Happy 2013

Happy 2013 to my friends and family.

Yeah, I am writing this from work, thinking about kayak fishing....

Since my back injury, a few big things have come up in my life that have kept me off the water and not blogging or doing much of anything.  My mother had some life issues that put her in the hospital for a while, then I re injured my back, then Christmas and New Year, then my Grandma in the hospital, and as of yesterday, another good friend undergoing emergency surgery.

One of my favorite memories from 2012:

I feel healthy again and even though I did some binge eating through the hard times, I have been able to keep my weight down.  So officially for 2013, my starting weight is 318lbs.

Here's to a great 2013!

Happy 4th of July!!!

Heading to the beach to relax and enjoy the fireworks. 

Sunday Afternoon -
Prepping lunch for the week

10 Steps for a week of healthy lunches

Making lunch for the work week has always been a chore.  Even worse is trying to throw together a lunch before going to work.  Often times it means a burger, subway, or something not healthy.  I spend 30 mins a week on Sunday afternoon making lunches for the week with my catch.  Here is this week's lunch and my 10 step process that takes about 30 mins.

1)  I pulled out 4 packs of Black rockfish.  I seal my rockfish 2 fillets to a bag to make things easy.
2)  Fire up the rice cooker with long grain brown rice
3)  Finish trimming, pull bones, etc....
3)  Season them up and let them set
4)  Fire up the large skillet, mist with EVOO and wait for it to get hot
5)  Cook the fish - I cook to almost done so that when I re-heat at work it cooks the rest of the way through.
6)  While the fish is cooking empty 1/2  bag of mixed veggies and 1/3 bag of edamame into a glass bowl, add a little salt, cover and microwave till almost done.  Again - almost done so that they do not overcook when I reheat at work.
7)  Gather my tupperware for the week
8)  Portion the rice on the bottom, veggies next, and fish on top.
9)  Repeat 8 times
10)  Seal up and put in the refrigerator, top shelf, in front, so I don't forget to grab one in the morning on the way out.

Fish, rice and veggies all cooked up!!!

Rice, veggies, then fish :)

8 Lunches - 4 for me, 4 for Joan

Why only 4 per?

As I always try to mention, I am not perfect.  There is usually a pot luck being put on one day, a vendor lunch, or something during the week where I just want a slice of Old School pizza or something, so by making 4 I leave myself the opportunity to have 1 lunch out during the week.  Just a slight change in lifestyle that makes a huge difference in calorie intake.

Keeping the freezer full of fresh fish is fun and rewarding.  Yeah, when the freezer gets empty, it can be tough, but the Tilapia Tenderloins from Costco as well as the Salmon Patties are a good, healthy substitute.

I think I am worth taking 30 mins out of my Sunday evening boob tube time to set myself up for some good lunches during the week.

June 12-17 I went down to Depoe Bay and participated in NWKA"s Oregon Rockfish Classic kayak tournament.  What a blast.  I met so many great people, shared stories and fishing tips, and fished with nothing more than a classy group of motivated kayak fishermen and women.  I camped for 5 nights and ate heavier than I would have liked, but I needed the calories.

Some highlights from the trip:
Climbed the rocks @ Boiler Point and fished for Ling and Rockfish...landed 3 and had a blast watching whales feeding within casting distance of me.
Took a saltwater virgin out to Boiler Point and helped him catch his first two fish from the salt!
Pre-fished the tournament off the PA on Thursday and Friday catching limits of Ling, Cazebon, and black Rockfish.
Fished the tournament and brought in a 9lb Ling to secure a top 15 spot in my first ever tournament.  (I am still awaiting the official results and will update when I have them.

Lost 5 more lbs over the week and I think I know why - 3 days open ocean Kayak fishing - 22.5hrs on the water.  Good times, great workout.  Current weight 320lbs.  Goal for 2012 is 300.

I now have a freezer full of fish and am loving it.  Cooked up a bunch of ling yesterday and made lunches for myself and my girl for two days.  Panfried lingcod, brown rice, and mixed veggies.....  Good, satisfying, and healthy.

Pics, vids, and more to come.

So I have lost 25lbs since November and a good chunk is from the last month with the PA.

How....

NO FAST FOOD....I found a healthy substitute for the eating out craving...The Gyro Spot....much more healthy than anything from the golden arches or running south of the border.  I am blessed to love veggies and salads, so I make sure to have at least 3or 4 big salads with a dinner of fresh caught fish, chicken, different bean soups.  I still have my tortilla chips and salsa, a quesadilla or two through the week, but what I have done is cut down on just a ton of the empty calories.  I stopped eating anything but a lunch at work.  No grazing the floors for which department had the pot luck, no hitting the free donuts, none of that.  I keep a big tub of oatmeal at work, so I make my coffee and have a red solo cup full of oatmeal.  That tides me for most of the day.  I try to bring a cold cut sammich on wheat bread but if not, I try to have an apple or something. 

Anyway, a little bit of a ramble above.  No huge changes in diet, but just a couple subtle ones.  No binging, no fast food, and still treating myself, in a more healthy way, has been the diet portion of my changes.

I will talk about activity changes next...

Went with a couple of NWKA.org guys to the salt for the first time.  Had a blast and learned a lot.  This is an excerpt from my write up on that site.

Going to a serious note here:

The ocean is NO JOKE!!!  I am thankful that I did not break anything or lose more today.  I joined the Huli-club twice today.  Both times on launch.  I made a couple of HUGE mistakes and learned some great lessons today that I would like to share....

1)  Mirage drive is not the be-all end-all means of propelling your yak.  I only brought half my paddle with the t-handle as that is what I was used to having in the lakes.  WRONG ANSWER!!!  I need to learn how to propel that aircraft carrier with the paddle to be able to surf launch....period....  I bent up my fins trying to rush and get moving.....luckily I was able to bend them back, but I will be purchasing a new pair.  I finally was able to get out past the breakers with Rav and Jp's assistance, but after huli'ing twice in what is really smallish surf, I was wiped out....

2)  Plastic clips on leashes are a joke in the surf.  I almost lost my mirage drive on my second huli.  The leash held, but the plastic clip broke.  Luckily the drive was right beside me when I righted myself after getting tossed.  LEASH EVERYTHING!!!  I did lose my beanie cap, my knife, and a pair of gloves.  The knife was in the side pocket on the PA, but not leashed.  The beanie and gloves I stuffed under the seat....never again.

3)  Stretch out before peddling/paddling.....Cramps suck!!!  Made for a very long drive home.

Out on the water was a blast.  A couple of marine mammals were checking us out and it was just nice to be on the ocean.  I think Jp had a close encounter with one.  With no beanie or gloves, the gale sleet/rain storm that hit us after we got out past the sunken jetty was no joke.  I finally made it to the rocks and hooked the bottom a few times.  Gave me some experience working with my rods in the swells and currents.  Much different than trying to tie a knot in mono on a lake.  Rav hooked into a few, but none landed.  I got to watch one take his rod down and shake about 3 times and get off, but that was it for pescado.

I need to work on my core strength, leg endurance, and get more rest before heading out in the surf again.  Feeling good, but sore, crampy, and tired.  Good things to come in the future.

Busy week at work and very uncooperative weather have had me sidelined.

Watching my eating and trying to stay away from the junk.

Best advice I have had and that works:  Stay away from any fast food :)  The closest thing I have now is Subway, which I really do not like, and Gyros from The Gyro Spot in Olympia.  Gyros are very healthy for a meal and I am blessed to have found a spot that makes everything from scratch with local ingredients.

Yesterday I finished installing my fisfinder/gps unit on the kayak.  I also added two more Scotty bases to allow for carrying two more rods and also allows me to use the crabbing pulley setup I purchased.

Pics will be forthcoming as the weather clears and I can get out more.