Author: Brian

The Wandering Hermit: Fields Draped In Fog

Well, yesterday proved disastrous.  I’m hoping for a better day today, but it would be hard for it to be worse.  I was having a lot of feelings and by afternoon I was just over everything.  I ended up sleeping early, which was best.  I don’t know what my issue was.  I had woken up slightly off and never did quite shake it.  

This morning’s walk was lovely.  The fields were draped in fog, which never doesn’t feel magical.  I saw a deer cross the road, crows overhead, and a rabbit in the distance.  That’s of course in addition to tall the birds chattering away in the morning.  It’s nice; I’m going to miss that.  I’m sure wherever I end up living will not be as full of wildlife as this place is.  That is a shame.  

I might try to get some things moved to Edmond today.  I have some things that would be nice to get rid of for a while.  Just boxes of books, kitchen stuff that’s been packed for a while… things like that.  I think we will eventually appreciate any effort we put in early, especially with boxes of books.  

One good thing from yesterday was that rice I made.  I did jasmine rice and kale, portioned out into 200 calorie servings.  That sort of replaced my oatmeal for a couple of days.  It was a great mix.  I might even try getting those down to 150 calorie servings and using that as my starch for a bit.  I’ve been enjoying potatoes, but I do have a lot of rice at the moment.

[Walk #56]

Daily Log: 17 May 2024

Weight: 278.2 lb/126.19 kg

Exercise: 1.61 mile/2.59 km walk (6:04am–6:41am, ☁️58ºF/14ºC); .75 mile/1.21 km walk (2:16pm–2:36pm ☁️78ºF/25.5ºC) (2.36 miles/3.80 km total)

Mood: Good

Food: 1800 calories

  • salted caramel iced coffee
  • rice & kale, jalapeños, steamed cauliflower, southwest mustard, Taco Bell Fire Hot Sauce
  • bean & rice burritos
  • Happy Belly SF Pink Lemonade

The Wandering Hermit: I Need This Day To Start Over

Pouring rain this morning, so I waited until later to walk.  It was still a little too muddy, but it might rain on and off throughout the rest of today, so it is probably the best I was going to get.  After 20 minutes, which is my minimum, I was annoyed by the mud and stopped for the day.  If I do any additional exercise today, I’ll either stay on the porch or inside.  I’m feeling slightly less chipper than I have been feeling this week.  

I’m still low on food and have yet to do much about it, so this morning I made a pot of rice & kale.  I portioned that out into 200 calorie servings and had one with broccoli for breakfast.  It was pretty good, but I’d still like a broccoli break!  I guess I’ll just plan on going to get food tomorrow.  I need to just sit down and make the list.  I don’t usually struggle this much with it, but I also rely on broccoli so much that not I feel lost (even though I can just get green beans… and I know that).  

I got quite a bit of sleep last night.  Hopefully I can get plenty tonight as well.  I don’t like alternating sleepless nights.

My weight was up a lot this morning.  It’s not Monday, so the weight isn’t official, but it did surprise me how much weight can fluctuate.  Hopefully things are back in line by tomorrow morning.

[Walk #55]

Daily Log: 16 May 2024

Weight: 277.6 lb/125.92 kg

Exercise: .89 mile/1.43 km walk (11:02am–11:23am, ☁️67ºF/19ºC); 

Mood: Good to Terrible

Food: 1290 calories

  • French toast iced coffee
  • jasmine rice, kale, broccoli, buffalo sauce  (full pot of rice & kale = 1200 calories)
  • rice & kale, diced tomatoes, jalapeños, broccoli
  • Subway sandwich (I added rice & kale)
  • Happy Belly SF Pink Lemonade

The Wandering Hermit: I’ll Miss Some Of This

Rainy walk this morning.  I did wait for the rain to lighten a bit, so I got started a little later than I have lately.  It was nice one, and the playlist I made was perfect for a more laid back walk.

I was feeling a little sick overnight, so sleep was scant.  I imagine I’ll sleep this afternoon, but it is a rainy day, so it’s not the best day to get things done with moving or mowing.  We are trying to stay on top of it.

Yesterday, Justin & I took some things to the storage unit.  We met Brent there.  I hadn’t seen the space since it was rented last year.  I understand what Brent has been doing with it, but it’s going to be a challenge to merge my things with his.  We might even need an additional unit.  I’m looking forward to moving; it’s going to be so much better for my fitness.  I LOVE my outdoor walks surrounded by trees and birds, but the gravel road can be hard to walk on and absolutely everything becomes a mess with a little rain since the ground is all clay.  It is beautiful when it is dry, but it isn’t reliable.  I’d like to have consistency.  If I’m feeling into it, I can always go walking on a wooded trail or around the lake.  I could even go do walks in rural residential areas.  The point is, I would love to have a reliable trail.  I’ll miss walking up and down the street though.  I’ve been enjoying that.

[Walk #53]

I got in a little more walking at noon, but it was hard to do while Justin was outside mowing.  He needs things, Chip needs things…. it’s just far easier to get interrupted.  

[Walk #54]

Daily Log: 15 May 2024

Weight: 273.6 lb/124.10 kg

Exercise: 1.61 mile/2.59 km walk (6:22am–7:03am, ⛈️57ºF/14ºC); .86 mile/1.38 walk (11:51am–12:13pm, ☀️76ºF/24ºC) (2.47 miles/3.98 km total)

Mood: Great

Food: 1636 calories

  • French toast iced coffee
  • russet potatoes, steamed Brussels sprouts, jalapeños
  • russet potatoes, cream style corn, Taco Bell Diablo Hot Sauce, jalapeños
  • russet potatoes, steamed broccoli, jalapeños

The Wandering Hermit: I Think I’m Indecisive, But I’m Not Sure

I got a lot of sleep again.  According to my watch I slept for 10 hours & 18 minutes.  That’s too much, but I do seem to be alternating between that and 4 hour nights.  I don’t really know why I’ve been doing that.  

I’m running low on groceries, so it’s time for an evaluation of what I’m going to be having for the next few weeks.  Oatmeal has been so helpful; that is definitely staying on my list.  It’s been 40 weeks of this food plan and I’ve just started to need a break from broccoli.  While I love having broccoli as part of my daily diet, I think I might try not having it for a week or two to give myself a chance to fall in love with it again.  I have eaten broccoli just about daily for close to two years now, so I guess taking a break won’t hurt me.  I haven’t been making soup as much as I used to, but I’m also eating a smaller volume of food daily than I did when I first started.  Soup was meant to fill up my belly and it seems less necessary than it had before.  I have been very into wraps and sandwiches.  I think I could try doing salads and sandwiches for a while.  My issue with salads is that fresh produce is expensive and I never do seem able to eat everything before it goes bad, even when I’m eating salads a lot.  I do have better luck with slaw mixes, but they sort of lack that refreshing quality that lettuce can have.  I guess I’m just feeling indecisive today. 

[Walk #52]

Daily Log: 14 May 2024

Weight: 275.2 lb/124.83 kg

Exercise: 2.24 mile/3.60 km walk (5:44am–6:36am, 🌙55ºF/13ºC)

Mood: Great

Food: 2030 calories

  • horchata iced coffee
  • russet potatoes, broccoli, buffalo sauce, jalapeños
  • black bean & rice burritos
  • Happy Belly SF Pink Lemonade

The Wandering Hermit: Porch Cardio

Rainy morning.  I probably could have taken my morning walk; the rain was very light.  I did some jogging on the porch instead, which definitely is a completely different type of workout.  I am able to get my heart rate up faster, but it feels less intense than even uphill walking.

I have been trying to get my heart rate to return to normal as quickly as possible.  Consistent cardio exercises seem to be the way to do that.  In addition to my morning walk, doing just a 15 minute afternoon walk might be the best way to do that.  I’ll give that a try for a few days and see if that changes anything.  

Daily Log: 13 May 2024

Weight: 274.2 lb/124.37 kg

Exercise: 31 minute jogging in place (6:02am–6:33am, ☁️59ºF/15ºC); .84 mile/1.35 km walk (12:34pm–12:55pm, ☁️69ºF/20.5ºC)

Mood: Excellent

Food: 1550 calories

  • horchata iced coffee
  • French toast oatmeal
  • black beans, green beans, southwest mustard, jalapeños, Taco Bell Fire Hot Sauce, no salt seasoning
  • Subway sandwich
  • russet potatoes, black beans, jalapeños
  • Happy Belly SF Pink Lemonade