Overeaters Anonymous (www.oa.org)

  I stumbled on this Overeaters Anonymous webpage and found this...

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Are You a Compulsive Overeater?

Welcome to Overeaters Anonymous. This series of questions may help you determine if you are a compulsive eater.

1. Do you eat when you’re not hungry?
2. Do you go on eating binges for no apparent reason?
3. Do you have feelings of guilt and remorse after overeating?
4. Do you give too much time and thought to food?
5. Do you look forward with pleasure and anticipation to the time when you can eat alone?
6. Do you plan these secret binges ahead of time?
7. Do you eat sensibly before others and make up for it alone?
8. Is your weight affecting the way you live your life?
9. Have you tried to diet for a week (or longer), only to fall short of your goal?
10. Do you resent others telling you to “use a little willpower” to stop overeating?
11. Despite evidence to the contrary, have you continued to assert that you can diet “on your own” whenever you wish?
12. Do you crave to eat at a definite time, day or night, other than mealtime?
13. Do you eat to escape from worries or trouble?
14. Have you ever been treated for obesity or a food-related condition?
15. Does your eating behavior make you or others unhappy?

Have you answered yes to three or more of these questions? If so, it is probable that you have or are well on your way to having a compulsive eating problem.

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I think there are only THREE questions on here that I can answer NO to...so you know what that means...I probably have the TERMINAL STAGE OF THE COMPULSIVE EATING DISORDER!  Eeeks!

Maybe I should join a meeting....

yeah...I have a problem... (-_-)

The Picacho Peak Nightmare

This weekend I thought it was a good idea to scale Picacho Peak ALL BY MYSELF.

Simple enough, I was going to take the Hunter Trail which is about a 4 mile hike graded as a "moderate" intensity hike with areas that require Class 3 climbing skills which according to wiki means "Classes 3 are steeper scrambling with increased exposure and a greater chance of severe injury, but falls are not always fatal"...hmmm..."falls are not always fatal"...that's reassuring...

So long story short:
1) Halfway during the trail, I lost my map, so instead of only doing the Hunter trail, I got lost and did the Sunset Vista trail, meaning a 4 mile hiking turned into a 10 mile hike and 6 nonstop hours of hiking

2) I veered off the trail (unintentionally) numerous times where I would end up scaling up the sides of a cliffs (like free style rock climbing) only to realize that I am no longer on the trail and would have to an equally dangerous climb back down to find the trail again

3) I slipped multiple times (mainly when I veered off the trail) due to the crumbling rocks beneath my feet trying to desperately stop myself from plummeting into either some sharp jagged rocks or a cactus. I wasn't sure half the time if slipping on crumbling rocks or if my legs buckling from utter exhaustion would cause me to tumble off the cliff. I learned that when you are really desperate to not slip down a cliff, you will grab hold of anything, a rock overgrown with lichen, jagged sharp rocks that cut your hands, and even a cactus! (which explains all the thorns in my hands)

4) I did not anticipate a 10 mile hike so I had to start rationing food and especially WATER (I was soooooo thirsty), I only brought ONE water bottle, one apple, one pear, a sandwich, and a small handful of trail mix. 10 miles, 6 hrs, over 85 degrees outside, you can do the math...

5) After hours of using cables to climb the peak, I really could have used some gloves to reduce the cable burns on my hands

 5)  I found out what physiological exhaustion feels like.  If I were to compare this experience to anything, it's like as if I was a tribute in The Hunger Games (except no killing and all about survival). There were a few times I thought I was going to pass out and even after I took deep long breaths I still didn't feel like I had enough oxygen; my body ached all over and I couldn't convince myself to make one more step. I just wanted more than anything to be transported home.

6) I didn't stop drinking water for an hour after I got home. I definitely drank a lot more than I ate. I laid there the entire night half napping, half watching TV, but I really just couldn't find the energy to do anything else. I guess I've learned my lesson...don't lose your map, don't get lost, stay on the trail, bring enough food AND especially WATER!!

I think I sprang my wrist, cable burned my hands, have thorns all over my body, and I'm maybe a little sunburnt...but on a happy note...I survived!! What an accomplishment!!