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Just climbed Kilimanjaro!



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I had RNY on 12/31/2019. Since then I've lost over half my body weight. I've focused on exercise and building strength and stamina. And in June, I went to Tanzania where I successfully summited Kilimanjaro on June 24th. I truly believe the surgery made this possible. I just wanted to share with others who may understand.

Next up is plastics and then I need to figure out my next big challenge. Any suggestions?

Lori

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I'd want to do something that got me off the couch so perhaps that's a place to start?

Who knew what losing a few pounds could lead to.

Watch out for those plastics.

Congratulations and good luck,

Tek

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Perhaps I'm just being selfish here but if you could indulge my curiosity here I'd more than appreciate it. In fact, it seems rather required. It's your fault for such an achievement.

A detailed account of the actual summitting experience would just be the bees knees. There's a lot of details here I can't even realistically even grasp the stuff to ask for.

A detailed account of your training regimen. I know what training for marathons is like, but I can only believe such pails in comparison to your program.

Your travel adventures getting there and back again must be a fantastic story in it's own right.

Please, please, please!

Thanks ever so...

Tek

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On 7/8/2022 at 12:04 PM, loridee11 said:

I had RNY on 12/31/2019. Since then I've lost over half my body weight. I've focused on exercise and building strength and stamina. And in June, I went to Tanzania where I successfully summited Kilimanjaro on June 24th. I truly believe the surgery made this possible. I just wanted to share with others who may understand.

Next up is plastics and then I need to figure out my next big challenge. Any suggestions?

Lori

Congratulations! This is amazing ❤️

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I say if your doing plastics first maybe your next challenge should be something you can do in a bikini!! Just joking….sorta. Congrats on your accomplishment. That’s pretty awesome.

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I had RNY on 12/31/2019. Since then I've lost over half my body weight. I've focused on exercise and building strength and stamina. And in June, I went to Tanzania where I successfully summited Kilimanjaro on June 24th. I truly believe the surgery made this possible. I just wanted to share with others who may understand.
Next up is plastics and then I need to figure out my next big challenge. Any suggestions?
Lori

I hiked 3 miles in the forest and thought I was doing good. [emoji23] This is such an astounding accomplishment. Way to go!!!

Sent from my Pixel 5a using BariatricPal mobile app

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On 07/08/2022 at 20:54, The Greater Fool said:



Perhaps I'm just being selfish here but if you could indulge my curiosity here I'd more than appreciate it. In fact, it seems rather required. It's your fault for such an achievement.




A detailed account of the actual summitting experience would just be the bees knees. There's a lot of details here I can't even realistically even grasp the stuff to ask for.




A detailed account of your training regimen. I know what training for marathons is like, but I can only believe such pails in comparison to your program.




Your travel adventures getting there and back again must be a fantastic story in it's own right.




Please, please, please!




Thanks ever so...




Tek


I agree, the process of climbing sounds very interesting.

Also, my big challenge was switching careers at 50. Like get masters and really go for it. I’m thinking some martial arts next, or a new love interest. Think about what scares you and do that?

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Rock your adventure lifestyle! Way to go and it is all you. My WLS 7 years ago gave me the ability to walk a healthier life. Finished over a hundred kilometer hike ov in 6 days in Italy last week even with a heat wave. Next my be the Swiss alps in 23. Endless smaller adventures in between. Enjoy the world and again congrats!

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On 7/8/2022 at 5:54 PM, The Greater Fool said:

Perhaps I'm just being selfish here but if you could indulge my curiosity here I'd more than appreciate it. In fact, it seems rather required. It's your fault for such an achievement.

A detailed account of the actual summitting experience would just be the bees knees. There's a lot of details here I can't even realistically even grasp the stuff to ask for.

A detailed account of your training regimen. I know what training for marathons is like, but I can only believe such pails in comparison to your program.

Your travel adventures getting there and back again must be a fantastic story in it's own right.

Please, please, please!

Thanks ever so...

Tek

Hi Tek,

The hike itself was pretty amazing. I did an 8 day Lemosha route - the longer route allowed for greater acclimatization to the altitude which caps out around 19,500 ft on Summit day. Most days we hiked between 5-8 miles with lots of elevation gain --- hike high and sleep low. You pass through 5 different climate zones, from cloud forest to artic, so each day looked a little different. You are camping, so tent sleeping in mummy bags the whole trip which was it's own challenge.

Summit day was definitely the hardest. They like to have you hike it at night, so they woke us up at midnight to eat a little something (you are already at 15,500 ft so not much of an appetite) then start hike around 1:30 am. It's cold --- I think when we went it was around 15 F and windy as you get higher. It's only a little over 3 miles, but due to the steep climb and elevation, we didn't reach the summit until around 8 AM and we were a pretty fast group. The sunrise on the mountain was just beautiful (see pic). Once you reach summit you stay just long enough to get pics, then they hurry you as they don't want you at that elevation for too long. The climb down was really hard --- you are already tired and it's steep and hard on the joints even with hiking poles. Once you hit base camp, you rest then hike down further. I think we did another 6 miles and stayed at high camp that day. Last day was about 7 miles down which was again pretty hard on the joints, but at that point you just want a shower and a bed so it's not too hard to push yourself.

I was fortunate to be able to stay in Tanzania and do some safari's and go to Zanzibar to relax on the beach for a few days before coming home. Definitely a once in a lifetime trip.

In terms of training, I did lots of local hikes, but I'm in Northern California so while I could do distance (10+ miles) elevation was hard. So in addition I joined a gym about 4 months before the hike and started taking weight training type classes and yoga classes to build strength and stamina. Then after the hour class I would do an hour on the treadmill at a 12-15 incline. I feel like I was in pretty solid shape for the hike.

Day7SumSunrise2.JPEG

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