#2536, Friday, October 30, '20: No comment

Post 2536

- 9 years and 304 days since I started this blog -

 

Daily Comment

I've got nothing to say, but its okay.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    205.1 lbs.

Previous Weight (10/29/20):        204.5 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     + 0.6 lbs.

Diet Comment

I'm glad to post the loss, but really, I think I would have weighed the same as yesterday if I weighed in at the same time. Conversely, I think if I'd weighed myself at the usual time, I think this would have been what I weighed.

Food Log

Breakfast
3:00pm: Grilled cheese sandwich (Manchego cheese, Ezekiel 4:9 Flax sprouted grain bread).

Lunch
7:15pm: A Quest bar and peanut butter, carrots and home-made mayonnaise.

Dinner
8:10pm: Lentil curry with kale and spinach, over riced cauliflower.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 0;   Coffee: 12 oz.;  Water: 60+ oz.; 

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#2535, Thursday, October 29, '20: On-line poker

Post 2535

- 9 years and 303 days since I started this blog -

 

Daily Comment

Every Thursday night at 8:30pm I have a date with some friends and friends-of-friends from North Carolina.

We use the Pokerstars app to play Texas Hold-em.

My friend and benefactor Al, who I met in NC and whose move back to NY paved the way for mine in 2008, runs the game. There's a ten dollar buy-in, and all the money is returned to the winning players. Any money Al makes he donates to charity. On the relatively rare occasions that I win, the money goes for pot.

Last week, I came in first. This week I came in second. 

That says bad things about the quality of the other players, because I'm not that good.

But not that bad, either.

During the game, Al and I have a video call going on. It's open to every player, but Al and I are the only users, most of the time.

I'm grateful for having a safe way to enjoy the company of my friends.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    204.5 lbs.

Previous Weight (10/28/20):        204.5 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.0 lbs.

Diet Comment

I'm glad to post the loss, but really, I think I would have weighed the same as yesterday if I weighed in at the same time. Conversely, I think if I'd weighed myself at the usual time, I think this would have been what I weighed.

Food Log

Breakfast
10:00am: 

Sautéed kale and spinach, with eggs, onions, peppers and mushrooms, and a side of bacon.

Lunch
3:25pm: Carrots and homemade mayonnaise, grapes, and a Quest bar with peanut butter.

Dinner
8:10pm: Salmon salad (wild-caught salmon, home-made mayonnaise, arugula, cabbage, chard, kale, spinach and walnuts).

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 84+ oz.; 

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#2534, Wednesday, October 28, '20: Fool news

Post 2534

- 9 years and 302 days since I started this blog -

 

Daily Comment

Finally, and I am Fool rehearsal. Well, a little:

We played and jammed a bit on some new things J.'s written. But mostly we listened to recordings of sessions we did in the 2017 and 2018, that were never finished.

J.'s been sitting with them a while, mixing them. In some cases, editing. I think he did a great job with them. I think a few are release-ready, some nearly, and some he still needs to start on.

It was a good time for me. I've missed this band hard.

Still, I'm grateful for what time we do get together.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    204.5 lbs.

Previous Weight (10/27/20):        204.5 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.0 lbs.

Diet Comment

I'm glad to post the loss, but really, I think I would have weighed the same as yesterday if I weighed in at the same time. Conversely, I think if I'd weighed myself at the usual time, I think this would have been what I weighed.

Food Log

Breakfast
9:15am: Mixed berries protein shake (one large egg, two cups of frozen mix of blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and cherries, kefir, whey protein (28 grams), peanut butter, fo ti, stevia w/inulin).

Lunch
5:55pm: A salad (arugula, cabbage, chard, kale, spinach, balsamic vinaigrette) and cottage cheese.

Dinner
10:40pm: Grapes and mixed nuts.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 24 oz.;  Water: 108+ oz.; 

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#2533, Tuesday, October 27, '20: Nothing day (after nothing day)

Post 2533

- 9 years and 301 days since I started this blog -

 

Daily Comment

Here are the things I do on my nothing day: 

1. Work on my investments/trading (online)
2. Check email (online)
3. Do some Sudoku (online)
4. Weigh myself
5. Do my blog (this), at least recording my weight and journaling my food
6. Take a little walk
7. Do my Duolingo Spanish lessons
8. Check Facebook and Instagram (online - set timer, no more than 12 minutes on each)
9. Prepare and eat food
10. Have some video or phone conversations with friends
11. Watch TV
12. Meditate (I've been doing it at bedtime).

It doesn't look like nothing when you list it, right? And, with TV serving as either time-fill or background, I manage to make a whole day of it.

This is my pandemic. Since I returned to New York from Florida, I have done the above every day (except the walking part - but I try). There have been other activities, to be sure, but I don't think Ive missed executing the above list one day since mid-May.

Of course, there are variations, in terms of additional things that have to be done: Grocery shopping, doctor's visits, occasional meetups with friends, playing guitar (I haven't been playing bass much, at all - that's something I reserve pretty much for groups), and now, three-times-a-week cardio rehab. 

But these are occasional things. My day-to-day is as unexciting as could be, yet still enriching.

I'm grateful for the privilege of choice in activities, and for doing pretty much only the things I find enjoyable. I appreciate its rarity on this planet.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    204.5 lbs.

Previous Weight (10/26/20):        205.2 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.7 lbs.

Diet Comment

I'm glad to post the loss, but really, I think I would have weighed the same as yesterday if I weighed in at the same time. Conversely, I think if I'd weighed myself at the usual time, I think this would have been what I weighed.

Food Log

Breakfast
1:00pm:

Vegetarian sloppy joe (Quorn Grounds, Wegman's Grandpa's Sauce, spinach and kale) on riced cauliflower. I didn't take a new picture, but I had it without shaved parmesan cheese. 

Lunch
4:05pm: Peanut butter on two slices of Ezekiel 4:9 Flax sprouted grain bread, with carrots and home-made mayonnaise, and some mixed nuts for dessert, I guess.

Dinner
8:10pm: Mixed nuts.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 108+ oz.; 

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Thank you!

#2532, Monday, October 26, '20: cardio rehab 1

Post 2532

- 9 years and 300 days since I started this blog -

 

Daily Comment

First day at cardio rehab.

Initially it starts off easy. In fact, I left feeling not very challenged. Five minutes on five cardio machines at low intensity, with setup info and recording my perceived exertion level before and after each.

A few hours later, it was a different story. Achey knees. In fact, a bit of actual pain in my lower legs, especially the right one.

I think two things will happen going forward: I will progress slowly and I will do less after my sessions.

Now, on the one hand, I felt great right after my session today.

On the other, after rehab I went grocery shopping and fueled up the car. But after bringing the groceries up (two trips, because more than ten pounds of groceries were bought), I was pretty knackered, and had some pain in my knees and lower legs.

All right. I just took it easy the rest of the day.

I also got a call from my cardiologist's office - they had been notified by CardioLab, whose heart monitor I've been wearing since the beginning of the month, that there were some abnormalities. They reviewed it and decided it wasn't anything to worry about, but wanted to know if I had any symptoms.

Which I did not.

I'm grateful for that. Also, I'm grateful for the quality of health I do have, and for the resources I have to improve it going forward.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    205.2 lbs.

Previous Weight (10/23/20):        204.5 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     + 0.7 lbs.

Diet Comment

A couple of things about this reading: First, it was taken about three hours earlier than usual, thanks to my new cardio rehab schedule, and likely would have been a small loss if that didn't happen. Secondly, it is still disappointing, because I thought over the weekend I did better and was losing weight.

Food Log

Breakfast
9:00am: Bacon and eggs (with mushrooms, onions and peppers).

Lunch
2:45pm: A Quest bar and mixed nuts (almonds, cashews, macadamias). Carrots and homemade mayonnaise.

Dinner
8:00pm: A salad (Spring Mix greens, cabbage, shaved parmesan, balsamic vinaigrette), cottage cheese.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 88+ oz.; 

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Thank you!

#2531, Friday, October 23, '20: Did the wash, watched TV

Post 2531

- 9 years and 297 days since I started this blog -

 

An iPhone photo I took yesterday after my Cardio Rehab visit.

Daily Comment

I was ambitious when the day started out.

I did my morning stock work (which, to be honest, wasn't much today, after being unusually frenetic yesterday). Then I went for a nice morning walk (weather was cooperative).

I had to do laundry.

I sorted it, walked it down to the laundry room (2 flights of stairs), put it in, came up made breakfast. The timer I set for the wash went off before I'd finished eating, but I finished before putting the clothes in the dryer. 

When that timer went off, I folded thirteen t-shirts, some sweatpants and put them on top of the layer of underpants and socks that is always on the bottom of my dried clothes.

I carried the basket of clean, dry clothes upstairs.

And watched TV for the rest of the day and night. I was, at least initially, wiped.

I'm grateful for the independence I have, and for having the luxury of my not-luxurious but still-rich lifestyle.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    204.5 lbs.

Previous Weight (10/22/20):        205.1 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.6 lbs.

Diet Comment

This good news reading puts me a little under Monday's weight, so that's officially a good thing.

Food Log

Breakfast
2:00pm: 

Brussel sprouts with eggs, bacon, parmesan cheese, mushrooms, onions and peppers.

Lunch
6:35pm: Avocado toast and prunes.

Dinner
10:30pm: Black bean spaghetti with olive oil, almonds and Dubliner cheese, and a Quest bar for dessert.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 96+ oz.; 

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Thank you!

#2530, Thursday, October 22, '20: Stress test, sort of

Post 2530

- 9 years and 296 days since I started this blog -

 

Daily Comment

I had my first 'working' session in cardiac rehab. It was mostly orientation, but it included a stress test, which turned out to be not at all what I was expecting.

I met the physical therapists I will be working with three times a week for the next three months. I also was examined by the in-house cardiologist, who will always be on-hand and will participate in some teaching and also on-going assessment of my progress.

The stress test consisted of six minutes of walking. No elevated treadmill trying to max out my heart rate with challenging work, just a long, empty, carpeted hallway.

The test wasn't without its charms. I was tethered to my five-foot-six therapist who was recording my time and heart rate, and oxygen-sat readings, while the whole time I was monitored with a broadcasting EKG attached (in addition to my own heart monitor and sensor leads). There were some comical moments as she trotted behind me to keep up with my six-foot-four walking strides. 

My pulse did rise over 100 bpm, but I didn't feel like I was working that hard. I was disappointed when, within that six-minute period, my calf cramped up a bit - I was hoping I could go longer without that happening. It means that chronic problem is getting worse.

I recovered quickly, though. The cardiologist, reviewing the results, said they were very good - he had seen worse with heart-disease-free subjects my age. That was encouraging.

Monday begins the workout and teaching part. I don't mind saying I am skeptical about the teaching part - I think I know a lot about the subject already, and disagree with some of the AHA/AMA standard guidance when it comes to diet and lifestyle. Still, it's something to do during the pandemic.

I'm grateful for being the beneficiary of completely covered, high-quality medical care - I know these benefits are only available to a tiny privileged minority.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    205.1 lbs.

Previous Weight (10/21/20):        205.2 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.1 lbs.

Diet Comment

Statistically meaningless loss, but still better than a statistically meaningless gain.

Food Log

Breakfast
12:00pm: Breakfast sandwich: scrambled eggs with Dubliner cheese, mushrooms, onions and peppers on toasted Ezekiel 4:9 Flax sprouted grain bread.

Lunch
3:45pm: A Quest bar and macadamia nuts.

Dinner
8:00pm: 

Arugula, cabbage, chard, kale, spinach, roasted turkey breast, shaved parmesan cheese, walnuts and balsamic vinaigrette.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 84+ oz.; 

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Thank you!

#2529, Wednesday, October 21, '20: Spanish lessons

Post 2529

- 9 years and 295 days since I started this blog -

 

Daily Comment

I started taking Spanish lessons about ten months ago, online, using the Duolingo app.

I was in Chiang Mai - it was just before I went back to LA to celebrate my birthday.

I have only missed three days since then. My current streak is 289 days.

I kind of like Duolingo. I don't work very hard at it - I have a "What sticks, sticks, what doesn't, eventually will" attitude about it. 

Today, Duolingo informed me that I have learned more than 1500 Spanish words!

I promise, that isn't true. Except on paper. I have certainly tested for knowing the words, but often the program gives me "hints" in the form of context or multiple-choice answers. I'm rewarded for guessing, and given another chance when I answer wrong.

If and when I move to another country, it will almost definitely be Spanish-speaking, and I will switch to in-person conversational lessons to really learn to communicate in Spanish. My on-line work will hopefully give me a nice boost and help me make progress.

I am fine with my online learning, but it does not, at this point, translate (pun!) into real-world Spanish language skills.

Still, I'm grateful for the benefits it provides, in terms of mental exercise and fun, as well as for it's foundational Spanish teaching.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    205.2 lbs.

Previous Weight (10/20/20):        206.1 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.9 lbs.

Diet Comment

Hopefully, this begins a turnaround and I will lose weight for the next few days as well. (Hopefully, I will keep losing weight until I am back under two-hundred pounds).

Food Log

Breakfast
11:30am: Bacon and eggs with Dubliner cheese, mushrooms, onions and peppers, on riced cauliflower.

Lunch
3:25pm: A Quest bar and peanut butter, and macadamia nuts.

Dinner
9:15pm: Cottage cheese and spicy fried pork rinds, macadamia nuts.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 0;   Coffee: 12 oz.;  Water: 78+ oz.; 

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Thank you!

#2528, Tuesday, October 20, '20:

Post 2528

- 9 years and 294 days since I started this blog -

 

Daily Comment

I went to St. Joseph's Cardiac Rehabilitation today. It's a nice, small facility, with everything I need - treadmills, bikes, steppers, a few strength machines.

It was my orientation. I was pleased by everybody I met and everything I saw. I was especially appreciative of it's location, right around the corner from my Primary care group.

My next visit will be an evaluation and goal-setting visit, which will include a stress test - which I am not looking forward to, since I remember, with no fondness, my last one, fifteen years ago.

Then, three times a week beginning Monday, I start workouts and classes, and they go on for three months.

I am looking forward to that. With everything (which is actually nothing) going on right now, this bit of structure in my time is welcome. 

I'm grateful for the life I have that allows these small pleasures, and the big ones (survival! Love!).

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    206.1 lbs.

Previous Weight (10/19/20):        204.8 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     + 1.3 lbs.

Diet Comment

This continues the weight that began Friday, thanks to yesterday's couldn't-stop-eating. Today, I turn that around.

Food Log

Breakfast
3:30pm: 

Arugula, cabbage, chard, kale, spinach, roasted turkey breast, shaved parmesan cheese, walnuts and balsamic vinaigrette.

Lunch
6:25pm, at Phoebe's: Butternut Squash Bisque, and some fresh bread.

Dinner
10:10pm: A Quest bar, some macadamia nuts, and peanut butter.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 8 oz.;  Water: 78+ oz.; 

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Thank you!

#2527, Monday, October 19, '20: Ennui

Post 2527

- 9 years and 293 days since I started this blog -

 

Daily Comment

I do nothing better than most, but the nothing I'm doing now isn't my best nothing.

The problem is, there isn't enough something interspersed to give the nothing it's usual beneficent gloss.

Today I met a friend for lunch, that was something.

And while I appreciate my friend, and the company, maybe because I appreciate my friend and the company, the eating and talking was over too soon, leaving nothing to the day but some food shopping and TV. 

I'm watching more TV than ever, these days. Some of it is good, most of it is dreck, but pleasant. The time goes by.

Ennui.

I'm grateful for a life that offers me hope.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    204.8 lbs.

Previous Weight (10/16/20):        202.5 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     + 2.3 lbs.

Diet Comment

This continues the loss that began Sunday, and I couldn't be happier.

Food Log

Breakfast
12:15pm, from CoreLife Eatery:

Korean BBQ Pork: Kale, quinoa, kimchi, cucumbers, spicy broccoli, Sriracha sprouts, fried egg, slow-roasted pork, and Korean bbq sauce.

Lunch
3:55pm: A whole ten-dollar bag of parmesan crisps and mixed nuts!

Dinner
9:10pm: A Quest bar, cottage cheese and pork rinds.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 84+ oz.; 

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Thank you!

#2526, Friday, October 16, '20: No comment

Post 2526

- 9 years and 290 days since I started this blog -

 

Daily Comment

I've got nothing to say, but it's okay.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    202.5 lbs.

Previous Weight (10/15/20):        201.0 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     + 1.5 lbs.

Diet Comment

This is so typical: A weight-gain leading into the weekend, after spending three or four of the previous days losing the weekend weight. Sigh.

Food Log

Breakfast
12:00pm: Greens and eggs with Dubliner cheese, mushrooms, onions and peppers.

Lunch
3:25pm: A Quest bar and peanut butter.

Dinner
8:10pm: Lentil curry with riced cauliflower and cole slaw. A pint of Enlightened Keto Ice Cream (chocolate donut flavor).

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 24 oz.;  Water: 78+ oz.; 

 Please leave a comment when you visit my blog.
Thank you!