<p>Good news on the shoes Dad II.</p>
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<p>BC: I didn’t go hiking. Didn’t like the weather forecast this weekend. 90 degrees and thunderstorms doesn’t really suit my definition of fair-weather hiking! I’m going to sneak out on Tuesday. High of 83, Sunny, 0% chance of precipition. That’s my idea of good hiking weather!</p>
<p>Total rest day.</p>
I’m a little nervous about my weight. (Anyone looking at me would tell me I’m nuts, but you all know these things are relative.) Since I left my high-stress job in NJ and am comfortably working and living only ten miles away from each other, I’ve gained around 1.5% of my weight. Not a big deal, but this is how it begins . . . . I’m hoping it’s muscle weight, not fat weight, since everything still fits, but I’m watching it like a hawk. My exercise routine hasn’t changed at all, but I truly suspect that a minor reduction in activity (now I park my car closer, yada yada) and a major reduction in anxiety has made a big difference in my calorie burning.
<p>Added stress can burn calories too though a lot of people compensate with much more eating.</p>
<p>I don’t have headaches; I just feel tired and often sore. The latter may be due to lack of flexibility. My usual stretching spot frequently has stuff in it these days. </p>
<p>Scheduled for doubles today but the weather forecast doesn’t look good.</p>
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<p>I’ll watch the scale with you. I’m at the top of my “range” and up a pound or two since I started hiking. I’ve cut the pistachios/peanuts out of my snacking and trying to forget about the can of cashews in the cupboard except when I put some in a sandwich bag as lunch on a hike.</p>
<p>Is there something that was very helpful before, like keeping a food diary, that might be useful again for a while?</p>
<p>Deborah:</p>
<p>If I go up another pound, I’ll probably dive into my Livestrong MyPlate diary for a few weeks to focus. But, honestly, I pretty much know what I’m eating and where any extras are coming from. All things considered, I’ve probably scaled back my cumulative workout load a bit recently. Weight training workouts a bit shorter. Not much Airdyne (too hot). It’s in an air conditioned room, but I need the window open with a fan blasting me for that thing! I ride it next to an open window in the dead of winter!</p>
<p>I’m not sure what impact hiking is having. That is a completely different kind of exercise than I’ve ever done. As sore as my hips and glutes have been afterwards, I suspect that I’m building some muscle in new places.</p>
<p>My clothes (and thermometer jeans) still fit the same, so I’m not too worried about it.</p>
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<p>Yeah, that’s what I’d think. Those hikes are some pretty long workout sessions.</p>
So I’ve settled on one pair of hiking boots. I’ve been going back and forth for 2.5 days, wearing a two sizes of the LL Bean [Cresta</a> Hiker](<a href=“http://cdni.llbean.com/is/image/wim/156659_0_52]Cresta”>http://cdni.llbean.com/is/image/wim/156659_0_52). The smaller of the two pair (9.5 EE) fit like gloves when I first slide my foot in them, but start to feel tight, even with no tension on the laces after an hour, especially with thick socks or late in the day. So, they went back in the box and I’m keeping the larger of the two sizes (10EE). These are comfy for hours with the thick socks. I’m glad I gave them an extended test , because if I had just tried them on in the store, I probably would have picked the smaller pair, but I really don’t want hiking boots that start to pinch after an hour.
Bean has a fairly unique product. Italian leather, medium duty hiking boots, available in narrow, regular, and wide widths. Lowa has a [similar</a> product](<a href=“http://www.e-outdoor.co.uk/images/Lowa_Renegade_II_GTX_Mid_Mens_Boot1.jpg]similar”>http://www.e-outdoor.co.uk/images/Lowa_Renegade_II_GTX_Mid_Mens_Boot1.jpg) in leather and cordura nylon. Otherwise, most of the Euro leather hiking boots are heavier, stiffer, and more intended for heavy backpacking than day hiking.
I’m still thinking about a low cut pair to replace [the</a> world’s ugliest trail hikers](<a href=“http://s.stpost.com/eccstorefront/product_images/2527u/f_2527u_1.jpg]the”>http://s.stpost.com/eccstorefront/product_images/2527u/f_2527u_1.jpg) which have never really fit, aren’t even slightly waterproof, and are getting demolished. I have one good option from Bean and sale Keens arriving in the next day or two from Zappos.
All of these would see duty as New England slush/snow/rain/winter footwear in addition to walking/hiking.
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<p>Shhhhhhhhhh . . . . Don’t remind the Weather Gods of this.</p>
<p>We hit for about an hour and then the first black cloud showed up with some sprinkles. We went off and then back on and played for a few more minutes and then it started getting very windy and then the rain and thunder came. We went into the gazebo and it started pouring buckets.</p>
<p>I had some trouble getting used to the full poly strings again. I was so used to them and then used the lighter, thinner stuff and now it’s a bit of effort to go back. They are better for my serve though. The rain today was probably comparable to the rain yesterday and there was the same big temperature drop. It was mid-90s when we started and mid-70s when we were done.</p>
<p>Not the best of workouts but I feel a bit looser afterwards.</p>
<p>Nice to see Andy Murray break through (kind of). It’s not a slam but he beat Djokovic and Federer and that’s pretty hard.</p>
<p>1 hour of tennis yesterday evening. </p>
<p>SPECTACULAR hike today. About 9 miles total with views galore, wildflowers, sunny skies, breezes. Arrived at 7000+ feet elevation, but started out pretty high, so not a ton of elevation gain. Nothing too steep, so had a nice pace going – with breaks for water and oohing and aahing at the views (and running into some one I knew a few years ago, materializing completely out of context and catching up on the intervening years), a total of 3 1/2 hours.</p>
I can’t believe I just did that. I’ve run out of workouts. Thunderstorms, so walk/jog is out. Way to hot to even think about the Airdyne. So, I headed for the non-airconditioned basement for burpee fusion. 12 swings alternating with 6 burpees on the minute every minute for six minutes. Three sets. I had the biggest fan I own blowing on me and both kitties cheering me on (or at least watchin’ the ol’ guy in amusement). Rough.
And to add insult to injury, I zoned out panting between sets and missed the beep to start the third set. By the time I realized it, 30 seconds had passed, I had to do 12 swings and 6 burpees non-stop to get back on schedule. That meant I was totally wiped for the entire third set, which is usually pretty tough under the best of circumstances.
Anyway. It’s done. I’m done. And, I feel good that I did it. Now, it’s off to grill steak tips with Bobby Flay’s grilled pepper, vidalia onion, and garlic topping/side.
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I’ve cranked up the swings to 45 pounds, so they aren’t really a breather before the burpees anymore. 12 of those get me pretty good. Burpees felt really good today. I’ve been doing a lot of pushups lately and that helps. Really felt the core helping on the pushups and jump squats today…
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<p>That sounds marvelous. I’d be gasping for air at 7000 feet, for sure!</p>
<p>Good job on the heat, thunderstorm, and elevation infused workouts, everyone. </p>
<p>I like DB rows. I can do those with the 8 lb dumbbells. Inverted rows, however… Shall we say I have a very long ways to go. 
So long in fact that I don’t think I’m ready for them. Saw mini-kbs marked way down at a frequently mentioned retail establishment of the discount variety earlier today and was very tempted to buy one.</p>
<p>How mini were these kettlebells? ;)</p>
<p>I’d like a couple of 5 pounders for some home-work…</p>
<p>I think that’s what they were, Hops. TJ.</p>
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<p>You and 99 out of 100 of us. We all tend to be weak with upper body pulling exercises. Even the weight lifting guys, who do hours of bench press, but never do the complementary pulling exercises. The 3pt rows will help a lot. I like that exercise a lot. Unlike the version without the hand on a bench, the 3 pt row is back-friendly.</p>
<p>With the inverted rows, keep you eye out for a taller bar to do them from. It’s like the incline pushups. The higher the angle, the easier. The problem is that it isn’t easy to find options for the inverted row.</p>
<p>PB!! 8+ laps on the new shoes. They are much lighter and more flexible. But I might need a little time to get used to the gel - way too soft. </p>
<p>By all the reviews I found on-line, these Asics Gel Cumulus 13 shoes are supposed to be very good. I am not so sure.</p>
I can’t be the only one out of the 100 of us here who can knock these out 
Idad, I think you’re on that list…
![http://www.e-outdoor.co.uk/images/Lowa_Renegade_II_GTX_Mid_Mens_Boot1.jpg]similar](http://www.e-outdoor.co.uk/images/Lowa_Renegade_II_GTX_Mid_Mens_Boot1.jpg%5Dsimilar){kind=link}
![http://s.stpost.com/eccstorefront/product_images/2527u/f_2527u_1.jpg]the](http://s.stpost.com/eccstorefront/product_images/2527u/f_2527u_1.jpg%5Dthe){kind=link}
