I pushed my soul in a deep dark hole and then I followed it in
I watched myself crawling out as I was a-crawling in
I got up so tight I couldn't unwind
I saw so much I broke my mind
I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in
- Mickey Newbury
I watched myself crawling out as I was a-crawling in
I got up so tight I couldn't unwind
I saw so much I broke my mind
I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in
- Mickey Newbury

I have continued to train with my oxygen deprivation mask and have gotten to the point where operating at less that 82% oxygen saturation feels normal. My personal results from the anaerobic effect of these training sessions has me hooked to the point where I would train with the mask even without a high-altitude trip on my (potential) horizon. Along with the exercise, I continue to eat a low-carb/keto-ish diet. I say "ish" because I don't believe it's possible to eat 100% keto or to truly put one's body in a state of ketosis. I've also refrained from alcohol completely until this last weekend when I gave in and enjoyed a frozen margarita.
Now I have an additional five months of conditioning time - assuming I really get to go in September. I'm not holding my breath, but I am holding to my determination to continue to my physical improvement. I can't allow myself to get undisciplined on the longshot that this trip actually happens and I find myself facing the physical challenges I endured in the Outback.