I decided to eat off plan this week. I havenโt done that in ages, not for several days in a row at least โ in close to 10 months or more.
Why? Because I was really unhappy with how I looked over New Years Weekend in the photos I shared with you, and just decided to step back and regroup.
Of course eating carbs is not the answer, and my goal for 2017 remains the same: to build healthy, attractive muscle weight and continue eating low carb. And so I got right back on track yesterday, including my very first โwinter hikeโ of the season for some good exercise. ๐
Being out of ketosis, plus the freezing weather, made for a lot less energy than I usually have on my hikes. But I still got in some solid exercise!
I also ate low carb of course, which means Iโll have Keto Flu to deal with in a few days. ๐ I missed breakfast because I was busy writing this post for you, so I grabbed a low carb burger on the way out to my hike.
I got a Low Carb Frisco Burger from Hardeeโs. Itโs just the Frisco Burger on the menu in a lettuce wrap instead of a bun. Theyโll make anything on the menu low carb for you if you ask. ๐
It was well below freezing yesterday, with a high of only 18 degrees, so these hand warmers came in extremely handy! ๐ This is the first time Iโve used them, and Iโll definitely be taking them on every hike this season:
My first stop on the hike was the top of a smaller waterfall on the way to Foster Falls. I say โsmallerโ โ I discovered later it was MUCH higher, just less water volumeโฆ
Of course I jumped the fence as usual, because I like the BEST view of any waterfall: the very top. ๐ ๐
To give you an idea how high up I was on a straight drop, hereโs a view of where I was standing above โ from the opposite bluff:
Wow ๐ฏ lol
Hereโs a quick video I took from that bluff too:
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Before I got over to that other bluff though, I took a detour off-trail and hike downriver (literally) to the top of Foster Falls.
Here I am at the top of Foster Falls. ๐
And yes it was slick โ I had to be especially cautious with the frozen spots!
Part of the trail was over a very slick pile of fallen icicles. Taking photos proved challenging in the chilling temps with the bitter wind. Instead of taking off my two pairs of gloves (with handwarmers inside), I framed the photoโฆ then touched the screen with my nose to take the shot. ๐ ๐
Did I mention my friend Caroline is over again this weekend? ๐
By special request, we had one of her famous omelets for dinner! YUMโฆ
It was FULL of ham, spinach, onion & cheeses. ๐ Delicious!
Hereโs my MyFitnessPal food diary for yesterday:
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My hike was a short one, considering how cold it was and how bad I was feeling. In addition to being out of ketosis, Iโve felt like I had a cold coming on all weekโฆ and had a NyQuil hangover. ๐
I still got in some good steps for the day though:
I learned a lot on my first โwinter hikeโ in super cold tempsโฆ
Wearing several layers of clothing, a bulky outer coat, scarf, hat and two pairs of gloves made me feel very confined and a bit clumsy. It definitely slowed me down. It also restricted my range of view, in addition to my range of motion.
I also discovered the type of hat & scarf I wore, which was super warm!โฆ was not ideal for off-trail hiking, lol. It kept getting snagged on tree branches and briars through some of my more adventurous climbs, which was really just annoying โ but could easily be dangerous. So Iโll keep that in mind for future hikes this winter. ๐
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I was going to go on another short hike again today, but I ended up staying in to take it easy โ and stay warm. The cold weather yesterday just made my cough even worse. ๐
Itโs great to be back on track though, and back to my fitness goals!
I forgot how miserable it feels to eat off plan, between the bloating and the unhappy tummy โ blah. It gave me a chance to step back and get my head on straight though, and was a great reminder why I continue to eat a healthy ketogenic dietโฆ and what my TRUE goals are for the year: to build shapely muscle.
How are things going with you?
I would love to hear how your first week of the year went, and how youโre doing with your 2017 goals so far. I would also love to hear if youโre exercising as part of your goals, and if so โ what is your favorite exercise during the winter months??
Best,
Lynn Terry,
aka @LowCarbTraveler
p.s. I love LOVE love my new Keen Hiking Boots! ๐ That plus the Smart Wool socks kept my feet dry and warm through the entire hike!
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Discount Code: LOWCARBTRAVELER
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Beautiful places you have to hike! I have those exact same socks and they are so warm! Iโm always wearing wool socks in the house! We live in a 1911 farm house in Ohio, the floors get cold! We are a family of hunters and I have to say hand warmers are one of the best thing ever invented! I can buy a big box of them at Samโs club or Walmart sells them also, maybe cheaper than the ones you have.
This has been my first week back on LC and Iโm feeling good. I took it easy this week and got most exercise from walking the dog out in the snow. Now that detox is behind me Iโm going to start lifting weights 3x/week and cardio the other 2. I like to follow the stronglifts 5ร5 program. Itโs simple to follow and works the whole body!
Iโm new to wool socks and hand warmers, but I fell in love with them โ fast! ๐
Iโll check out the Stronglifts 5ร5 program. That sounds right up my alley! It DOES feel great getting back on track, doesnโt it? I think the break did me good in a number of ways (given itโs been almost a year since Iโve done that!) and WOW it reminded me how GREAT I feel eating clean & keto. ๐
LOVE my Yaktraks!! And I was all gung ho to actually start walking outsideโฆ but then the forecast says itโs going to -30ยฐ ANDโฆ itโs dark when I go to work and dark when I get home. Excuses. Excuses.
Oh. Hand warmers! My Yaktraxs are ice grippers. Very helpful up here.
Ugh โ I would find an indoor workout I enjoyed in those conditions. ๐ lol. Iโll have to check out the ice grippers!
Hi, I admire your dedication with winter hiking. It builds oxytocin in your body. For me, I do indoor rowing for 5,000 meters or about 28 minutes. I completed 40,000 for the past eight days. I also did an abs workout. I am trying to follow the Primal Blueprint plan. I have lost around 40 pounds and I am pleased with the increased energy I have. Thanks, Jim
Thatโs awesome, Jim!
Winter hiking is definitely more challenging, lol โ but now that I have a new pair of waterproof winter hiking bootsโฆ I intend to put them to GOOD use this season. ๐
I wish I could get that motivated to just go to the gym much less walking outsideโโโโ
I prefer working out at home to the gym, but some people are more motivated at the gym. I personally find it intimidating. ๐ It took me forever to REALLY get motivated to exercise regularlyโฆ until I got my fitbit. That thing motivates me to move like nothing else ever has!;) This is the one I just upgraded to: http://www.travelinglowcarb.com/myfitbit Do you track your exercise or workouts in MyFitnessPal with your meals, or with any other app? It helps a lot!
Lynn you are always an inspiration, even if you decided to eat off track. Your honesty is refreshing and itโs just what I needed for encouragement to get back on track. I live in the northeast and many viruses and flues have been breeding like gnats plus overlapping each other. After being sick for 4 weeks and living on toast and tea Iโve gained 10 pounds and was wondering how to get started again. Thank you for stopping my self doubt and to hop back on a healthy way of eating. Any suggestions of what to nibble on while sick for the future?
Iโm so glad, Denise. ๐ Iโve been sick too. I find chicken broth to be the best, I sip it hot out of a mug. I also make low carb bread because itโs easy and bland. The recipe is in this post: http://www.travelinglowcarb.com/12574/easy-low-carb-recipes/ (itโs the second recipe on that page).
This stew is easy to make and great when youโre sick too โ and even when youโre not! ๐ http://www.travelinglowcarb.com/12333/low-carb-oven-stew/
Good thing you werenโt worried about being in ketosis for a whileโฆ Because NyQuil will kill you with all that sugar!
I think it has somewhere around 20 Carbs per serving.
Itโs hard for me to remember to think about things like that when I was so used to them before low carb.
Iโm hoping to be more active in the new year. The first 45 pounds came off fast, but I need to tone up too.
Thatโs true โ the liquid Nyquil is very high carb. But my research shows Zero carbs for the liquid caps, which is what I use. ๐
I did have to get a friend to bring me some Robitussin DM though, and they brought me liquid (my mistake, for not clarifying!). It WORKED (yay, lol) but it was higher carb. Iโm not sure how much. One of the ingredients IS sucralose, so maybe not as bad as Nyquil. Two different sources are saying only 5 carbs for the serving (dose).
Wow, I never even thought about OTC medications. I work in the graphics dept. of a generic manufacturer of these kinds of medications along with stomach remedies, antacids and fiber powders. I just spoke to my regulatory people about nutrition content and trying to get this information put out for the public so they can make better informed decisions about their health.
We do make many sugar free versions of most of our product lines but according to my lab guys we use mainly sucralose as our sweetener.
Thanks for the enlightenment.
PS. please be careful going over fences like that, the Firefighter, EMT and rescue technician in me just had a slight heart attack.
Thank you โ Iโm always very cautious. ๐ This last year has been all about facing my fears and pushing my comfort zoneโฆ and my hiking adventures allow me to do that in more tangible ways while also working through mental barriers. ๐
It would be GREAT if there were an easier way to get nutrition facts for meds. Especially for those with diabetes or other health conditions & allergies that rely on this type of information.
I thought you looked great in your New Yearโs post!! I need your friend to come make an omelette for me. That looks delicious!! Happy New Year!!
Thank you Amy ๐
Caroline made me another beautiful omelet this morningโฆ and this time I took notes, photos & even some video! Stay tuned for the โhow toโ โ because her omelets are amazing!!
I love your posts, so real. We are all human and slip up in some way from time to time. You are so inspiring to so many. Ive told my husband about you many times and I hope to make it to some of the trails you visit at some point!
2017 has been great to me so far. I had been stalled for a few weeks but last week started a 128 ounce a day water challenge. Drinking this much water has really made me reevaluate when Iโm hungry versus thirsty and Iโm happy to say Iโm down 7 lbs since last week! Thats really amazing considering how close I am to my goal of 150!
Starting weight on 4/17/16 258
Current weight 153
Current goal weight 150
Height 5 ft 9
Way to go, Tracie!!
Thatโs A LOT of water of course so just be sure to watch for signs of drinking more than your body can process: muscle cramps, headaches, dizziness, light headed, etc. If you get even the slightest symptoms โ drink chicken broth immediately to replace the sodium & electrolytes flushed out of your body. And of course make sure you eat plenty of sodium (donโt go โlow sodiumโ) during that kind of water challenge. ๐
Enjoyed reading about your outdoor exercise. I live in western New York where outdoor activity is near impossible when you are 72, had a shoulder replacement last July and a broken ankle a few months before that. I just purchased an exercise ball, 2 lb and 4 lb medicine balls and a step up platform for indoor exercises. The problem is the ball came with no exercise instructions and I havenโt received the rest yet. I have a lot of arm exercises that I do every other day for my shoulder but need core and leg exercises to do indoors. Need some inexpensive exercises for what Iโve bought since I have numerous medical bills so canโt afford much. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.
Go onto Google or Bing.com and type, โwhat are exercises for a medicine ball? The results were ten postings of exercises. The one entitled โ25 Must-Try Medicine Ball Exercisesโ seemed the most promising.
Great suggestion, Jim!
I like YouTube searches too. ๐
Kudos for finding things you CAN do!