Redwoods in Stout Grove

60 lbs. that will never see the redwoods again.

The path to more years and miles of hiking and exploring.


Jedediah Smith Redwoods park

advertisement


by Mario Vaden

December 2012, I reached my goal of losing 60 lbs., the same as a bag of concrete or 30 x 2 lb. blocks of cheese.

I think what flipped my mental switch to do this included my knee swelling back in 2011 after James Irvine and Miners Ridge trails in Prairie Creek. Maybe that was the straw that broke the camels back so to speak. The excess body weight and pack combined wreaked havoc on my knee, and it swelled double it's normal size. Could really feel it on the downhill stretches.

Long story short ... I reduce my calorie intake starting June 2012, began learning how many calories are in various foods, and figured out better food I could enjoy. By December, I finally lost 60 pounds. Hiking is easier, work is easier, living is easier. The loss of weight is a nice trade for more years and more miles exploring.

Years ago, Michael Taylor the redwood forest explorer, also lost 50 pounds or more. And this week, a west coast researcher wrote that they too had recently adjusted their intake with a purpose of gaining more years outdoors.

Thanks to Albertsons Grocery for providing the cheese to illustrate 60 lbs. BTW ... I still eat cheeses, just smaller portions ...


Weight loss illustration using 30 blocks of cheese in front of M. D. Vaden, redwood forest explorer and hiker.



Jedediah Smith Redwoods park

advertisement