The Grand Canyon Express 2012

On the Trail, 2004

The only kind of “exercise” I have ever liked is hiking.  Well, hiking and running off at the mouth, jumping to conclusions and flying off the handle…  I’ve done a lot of those other exercises, but I haven’t done any hiking for several years – the last “destination” hike I did was to Phantom Ranch a few years back with my cousin Nelson.  On that one, I didn’t train seriously enough and it hurt me on the hiking days – I struggled, to put it mildly and persevered on will power alone; my body sure was not up to it. Nelson suffered too because he had to wait for me along the trail – it is really hard (both mentally and physically) to hang back with a slower hiker when you are ready to plunge on ahead; I know, because I’ve had to do it myself.

I’ve also been struggling with diabetes for about 20 years.  At times I controlled it, mostly though, I didn’t.  I always had it under control when I was hiking though.  I have been repeatedly informed that as the disease progresses, it becomes harder to control in the normal ways – i.e. diet and exercise.  So over the last few years and months I figured my days of controlling it that way might have been over.  The medical people have been trying to get me to go back on insulin for a couple of years. I’ve resisted.

A few weeks ago, my friend Chad came to visit for his Spring Break – and during his time here we got together and spent the better part of a day.  We had lunch at a Sizzler and dinner at a Mongolian BBQ – and in between we went for a hike (Chad, his Mom Linda and me). We hiked in Cave Creek Regional Park and we were on the trail for about two or two and a half hours – with what I figure was about one hour of actual hiking – about three miles plus a little extra.  I did OK – it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be given my extremely poor condition.  When we stopped by the house afterward to check on things here, I did a quick check on my glucose level – and it was near normal.  Normal!  Since I am absolutely sure it was running about twice or three times the normal level beforehand, I found that to be absolutely amazing.  And it made me think that, once again, I might just be able to get normal and healthier (no diabetes) simply by exercising and being a bit more careful about my diet.  Like this...

My glucose reading after hiking today...

So...

I have begun once again to eat more simply.  I use a diet that counts portions rather than calories, with a mix that gets me about 1500 calories a day.  I find it easier to eat by categories – I start the day with fruits (fresh and canned), three portions, and usually a carb at the same time or close to it.  Maybe hot or cold cereal.  Then I work into the vegetables – four portions.  I eat raw carrots frequently – and right now for example I have a three-bean salad I made, and I’ll likely have tomato juice, or even a serving of diced tomatoes right out of the can.  Then I work in the proteins and the carbs and dairy – usually later in the day as I go along.  I am also eating Zone Perfect energy bars – although I am only eating half of one at a time because they cause my sugars to rocket up if I eat a whole one at once.  I’m also eating mixed nuts, celery with peanut butter and things like that.  My biggest problem is when I get the urge for a burger… or some El Pollo Loco… I did that twice this past weekend… plus at the ballpark I had hotdogs and popcorn.  So I didn’t even check my fasting sugars the next morning; it would have been demoralizing! I did check them after my hike on Monday and I was OK at about 112.

Walking south on the Christensen Trail No. 100

I started the hiking by going every day I can close to home here, but on easier trails.  I go over off of 24^th Street and Cholla and hike along the Christenson Trail – No. 100 in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve.  It is only about ¾ mile away – and I could even ride my bike over there if I wanted to (I DID today...)  There are quite a number of side trails you can take to see something new – and I simply walk basically south for x number of minutes, and then return.  I started with 20 minutes each way – and Monday I walked for 1:10 total – to get the maximum aerobic benefit you don’t need to walk that far, I think all it takes is about 12 or 15 minutes.  But at the same time there are other benefits from walking farther (more calories and muscle building).  

Canyon Training par excellence on Shaw Butte!

In about a month or so, I will graduate back to my “old” favorite training trail – Shaw Butte.  But I like the 100 trail well enough that I think I will continue to use it as well.  It winds in and around the foothills of the mountains west of the house and the views are really great.  It’s up and it’s down, so it is also a good trail for “training.”  I also ride my bicycle whenever I can, usually down to the Basha’s store about a mile away. Between the hike and a bicycle trip, it is a safe bet I’ll have burned off 400 calories.  I will probably lose weight after a little bit of time doing this!

River at the bottom of time - Colorado
River near Phantom Ranch

Training for what, you might ask?  I am already thinking and planning for another Grand Canyon hike – maybe even this year.  I was thinking by mid-summer I might be up to doing an easy “shake-down” jaunt to Supai – and then by later in the year or winter I could start seriously planning a Grand Canyon rim to rim and think about trying for the permits required.  That would be a “crowning glory” as far as I am concerned – a rim-to-rim is about 26 miles and I would plan it for three days – one night at Phantom Ranch in the dorms, one night at Roaring Springs (camping) and finishing the climb to the North Rim on the third day -- with a shuttle bus ride back to Grand Canyon Village that afternoon.  I can do this.  I’m GONNA do this.  I owe it to myself.