In preparing my oldest son for transitioning from Webelos to Scouts BSA, I knew I would need to get him an internal frame backpack, especially since he currently wants to join a Troop that backpacks to their campsites. As such, I reached out to their Scoutmaster Emeritus, Kirk French, and asked about a backpack that had been highly recommended to me. Anyone who knows Kirk French knows that he is passionate about hiking and camping equipment and is known as an expert in this field. Below are his comments on the Teton Sports Scout 3400 Adjustable Internal Frame Backpack that is currently available at a great price at https://amzn.to/360bQS7. This would make a great backpack for any new Scout, so I wanted to share this knowledge with the public. There are links to options for older and larger Scouts and Scouters below:
It's hard to beat that price ($79.99)! There are some comments on-line about the roughness of the fabric and the quality of the workmanship but it is also rated as a Best Bargain by the same reviewers. The 55L capacity is a good size for smaller scouts. However, if they grow a lot during their teenage years they may need to upgrade (to something in the $84.99 Explorer 65L, the $122.14 Ultralite Mountain Adventurer 65L, or the larger adult sized $99.99 Fox 75-85L size). You don't want to consider anything smaller than a 45L capacity (the $119.99 Ultralight Talussize). From the picture it also looks like the pack has loops on the outside to attach bulkier gear such as sleeping pads, sleeping bags, or tents. The ability to strap stuff to the outside of a pack is vital. This does mean that you need to invest in accessory straps but these are a low cost item.
The big thing (and if buying online you cannot tell) is how it fits. All packs are adjustable to different heights and body types. There are also little cheats that can be done to accommodate pre-pubescent builds such as "grafting" on foam rubber to the waist belt to create artificial hips. But the only way to tell if it's a good pack is to put it on, adjust it to your frame, put some weight in it (about 1/3rd body weight) and walk around to see how it feels. If the return process is easy like I think this is (it is super simple with Amazon) it is a great starter pack. Most of the comparable ones for children/smaller framed adults start in the $160+ range. This wouldn't be my first choice for the Appalachian Trail but it seems more than fine for Scouting trips and treks. And again, the price is awesome. At that price point you free up funds for a better quality sleeping bag and/or tent which is were you really want to spend for quality.
Hope this helps. I am always willing (and borderline obsessive) to talk about gear.
An Orthodox Christian friend of mine in BeiJing, China, William Dalebout, recently suggested I change the name of this blog from "Insane Ramblings and Orthodox Ecclesiology". I had actually been thinking of it for some time. The focus is much more on Orthodox Ecclesiology. However, I could not just call it Orthodox Ecclesiology. Because sometimes I just blog about my life or worldly pursuits like job searches, losing weight, football, politics, etc.. So after some thought, I decided on "Orthodox Ecclesiology and the World". I hope you all find it fitting. Hopefully one day, I will be at a point in my theosis where I can truly just rename it "Orthodox Ecclesiology" and leave the World and the things of the World behind for good.
I was planning a lenten weight loss, but that did not work. But that did not work. So I have restarted this week, with the help of a personal trainer. My goal is to lose 40 pounds by August 1, my physical trainer says I will go past that and possible reach my ultimate goal of 60 pounds. Here is my weight so far this week:
245# Monday March 28th
244# Tuesday March 29th
243# Wednesday March 30th
242# Thursday March 31st
241# Friday April 1st
240# Saturday April 2nd
Obviously I do not expect to continue losing at this rate, but it sure would be nice. My personal trainer has me on both a diet and exercise regiment, and I am glad to be guided by someone who can help me do it!
Today is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day in America. He had a dream, that one day that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal." He had a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. He had a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. He had a dream that his four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. He had a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers. Well, beyond his dream, today we even have a black president. Dream accomplished. Today I have a dream too...
...well, more of a challenge. My wife will stop nagging me about my weight, and I, on my own, will lose weight by Pascha, or more specifically, by Palm Sunday: The Feast of the Entry of the Lord in to Jerusalem. I gorged for 3 days to make this easier, weighing myself last night at 240#. Of course this morning, I am back down to 236#. So here I start with the first public logging. Let's see how low I can go!
Pomegranate from Greece, Saudi Arabia and California
Purple Mangosteen (Queen of Fruits) from Southeast Asia and Oceania
Red Grape from Central Asia, Europe and California
Seaberry (Sea-Buckthorn) from Asia and Europe
Apples, Oranges, Tomatoes, Strawberries, Black Cherries, Red Raspberries, and Blackberries achieve many of the criteria to be superfruits.
Many juices lately have been marketed including one or more of the above super-fruits and Resveratrol (Reservatrol comes from super-fruits such as grapes and mulberries), but what are the advantages of the Super-Fruits?
Acai provides increased energy levels, improved sexual performance, improved digestion, detoxification, high fiber content, improved skin appearance, improved heart health, improved sleep, and reduction of cholesterol levels.
Blueberries inhibit mechanisms of cancer cell development and inflammation in vitro and may alleviate the cognitive decline occurring in Alzheimer's disease and other conditions of aging. They can block replication of the hepatitis C virus and might help to delay disease spread in infected individuals.Feeding blueberries to animals lowers brain damage in experimental stroke and may help prevent urinary tract infections. Other animal studies found that blueberry consumption lowered cholesterol and total blood lipid levels, possibly affecting symptoms of heart disease.Additional research showed that blueberry consumption in rats altered glycosaminoglycans which are vascular cell components affecting control of blood pressure.
Cranberries are a source of polyphenol antioxidants, phytochemicals with possible benefits to the cardiovascular system and immune system, and as anti-cancer agents. Cranberry juice is able to inhibit and even reverse the formation of plaque by Streptococcus mutans pathogens that cause tooth decay. Cranberry juice components also show efficacy against formation of kidney stones. Raw cranberries and cranberry juice have shown promise as anti-cancer agents in in vitro studies. Cranberry tannins have anti-clotting properties and may reduce urinary tract infections and the amount of dental plaque-causing oral bacteria, thus being a prophylaxis for gingivitis. There is also benefit of cranberry juice consumption against bacterial infections in the urinary system.
Durian fruit contains a high amount of sugar, vitamin C, potassium, and the serotonergic amino acid tryptophan, and is a good source of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. It is recommended as a good source of raw fats by several raw food advocates. A decoction of the leaves and roots has been prescribed as an antipyretic. The leaf juice is applied on the head of a fever patient and/or drank. Traditional Chinese medicine consider the durian fruit to have warming properties liable to cause excessive sweating. The Javanese believe durian to have aphrodisiac qualities. Pregnant women and alcoholics should not eat durian.
Goji's medicinal benefits, especially due to its antioxidant properties, include potential benefits against cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases, vision-related diseases (such as age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma), having neuroprotective properties or as an anticancer and immunomodulatory agent. Goji/Wolfberry leaves may be used to make tea, together with Lycium root bark (called dìgǔpí; 地 骨 皮 in Chinese), for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). A glucopyranoside and phenolic amides isolated from wolfberry root bark have inhibitory activity in vitro against human pathogenic bacteria and fungi.
Guarna has shown to give memory, alertness and mood increases, platelet and weight loss. Other laboratory studies showed antioxidant and antibacterial effects, and also fat cell reduction in mice.
Mangoes are rich in a variety of phytochemicals and nutrients. The fruit pulp is high in prebiotic dietary fiber, vitamin C, polyphenols and provitamin A carotenoids. Mango peel and pulp contain other phytonutrients, such as the pigment antioxidants - carotenoids and polyphenols - and omega-3 and -6 polyunsaturated fatty acids which may counteract free radicals in various disease mechanisms. Mango is an effective inhibitor in laboratory models of prostate and skin cancers. An extract of mango branch bark called Vimang, isolated by Cuban scientists, contains numerous polyphenols with antioxidant properties in vitro and on blood parameters of elderly humans.
Mulberries, in traditional and folk medicine is believed to have medicinal properties and as a source of anthocyanins for functional foods. The skin is a source of Reservatrol.
Purple Mangosteen has a combination of nutrient richness, antioxidant strength and potential impact for lowering risk of human diseases. It also has a cooling effect, the opposite of the durian.
Pomegranates rind and the bark of the pomegranate tree is used as a traditional remedy against diarrhea, dysentery and intestinal parasites. The seeds and juice are considered a tonic for the heart and throat, and classified as a bitter-astringent, and considered a healthful counterbalance to a diet high in sweet-fatty (kapha or earth) components. The astringent qualities of the flower juice, rind and tree bark are considered valuable for a variety of purposes such as stopping nose bleeds and gum bleeds, toning skin, firming-up sagging breasts and treating hemorrhoids. Pomegranate juice is also used as eyedrops as it is believed to slow the development of cataracts. Juice of the pomegranate is effective in reducing heart disease risk factors and has been shown to reduce systolic blood pressure. Juice consumption may also inhibit viral infections, while pomegranate extracts have antibacterial effects against dental plaque. Extracts of the fruit can inhibit the proliferation of human breast cancer cells.
Red Grapes have properties such as reducing susceptibility to vascular damage, decreased blood vessel constriction, and lowering blood pressure. Concord grape juice is showing potential benefits against the onset stage of cancer, platelet aggregation and other risk factors of atherosclerosis, loss of physical performance and mental acuity during aging and hypertension in humans. The skin is also a great source of Resveratrol. Together with tannins, polyphenols and polyunsaturated fatty acids, grape seed constituents display inhibitory activities against several experimental disease models, including cancer, heart failure and other disorders of oxidative stress.
Seaberries' nutrient and phytochemical constituents have potential value as antioxidants that may affect inflammatory disorders, cancer or other diseases. The fruit of the plant has a high vitamin C content—about 12 times greater than oranges. The fruit also contains dense contents of carotenoids, vitamin E, amino acids, dietary minerals, β-sitosterol and polyphenolic acids.
So why has no company made a juice from all of these 12 super-fruits, the 7 reservist super-fruits, and the one fruit not listed that seems to be in every super-fruit concoction... Pear.
But what good is pear juice, other than a pleasant taste?
Pears can be useful in treating inflammation of mucous membranes, colitis, chronic gallbladder disorders, arthritis, and gout. Pears can also be beneficial in lowering high blood pressure, controlling blood cholesterol levels, and increasing urine acidity. They are good for the lungs and the stomach. Most of the fiber is insoluble, making pears a good laxative. The gritty fiber content may cut down on the number of cancerous colon polyps. Most of the vitamin C, as well as the dietary fiber, are contained within the skin of the fruit.
I think the pear should be the 8th reserve super-fruit, giving us, truly, 20 delicious super-fruits to choose from.
In 2008 I married my soulmate and in 2009, God-willing, she comes home. Each year just keeps getting better for me! I never really do New Year's resolutions, but this year I resolve to give up the horrible addictions to fast food and soda (pop). This will improve my weight, energy, overall physical and financial health. Please pray that I succeed! Happy Civil New Year Everyone!
The Euphrosynos Cafe is wanting to know if current crises are changing your driving habits. Are you driving less? Are you walking more? Are you bicycling more? Why? Is it to save money? Is it to save the Earth's environment? Is it to lose weight? Is it to build more muscle tone? Or is it just because you enjoy walking and biking?
One thing I have not been good on during this change of lifestyle is taking in enough fruit. Well the last 2 weeks I have been getting better at that and am getting all my protein from beans, legumes, and fish. Also I have been upping my fiber intake along with this protein from beans regiment.
This, along with swimming in my now-opened swimming pool, working out every other day, and adding volleyball to my exercise regime has made for some serious weight loss over the last two weeks.
According to my scale this morning, I am now at 181 pounds/82.1 kilograms, which is exactly 100 pounds/45.4 kilograms under my weight when taken by a health professional on 11 November 2006!
100 pounds/45.4 kilograms in less than 20 months is not too bad, I think! :-) This is a very exciting day for me! Of course the weight is not the only thing I have lost. I have also lost 12 inches/30.5 centimeters from my waist measurement and dropped my BPI by almost 15% too! All of that along with a very noticeable increase in muscle density is very good for my long term health. And my now-more defined jawline definitely makes me feel better about my appearance.
So I have been stuck around 189 pounds/85.7 kilograms for a good month or so. But I have just started going to the gym again, and plan to go every other day. So I am hoping that I can get down to about 185 pounds/83.9 kilograms by my wedding, even if that seems a little unrealistic to lose so much so quickly.
I am finally at 190#, just in time for my trip to China! My China blogging will be at Facebook, so if you have not already, add me there and check my entries in the Trips Application. My daughter will also be guest-blogging about this trip as well. As for my weight, here is the updated weight chart:
I am not sure how to set a new 2008 goal on these graphs without erasing the other goal, showing that I made my 2007 goal. The 2008 goal is 180 so that I will be 2 pounds under my younger brother's weight. This would be astronomical, as I have never weighed less than my skinny brother in my entire life, since the day he was born. Additionally, this will mean that I have lost over 100 pounds, which seems a rather large number of pounds to lose off of the human muscular-skeletal frame! Although this is my goal for the end of 2008, I am hoping to have lost it by my birthday in June when I turn 35. Tentatively my goal for 2008 would then be to get down to 165 pounds, my college freshman year weight, but we shall see how this year progresses first!
In the last week I learned that I am only 15# away from my brother's current weight. My brother has never been overweight in his life, and with him being 1.5 years younger than me, I have never weighed less than him. So my new goal, for 2008, is to be under his weight of 182# the next time we meet up, which may be some time. This is a goal that I am very excited about!
Today when I weighed myself, I was down to 197 pounds. It feels so good to be on the opposite side of 200# and staying there. To be fair, I did gain some weight upon returning to America, and being sick has probably helped me lose… but sticking with a vegetarian diet and only drinking water for the most part is definitely helping.
At this point I do not plan on setting a goal for the end of 2008 as I did for the end of 2007 (199# was my 2007 goal, requiring me to lose almost 100# in 2007!), but I would like to continue to lose, as having more energy, strength, and looking better are all positives that I am enjoying and how to continue enjoying with increased vigor.
The other good thing about this is that my calculated BMI was over 40 before and now is under 30. My waist size has also gone from nearing 50 to under 40 as well.
Only 2 pounds to go! My original idea was to be down to 199 lbs. by Thanksgiving and I may make it yet! So for those counting, I have lost at least 80 pounds since I started tracking it in April!
My original goal was to be down to 199 lbs. by Thanksgiving. I later changed that to the end of the year, giving me a little over a month more to lose the 81+ lbs. that was my goal for this year. Well, in hopes of reaching my original goal of 199 lbs. by Thanksgiving, I decided as of last night to go on a 3-week vegetarian diet. As it works out it will then end the night I fly out of Denver for Las Vegas, then BeiJing, and then ChangSha. (Although I had considered starting KungFu earlier, I have decided to wait until after my trip to China.) I am frustrated being stuck here at around 209 lbs. and want to start losing weight, mass and inches again! I also want to kiss the 200's goodbye for good.
70 pounds (31.75kg) later, I have 11 pounds (5kg) to go to make my year-end goal (though ideally I have always wanted to have it all lost by American Thanksgiving)! I am very happy about this, but am afraid that the next 11 pounds (5kg) will be the hardest yet to lose.
