF

A trip to the cabin rarely involves hiking - unless it’s across the frozen lake. This time, it was late summer, and we took the boat from the cabin to the landing to go for a little hike on the nearby Border Route Trail in Northern Minnesota. We packed our backpacks with beers, our hammocks, snacks, and headed out. There was NO ONE on the trail, so we strung our hammocks across it and had a little break.

#WayBackWednesday - National Forest Edition

It’s National Forest Week here in the USA. I vote to have National Forest Week every week, because they’re just that dang special! I’m going to share some photos of the forest and a couple of little stories for this Way Back Wednesday revival. I have not included EVERY ONE of my favorite National Forests, that would take days, but here are a few for your enjoyment. May the forest be with you!

(Header photo is Tonto National Forest in Arizona)

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Superior National Forest - Northern Minnesota

This place is special for many reason - namely the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. This series of lakes stretches across Northern Minnesota and offers great adventure for visitors. I’ve only ever been to the east end, this photo is at Pine Lake, but I have big plans to make my way through someday. The second photo is the BRT (Border Route Trail) which follows the US/CAN border.

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Lincoln National Forest - New Mexico

Since starting a job that takes me to a tiny town in the middle of nowhere, I have found weekends in the Lincoln National Forest completely necessary and perfect. My aunt and I first visited before I took the job on a pre-fall trip, and I was hooked as soon as I smelled the Pine.

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Santa Fe National Forest - New Mexico

Visiting Santa Fe National Forest is a treat. You climb up, out of the heat and into the trees. I’ve adventured here twice and always want to go back. There are trails, trees, and so much more. Every time I’ve camped, it’s rained, but it was never dull.

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Olympic National Forest - Washington

For this little post, I thought I’d save one of my favorites for last. I feel a connection like no other when I’m on the Olympic Peninsula - including under the canopy of this forest. The National Park and National Forest go hand-in-hand out on the peninsula. From places in the forest you can view Mt. Rainier in all her glory and see the ocean and even Seattle, if that’s your thing. You can go hours without another soul to see or you can end up on a popular trail. There are endless waterfalls, rivers, and hills. It’s a paradise if you love the forest and less than tropical temps, usually. (My apologies if the photos overlap between NPS and USFS)

#MondayMotivation - A Healthier Mike June 2020 Review

June started strong, but slowly went off the rails. My hip was hurting, I had trips for work and pleasure (safely, course), and I was just not super focused on my food. I didn’t lose momentum, I just lost the time and freedom of being at home in a routine and the effort dwindled away.

The Good

• I did kayak a few days this month, worked out those kayaking muscles

• I spent 4 days off the grid, away from the world

• Food intake went a little crazy, but I didn’t lose my progress (except for a little bloat weight)

• I did have one stellar hike (an excellent camping weekend)

• I had some really great days with excellent workouts

• There was a lot of clarity found

• I read a book and started another one

• I spent a few days with one of my best friends in the middle of nowhere Arkansas and it was rejuvenating

• I spent a moment in a cave!

The Not So Good

• There were several days with less than stellar movement

• I did not track my food for the last half of the month

• I slept about an hour less, on average, per night

• I did not even come close to closing my rings on my watch every day

• I was 10% behind 2019’s step totals/activity goals

• I stopped doing anything (which can be attributed to working LONG days)

Mental Health Check In

• As mentioned above, I found some clarity on many things including this whole quantification of myself and my activities

• I managed to regain my positive energy despite these shitty-on-paper numbers this month

• Off the grid for 4 days really helped with the stressors related to work

• Work has wore me down

• I’ve felt kind of lonely, despite not being alone

• Routines are still my best tool in staying happy, healthy, and optimistic

Goals for July

• Get back on track with daily activity

• Ride my bike more often (honestly, just fucking do it)

• I want to run (going to work my hip out and try to get back on it)

• I’m upgrading to the Couch to 25K plan instead of just the 10K

• I’m reducing my overall caloric intake

• I will get my average monthly step goal back up to 12K and beat 2019

• Finish another book or two

• Get 150 miles of activity

Conclusions - Going Forward

• I’m still on track - mentally and physically

• My goals are still there and I’m a little easier on myself related to this numbers I keep

• I will keep trying - there’s no reason to give up because of a few bad weeks

Questions I’m asking myself

• What’s really important in life?

• What should I be focused on with fitness?

• Should I go back to the gym? Is it safe?

#MondayMotivation - A Healthier Mike: May 2020 Update

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THE GOOD STUFF

• Every day had at least a walk (only a few were less than 4 miles)

• Learned more about stretches necessary for keeping my hip, knee, and back in check

• I hiked! Oh my glob did I hike! It was glorious, too. Thirty miles of hiking felt wonderful after months with little to none.

• I feel well enough to start running again

• I managed to maintain my weight, without gaining anything

• It was another month over 150 miles of activity (168 actually, even 162 if you take out the biking)

• My lowest daily steps was in the 9000s which is great

• I closed my rings every day, in theory. I missed one day of standing because I left my watch on the charger for 6 hours. BUT, I did stand so…whatever.

• Average daily mileage was over 4 miles

• I know where I need to improve and refocus.

• I feel good and I think I look better. My confidence is a little higher these days.

• Ran my fastest mile to date!

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THE NOT-SO-GOOD

• I miss the gym

• I need more sleep

• I need to stop letting myself be dragged down by others

• I didn’t lose as much weight as I was hoping, and I certainly didn’t build any muscle but I maintained so I guess that’s a neutral

• My bike was neglected, as were my running shoes. Stupid hips.

• I had a lot of binge-type days that included truckloads of alcohol and snacks. I learned it doesn’t ruin the whole process, but certainly doesn’t help. The water weight/bloating from one snack/drink happy hour stayed with me for a few days and really killed my vibe.

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MENTAL HEALTH

• Even though work is at home, I’ve learned to leave it in the corner after hours.

• I’m about over my own stupidity. I have a lot of solutions for my own problems but no willpower or energy to do anything. It’s awful.

• Constantly having to respond and reach out to people can be tiresome, even for this extrovert. Sorry not sorry if I seem anti-social or haven’t reached out “enough” lately.

• Sleep is a constant battle… there was a period of time I was sleeping a lot, or a lot more than normal. Now, I’m back to being weird. I’m staying up late, which is my not so secret favorite, and waking up just in time to do a morning work call. This is not enjoyable. I wish there was a world where I could stay up late and get up early, like I used to, but there’s not. SO, I’m going to start trying to sleep before 11pm again and wake up at 6am. That’s the goal for June.

• I’m reminded of how lucky I am in these trying times. SO VERY FUCKING LUCKY, even if things sometimes just shit all over me.

• I am my own worst enemy.

• Apple Health isn’t the end-all-be-all. It’s a tool in bettering yourself. I rely too heavily on this for what? For my own tracking and motivation. I need to stop letting it really bother me. If I’m doing enough and feeling fine, fuck it.

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GOALS FOR JUNE

• Read a Damn Book!
  OK, TV be damned. I’m going to set a tough goal of reading 6 books this month to catch up for the year and get my head out of the programming.

• More Salads & Greens.
  Veggies are my friend. I haven’t had enough lately, and it shows. Time to re-up the salads and make them in bulk for lunches.

• Social Media Break (3 days, at least)
  I’m heading off the grid to the cabin to do some work/relax for at least three days.

• Run Run Run!
  May was a total bust for running, whatever. I will run my ass off in June. My race isn’t canceled, yet!

• Keep going!
  Now that the state parks are open, I plan to make up the lost hikes of 2020. I’m checking off quest goals while hitting mileage ideals.

• FOUR+ Hikes in June
  Got some really good hikes in during May, hopeful for as many ore more in June.

• 175 Miles.
  I hit 160, so I’m going to try for 175. Obviously, if I run, walk, and bike in the same day it could really amp it up.

• Lose 5+ pounds
  I know it’s not about the weight, but I need to rethink what I’m eating and drinking and really push to be better overall and I think this is a reasonable number to shoot for. I’d like to end the sixth month 50 pounds down for the year.

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THOUGHTS, NOTES, CONCLUSIONS

• I am on the right path. My momentum kind of stalled in May, but added hiking kept me going. I’m still working on my food/alcohol/exercise balance and getting more sleep. This is the right path and my clothes falling off are proof.

• I am using Noom. My Noom was reset by 4 weeks to help me improve and reinvigorate me. I’m basically using it to track and I really need to be more mindful of what the lessons are each day.

• I have accepted the new me. I still enjoy some days with indulgence, and that’s not going to change. If I have to cut something completely out of my life, I don’t succeed. The beauty of my main meals being overall better for me is that the indulgence days don’t completely fuck me over in the long run. Balance, baby! (Still a work in progress)

• I’m still like running. I am going to amp it back up this month. I’ve got pages of stretches and yoga moves to help keep me limber.

• For real REAL. I’m finally on a path that allows me to have the things I want with little sacrifice as far as food and drink go. It feels good to be in the 280s and not going back up. It feels good to know that I can have a burger and fries, once in a while.

“Oh, why do I compare myself to everyone?
And I always got my finger on the self destruct”

— Demi Lovato - I Love Me

Stay-At-Home, Week Whatever Check-In

It’s been a while since I’ve felt like doing any sort of update. My creativity was stifled - which is fine, I had plenty of work to do and TV to watch. The pandemic rages on with state beginning the process of reopening businesses beyond essentials. Reopening is causing plenty of mixed emotions and reactions - everyone’s got an opinion. I’m not sure where I fall on all of this, I am no healthcare expert and certainly don’t know shit about diseases. I’m grateful for everyone who has worked through this and don’t know how we’d function as a world without them. I’m sad that our government didn’t step in with instant benefits and relief for everyone. I know it was probably overwhelming, but people don’t have the luxury of waiting as businesses remain closed. It’s a terrible mess and it’s going to take years to dig out of it, but we will eventually find a new normal and hopefully we have learned a little about how our economy does not favor the working classes.

In lighter news…

I cut my hair this month, but who really cares? I DO. It feels so much better.

I bought a bike, but haven’t really taken many rides yet. The weight limit, which wasn’t clear on the Dick’s Sporting goods website, is a little lower than I am currently and I’m afraid of breaking the damn thing. I’m sure it’ll be fine. Part of me wishes I had bought a cheap mountain bike instead of the “hybrid” model so I could take it on the trails at the state park - not the hardcore ones, just a path around a lake that was pretty mild. We’ll see, maybe I’ll just try it and hope for the best?

Chewy the dog is the cutest, fight me. Our cat is very need and the cuddles are okay by me. The pets make staying home a lot a little better. The dog is getting a bit tired of walking four miles every day, and it shows. I don’t even know if we have a fish anymore, I just know there’s a fish tank and when it gets low Eric adds water and treatment. I probably need to go say hello, if there is a fish.

I’ve got baby tomatoes and plenty of fresh basil, mint, and oregano. Fuck yeah!

I updated our little board (see photo) with a Step Brothers quote because it felt appropriate.

We made naan style bread, homemade pancakes, blackberry cobbler, bread, broiler s’mores, and some applesauce. I think we made crepes too, with a friend on zoom, but I don’t know when that was now. The days all flow together. I am maintaining weight and not rapidly losing because of this whole “try new cooking and baking” bullshit. My self-control was always weak, and now it’s pretty much fucked.

I infused my tequila with jalapenos and it was pretty much the best thing. The tequila wasn’t spicy, it just had a peppery essence. Very good in a homemade margarita. I also juiced every last one of the citrus fruits in the house because they weren’t getting used fast enough. Had pints of various juices and it was nice.

My privileged ass went hiking at three different state parks this month so far, with plans for four more this coming weekend. I’m so thankful our state parks have opened for reduced capacity, reservation only day passes and camping. Truly lucky as hell right here.

State Park Quest Update | 52 Hike Challenge Update

My mental health took a hit this month, as it often does, but that sparked some creativity so I guess silver linings? I am kind of living in trip planning, adventure idea planning, and revisiting old photos. I had several fun happy hours with friends, and even went out to eat. Felt very safe.

I’m on a boat…

Memorial Weekend involved a pontoon, a storm, and me repeating “there’s nothing on the radar” at least ten times. I drank Corona Seltzers, which were pretty damn good in the realm of boozy water, and enjoyed the sunshine for about 30 minutes. We were cruising along and the weather took a turn. There was (say it with me) nothing on the radar indicating a storm, but our eyes told our brain the radar was a lying bitch. We hauled ass towards the house through some of the strongest wind and waves I’ve ever expereinced. We found a cove, with less wind, to bring down the sun shades because they were started to come apart. Everything happened so quickly! I’ve included some “on our way out” and “when we returned” photos below. Crazy stuff. Lightning, wind, and rain oh my.

It is time to be hopeful for the future, right? Hope for a solution to the virus. Hope we can open things up safely. Hope people can forgo evictions and collections. Hope we can get back to some kind of new normal where we truly take care of our most vulnerable and hardest working people.

How are you hold up? Send me a note, leave a comment… Hang in there!

#MondayMotivation - A Healthier Mike: April 2020

“So we go up up up, up up the mountain
Up, up and down the valley we go
To carry our doubt to the river mouth
Find peace in what the river knows
Cast a line in the river of time
Find peace of mind
Figure it out”

— Said The Whale "Beautiful Morning"

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Quick Stats

Total steps: 405,258

Average daily steps: 13,509

Highest daily steps: 20,630

Lowest daily steps: 7,356

Total miles walked/ran/hiked: 148.53

Total miles hiked: 0

Total miles ran: 17.9

Total miles biked: 4.07

Sleep stats: 6:04 per night average, 6 over 7 hours and 8 between 6-7 hours

Days of Activity: 30

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Sunny kayak day!

My new bike!

The Good Stuff

• I got to kayak and it was glorious.

• Added a minute to my average sleep per night.

• I had 11% more activity than April 2019

• Every day of April had at least one activity

• A bike was purchased and I even got a ride in. More to come on this.

• Carrot cake is one of my favorites so I made one and had some of it and shared the rest. I had other sweet treats also, and didn’t feel bad about it.

• My weight continued to decrease, even after an increase

• I completed Week 10 of Couch 2 10K

• My worst day was still better than my worst day last month, so that was good

• Despite quarantine for COVID, I lost 3.6 lbs overall and ended the month in the 280s

• Almost 5 miles of activity per day

• My boo has walked daily with me

• Work from home due to COVID is allowing me to exercise at more flexible times

• My hip feels better, so I’m back to running after a couple weeks off.

• I managed to create a better work life balance which eased my stress levels

• I didn’t get to hike, but they did reopen the state parks and I plan to get a few day passes

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The Not-So-Good

• I haven’t worked out in a proper gym since the middle of March and it’s not looking good for May. I really need to start some squats or yoga. I will work to reintroduce some of that.

• I didn’t get to hike once. COVID has me staying home, which is fine, but I miss my trail.

• I probably had too many snacks and drinks than necessary, but oh well.

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Mornings!

Mental Health

• Work finally leveled off and I don’t hate life nearly as much as March

• I’ve adapted well to not really seeing many people due to COVID. I’m mostly stressed out about other people being dumb and not having any control over this.

• Regular video chats have continued and I’m loving them - though they leave me feeling a little lonely for my people far away.

• I’ve had a few days of everyone and everything annoying the fuck out of me. I can’t explain why, can’t really understand it… just gotta roll with it. It comes, it goes, and I don’t truly despise anyone. My guess, it’s a product of the tiny stressors I have with work or finances.

• I’m reminded of how lucky I am in these trying times.

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Daily walks by these pines reminds of the beauty in the world.

Thoughts, Notes, Conclusions

• I am on the right path. Going to keep this conclusion, because it is true. I have changed my life, and despite some minor issue, am headed to where I want to be.

• I am using Noom. I slacked a bit on my Noom in April, so my coach reset my weeks by a few so I could relearn the stuff I glossed over. I don’t rely on the support of my group, but I do enjoy it occasionally. I’m very much loving the app and the guidance.

• I have accepted the new me. I still enjoy some days with indulgence, and that’s not going to change. If I have to cut something completely out of my life, I don’t succeed. The beauty of my main meals being overall better for me is that the indulgence days don’t completely fuck me over in the long run. Balance, baby!

• I’m still running. I miss the gym, and will continue to probably not do too much at home in May. I will keep running, though, so there is that!

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2012 vs 2020

New runners!

Goals For May

• Read a Damn Book!
  I swear, I’ll read a dang book this month.

• More Salad.
  I just want to get more greens in my diet, even though there are a lot already. I’m aiming for salad lunches all month.

• Social Media Break (3 days, at least)
  I’m going to continue to distance myself from social media the best I can. When I feeling it weighing on me, I leave it alone. Hopefully a whole weekend without.

• Run Run Run! I am going to attempt to add a light run day in the midst of these long, difficult training days. It’s all relative.

• Keep going! I keep adding miles and the goal will be to get a month with 200! Until then, this will be on the goal list.

• FOUR+ Hikes in May
  REALLY hoping that I can start hiking again.

• 150 Miles. I hit 148, so we’ll try for 150 this month.

Stay-At-Home, Week 5? 6? 7? Check-In

It’s been a busy month, wow. I’ve worked a ton of hours, at least a little every day of April, and I’m ready for the weekend. My busy season is mostly behind me, with only follow-ups ahead in terms of work. I have a list of projects to tackle, but I can organize and prioritize them much more easily now that reporting season is over. Anyway, enough about work.

Things getting me through these past few weeks:

• My new bike (because my last one was stolen because I’m an idiot)

• Sleeping in (7:30-8:00 is AMAZING)

• Working from home flexibility when I’m not swamped

• Daily walks with my dog and my boo

• Coffee - ground daily!

• Kayaking

• Sunshine

• Cooler weather

• Thunderstorms

• Drag Race - Yeah bitches, I’m caught up!

• My home office white xmas tree

• The patio garden

• SALADS - yes, I said it

• Weekly happy hours with friends

I’ve had some hard times these past few weeks. I reached points of pure relief but also had moments when EVERYTHING anyone did irritated the fuck out of me. You could have said something so nice and I’d have thought you were just being the worst. I can’t explain those times, but I think it signals overload and loss of control for me. Either way, it’s all part of the spectrum of life.

I got an alert on my iPad in Week 6 when I was “supposed” to check in for my flight to Vancouver. I’d been working pretty hard and I was doing a good job of ignoring the fact that I wasn’t going anywhere. Some people I follow on the socials were posting pretty photos of blossoms up there and we’d likely have missed them or saw the tail end of them, so maybe next year we’ll plan for a smidge earlier in travels. We are re-booking this trip for 2021, and it will be our goddamn year.

Had a nice chat with the BFF squad on one of the Saturdays. We talked, and laughed, and made grand plans for our reunion and annual get together. I truly can’t wait to see them!

I’ve been thinking a lot about the places I haven’t been that are larger than life. Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Tetons, Glacier, Great Smokey Mountains, Blue Ridge Parkway, Everglades, and more. I’ve been thinking that it’s time to finally prioritize them next year - even if it’s a good preview and not a week at each. There are so many, very interesting and lovely, small scale places that I want to see that these larger than life places end up on the back burner. Everyone speaks so highly of them and “everyone” has visited them, so I feel like I’ve been living through their words and photos already. I love trip planning, so I ordered a guidebook a friend wrote and I’m going to start with Yellowstone. We’ll see what comes out of this next year, how travel will change by then, and what other great places will be on my horizon. The first chance I get, I’m going to drive through the night up to Great Sand Dunes and spend a long weekend there, maybe work from the car one day if I have to. I want to hike from the park/preserve through the mountain pass.

Things to remember… it’s okay to LOVE or HATE this quarantine life. Some people are thriving and that’s their business. I’m mixed - I want to keep doing the things I did before, which didn’t involve many people or interaction much with anyone. I just want to be able to road trip and hike again without judgment or catchin’ that COVID.

For a distraction, here are some photos from various hikes over the past few years!

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Santa Fe National Forest (2018) - SFNF is one of my favorite places and it really caused me to fall in love with New Mexico. Since visiting this part of NM in 2017, I’ve been obsessed. I can’t get enough of the variety throughout the state. I am so excited to work for a company that has a field office there so I can visit even more!

Border Route Trail - 2019. This is along the Canadian border in Minnesota and it was a real treat. The bugs weren’t bad, the weather was comfortable, and we even got to put up hammocks and have a trail beer. This trail wasn’t highly used so it was bushy and vibrant green.

Lost Man Creek - Redwoods National and State Parks, 2016. I could live in the Redwoods and be FINE. This was an easy hike, before I was really “hiking” too much for the record and it was a gorgeous day/trip. We were in California in June, enjoying the gorgeous greenery.

Chugach National Forest - Alaska - 2017. Alaska is where my other half’s family lives and I’m truly lucky to get to visit them and the great surrounding areas. This was a family RV trip around to various places including down to Kenai Fjords NP. What a trip this was. This particular hike was a bit wet, but as you can see vibrant and alive with freshness.

Herman Vogler Conservation Area, Rogers City, MI - Winter 2017. This hike is just down the street from my grandma’s house and now my mom’s too. It was a place my grandma took us frequently as throughout life and it is very special to me in terms of places to go. Winter hikes are fun!

The Hike to Mt. Storm King, Olympic National Park - 2018. This will forever be a favorite hike - my first hike with REAL elevation change. I loved every difficult minute of it. I’d love to go back and do it again now.

Stay-At-Home, Week 4 Check-In

I had a huge rant about everything being closed and how shitty it was, but it was deleted. I think we’re all better off for that, so here goes…

Everything is canceled, but life still moves on. March is my busy month, but it seems to have leaked into April this year. At the end of March, I transitioned to a new job and also transitioned to working from home. This was a complete clusterfuck. I’m very lucky, still, to have the ability to work from home and still get paid. So many of my friends are either out there working, getting their salaries slashed, or being laid off. I have to remember to shut the fuck up sometimes and be grateful. So, I’m shutting up about work. This too shall pass.

Texas closed their state parks on April 7, which is kind of a bummer. I had plans to finally go hike at Daingerfield State Park on the 10th, because it’s a holiday at work. Oh well. I vented about my frustrations on Twitter and was reminded they will be there when this over. So true. But, I’m allowed to be sad or pissed and I was/am. Moving right along… This week, I officially canceled the rest of my plans before August. I made some new plans for October, and added a potential thing in November or December. Woop-Woop, we have airline vouchers to use until they actually refund them per federal mandate. (I may take the cash back and cancel everything thing) This too shall pass.

I’m so damn grateful to have memories of places throughout this beautiful country. Never, in my wildest dreams, did I think I’d see the Redwoods or Arches. I had no idea what these places were, besides blips I saw in travel commercials. The internet wasn’t a huge thing until I was in high school and college. I didn’t have high speed internet until college - so reading about these places or enjoying the access we have now was unheard of back then. Once in college, I met people who helped me branch out and explore the idea of road trips. I met people who really hadn’t been anywhere either and thought we should just say “fuck it” and go. While people planned spring breaks to the beaches, we planned drives to places we’ve never seen.

Some of my favorite highlights from National Park Properties (in no particular order)

• Death Valley NP - Dante’s View, Badwater Basin, stumbling upon a desert in bloom, the signs that tell you the elevation (this was also one of my favorite things about driving out west)

• Olympic NP - Hoh Rainforest drive, Hike to Pony Bridge, the Ozette Triangle, Ruby Beach, and just driving through those forests

• Big Bend NP - the road to the Chisos Basin campground, Lost Mine trail, waking up in the Chisos Basin campground, Santa Elena Canyon at sunset, spring flowers

• Pictured Rocks NL - Sable Falls in fall and winter

• Bryce Canyon NP - Hoodoos covered in snow, sunset over the hoodoos, hoodoos in general, Rainbow Point, bristlecone pines

I could go on and on about this. A factor that isn’t mentioned is the people with whom I shared some of these experiences. My other half, best friends, and new friends are all part of why these places were so great. Together we pooled our money and made these adventures happen. Every year, my BFF and I try to go somewhere new together. We went to Utah two years in a row, but we tried new things each time. My other half and I drove to Oregon from Texas, making a pit stop at Arches along the way. Life’s a journey, and all the other cliche messages about loving life. What are some of your favorite places?

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#MondayMotivation - A Healthier Mike: March 2020

“I don’t want to be anything
Other than what I’ve been trying to be lately”

— Gavin DeGraw "I Don't Want To Be"

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Quick Stats

Total steps: 446,305

Average daily steps: 14,397

Highest daily steps: 24,467

Lowest daily steps: 6,427

Total miles walked/ran/hiked: 140.36

Total miles hiked: 8.5

Total miles ran: 27.7

Sleep stats: 6:03 per night average, 4 over 7 hours and 15 between 6-7 hours

Days of Activity: 28

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A morning run!

The Good Stuff

• Hiked twice - one of them being at my favorite local spot and one during a conference call on a Saturday *shrug*

• Managed to average just over 6 hours of sleep each night and only had a few nights of less than stellar sleep

• I had 31% more activity than March 2019

• The length of daily activity was up from February and way up from last year

• I hit 140 miles of activity - that’s 36 more miles than February!

• My habits have changed and even when I have pizza and beer, I’m still doing OKAY because life isn’t about cutting shit out.

• I’m continuing to see more definition in my legs and that’s motivation!

• I completed Week 8 of Couch 2 10K and I’m loving running more and more.

• I’m down another 11.6 pounds this month, making that 31.5 for 2020 so far.

• I’m working from home, during this pandemic, so walks and runs are happening more frequently.

• I ran two miles without stopping, and then started Week 9 by running 3.47 miles.

• My other half is working on health and fitness, which makes this even easier to do at home together.

• I’m UNDER 300 pounds. This is a big deal for me.

• It’s been three-four months of changed habits, better food choices, and working around things I can’t live without; I have a new life and I’m still going.

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The Not-So-Good

• I haven’t worked out in a proper gym since the middle of March and it’s not looking good for April. I need to invest in some dumbbells for at home. My muscle goals are not huge, I just want to maintain and build strength so I can continue to lose fat. Healthy weight.

• I had some terribly lazy days in March. My body did not want to move some days, and that’s okay. Going forward, if I find myself on day of blah, I’m going to at least try to do a 2-mile loop to see if it works to energize my brain.

• I have been consuming empty calories during this pandemic - mostly in the form of alcohol and snacks - so I’m going to continue to be more conscious of this and pick and choose when it means the most to do those things.

• I had to readjust my sleep schedule to overcome insomnia. I’m working to maintain normalcy during this time of social isolation and working from home.

• I’ve changed jobs, which is great, but I’ve lost my lunchtime workout buddies. Yeah, the pandemic halted that anyway, but they will not be there for me afterwards and I’m not sure I’ve accepted it yet.

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Technically woke up in a tent on March 1, to the warm sunshine.

Mental Health

• My trips for April, May, and June are all canceled or rescheduled. It’s not exactly fun, inspiring, or good news. I know it’s for the overall good of the world, but I need a minute to mourn.

• Working from home has been stressful in that it is the busiest time of year and I’m way behind on work which stresses me out and makes me irritable/withdrawn

• During times of social distancing, I’ve had a lot of conference calls and fun video chats with friends. Makes life way better!

• Exercise is part of routine and the routine makes me happy.

• Not commuting during this time of pandemic has reduced my stress by 50% at least. I am dreading the day when we have to all crawl on the freeway to get to work again.

• I haven’t been writing as much, and maybe I need to get some stuff out.

• I became obsessed with the daily weight on my scale and it was dumb. I stopped weighing myself for a week and self-corrected. The weight isn’t even the main goal with me, it’s simply being healthier and happier.

• I had a great evening with two wonderful friends and we booked a fall trip, pending the way the pandemic plays out. Camping and exploring Rainier and Olympic - two of my favorite spots with two fun people is going to be just what I need after this whole first half of the year.

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Dinosaur Valley State Park - creek crossing

Thoughts, Notes, Conclusions

• I am on the right path. I’m still working towards a healthier life and I’ve made a number of permanent changes that are keeping me on the track.

• I am tracking my food. I’m tracking everything I eat - whether it fits that plan for the day or not. It’s about honesty and transparency. If I keep myself honest, I will know how to adjust to avoid problem areas. I’ll never give up good beer, pizza, or pasta and I don’t have to as long as I even it out and kind of plan for anything.

• I’ve settled on some personal goals regardless of anyone else and their goals. I’ve developed my own goals, plans for reaching them, and opinion about working out. SO thankful for everyone who helps me on a daily basis adhere to them.

• I’m better than I was before. March was great and had a few missteps, but that’s life. I worked hard, ran farther, and continued on my path to a more balanced daily diet. These changes aren’t like the fad diets of the past. I’ve created a sustainable way to live and love life through food and exercise.

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March run selfies.

Spring has sprung.

Goals For April

• Read a Damn Book!
  This is a real issue for me! I want to read the books, but I am not taking the time to do it and it shows. I have a shelf of new books, thanks to one of my many mothers, and I just need to devote some time!

• Less Fake Shit, More Citrus Shit
  I consume a large quantity of sparkling water with various squeezes of flavoring thanks in part to our SodaStream. My goal is to replace some of the squeeze stuff with lemon and lime juice instead.

• Social Media Break (3 days, at least)
  I had a half day off in March, so I’m going to work towards a full weekend in April. Being that we’re all stuck at home now, it’s a little more challenging when trying to stay in touch. But, I’m going to try!

• Run Forrest! I’m going to try to add a fourth day of running each week - just for shits and giggles.

• Keep going! I keep adding miles and the goal will be to get a month with 200! Until then, this will be on the goal list.

• FOUR Hikes in April
  REALLY hoping that we can start hiking a bit further from home again… If not, I’ll be hitting up my local spots over and over until they’re boring.

• Yogi the Yoga Bear I am going to add yoga once a week, that’s easy enough to try.

• 150 Miles. I had 140 in March, why not 150 in April? (maybe the weather, who knows, but we’re gonna try!)

• I am aiming for 50%+ vegetarian. I am working to make my breakfasts and lunches more veggie focused - still a work in progress.

My favorite trees along my daily walk and run route.

Stay-At-Home, Week 3 Check-In

I’ve got road trips on my brain, again.
Do they ever leave my brain?

I’m longing for one of those GOOD road trips that involve little planning and maximum adventure. Back in the day my buddies and I would get in the car and plot out some stops and fill in the rest as we went. We made minimal hotel reservations, didn’t know when or where we’d stop to eat, and didn’t much care.

Read about the four trips I did with some best friends as I transitioned from college to real life.

Memorable trips more recently include drives back to Michigan, trips to Missouri, long hauls to the Redwoods and Oregon, and shorter ones to places like Big Bend or New Mexico. I have the Redwoods on the brain today, but who knows where I’ll be tomorrow? Daydreaming is getting me through this time of quarantine.

My Top 5 States (in no particular order)

1. Washington

2. Michigan

3. Oregon

4. New Mexico

5. Minnesota

Some honorable mentions are Alaska, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, California, and Nevada. I have yet to truly dive in to Wyoming, Montana, and the Dakotas. I haven’t done much out east, either, and it shows. I am not opposed to the east side, I just love what I find in the west. I think my top five list is based on accessibility - it’s easy to explore in those places, or I have connections. We have family in Alaska, so if it were a top six it would be on there. Alaska is expensive to get to and expensive to navigate if you want to get off the beaten path. The west is best.

I’m so excited that two of the trips I have planned for late summer/fall are to Washington. Some friends and I are going to camp on the beach in Olympic National Park, hike through the forests of Rainier, and anything and everything in between. Then, I get to go back a month later to run my first 10K up a mountain in the same area! Have I mentioned I love Washington?

Travel is clearly my escape. I know it’s a privilege, and it can seem very annoying to whine about canceling trips. I posted a similar statement on Twitter, only to be refreshed at the responses. I hadn’t thought that people, like myself, prioritize trips in their lives over other things and events. I forgot that trips to nature are the literal escape our brains need sometimes and it’s okay to miss it or to have feelings about it overall.

We’ll all get to travel again, when we get a handle on this virus. One way or another, the world still spins madly on. Enjoy some photos from my favorite states.

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Stay-At-Home, Week 1 & 2 Check-In

I’m writing to calm my brain. I’m going to start writing little blurbs every week to check in, document what’s going on, and put some shit out there for the world if they need a distraction. Currently, I’m on week two of working from home and the first week of “shelter in place” mandated by the county in which I live.

My days are honestly wonderful…

• Get up, run if it’s a run day, make breakfast, and watch some nonsense, check some emails

• Go to my “home office” and start actual work, beyond communications

• Take a break to go for a walk, then have some lunch

• Go back to work until dinner time

• Make dinner, maybe do some work or email stuff

• Watch some nonsense, read something not for work, and/or work on Campfire Stories.

I’m going to check my privilege here, because I know I’m pretty damn lucky. I work for a company that has allowed us to work from home and receive normal pay. My job can be done at home easily, even though some things are just better in person, and I’m grateful for the flexible productivity. I am having an awful time focusing - not going to lie about that. Oh well, I’m getting work done on my own schedule and that’s all that matters. Thank you, company, for letting me work from home and allowing me to continue to support local businesses and friends who need it.

In between work, exercise, and doing absolutely nothing, I’ve been looking through old photos. I’m working on re-mapping my old trips in Google Maps because Microsoft Streets and Trips is obsolete and my files don’t work. Talk about Throwback Thursdays. I’m going to share a few of those photos here and when I get some maps done, I’ll probably share those in a post for Campfire Stories next month.

Today I’m dreaming of being at the family cottage in the warm summer sun. The cottage is situated up on an inland lake on the northeast side of Michigan’s lower peninsula. When I first heard we were going to have to isolate, I immediately though of packing up our lives and moving to the cottage until this blew over - but things didn’t happen the way I had hoped.

With my grandmother aging, and the dementia taking hold, the family cottage is never going to be the same. We have uncertainty about of what new memories will be made there, but the old ones will never be erased. The cottage will always be a place, as long as we own it, for family gatherings and good times. I’m going to share some of my favorite photos from time spent there to lift my own spirits and encourage others to stroll down memory lane.

#MondayMotivation - A Healthier Mike: February 2020

“So come on, come on, come on
Let’s get physical”

— Dua Lipa "Physical"

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Quick Stats

Total steps: 414,527

Average daily steps: 14,294

Highest daily steps: 27,708

Lowest daily steps: 6,934

Total miles walked/ran/hiked: 104.74

Total miles hiked: 14

Sleep stats: 6:13 per night average, 5 over 7 hours and 15 between 6-7 hours

Days of Activity: 27

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A nice hike in Cloudcroft, NM at 9000 feet with a little snow and a little sun

The Good

• Had a couple of good hikes with some nice scenery

• Increased my sleep by going to bed earlier

• I had 42% more movement than February 2019

• I was more active and my daily numbers were higher

• I hit 104 miles of activity!

• I feel lost when I don’t go to the gym

• Seeing slight results in my shoulders, face, and upper body

• I don’t feel bad about a few “bad” meals here and there - it’s not a derailment like in the past

• I did four weeks of Couch 2 10K - and it’s getting easier

• I’m down another 9 pounds this month

• I got out in my kayak one weekend and it was glorious!

• I had enough social interaction to feel like I was still part of the world but not enough to make me tired of the world

• I had an epic last day of the month with a 7 mile hike and my first trail run of 2020

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The Not-So-Good

• I had a couple of “zero days” that I just couldn’t get myself moving - the zero isn’t the bothersome part, it was the lack of any motivation

• Another month of a few weeks out of town - it can be difficult to overcome the temptation to eat and act like a lazy version of myself

• I didn’t work out one whole week in the gym and it was depressing - but I think I found a hotel in the town I go for work that has a complimentary gym membership

• My Apple Watch fell out of my gym locker and it shattered - did get it replaced, but it ruined my streaks in the Health App

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Kayaking was good for my soul!

Mental Health

• February was an overall win for my personal mental well being

• Finding a balance of work and life is difficult for me now, but I’m going to continue to work on it

• Writing daily or recording my thoughts really helps

• Exercise brings me back to sanity

• The CALM app has been very helpful

• I had my few bad days, and of course I get in my head about things, but they’re fewer

• I had some issues with the scale, I really was being too critical of myself, and I let it get to me too much. Need to take a break on that front.

• Had a great bunch of weekends that included hikes, kayaking, drinking games with friends and family, and nights out w/ other friends. Great for the spirit.

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Thoughts, Notes, Conclusions

• I am on track. I have clear goals and I’m working hard to achieve them.

• I am tracking my food. I’m still keeping track of everything, unless I’m off the grid. Even “red” days with too many items I should really balance out. I track everything - food, exercise, and sleep.

• My coworkers are working out. I’m going to miss lunch workouts as I have so much out of town work ahead of me and my eventual transition to a different company. These guys are my rock some days, and definitely always inspiration.

• February was a big win. I added running, longer daily activities, and kept on lifting. I really did push myself pretty hard and sometimes it was stressful to try and keep up, but it was worth it.

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Goals for March

APT gym for the win.

Evening runs are better than no run at all!

• Read/Listen to at least 1 book per month
  I didn’t quite get through a book in February either — gotta triple down in March.

• Drinking more water
  My water intake in February didn’t quite go up as much as I would have liked - so it’ll be a continued effort to drink more water.

• Take 2 days off from social media
  The last weekend of February was the perfect time to take two days off from the world in general - no cell service meant two days off the grid and I hope to replicate that in March.

• More jogging I’m going to continue my 10K training and maybe even include some in between.

• Working on increasing my daily average for activity I increased my daily activity to almost 4 miles and 14k steps so I’m hoping to up it from there.

• More adventurous hikes - I have a few spots in mind.
  I’m hoping to snowshoe in New Mexico and find a few hikes on the weekends I’m out there for work.

• Continued daily mindful breaks and reading The Awakening I need to get back to taking a few more minutes for this and maybe some yoga.

• There’s no reason I can’t hit 100 miles for March. I had 104 in February, so lets shoot for 115-120 in March.

• I am aiming for 50%+ vegetarian. I want to be concerned about this, but when I’m out of town it can be tricky for me.

Started the month off with a sunrise in Granbury, TX on the lake… after a great night of debauchery with friends and family.