Yesterday was absolutely gorgeous here in Tennessee, so I decided to get out for an afternoon hike – more for sunshine and “me time” than for exercise, but I did get in a decent workout too!
I’m sure you’re wondering why I named this hike “Poisonous Luck”.
I’ll tell you in a second… 😉
I’ll also share my low carb meals and MyFitnessPal food diary with you, as usual! I didn’t cook at all yesterday, not once, which is my kinda day -lol.
We’ll start with breakfast, which was a quick simple LCHF meal at my desk, as I had a busy workday…
It was easy but also very healthy, all “whole foods” and a very simple combination of: kosher cream cheese, raw pecan halves & fresh strawberries.
I managed to wrap up my work day by 3pm, which I did in a hurry on purpose so I could get out and enjoy the sunshine. 🙂 I decided to hit Rock Island State Park, mainly because I got such a late start and it’s only about 20 minutes from where I live.
There are lots of great trails at Rock Island… but you know me. 😉 I ditched the trail right off the bat and headed straight down the rocky bluff for the river!
Trail hiking is a good workout mind you, but I love the challenge of bluffs & boulders – and the range of muscles it requires to navigate natural landscapes!
Of course, I’m keeping one eye two rocks ahead of me the whole time, watching for snakes. 😯 eek! It’s definitely a snakey time of year…
Once I reached the river, I decided to cool off and then enjoy the last bit of sunshine on a big flat rock across from Twin Falls. Between the cool water, the hot sun, and the soothing sound of a raging waterfall… it was pure bliss! 🙂
I hiked downriver from there, off trail, over the huge rocks across from Twin Falls.
This was a great workout for the thighs & calves, with lots of “up down & over” movement. I picked my steps carefully, but also did it quickly, and worked up a great sweat navigating the big rocks!
Twin Falls is an absolutely beautiful sight, breathtaking really. And it has a natural breeze and heavy spray, making it a GREAT spot to cool off on a hot day! 🙂
Here’s a video of Twin Falls, with the water up more than usual as they’d just opened the dam an hour or so before…
Swimming isn’t allowed in this area due to the swift currents and strong undertows, and because they open the dam frequently which floods the gorge.
It’s a VERY popular spot for kayaking though!
I hiked downriver a bit over the rocks, then climbed the bluff back up to the trail.
Even trail hiking provides a decent workout as you have to navigate rocks and tree stumps, natural inclines and such.
I get bored pretty quick with “trail hiking” so I did a bit of side-trail exploring as I passed natural springs and cave entrances – making note of things I want to come back and explore more. 😉
I finally spotted my destination through the trees: the “jumping cliffs” at the Blue Hole.:) You’re not allowed to swim there either, but people have still been using it as a swimming hole for ages…
The water was up, and raging (as you saw in the video above) since they’d recently opened the dam, so I decided just to cool off on the layer of rocks barely underwater.
If you recognize this spot ^ it’s because I hiked that bluff on the opposite side of the river last October. 😉 That was a seriously crazy off trail hike lol.
In that post, you’ll see another good reason not to swim in the blue hole. 😛
Today’s Find: Two HOLLOW Buckeye Nuts
I love buckeyes, and tend to collect them on my hikes. My grandmother is buried beneath a buckeye tree, and it always makes me smile with good thoughts of her when I see one in my path. 🙂
I’ve never encountered a hollow buckeye though!
They’re a large rich dark brown nut with an “eye” and similar to a chestnut – except poisonous to eat. While there are lores of medicinal qualities, buckeye nuts are generally considered a good luck charm and often carried in the right pocket to bring good luck.
I pondered my find as I sat at the blue hole…
I pulled both buckeyes out of my right pocket and rolled them around in my hand.
Are hollow buckeyes “out of luck”? 🙂
Why is something poisonous considered lucky?
“Maybe luck itself IS poisonous,” I thought, “because it removes personal responsibility.” Hmm, yes. Hoping to get lucky, or banking on luck, takes the WORK out of any RESULTS you might get.
You might say I was lucky to find two such beautiful treasures on my hike.
Maybe so.
But it’s my WILL to get off my ass and go for a workout that keeps me in shape. So I’m not “lucky” that I am finally starting to shape up nicely – that’s all work.
Luck and Fate are two words that always get my wheels turning. I won’t say I’ve come up with any definite answers on either just yet. But I had a friend once that was waiting on Fate to send her the ideal husband. To which I replied, “You might want to start leaving the house and make yourself available – so he can find you.” 🙂
The two buckeyes are sitting here in front of me on my desk now while I write to you, and they’ve been the source of some interesting thoughts over the last 24 hours…
I wondered, is it UNlucky that they’re hollow?
Or perhaps… I am meant to fill them with luck myself. 😉
You know how you get lucky, right? Wait – that didn’t sound right, lol. 😛 You know how you get LUCK, right? You work for it.
Another thought that crossed my mind: Buckeye Candy! Now I’m inspired to come up with a low carb recipe for peanut butter chocolate balls that look like buckeye nuts. 🙂
Speaking of luck, I *am* lucky enough to live near a Hardee’s – and they serve an awesome low carb burger in a lettuce wrap! I grabbed one on the way to Rock Island before my hike:
I didn’t get home till around dark, and was too wiped out to make dinner – or even eat – so I just crawled straight in bed. I don’t skip meals very often (AT ALL, lol) but this was one of those rare cases…
Here’s my MyFitnessPal Food Diary for Wednesday:
Net Carbs: 10
Total Carbs: 17
Calories: 1230
Protein: 42 grams
83% Fat / 14% Protein
Exercise: Hiking at Rock Island, TN
Fitbit Steps: 6,180
Water: 64 ounces
My hike was only about 2 1/2 miles, but it was a technical hike with lots of fun things to navigate – including slippery boulders and steep bluffs of large rocks.
It was a fun way to get out and enjoy the outdoors AND get in a wide range of motion & muscle movement! 🙂
On the way home from my hike I stopped by Kroger and picked up some fresh produce: baby spinach, mushrooms, asparagus, sliced zucchini & broccoli slaw.
Plus almond meal, Halo Top low carb ice cream, and frozen cauliflower rice. 🙂
I’m still processing the meaning of my buckeyes. 🙂
Where did the poisonous centers go? Are empty buckeyes still considered lucky? Is it MORE lucky that it’s hollow, or cleansed of all poisons? If I were going to “fill it with my own luck” what would I fill it with exactly? Motivation, willpower, visions of success & happiness? Does luck even exist? And if so, or even if not, does it “poison” our mind with hopes – instead of personal responsibility to MAKE things happen in our lives?
But mostly I’m thinking of chocolate, with peanut butter centers.:)
On that note though, people who are “lucky” in some way… totally miss out on the adventures and lessons you get through the process of creating your own luck. So I should think, those with no luck at all, become much richer in character.
How are things going with you?
Leave a comment & let’s chat.;)
I would love to hear your thoughts on luck, fate & work too. I hope you enjoyed my story, and my random thoughts.:) That’s one thing I really LOVE about my solo hikes…
Being alone with nature always gets my wheels turning!
I’m really looking forward to our next Low Carb Class on Saturday. Plan to tune in live, because we’re going to talk about Weight Loss Motivation Tricks to help you GET and STAY on track… so plan to walk away FIRED UP! 🙂
Best,
Lynn Terry,
aka @LowCarbTraveler
p.s. They’ll be shipping the August Keto Krate soon! They have been selling out FAST lately, so go ahead and sign up now to make sure you get one this time. 😉
Discount Code: LOWCARBTRAVELER
Great post Lynn. I have to really think about this one!
Thank you, Joan – I’m still thinking on it myself! π I do love that about nature though, and my outdoor adventures. I always come home with something new: inspiration, motivation, a token of a life lesson – or something to learn. π
Food for the soul. I loved the analogies here. I would definitely think that the empty buckies have to be more lucky. How can poison be lucky? Yes, fill them with your own luck. I feel a poem coming on….( i write poetry) by gosh, you think like a poet too. π Luck is one part inspiration and one part perspiration…..i heard say. π
I use to love to write poetry, short pieces usually. I should think this topic might be good inspiration for one! Good saying too. I’m all for creating your own luck, and being mindful & purposeful about the results you want! π
My dad always carried a buckeye. His was taped together because it had become so worn from carrying it in his pocket. I found a bag of them after he passed away. He use to give them to friends. Have not thought about buckeyes for years. Thanks for the memory.
What a nice memory, Debra. π Thank you for sharing that. It made me smile! Perhaps you’ll carry on that tradition? That would be such a great way to honor his memory…
I am very interested in the health benefits of eating the LCHF diet. I lost 62 pounds 5 years ago and have kept it all off until 2 years ago when i retired. I lost it by counting calories and as i got close to my goal my calorie count was right at 1000 calories (not much food). I have put on about 10 lbs and i want desperately to lose this and maybe a few more lbs. BUT I LOVE CARBS!!!!! Was this hard for you in the beginning? Can you give me any tips that you used for getting started?
Hi Pam π
You’re right, 1000 calories a day isn’t much food. I imagine that was a very restrictive diet… That’s what I love MOST about eating low carb – it’s not calorie based and I can enjoy such a wide variety of foods!
I also loved carbs. π The interesting thing is, when you eat super low carb it’s a natural appetite suppressant AND kills your cravings… so it actually makes it EASY to stick to once you get past the first week.
There are so many health benefits to eating low carb long term too. π I do have a getting started checklist here: http://www.travelinglowcarb.com/start-low-carb-diet/
Thank you so much for your reply. Your reply went to my junk mail and i thought you had not replied so i wrote you again. Please disregard that second post. I have really enjoyed following your blogs…. I am retired now and it is just my husband and me at home and the kitchen is just to close. I am ready up on this way of eating and i do realize there are many health benefits from it. I also have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and would love for LC to help me with those issues. Thanks again and i will stay in touch.
You’ll be amazed at the health benefits, and at how much BETTER you feel once you’re a week or two in. I was shocked at how it managed MY chronic pain issues. π What a great (unexpected) benefit!! Because now I’m able to live a FUN active lifestyle again. π
The kitchen won’t be a problem once you simply adjust WHICH foods you eat. That’s really all there is to it. You can still eat when you want, eat out even, enjoy your normal life – you simply choose foods within your low carb macros & lifestyle. That’s all! π
On the topic of luck. A woman once told Gary Player, one of the all-time greats of golf, that he was very lucky when he played the ball into the hole from a sand trap. His answer is spot on as far as luck is concerned. He smiled and said “maybe, but I find the more I practice the luckier I get”.
Exactly, Frans. π I love that quote! When people call ME lucky, I usually respond with: “I worked HARD to get this lucky.” π haha *cheers*