Thursday check in:
Food: very slightly over
Water: way over
Exercise: none, only 4200 steps
Tomorrow: hold my breath during weigh in to see if it help offset all the damage from a week of massively over eating😖

Jactop wrote: »

Can I still join the step challenge? We need to get @19shmoo6919 his coffee.

3/1 - 15,200
3/2 - 15,796
3/3 - 12,595
3/4 - 9,468
3/5 - 13,371
3/6 - 17,089

Wednesday check in
Tracked: yes
Calories: under
Water: under
Exercise: 45 min treadmill with light weights

Tomorrow's plan: plan, track and move

That is so very thoughtful of you.

Thursday check in
Calories-under
Coffee- could be better. I'll try harder tomorrow
Exercise- walking at work and then running a mile then walking it out.
14165 steps

Appalachian Trail Mission Slimpossibles Thru Hike Step Challenge

Wake up and Smell the Coffee!
Distance so far: 237 miles

Over the last hundred miles, we have made our way into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The trail runs along the ridgeline that separates North Carolina and Tennessee, so we literally walk in North Carolina for a while and Tennessee for a while, then back and forth over and over again. The Smokies offer us some of the best vistas in the southern half of the trail, and we cross the highest point on the entire AT when we climb up Clingman’s Dome (6643 ft above sea level) at the halfway point of the trail through the Smokies.





Even if you have heard of the University of Tennessee Volunteer’s fight song, Rocky Top, you might not know that the real Rocky Top is an actual place--the summit of one of the many peaks we will cross here in the Smokies--Thunderhead Mountain. It is aptly named for the rocky outcroppings along the peak, through which we do our stepping.



There is a pair of Timber Rattlers that hang out on Rocky Top; they love the warmth of the rocks on a sunny day, where at this elevation, it is always a bit chilly. They’re pretty used to people, but if you’re smart, you’ll leave them alone. You’re a LONG way from rescue if you make one mad enough to strike at you!



Since the Smokies receive over 10 million visitors each year and is a fragile habitat for so many protected creatures, hikers must stay in shelters while along the AT in the Park. We are not allowed to pitch our tents unless the shelters are full. This is part of the Leave No Trace wilderness code of ethics for trips in the Smokies. These 3-sided structures give some protection from the elements, but it can still get very cold up on this ridgeline even in the summer time.



Protected in the Park are some 65 species of mammals, over 200 varieties of birds, 67 native fish species, and more than 80 types of reptiles and amphibians. It is estimated that over 1500 black bears call the park home, and it is highly likely we will have seen one before we leave. They are such majestic creatures, you're heart will beat harder in your chest and you will find yourself holding your breath if you are lucky enough to encounter one. They are awesome!



The shelters do offer us a place to actually sit at a “table” and cook and eat our meals, and it's a nice change from always sitting on the ground or fallen logs. And yes, @19shmoo69, you CAN have coffee on an AT hike. You just have to be, shall we say, creative! Some options for brewing coffee on our backpacking trip include Starbucks instant coffee, filtering the old-fashioned way, and even some pretty cool French Press gadgets made specifically for backpacking stoves. Going without coffee for many hikers, though, is unconscionable, myself included. So come on over and let's share some brew!



Many AT hikers get off the trail in the middle of the Smokies to take a day or two break in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Since there is only one road which crosses the AT in GSMNP, most hikers take advantage of that road and go to Gatlinburg to resupply, purchasing food, doing laundry, sleeping in a real bed, etc. while in town. Many hitchhike down even if they don’t spend the night there. Much like Helen, GA, this tourist town provides a sensory overload for hikers, but offers lots of things to do if you need a break from putting one foot in front of the other, or if your poor old joints are just tired. If you venture down the road to Pigeon Forge, you might even get a glimpse of Dolly Parton, this area’s favorite hometown girl and famous country music icon. The one thing Tennesseans agree on, even in this time of political arguing wherever you go, is that they will fight you if you say anything bad about our Dolly!



Exercise Challenge: Mountain Climbers
Since we have climbed some of the highest mountains on the AT during this part of our trip, let’s add some mountain climbers to our exercise routine. These can be done just a few at a time any time of day. I've already done some this morning! If you’ve never done this exercise before, here’s a video or two to help us learn to do them correctly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBZHkGT0W5Y

They can also be done on a step, which may be a little easier for us beginners. I just use the bottom step on the stairs that go to the second story of my home:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o3PvdKoEgM

Username:davors19
Weigh in week: Week 1
Weigh in day:Fri
Previous Weight: 272
Todays Weight: 273

Thursday Check-in, Friday Plans

Food: calories on plan, but ate a later dinner than I like, as that waited until after gym (9 PM)
Water: over
Exercise: spinning class, yoga class

Steps for 03/07 - 5,974

Friday Plans
1. Food on plan; push breakfast back since I ate late
2. Water: lots again
3. Long walk, yoga video, and try the mountain climber things from the AT Challenge!

embersdream wrote: »

Hey thanks everyone for ideas etc . A supportive environment is always such a game changer.

My diet is bang on m. I keep in my window.
The reason I’ve put on weight over the last two years is a return to study and chronic fatigue ( and additional hormonal issues of low progesterone levels) means I’m more sedentary . The first 6 months of study I did eat whatever that’s for sure but happily got that part sorted a while back and at least not increasing anymore in weight. I don’t know about you as we are all didfeeent but I only become trim with a lot of exercise. That’s where I’m falling down.
I used to trail run until after injury and do bodybuilding and I have not found the will in me to get back to the level I was operating at. In my head I imagine that my study and parenting and work full up my day so much that I am too exhausted to do it.
I have an infection and two kids home sick from school today.

So, 2 positives are:

1. My food caloric intake is sorted.
2. I have decreased my coffee intake dramatically which I think long term will help things like adrenal and hormones. As exhausted adrenals affects things like thyroid and metabolic rates.

Things to work on
1. Exercise - not sure how that can look yet. I just moved home and now am ten minutes instead of half he from the gym yay! Find my Fitbit charger as it’s still in a box somewhere.
2. Motivation and belief that I can fit exercise into my crazy schedule.
3. Drink more water. I average a litre a day and it simply isn’t enough.



What positives have you achieved and what goals can you/we put in place this week?

great goals hope you are feeling better soon

Thursday check in
Steps 03/07 - 22,007

Calories: under
Water: under
Exercise: 90 min treadmill at a leisurely pace

I'm off on sick leave until the end of April and plan to make the best of my time off. Can't do much with my hands at the moment so I should be able to get in lots of steps. It's also easier to plan and prep food when I'm at home so I'm hoping March is going to be a good month 😊

Thursday check In:

Calories: over. I hung out with some close friends who are more like family. I see them at least once a week for a "family" dinner to catch up and other things. They are very supportive of my new eating habits and plan meals around it which is the sweetest thing because they really don't have to. I appreciate it so much. But I did have some sweets after dinner that I baked for everyone.

Water: on target
Exercise: 30 min lower fix which killed me but glad I did it

Steps 3/7: 16,057

This weekend will be a test, my boyfriend and I are going to visit a friend in San Francisco who we haven't seen in a long time. I tend to seek out new restaurants or bakeries since I am a baker and want to see what is out there. Also since I won't be home working out will be hard which is why making sure I get my steps in will be more important.
Monday is my weigh in so hopefully I don't do too much damage.