Week 4: Pour Out a little Liquor - (52 Pounds in 52 Weeks)

Day 418: Piedra Blanca

**Flashback -- January 6, 2012.  Click the link above for more details.

I shared this hike with you today because it was memorable: Domino :(

Piedra Blanca - Hiking Stick dedicated to Domino (1999 - 2012)

Saturday January 23, 2016: Due to the recent storm and 4 years of earth, Domino's blanket had sunken in quite a bit (pic above left).  I knew the time had come to place a warm comforter over top.  I was nearly in tears clawing with my finger nails in the soil to carve out a labyrinth for her stick to rest gently below the final layer.  One day I will need to sell this house and I figured Domino will be one with the land, with no trace, under the avocado tree.  But in our memories, she will be the angle on top of this  hill forever...


52 Pounds - 52 Days

New Year's 2016 Weight: 240.9

Week Four Weight: 235.3

Total Weight Loss: -5.6 Pounds

Saturday, January 23, 2016: It was my first "legit" in gym workout of the year.  I did 10 minutes on the elliptical, some chest, triceps and ab routines and finished off with a 15 minute cardio on the bike.  Hardly an intense workout, no free weights - take it easy, I have to pace myself...

...Of course, rather than eating protein or diet right, I took down a 22 ounce of my favorite IPA: Lizard's Mouth, from the Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company -- Buelton, CA.

On Sunday I went back to the beach and ran along the promenade again.  This time I went for 3.75 total miles in 43 minutes.  So I am continuing to increase my distance and reduce the time.  I was able to keep a pace the entire time - No walking except for the final 1/8th mile stretch, cool down...

After the run, I enjoyed another Figueroa best; Hoppy Poppy!!  Thank you to Jay from work who introduced me to this brand.  It's a little more expensive than the Firestones I was drinking, which as well is brewed just north, but I have officially changed my taste.  So smooth, so great - and what better way to conclude a workout.

Eventually, I will mostly cut beer out of my diet.  A couple double deuces of IPA on the weekend, in two separate sittings, is not horrible - but I know if I'm going to continue to drop weight, I will not be able to keep this sip on.  Ha, but for now...

The neighbors dog came to visit.  Ziggy took the high vantage point, but was still not out of reach...

I had intended to get another workout in during the week, but between work and what not, I didn't.  I did overall eat a little better.  I lost 2 pounds for the week:

Week 4 -- Friday January 29, 2016: 235.3

I guess I can take it easy this week if I want to.  I am ahead of pace.  Until the next step...

Week 3: No Sweat - (52 POUNDS in 52 WEEKS)

La Jolla Canyon Falls

SUNDAY, JANUARY 23, 2011

Flashback 5 years ago, tomorrow.  I was just barely 2 months into my 1000 Day adventure and I took an innocent hike with my wife and kids.  The falls are often only as wet as a damp cloth, but with recent rains, they come alive.  To read more about this hike, click:  

Day 70: La Jolla Canyon

..Of course, my favorite hike in this area is climbing up and over to the valley, which is absolutely a sacred treasure.  I would say less than 1% of the surrounding counties population even know of this beauty.  If you look hard enough, you may find some old Chumash Indian artifacts.  Certain portions of the region are unmarked Indian Burial Grounds:

 

Day 216: La Jolla Valley

Click the link above for more details.  ...The valley then was an amazing green pasture.  Crazy natural consideration as you are surrounded by dry brush ocean mountains.  Unfortunately, we had the vast spring fire a few years back which scorched this entire region.  I wonder how this land has recovered?

Day 898: Spring Fire

Click the link above to see more.  Essentially, I was on my way to work and the picture above on the left represents the start of this fire.  It was not massive, just a think line of fire, but on very dry brush.  Probably sparked from a cigarette - not sure if they ever truly determined how it began, but I missed the initial spark by only a few minutes and passed the scene before the fire trucks arrived.  Then, after work it was time for my hike, so I picked a random area nearby and the picture on the right shows what was going on, many hours later, on the far other side of this mountain.  Eventually, the fire worked it's way over a marathon of miles to the ocean.  Just Nuts!!!

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52 Pounds - 52 Days 

New Year's 2016 Weight: 240.9

Week Three Weight: 237.3

Total Weight Loss: -3.6 Pounds

1-Mile Run (Kimball Park) - Ventura, CA

Saturday - January 16, 2016

2.08.41

2.34.12

2.16.33

2.09.40 == 9.14.42

And this is what I looked like when I was done:

...Blah, I've got a swollen near death face...  I guess I'm surprised that I finished the "run" in under 10 minutes.  However, I have never sat out for a mile run before and ran the final quarter split over 2 minutes.  All I had in me was a 2.09? - pathetic.  Guess I can only improve...

Oh, but if that was not enough, I took my son to track practice at the beach later that day, and I jogged the promenade a total of 3 miles in about 45 minutes.  Basically jogged up, turned around and jogged - walked - and go back to my car.  I think this weekly routine will work.  I will just keep increasing my distance out about a quarter mile or so, which will give me a half mile more in distance each week.  Hmm, at some point the math won't add up otherwise at the end I will be running a marathon plus, every week.  No Thank You!

The week started off good, with these runs, but then "No Sweat" for the remaining 6 days.  My knees are still sore from the runs, I wake up early to work before work and when I do get home... Excuses.  At some point I'll figure this out.  I did eat much better and as a result, dropped 1.1 pounds for the week:

237.3 Weigh In - January 22, 2016

I'm doing what I set out to do.  Let's Go!

Week 2: FIRST RUN OF 2016 - (52 POUNDS in 52 WEEKS)

DAY 426 - CHARLES MANSON'S CAVES

Flashback  - Day 426 Searching for Charles Manson

January 14th, 2012

It was 4 years ago and I was nearly halfway through my goal of hiking 1000 Trails in 1000 Days.  Check it out ... Click Here for Day 426

New Year's 2016 Weight: 240.9

Week Two Weight: 238.4 Pounds

Total Weight Loss: -2.5 Pounds

Week 2: 238.4 Pounds * January 15, 2016

I only lost 0.8 pounds this week, but still on target of losing one pound a week, on average, for 52 weeks.

My First Run

Sunday January 10, 2016

Ventura Promenade

Estimated 2.25 Miles

Time 35 Minutes

**Horrible!  I started at the beginning of the path, near the In & Out Burger in Ventura.  I dropped off Ayden for Track Practice on the Beach and ran solo to the Promenade.  After only a few steps in, I could tell this was going to be an issue.  I had nothing.  No lungs, no legs, no form.  Just one big NO NO!  It's as if I never ran before!!  

At age 41, taking nearly a year off from any physical exercise proved to be too much to overcome.  Regardless, I forced my legs in a slump running formation, all the way past the pier and then when passing Aloha Steak House, I noticed my reflection in the windows and, hmmm, My Goodness - I am Fat!  I literally looked like an old fat man trying to run.  

I turned around shortly thereafter and kept my snails pace for a moment, and then lost stride into a slow walk where my attention drew to the surfers riding the waves.  This was my first pure sweat of the year.  I walked for a bit and then saw the Ventura Tigres distance runners heading towards me.  I used to coach the Ventura Express, Cross Country team, and recognized many of those kids.

Eventually, they circled back around and passed me.  However, when one kid said hi, I opted to motion my walk into his jogging pace.  I carried that back to the end and -- Pain!

...Earlier that day I went to the gym with my wife, but only for a moment.  She was there to drop something off, but I did manage to sneak in one set in on my abs, chest, shoulders, biceps and triceps.  Hardly enough to call it a workout, but the ab part kept the gut sore for a few days to come.

Diet Struggles

Saturday - Monday was pretty decent; A mix of salads and healthier foods.  However, by the time the week was over, I had 3 Big Cheeseburgers, 3 Sloppy Joe Sandwiches, 2 Sliders and a pint of Beer - First Beer of the Year!  Thus, I gained back most of what I lost for the week, but it's okay; still heading the right direction - goal to drop very slowly so that my body could adjust rather than be shocked

**I have still been sick?  Buzzing in my head - headaches.  Flem and cough, but I am sleeping better. 

One Step at a Time... 

Week 1: BIG SUR - (52 POUNDS in 52 WEEKS)

Elephant Seals near Hearst Castle

New Year's 2016 Weight: 240.9

Week One Weight: 239.2

Total Weight Loss: -1.7 Pounds

 New Year's Day - Drove up the coast to Big Sur

Tan Bark Trailhead

Following a creek up the mountain through the forest of...

...Giant Trees!

MOO!!!

The New Year started off great.  We hiked a short portion of the Tan Bark and then crossed HWY 1 down to a tunnel which lead to a wild cove.  At night we found a cabin at the Big Sur Lodge and stayed the night.  We enjoyed the warm up wood burning fire place in place of the TV. A family of deer greeted us outside the cabin in the morning.

The next day we drove through Carmel, Monterrey and paid the 10 bucks to drive around Pebble Beach (17 Mile Scenic Drive).  We saw more seals, more awesome blue water coastline and of course did some shopping and ate out .. Wait; I supposed to be losing weight -- Why am I ordering a Pizza??

--It's okay, just 1 pound a week so I'm good by easing into it and my little hike should offset it.

El Nino: Driveway, Yard & Garage Flooded

Let the winter storms begin!  I took two days off work this week.  Some sort of cold, loud buzzing noise in my head and perhaps I got 4 hours of total sleep for the entire week.  Too exhausted to think about working out.  Lack of appetite, figured I would drop some weight from the soup diet.  Okay, well maybe I ate a bit more than that, but I did have soup too - and no beer!  I had a bottle of Champagne; left overs from New Years.

Week 1: 239.2

Week 1 - January 8, 2015
Week 1 round up.  I lost 1.7 pounds by not doing much (well I took off my pajama bottoms so maybe that attributed a half pound?)

I'm still not feeling great, but I have gotten some more sleep and I am seriously thinking about hitting the gym and eating better.  Until Next Week...

52 POUNDS in 52 WEEKS: Week 0 - Life or Death

240.9 Pounds

52 Pounds in 52 Weeks!

January 1st, 2016:
At age 41, it really becomes about quality of life.  I am not me these days.  I haven't been who I am in a long while, and I only have me to blame.  I no longer have that gusto - hiking 1000 Days in a row seems like eons ago...

The weight in the picture above is correct.  I did not "water up", because if I had, I could have easily reached 255.  I only shared a bottle of champagne with my wife on New Year's Eve, and we were in bed before 11:00pm.  So, I wasn't feeling all full and bloated, which means, I've become accustomed to this obesity and at 5'10", this weight is no longer acceptable!

In the past I have entered fat loss contests; will lose 30 pounds in 6 weeks.  Perhaps I could still do that, but I really don't think so.  I feel like crap.  In fact, I stayed home from work the past two days and I bet if I was living healthier, this darn flu bug would not have hit me so hard.

Life is a marathon - I think I can do this without going absolutely bonkers.  I figure, at first I won't change much.  It will be in my head.  Losing a pound a week to start should be as simple as cutting my weekly bottle of IPA.  I don't drink much, but when I do drink, it's IPA :)

I took some top heavy shots as well, but I am too embarrassed to share them.  I suppose come January 1, 2017, I will show the before and after.  I'm not looking to be chiseled.  I have no interest in running another marathon or hiking the highest peak.  Instead, I just want to be able to do the normal things without being so darn blah!

Excuses; but I am addicted to work.  And beyond my JOB, I also work on other projects and then wind down with a few games of chess.  --I'll figure this out, I hope.  I think I have diabetes or possibly a thyroid condition, but with no health insurance and as stubborn as I am; forget about it!  I blame myself and if xxx Once I get myself back on track if I still feel wrong, then maybe I'll say, "What's Up Doc!"

Ha, that's all for now.  I have some work to do, but check back each week as I update my progress. Oh, and of course, when I do go on hikes or something cool like that, I will for sure share!

Happy New Year 2016!

-Jeremy Jacobus