Along with having a gluten intolerance, I also have Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).
I was diagnosed with ADD almost 5 years ago. As a kid, I had hyper-concentration, specifically when reading. I could tune out everything and completely focus on my book.
As I got older, I found it harder and harder to stay focused on one task and see it through to the end. I would start one thing, then another and another without ever finishing anything. I was so easily distracted by any little thing (phones ringing, copiers running, email alerts, etc.) I ended up working longer and longer hours just to complete my daily tasks.
Finally I went and got tested and voila, things changed immensely. I was able to complete tasks at work and not be distracted by what was going on around me. I became more efficient and began to work less hours while getting more work done. I couldn't believe how much my life improved.
As a hiker, being able to focus is a mandatory skill set. Keep on trail, watching out for hazards, keeping track of your gear so nothing is left behind...all of it requires paying attention. So what does this means for me? I don't know actually. Hiking doesn't hold the same distractions as an office or home. The demands of it's tasks are condensed to finding water, eating food, making & breaking camp, and moving forward. I think with some prep and pre-planning (and a gear checklist), I'll be able to stay on trail, skirt any hazards, and ensure all my gear moves with me mile after mile.
Do you have ADD? What systems do you use that help you manage with or without medication? I've love to hear what everyone else does to keep their lives on track.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Gluten Free...
While I don't have Type 1 diabetes, what I do have is a gluten intolerance.
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. A simple explaination is that when one has a gluten intolerance (or worse, celiacs disease), eating foods with gluten damages the villi in the small intestine and interferes with the absorbtion of nutrients from that food.
So basically, I can't eat foods that contain wheat, barley, barley malt, or rye. While this sounds limiting in what I can eat, it's becoming much easier to find gluten free (GF) foods. There are more and more items showing up in the grocery aisle that are specifically GF and are made from rice, rice flour, tapioca flour, garbanzo flour, etc.
The challenge lies in that most pre-made camping foods contain some gluten. AlpineAire is one company that has a whole line of camping foods that are GF. The other challenge is funds. While I would love to be able to buy 180 days of meals, that's just not practical on the pocketbook.
So, it's off to the internet I go. While I'm on the hunt for a food dehydrator, I'm also hunting down receipes that I can modify to meet my GF needs. Thankfully, I have an ace in my back pocket. My nutritionist Sally Hara. She is not only helping me to ensure I consume the right foods and level of carbs needed for training and the hike itself, but she understands a GF diet and can direct me to foods I didn't even know about. Yay for help!
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. A simple explaination is that when one has a gluten intolerance (or worse, celiacs disease), eating foods with gluten damages the villi in the small intestine and interferes with the absorbtion of nutrients from that food.
So basically, I can't eat foods that contain wheat, barley, barley malt, or rye. While this sounds limiting in what I can eat, it's becoming much easier to find gluten free (GF) foods. There are more and more items showing up in the grocery aisle that are specifically GF and are made from rice, rice flour, tapioca flour, garbanzo flour, etc.
The challenge lies in that most pre-made camping foods contain some gluten. AlpineAire is one company that has a whole line of camping foods that are GF. The other challenge is funds. While I would love to be able to buy 180 days of meals, that's just not practical on the pocketbook.
So, it's off to the internet I go. While I'm on the hunt for a food dehydrator, I'm also hunting down receipes that I can modify to meet my GF needs. Thankfully, I have an ace in my back pocket. My nutritionist Sally Hara. She is not only helping me to ensure I consume the right foods and level of carbs needed for training and the hike itself, but she understands a GF diet and can direct me to foods I didn't even know about. Yay for help!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Boots
The most important piece of gear any hiker needs is a good pair of shoes. Shoes can make or break a hike. A great pair will keep you moving and a bad pair can result in weeks off the trail.
A sales person once said "Picking out the right shoes to wear can be harder than picking out the right person to marry." Well, I'm not married, but I know getting the right shoes can take a lot of time and patience.
First, you have to decide what type of shoes you want. Boot? Trail shoe? Waterproof? Lightweight? Sturdy? Color? Brand?
For me, I'm used to hiking in high-top, water-proof, Vasque hiking boots. Living in the Pacific Northwest and hiking a lot in the snow, I tend to want to keep my feet as warm and dry as possible. I have sneakers for running around Seattle, but have stayed true to my Vasques for the last few years.
Of course, hiking up to Camp Muir on Mt. Rainier is a tad different than hiking 2,650 miles across a whole variety of terrain. So, after much reading about what other hikers wear, I knew it was time to get some lighter weight trail shoes.
My first foray into the world of trail shoes started at REI where I found a wonderful pair of Keen light weight hiking boots. I went with a boot to provide a little bit more ankle support (torn a tendon a couple years ago) than a normal shoe would.
They felt great walking to and from the bus and around downtown. I took them on a slowly meandering 6 mile hike out to the Western most point on the contiguous US (Cape Alava, WA). They were great!
Then I went on a 10 mile hike. It was a great day and I was able to move at a good clip. That's when the problem started. By the time I was done with that 10 miles (4 hours), the boot had worn holes into the backs of my ankles. It's been 7 weeks since and those spots are still a bit tender.
So, the boots that fit great and worked for slow walking were sent packing back to REI.
A quick side note: I love REI's no questions asked, 100% satisfaction guaranteed return policy. As a member, I didn't need a receipt or an elaborate story as to why I was returning the boots. REI may not be the cheapest place, but for those important pieces of gear, become a member and buy it there. It's SO worth it just for that! (The 10% dividend at the end of each year doesn't hurt either).
Today I went back to REI to get another pair of trail shoes. This time, I stuck with shoes and not boots. After trying on several pairs, I bought another pair of Keens. I walked about 3 miles in them today and again, they feel great.
Time will tell how they do on a long trail hike. I'll go next weekend and see how they hold up. Wish my feet luck!
A sales person once said "Picking out the right shoes to wear can be harder than picking out the right person to marry." Well, I'm not married, but I know getting the right shoes can take a lot of time and patience.
First, you have to decide what type of shoes you want. Boot? Trail shoe? Waterproof? Lightweight? Sturdy? Color? Brand?
For me, I'm used to hiking in high-top, water-proof, Vasque hiking boots. Living in the Pacific Northwest and hiking a lot in the snow, I tend to want to keep my feet as warm and dry as possible. I have sneakers for running around Seattle, but have stayed true to my Vasques for the last few years.
Of course, hiking up to Camp Muir on Mt. Rainier is a tad different than hiking 2,650 miles across a whole variety of terrain. So, after much reading about what other hikers wear, I knew it was time to get some lighter weight trail shoes.
My first foray into the world of trail shoes started at REI where I found a wonderful pair of Keen light weight hiking boots. I went with a boot to provide a little bit more ankle support (torn a tendon a couple years ago) than a normal shoe would.
They felt great walking to and from the bus and around downtown. I took them on a slowly meandering 6 mile hike out to the Western most point on the contiguous US (Cape Alava, WA). They were great!
Then I went on a 10 mile hike. It was a great day and I was able to move at a good clip. That's when the problem started. By the time I was done with that 10 miles (4 hours), the boot had worn holes into the backs of my ankles. It's been 7 weeks since and those spots are still a bit tender.
So, the boots that fit great and worked for slow walking were sent packing back to REI.
A quick side note: I love REI's no questions asked, 100% satisfaction guaranteed return policy. As a member, I didn't need a receipt or an elaborate story as to why I was returning the boots. REI may not be the cheapest place, but for those important pieces of gear, become a member and buy it there. It's SO worth it just for that! (The 10% dividend at the end of each year doesn't hurt either).
Today I went back to REI to get another pair of trail shoes. This time, I stuck with shoes and not boots. After trying on several pairs, I bought another pair of Keens. I walked about 3 miles in them today and again, they feel great.
Time will tell how they do on a long trail hike. I'll go next weekend and see how they hold up. Wish my feet luck!
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