The Score So Far (Health & Fitness)

[_Lemmie]

Omg those ROCKS! How are Ms. Cam's second pair of shoes doing? And all 4 knees??? Wow. Hang in there man. But yea, the gnats. I still remember the first summer I was here going on an easy little Appalachian afternoon hike with my new MIL, and thinking "what the !@#$%-ing @@#$"% are these !@#$-ing little BUGS?!"

Nice pics, I'm loving your posts. Thank you!!

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

OMG, Lemmie. The gnats and mosquitoes cloud around you and pace with you. There are also these bumblefly type things that just do laps around your dome. It's a type of torturous harassment I didn't know existed. And some of the black flies try to eat you, too. But hey, the views are nice.

My wife's knee is good. Lots of other hikers have shared their falling down stories with us so it's a nice bit of schadenfreude to keep us going.

Protip for anyone else thinking about out-working your diet. It's better to just be a bit hungry and restrict your calories. One mile of hard hiking might burn, tops 150 calories. Say I burn 1500-1800 calories hiking, add another 2000 for my BMR, that's 3500-3800 calories. Deduct the 2500-2800 you consume because you have to otherwise you're gassed you're only running a deficit of 500-800 a day. That's a pound to a pound and a half for a week of really hard hiking.

In 2015 I dropped ~35 lbs in 60 days of hiking and canoeing and hiking. I only got that number through sheer will power. It. Was. Misery.

Weight loss is 100% won in the kitchen. THAT is a fact. So, we're using this as a jumpstart to our fitness journey and then will be tracking calories on a daily basis. No way I'm going to go back. Being 50 lbs overweight has been the worst experience, day in and day out, of my life. It's really soul crushing.

Here's to getting our individual houses in order!

- Doc

[_Jersey Girl]

Sorry about the bugs! Humidity and bugs are on the list of reasons that we stayed put out here instead of retiring back home. Everyone knows I grew up at the Shore. It's cooler next to the water. But in between perfect beach days, you'll have a day where flies are all over your ass trying to bite you to death.

When I was a kid they had a truck come around in summer to fog the area with DDT. I crap you not. The bug man is coming! Shut the windows! Pretty sure it's outlawed by now. Pretty sure I'll die from it.

I wanted to mention this. If you swim in the lakes up there, watch out for leeches. I recall my mother going into a lake to swim somewhere up there (can't recall the exact location--it could have actually been Canada) and coming out with leeches on her legs.

Just ask around before you swim.

[_Jersey Girl]

Okay regarding insects. I just read something on a Pin. The whole thing was about dryer sheets. I've used some of the ideas before and they work. For example, you can scrub a burned pan or your drip trays on your stove with a dryer sheet and it cuts through the junk in like two seconds. You can also leave it to soak overnight with a dryer sheet. Same thing.

Anyway, it says that dryer sheets can be used as insect repellant. Like stick them in your pockets and oh, I dunno, maybe rub your arms with one...and see if it works?

Everything else I tried worked, so why not this?

[_Ceeboo]

Hey Jersey Girl!

Okay regarding insects. I just read something on a Pin. The whole thing was about dryer sheets. I've used some of the ideas before and they work. For example, you can scrub a burned pan or your drip trays on your stove with a dryer sheet and it cuts through the junk in like two seconds. You can also leave it to soak overnight with a dryer sheet. Same thing.

Anyway, it says that dryer sheets can be used as insect repellant. Like stick them in your pockets and oh, I dunno, maybe rub your arms with one...and see if it works?

Everything else I tried worked, so why not this?

Truth be told..........This DOES work!

Amazing!

Peace,
Ceeboo

[_Jersey Girl]

Hey Jersey Girl!

Okay regarding insects. I just read something on a Pin. The whole thing was about dryer sheets. I've used some of the ideas before and they work. For example, you can scrub a burned pan or your drip trays on your stove with a dryer sheet and it cuts through the junk in like two seconds. You can also leave it to soak overnight with a dryer sheet. Same thing.

Anyway, it says that dryer sheets can be used as insect repellant. Like stick them in your pockets and oh, I dunno, maybe rub your arms with one...and see if it works?

Everything else I tried worked, so why not this?

Truth be told..........This DOES work!

Amazing!

Peace,
Ceeboo

That's really good to know! We don't have insect problems where we live--one of the reasons we like it here--but I'll tell you what. When I go back to Jersey that's another story altogether! I always have dryer sheets stashed in my suit case when I travel. Good to know I can use them for another purpose if the situation gets buggy!

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

So, we're wrapping up our hike. It's become tedious. But we'll be back to section hike New Hampshire and then later Maine. 700'ish miles ain't too bad! Here's Vermont stuff:

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I typically would beat myself up for failing to accomplish what I set out to do. But you know what? “F” it. I'm good. Imma take smaller bites when it comes to Big Adventures from now on. Ha.

- Doc

[_Ceeboo]

Doc,

Great thread - I have been following along with your journey and it's been quite enjoyable - Thanks a million for taking the time and posting all the pics and information. I have found all of it fascinating!

by the way - on the 911 monument, what is it?

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

It's an i-beam, presumably from the WTC I'd imagine. You should share your diet and exercise tricks for our motivation, too.

- Doc

[_Lemmie]

congrats Doc, a great hike! I'm so impressed--and jealous! Can you wrap up for us-how many days and how many miles?