Another Campfire Story from Joshua Tree: Area 51

 Out here in Joshua Tree, the nights have a way of slowing everything down.

The wind settles into a low hum through the brush…
The sky opens up wider than it has any right to…
And the stars feel close enough that you start asking questions you don’t normally ask during the day.

That’s usually when the stories come out.

Not the loud ones.
Not the flashy ones.

The ones people only tell when it’s quiet.

So pull up a chair.

Let’s talk about Area 51.

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Most people think they already know the story.

A secret military base.
Hidden deep in the Nevada desert.
Experimental aircraft.
Top-tier secrecy.

And yeah… all of that is true.

But that’s not the story people lower their voices for.

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What makes Area 51 different isn’t just what we know.

It’s what keeps slipping through the cracks.

Pilots have reported objects moving in ways that don’t make sense.
Speeds that shouldn’t be possible.
Turns that would crush anything human-made.

And for decades, the official response was always the same:

Nothing to see here.

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But then… slowly… that started to change.

Former insiders began talking.

Not loudly. Not all at once.

Just enough to make you pause.

Stories about recovered materials.
Craft that didn’t behave like anything built on Earth.
Technology that seemed… ahead of its time.

Some even claimed that whatever was being studied out there…

wasn’t entirely ours.

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Now, you can take that however you want.

Maybe it’s just classified tech.

Maybe it’s decades of advanced research we’re not meant to understand yet.

Or maybe…

just maybe…

we found something.

And we’ve been trying to figure it out ever since.

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Out here in Joshua Tree, that idea doesn’t feel as far away as it probably should.

Because this desert has its own stories.

Lights that move without sound.
Objects that hover where nothing should be.
Moments where the air itself feels… off.

Like you’re standing just slightly out of place.

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And that’s the thing about Area 51.

It’s not just a location.

It’s a reminder.

That there are still things happening out there…
far from the cities…
far from the noise…
that we don’t fully understand.

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So next time you’re out here at night…

and the sky feels a little too big…

and a little too quiet…

just remember—

whatever’s flying out there…

might not all be ours.

The Long Way Back: Week 8 Recap

 Well, it has been a few weeks now and the rapid weight loss has started to taper off. I suppose this is the point where it starts to feel like a grind. My current weight is 239.6 pounds.

This is probably the crucial phase of the process — the time where real habits are built. Habits that hopefully can last for the rest of my life.

That has always been the issue for me.

I’ve always had the willpower to push through a long and aggressive cut because deep down I know there’s an end to it. But what I do after that end has always been where things fall apart. I fail to plan… and eventually end up gaining the weight back.

The truth is, I have many levers I can pull to strip fat away.

I can tighten the calorie deficit.
Cut carbs further.
Lean heavily on keto products because they’re lower in calories.
Even fast for a couple days during the week.

Those levers work. They almost always move the number on the scale.

But this time around I’m trying to be more mindful of them. Not because they’re bad tools — but because I need to ask myself a more important question:

Is this sustainable?

There are days where I know I could fast for 24 to 48 hours and just get my steps in. Motivation is easy when you know the scale will reward you.

But deep down I also know something else.

I should be building — or at the very least maintaining — muscle.

That means protein.
That means fuel for strength training.

A steady pace will ultimately lead to a better physique and better long-term health. The goal isn’t just to be a smaller version of my old self. I don’t want to end up skinny-fat.

Body recomposition is the real goal.

And the importance of muscle only becomes more obvious as we get older. It should always be a priority.

Anyway, that’s enough preaching from me.

I don’t have everything figured out yet. This is just me thinking out loud as I try to find the path that works for me on this never-ending weight loss journey. Over time, experience gives you little nuggets of wisdom you can apply the next time around — hopefully with better results.

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This Week’s Tip: Costco Finds

When I’m at Costco, there are a couple staples I always grab.

The organic chicken tenderloins pack and Real Good flour tortillas are absolute essentials for me.

With those two items alone, you can make chicken quesadillas, tacos, or burritos most days of the week. The macros are excellent, and with that much protein and fiber you’ll stay full while cutting calories.

Add Ray’s No Sugar Added BBQ sauce and you’re in business.

Meal prep is ridiculously simple too.

Just open up a three-pack of the Costco chicken tenderloins, season them however you like, and cook them all off on a George Foreman grill. Chop them up afterwards and you’ve got 3–5 days of easy access protein ready to go.

Taking the guesswork out of what you’re going to eat makes everything easier.

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Anyway… back to the regularly scheduled program.

I just crossed 31 pounds lost in a little over two months.

About 15 pounds a month.

Not too shabby.

LFG.

The Long Way Back: Week 5 Recap

 February 16 Weigh-In: 245.3 lbs

Total Loss So Far: 25 pounds
Timeline: About 6 weeks in

The last recap was 11 days ago, and we’re still chugging along.

This morning I stepped on the scale at 245.3. That’s 25 pounds down in roughly six weeks. I’d say a good portion of that is water weight. I don’t know the exact percentage, and honestly, it doesn’t matter right now.

These are the early days of a cut. The number on the scale still matters. There’s no shame in that.

But I also know that when the scale stalls for a few days — or even ticks up slightly — the response doesn’t change. Trust the process. Track your food accurately. Hit your steps every single day. Lift at least three times per week.

That part is non-negotiable.

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What I’ve Learned From Yo-Yo Dieting

One thing I’ve learned from years of dieting is that restrictive plans don’t work for me long term.

I can cut carbs aggressively and watch the scale drop fast. I’ve done it. It works.

Until it doesn’t.

Because once I fall off that wagon, it turns into binge eating. Then I gain it all back — usually faster than I lost it.

That cycle is exhausting.

So this time I track everything. If it fits within my daily calorie target, I eat it and make peace with it. Psychologically, that changes everything. I’m not stranded on some island eating fish and leaves. I have structure, but I also have choice.

And that makes it sustainable.

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Priorities Have Shifted

Now that I’m older, my focus isn’t just losing weight. It’s building muscle.

I want my body to cooperate with my brain as I age. Muscle matters for longevity, mobility, and metabolic health. So protein is a priority — close to 1 gram per pound of body weight when I can fit it into my calories.

Carbs stay in, especially on strength training days. Fiber is non-negotiable — as much as my gut can tolerate.

I aim for 11–12k steps per day, and I never go below 10k. Weight training at least three times per week.

Small adjustments. Big consistency.

That’s what got 25 pounds off.

My clothes fit looser. My feet are thankful for the lighter load. I can feel the difference.

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The Calorie Deficit

My intake typically ranges between 1200–1600 calories per day.

That’s aggressive for my body weight and activity level, but with the amount of fat I have to lose, it hasn’t felt overly taxing. I’m managing it well.

At some point in the next month or two, I may tighten things up to a consistent 1600. But for now, I can afford this phase.

The rule is simple:
If I start feeling lethargic, unmotivated, or my training performance suffers consistently — I’ll adjust.

This isn’t about suffering. It’s about sustainability.

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Twenty-five pounds down.

A lot more to go.

But this is the first time it feels controlled instead of chaotic.

For now, we keep stacking disciplined weeks.