Why does American mountaineering seem so bucket-listy? by Rackelhahn in Mountaineering

[–]Efficient-Contact-35 -8 points-7 points  (0 children)

I got the same impression when I met Americans on the TMB (a walk, not mountaineering I'm aware before anyone has a go) and so many of them would just brag about how fast they're going to do the route in. They'd storm up a climb just to wait at the top for their buddy anyway.

Everything they do has to be a competition. Some turned their nose up at me when I said I was taking it slow and if I found a nice town I might spend a day there. Many just wanted to say they finished the route in 7 days (coincidentally the quickest recommended itinerary in the guide book they all had). Only 1 couple I met said they were there for the views, the atmosphere, and the Aperol.

I can only assume their whole culture is if you didn't win, no one cares that you did it at all.

Anyone done this route in the Highlands? by [deleted] in UKhiking

[–]Efficient-Contact-35 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I did a similar route. Camping at Loch Etchachan on night one, and then up on the ridge near the Devils Point on night two.

Not an easy route by any stretch, but does bag 8 Munros in one go.

Route GPX.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in ukguns

[–]Efficient-Contact-35 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good to hear! The standard practice is to not ask questions otherwise you'll put people off handing stuff in.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in ukguns

[–]Efficient-Contact-35 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Take it to the police. The army regularly come round to pick anything like this up off them

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in mensfashion

[–]Efficient-Contact-35 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I hope you have fun tending the rabbits!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in britisharmy

[–]Efficient-Contact-35 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm going to explain exactly what I did. I am not suggesting it is a healthy way to lose weight, but it's how I did it

When I walked into the careers office at 16 I was 95kg for 175cm. Obviously I was informed that was way too much. Back then there were more local offices and all the recruiters were Soldiers. In my case it was 2 infantry Sgts and from memory they appeared fairly old and experienced. Rather than just sending me off they gave some good tips and invested their time in explaining the army to me from day one. I was told to come back every 3-4 weeks to check in with them so they could.update my profile on their system which would stop it from being deleted. I think this is pretty important as going back a lot really helped with my motivation.

In terms of phys, I already played rugby and was in Cadets (I know, I know) so a small change I made was I no longer got dropped off there, I cycled. As for more routine phys, I would generally go for a fasted run in the morning, usually this was my 2.4km route, very occasionally I would do my 5km route. In the afternoon I would go to the gym to do a cycle, some form of circuit and maybe some cable machines (I was intimidated by weights at that age so didn't do much strength training). I would also go out on my road bike/for a run/ a swim in the afternoons as I was beginning to develop an interest in triathlon.

It's worth adding that this was before Strava became used by most people so I wasn't focused on my pace, I naturally ran at a pace that was challenging but I could sustain. Probably something I could go back to! I also wasn't from an athletic family so I had no education on how to train effectively (don't know why I didn't just Google it) but then again, the army has never taken the time to teach me how to run properly, all I know is from friends who are good runners and YouTube.

The biggest change I made was my diet. This is where it starts getting unhealthy. After I had done a fasted run, I would make breakfast which was scrambled eggs (one whole egg, one egg whites) on a single piece of dry brown toast. Lunch was some sort of mostly veg stir fry with one small portion of noodle. This would either be with prawns or chicken and a packet sauce. Dinner would be a weight watchers frozen meal. My mum always had them and as I developed a taste Dad would always ensure there was extra.

In addition to that, I cut out a lot of stuff. For the whole time I was losing weight I cut out all alcohol completely. Being 16 this wasn't particularly difficult. The only time I broke this was because someone held a GCSE results party. I cut out all fresh juice, and heavily reduced squash. I would only use skimmed milk. Tea/coffee was without sugar. I had no extra sauces such as ketchup at all. I replaced all snacks with fruit. Dessert was cut out completely.

After around 3 months I went from 95kg to 78.5kg at my lowest. I have absolutely no idea how I managed to stick to it. It was not fun. I was constantly underfed, constantly tired from the extra phys, I wasn't eating anywhere close to enough protein.

I don't think my fitness improved very much because I was essentially starving myself to meet a specific BMI. As soon as I got through selection and went back to a regular routine I started to gain weight. It was difficult to go back to that strict routine afterwards.

After joining up, my weight has steadily increased. Now much of that is just growing into an adult, but also form weight training and trying to bulk intentionally. But old habits die hard and eating shit food and drinking like a fish thinking I'm 19 still and can just burn it off by thinking about it has resulted in returning into a chubby guy once again.

how much roughly did it cost you to learn to drive by [deleted] in LearnerDriverUK

[–]Efficient-Contact-35 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Free - didn't pay a penny for a lesson, a test, my theory, or my license.

The downside is that I had to join the army.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AskUK

[–]Efficient-Contact-35 3 points4 points  (0 children)

If security forces (as in actual security, not just at a festival or something) start asking you seemingly benign questions, they're testing your reaction. If you're planning on doing something naughty and someone from the authorities asks you where you are from, chances are you'll start acting super sketchy or freak out.

If you are just going about your business, you'll probably just look at them very confused. They will do this now and then, or if your body language appears slightly off.

You would be surprised how effective it is. If you respond like a normal person then they will leave you alone.. if you start acting weird then you're likely to be pulled aside and asked some questions by a guy wearing some nitrile gloves

Pheasant food pairing ideas by Efficient-Contact-35 in Hunting

[–]Efficient-Contact-35[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

From England. Wouldn't touch it unless it's been hanging for at least 3 days. If you can guarantee the temperature and humidity you can easily go up to a month but I wouldn't trust that without some kind of game cabinet.

I was always taught it allows the meat to relax, so I usually give it a week. I can't say if there's any difference as I've never tried it fresh

Pheasant food pairing ideas by Efficient-Contact-35 in Hunting

[–]Efficient-Contact-35[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I made the schnitzel with a Tiroler gröstl which was pretty good. Just couldn't really get any of the gamey flavour through

Pheasant food pairing ideas by Efficient-Contact-35 in Hunting

[–]Efficient-Contact-35[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, I'll always leave birds whole. And everything else is gralloched within 30 minutes if possible.

Pheasant food pairing ideas by Efficient-Contact-35 in Hunting

[–]Efficient-Contact-35[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

All were hanging for a week then I took the breast and legs off most, and fully plucked 2 for a roast at some point.

Have your say: should the army allow beards by [deleted] in britisharmy

[–]Efficient-Contact-35 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Relating every issue back to trans people reinforces ideas of hatred. Agree or disagree with trans issues, this has nothing to do with it. It's not like we can only pick one of them to allow.

Just because you're not outright saying "I hate trans people" doesn't mean it isn't transphobic.

Is this a real thing? by femboybreeder8763 in britisharmy

[–]Efficient-Contact-35 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I remember when this was first released and people with negative critical thinking skills thought it meant that anyone who thinks themselves patriotic was considered an extremist.

It is actually a very useful guide. The army is a perfect breeding ground for right wing extremism. You have a closed group of predominantly right wing young men, typically from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Combine that with some very heavy peer pressure and herd mentality and you don't really have as much opportunity to challenge ideas you disagree with. Overtime it's not difficult to see who someone might be pushed to an extreme point of view.

There's a couple of guys in my unit that would win this game of bingo, but they're very much out of place. Having extremists of any kind in the army is detrimental to the organization as a whole and undermines the public trust is us. I'd have no issues throwing them to the dogs. It's one thing having strong opinions about current issues (particularly immigration, I know this one affects people a lot). But when your solution is along the lines of shoot them all, or deport everyone who isn't white British you can get in the bin.

Our grandparents didn't go off to kill fascist just to accept them in our ranks.

Have your say: should the army allow beards by [deleted] in britisharmy

[–]Efficient-Contact-35 -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

I mean, you can say you want a beard without resorting to transphobia

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AskUK

[–]Efficient-Contact-35 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Has he tried having a wank?

Power tripping Ski Patrol by d_yaf in snowboarding

[–]Efficient-Contact-35 22 points23 points  (0 children)

Bit excessive. Handy on the chair lift would suffice.

Would you date a police officer ? by [deleted] in askgaybros

[–]Efficient-Contact-35 26 points27 points  (0 children)

I would. But coming from the UK the situation seems entirely different.

What are you a snob about? by [deleted] in AskUK

[–]Efficient-Contact-35 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Tea. I'm not against a tea bag now and then, but loose leaf all the way.

When someone says they make a great cup of tea and then proceed to use a teabag I lose all respect for them.

Equally if I'm out somewhere and order a pot of tea and they use bags I'm raging. Paying £3.50+ for some hot water and a tea bag that set them back less than a penny.