Week In Review

I believe that is what I'll start calling these posts.

This week was quite the week. Monday started with the loss of 6 of 15 lbs. It basically made my week from there on out. Wednesday, we got the remainder of the Phase 2 seedlings into the ground at a secondary bug-out location.

Speaking of Phase 2, this weekend my wife and I decided we will be planning a Phase 2 upgrade next year. We will build a full-on greenhouse next spring at a secondary bug-out location. The current Phase 2 is going through its first expansion this week. We got 2 extra pots that we're going to move the tomatoes to and free up some space for the carrots. We're also giving away a few of the squash and zucchini plants. we don't want them to get root bound and kill off the other plants. We really did not expect the survival ratio of the seedlings to be so high. I think we'll use the same method next year. Hopefully it will be the same success rate.

I did not get to do my training exercise this weekend. I will do it this Saturday. I'll post the briefing this week. I did get to do the field trip to Cabela's but I didn't get to do my weekly Pirate Raid (Flea Marketing). So really I didn't expand my gear at all.

I spent a little time at Barnes and Noble this evening. I've found two books I think I'll be purchasing this week. More so Preserving Food book. I'll be getting the Dehydrator Tuesday evening.

Its going to be a busy week this week so other than my Conditioning: Day 14 post and the Training Exercise Briefing, it may be a quiet week from me. Hopefully I can make some extra time. Hopefully, this week will be as nice as last week.

OH! Finally, at some point this weekend I hit 200+ page views. Thank you to everyone that is reading. I appreciate the feed back and seeing the hits I get it keeps me focused on it and keeps the morale up. Thank you again!

Field Trip: Cabela's

So I've been going to all these outdoors places and have been enjoying it. Cabela's was the last on my list. Fortunately, I'm only an hour and a few minutes from one. So after a good breakfast we took off. It was myself, my wife, my mom, and my pop. He's a hunter and he loves going to these places. My wife has been getting on me for going to these places without her. My mom? She's just along for the ride.

Now, again, like Bass Pro, I knew this place was going to be big. HOWEVER, this place makes Bass Pro look medium. It was an absolute trip to walk around this place. I must note that it was a lot like Noah's Arc. There were 2 of every animal...dead and stuffed.

I found a handful of really cool stuff. They have a big selection of camping stuff which with some modifications makes for great prepper gear. The pack selection however was a little lacking. The restaurant made the entire place smell incredible. I spent a lot of time in the food preserving section checking out the food savers and dehydrators. I've come to realize now that they were commercial models, not really a medium-sized apartment model. I also got to spend some time with the wife in the ammo section. I have to say that Cabela's has one of the largest selections of ammo I've seen and its all at fantastic prices. I found tons of ammo I've been looking for that I've been buying at Walmart (ugh...) for half the price I've been paying. Oh, the last thing I want to mention is the gun selection. Its not too often I'll say this, but it was so big it was overwhelming. I could have easily spent hours just in the guns.

BUT I need to point out a few things that were irritating. Everything I picked up that was excited to see was marked up 15% or so. I guess with presentation comes price hikes. I didn't look at any of the gun prices but I'm sure they were marked up as well. We did find a nice Taurus .38 for a good price but the line to ask about guns was a 20-30 minute wait. I wasn't interested in standing around when there was so much to see.

If you live near one, or a little drive away, its completely worth going. Don't go with a grocery list of things. You will find all of them (unless you're looking for tactical gear) and you'll want to buy it all but you'll pay way more than you should. If nothing else, its worth going in to see the presentation.


Also, there was a Five Guys a block away where we ate lunch. Five Guys makes everything awesome.

Phase 3: Conditioning Day 7

Alright so its now been a full week since the first post.

Weight: 338 lbs. (that's a loss of 6 lbs!)
Height: 5'11"
Shirt: XXL
Neck: 19
Pants: 44-46
Boot: 13

Mile Time Average: 9.5 Minutes
Average Miles/Night: 2 Mile
Leg Press: 290 lbs
Calf Extension: 200 lbs
 
Originally I wanted to lose 15 lbs by August 1. If next week I've shed another 5 or 6 pounds, I'm going to up it to 20. If I can keep that pace, maybe even 25. i don't want to throw my body into shock so I need to be very careful. I would be so happy to see that kind of lose though. I just don't want to set the bar too high and feel like a failure even though I've made great progress. Here are the goals as they stand now:

1. By August 1, 2012 lose 15 lbs. (We're almost half way there!)
2. Run an average 8 minute mile (Slowly getting there.)
3. Run 3 miles 3 times/week (averaging 2 miles/3 times a week)

I've continued my regiment but changing the times so they are more effective. I'm even debating adding some antioxidants to the supplements to boost my immune system.

0500 - Vitamin & Hydroxycut
1100 - Hydroxycut
1500 - Hydroxycut

I will be constantly monitoring my feelings and actions as I continue taking them. I'm happy that they are working but i do not want to get overly aggressive and I surely don't want to hurt my kidneys.

Originally, I was very unhappy with my performance and that stands. But it has been a bit of a morale boost in seeing some positive change. I couldn't have been happier to see the numbers change. Seeming the change has definitely boosted my morale and is pushing me to work harder and I will.

End of the Weekend Update

Well it was a pretty uneventful weekend. I got to spend some time with some good friends DF and EF. I took them down to Atlantic Tactical. I got some better ideas for gear, however I am not rich, and probably won't suddenly become rich so the things I really WANT I won't be able to buy for a while.

However, I've taken the focus off gear and started focusing on food preserving and physical training. This weekend I blew my whole schedule. I missed Friday's gym day. So I will make it up this week. I am determined to lose some weight and get myself conditioned. But on the food preserving front, the garden looks AWESOME, everything is growing so well. Nothing is bearing stuff yet but it looks great. The best news of the weekend is that I'll be getting a dehydrator and a mandolin slicer for free this week. Its old, but it works. So, Monday I'm going to Giant and buying up some apples. I want to make dehydrated apple slices and maybe some other stuff.

That's really it for the weekend. Next weekend is supposed to be the monthly training exercise. I just don't know what to do. I'm thinking maybe going to the gym and doing a big run. I don't know though. Comment if you have any ideas, I need them! 

Prepping for Vacation

I’ve been thinking about all the people going on vacation and what some of us might do to prep to go on our own vacation. If you’re headed to the beach, what should you prepare for? The biggest concern is severe weather. With Severe weather you suddenly have thousands trying to evacuate or seeking shelter. You’re going to see a clean water shortage, food shortage, stealing, looting, confusion, and overall panic.
From where I am it takes about 3 ∏ hours to drive to the beach. So where do we start if we’re going to drive to the beach? Frankly, I don’t even know if this is right and I’m sure it will change as we go on.
 
1.       Assess the vehicle.
a.       When was the oil changed last?
b.      How are the tires?
c.       Everything legal?
d.      All lights work?
e.      How is the spare?
f.        Do you have an atlas? GPS?

2.       What kind of prep gear should we take?
a.       How many people will be in the vehicle?
b.      Are they like minded? Will they have their own gear?
c.       What kind of kit should be on hand?

3.       Any special information?
a.       If you have a concealed permit, is it respected where you’re going?
           i.      If not, do you have an alternative defense?
b.      How well do you know the area? Can you navigate easily?

Writing that list made me panic a little over a couple things. Thinking about my vehicle, everything is good except for one thing. My car doesn’t have a spare. I have a plug in car compressor/fix-a-flat. There is one thing that good about that, without a spare there I have an extra space under the trunk floor for storing stuff.
There would probably be two people in the vehicle. My wife is starting to come around to the prepper side. She’s big into gardening and she’s learning how to shoot. We’ll work on her gear once she’s ready. She’ll be way easier to shop for because she is a normal person size. I can go anywhere and get her gear, while I have to search and special order for my stuff.  So she has some gear with her. I’m not sure what kind of kit I would keep on hand but I want It to be hidden if possible.
 
So now, what all is in my vehicle?
1.       (2) Emergency bags
2.       (1) First Aid Kit
3.       Emergency water supply
4.       Vehicle Tool Bag
5.       Power Inverter
6.       GPS Unit

I think that is a pretty good start. Its all concealable and completely legal. 

With that being said, remember as a prepper to always obey the law. If you don’t, and you get caught, Its going to make it so much harder to prep properly.

Last couple things to do are check on the forum to see if my concealed permit is valid in my out of state destination. I know as someone who has a permit for Pennsylvania: Maryland, Delaware, New York, and New Jersey do NOT honor Pennsylvania permits. IF you pass through one of those states, make sure you weapon is taken apart properly and the ammo is separated.

Phase 3: Conditioning Day 1

Well well well, what an awful way to start. I'm gonna be brutally honest about myself.
Here is a spot-on physical description of me:

Weight: 344 lbs (according to the PF scale that seems to be calibrated correctly)

Height: 5'11"
Shirt: XXL
Neck: 19
Pants: 44-46
Boot: 13

Mile Time Average: 10 Minutes
Average Miles/Night: 2 Mile
Leg Press: 290 lbs
Calf Extension: 200 lbs
 
I am built like a hunk of shit. My goals will remain the same for now except for number 3. 
I would like to eventually change number 1, if I can start to lose weight, I'd like to up it to 20 lbs. However, I feel like 20 pounds in a month is too ambitious and may not be healthy.

1. By August 1, 2012 lose 15 lbs. 
2. Run an average 8 minute mile
3. Run 2 Miles 3 times/week will now be Run 3 miles 3 times/week

I will continue my regiment of Hydroxycut and Vitamins, I have alarms set so that I take it at proper times.

Tomorrow will be the first Range Day for Phase 3 with CD and a friend. I'll be focusing on pistol shooting at 8-10 paces as defensive shooting. I may add another night of the gym tomorrow.

But over all, I am very unhappy with my current physical description. Ultimately, I would like 100 lbs and maybe more. I think for my built 240 wouldn't be so bad as long as I was muscle and not fat. But that is a very long term goal.

In conclusion, I'm a flabby hunk of putty that would easily get run down by a fresh zombie. I'd make for a good meal, but I'm not looking to be a Z's dinner. I'm going to make some serious physical changes. 

Phase 3: Conditioning

 I'm starting my conditioning tomorrow. I've thought long and hard about how I want to approach my conditioning. Since I am not military I don't constantly have to stay in shape for drill and whatnot. So this is all on my own.

I started my research with affective supplements. I'm sticking with what I'm taking now until I run out then we'll switch over. Right now, I'm taking a daily dose of GNC Men's Sport: Energy and Metabolism. I also take 2 doses of Hydroxycut: Hardcore. It seems to work. I'm going to stick with it.

Along with the supplements, I'll start my gym regiment again. However, I'm going to make a few minor tweaks. I'm looking to lose some of my gut, so a few pre-run exercises to help burn up some fat.


Here are my goals: 
1. Work on a 8-9 minute mile to start. 
2. Do a 2 mile run 3 nights a week. Maybe more. 
3. Lose 10-15 lbs by the end of July.

Also, I'm going to start shooting at least once a week. It may only be 50 rounds of so, but I'm going to start focusing on close quarters pistol shooting.

I don't really have goals for shooting at the moment, but I'm sure they'll be coming when I start seeing where I am falling short.

That's it for now. Once I do a week of this, I'm going to revise my goals depending on my feelings. Its either stay the same OR make tougher goals.