#2547, Wednesday, November 18, '20: My right calf

Post 2547

- 9 years and 323 days since I started this blog -

Sunset, Wilbur-By-the-Sea, Florida

Daily Comment

I met with a vascular surgeon today.

We were talking about the problem of my right calf cramping whenever I walk.

He gave me two alternatives.

The first was to do a cath and place a stent. 

The second was to do lot of walking, walking through the pain, and over time, the body would develop an ancillary network of that would ease the pain.

He liked the second solution, because a surgery would be a temporary solution, and could possibly have complications years later. The complications could be serious.

That's the way I'm going to go, though. This problem is two years old. I have always walked through the pain. Right now, it is inhibiting my cardiac recovery.

I'll have the stent placed before Christmas.

I'm grateful for all my possibilities.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    202.8 lbs.

Previous Weight (11/17/20):        203.3 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.5 lbs.

Diet Comment

I like a small loss that continues a trend.

Food Log

Breakfast
10:35am: Mushroom and cheese omelet on a slice of Ezekiel 4:9 Flax toast.

Lunch
3:45pm: 

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

Dinner
9:10pm:

Vegetarian sloppy joe (Quorn Grounds, Wegman's Grandpa's Sauce, spinach and kale) on riced cauliflower. 

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 0;   Coffee: 24 oz.;  Water: 108+ oz.; 

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

#2546, Tuesday, November 17, '20: Catching up

Post 2546

- 9 years and 322 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

I spoke with my son, my sister and my brother today. I also spoke to my friend Jerry, in Mexico, coming back to the US tomorrow - to get ready to move to Mexico permanently in the New Year.

Just catching up.

I haven't been my usual busy self when it comes to calling people and communicating, so it was nice to do.

I had blood drawn for a PSA, and the results were excellent - I have a vanishingly low score, meaning I am unlikely to have prostate cancer. I wish the test were more definitive, but will still take the win. 

I made my meals (below), practiced Spanish on my phone's Duolingo app, did 22 minutes of Heavyhands walking (curling 2lb dumbbells while I walk in place) and watched TV - I'm in the middle of Wentworth, an Australian women's prison series.

That's my day.

I'm grateful for being alive.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    203.3 lbs.

Previous Weight (11/16/20):        203.4 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.1 lbs.

Diet Comment

Well, at least it isn't a gain.

Food Log

Breakfast
1:45pm:

Oatmeal (made with peanut butter), a mushroom and cheese omelet (with onions and peppers), and grapes.

Lunch
Skipped.  

Dinner
7:20pm: Vegetarian sloppy Joe (Quorn grounds, Wegman's Grandpa's Sauce Goes Vegetarian, kale and spinach) and cottage cheese. A Quest bar and peanut butter.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 0;   Coffee: 24 oz.;  Water: 84+ oz.; 

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

#2545, Monday, November 16, '20: Diet and health

Post 2545

- 9 years and 321 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

I've made some changes in my diet. I've added oatmeal and more fruit (grapes, so far). And more bread (sprouted whole-grain, thank you).

I have also cut back on red meat.

I've made these changes to make my diet more heart-friendly, per education from my Cardiac Rehab.

Here's the thing though: These changes may be good for the heart, but they may not be good for keeping my diabetes at bay. This conflict is one I'll be looking to resolve for a while. 

For one thing, with the extra carb load, my weight is up. I had a blood test last week, and my H1AC levels were higher than they've been for eight years - not, mind you, dangerously high by any means (as my Primary care provider confirmed), but still, giving me something to think about. 

Diabetes is a bigger danger to my heart than a bad diet. And, while my diet may include some non-heart healthy factors, my diet is, overall, excellent for keeping me healthy - as evidenced by how good I felt before my surgery, and how well I've recovered since.

Also, I'm not convinced that there's a diet component to my heart disease - I think it's in my DNA (for what it's worth, my brother agrees with this).

Right now, I think the main thing is for me to find some balance.

I'm grateful for the opportunities to experiment with my life, in the name of enabling me to increase my happiness and health.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    203.4 lbs.

Previous Weight (11/13/20):        204.1 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.7 lbs.

Diet Comment

Well, that's better. I'm still heavier than I want to be (by about five pounds), but this doesn't feel unhealthy.

Food Log

Breakfast
10:25am:

Fried egg with parmesan cheese and chipotle Tabasco sauce with oatmeal with peanut butter and wild blueberries.

Lunch
3:25pm: A Quest bar and cottage cheese.

Dinner
8:10pm:

Spinach, kale and lentil curry on edamame and mung bean fettuccini.

Snack
3:25pm: A Quest bar and cottage cheese.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 100+ oz.; 

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

#2544, Friday, November 13, '20: A little thing...

Post 2544

- 9 years and 318 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

My old MacBook Pro turned five and broke. I took it to the Genius Bar today, and it's going to get fixed, nicely, for two hundred bucks.

I had to move some things around in the budget, but it's covered.

For the first time (I think - I can't remember another time), I've decided not to feature myself at the top of the page. What's there now is an iPhone photo I grabbed while on a sunset cardio walk last Tuesday, when the weather was still beautiful (it turned wintry the next day).

What do you think? I fancy myself something of a photographer, a hobby I've had longer than anything else I've done. Would you like to see some of my favorite photos? I enjoy them - my screen saver randomly displays my photos - sometimes I watch my computer when the screen saver is active just like I would a TV show. 

I'm grateful for the entertaining memories.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    204.1 lbs.

Previous Weight (11/12/20):        203.2 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     + 0.9 lbs.

Diet Comment

Yesterday I ate a lot, and some of it late - I ate while playing in an online poker tournament, which mindlessness led to overconsumption.

Food Log

Breakfast
1:35pm: Oatmeal with blueberries and peanut butter, scrambled eggs with parmesan cheese, onions and peppers.

Lunch
Skipped.

Dinner
8:10pm: 

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

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 20 oz.;  Water: 88+ oz.; 

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

#2543, Thursday, November 12, '20: I am Happy Jack

Post 2543

- 9 years and 317 days since I started this blog -

Daily Comment

I am bringing back the beard.

Today, in cardio rehab, I showed everybody two similar selfies I took. One pic was taken right before I shaved off my beard (about two weeks before my surgery), the other a week later (one week before my surgery). So one with beard, one without.

I asked six people - four therapists and two patients - who had not known me when I was bearded (which was for more than six years. Every other friend I have knows me with a beard) whether they preferred the pic with or without a beard.

They unanimously favored the beard. 

Also at rehab, we watched a film about the psychological effects of heart disease.

It did not seem relevant to me. It mentioned many things that did not correspond with  my experience (like feelings of fear, depression, anxiety, anger, helplessness). My experience did not even include having a 'heart attack'. I mean it did, but I never felt it.

With three days between finding out my heart was bad and I needed a quintuple bypass and the open-heart surgery, I never felt any physical discomfort or pain, and was never afraid.

After the surgery, I was never depressed or angry. I exceeded all post-surgery recovery benchmarks, and was out of the hospital four days after major surgery. I had friends step up to take care of my every need, many times without being asked. 

I credit my philosophy, my good physical and emotional health leading up to this incident, my amazing support network, and my positive attitude for my excellent recovery, and my good mental health.

I credit my fabulous network of friends and my family. 

I credit the pandemic for giving me much less a sense of loss - I have no gigs and exactly have been to only three open mics in Syracuse this year, and that has nothing to do with my medical condition. Weirdly, there's been no better time in my life for this to have happened. 

I think it doesn't hurt that I have assumed a heart attack was coming my way for the last twenty years, given my family history. I wasn't shocked or surprised.

I'm nothing but grateful for the peace of mind I sometimes (dare I say, typically?) enjoy.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    203.2 lbs.

Previous Weight (11/11/20):        205.0 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 1.8 lbs.

Diet Comment

This is what I predicted yesterday.

Food Log

Breakfast
10:15am: Oatmeal with blueberries, Ezekiel 4:9 Flax toast with peanut butter.

Lunch
4:45pm: A Quest bar. Almonds and grapes.

Dinner
7:20pm: Salmon salad (fresh-caught salmon, arugula, cabbage, chard, kale, spinach, walnuts. And a Quest bar.

Snack
11:20pm: Manchego cheese and kimchee.

Liquid Intake

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

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

#2542, Wednesday, November 11, '20: Friendship and love

Post 2542

- 9 years and 316 days since I started this blog -

 

Daily Comment

The cardiac rehab is getting a bit more challenging. I am now quite tired at the end of it.

On this unseasonably warm rainy day, I did my rehab, then drove home and had a lie-down. Since my bed is also my office, I modified my cell phone plan to save ten bucks a month.

I spoke with my friend Jerry, who is in Mexico, and will be moving there very soon.

I spoke with my friend Marco, who is in Florida, and who will probably be the first person I visit when I travel again (unless that's in the summer - nobody goes to Florida in the summer). 

I spoke with Alex, and helped him a little with his portfolio.

I watched TV (Wentworth, if you must know), sang and played guitar a little and got stoned.

Maybe it's not much of a life, I know I'm not creating much, but it is full of friendship and love.

I'm grateful for that.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    205.0 lbs.

Previous Weight (11/10/20):        205.1 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.1 lbs.

Diet Comment

This is a wash - noise-level difference between yesterday, although I do believe that tomorrow will see a nice loss (carry-over from the last few days.

Food Log

Breakfast
10:10am: Scrambled eggs, mushrooms, onions and peppers, oatmeal with peanut butter.

Lunch
3:25pm: Carrots and homemade mayonnaise, cottage cheese and grapes.

Dinner
7:10pm: 

Edamame and mung bean fettucine with sautéed greens and mushrooms and shaved parmesan cheese.

Liquid Intake

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

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

#2541, Tuesday, November 10, '20: No comment

Post 2541

- 9 years and 315 days since I started this blog -

 

Daily Comment

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

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    205.1 lbs.

Previous Weight (11/9/20):         203.2 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     + 1.9 lbs.

Diet Comment

I am not surprised at all by this weight gain. It is from high-calorie, high-sodium late night eating.

Food Log

Breakfast
1:00pm: Purple-green protein smoothie with almonds, kefir, large organic egg, chia gel, kale, spinach, frozen organic berries, whey powder (18g protein), coconut oil, hemp seeds, hemp protein (7g protein), raw organic cacao powder, moringa leaf powder, fo ti (mushroom powder), cinnamon, turmeric and stevia-inulin blend.

Lunch
4:15pm: A Quest bar.

Dinner
8:10pm: Riced cauliflower with organic, 93% ground beef, sauteed onions, peppers and mushrooms, peanut butter oatmeal.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 72+ oz.; 

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

#2540, Monday, November 9, '20: Medical report

Post 2540

- 9 years and 314 days since I started this blog -

 

Daily Comment

I got a bunch of good medical news today.

My thirty days of heart monitoring, finished last week, resulted in a report of no incidents of a-Fib, which was what it was looking for.

I also took a blood test today, and got most of the results back. The comprehensive panel turned up nothing.

However, my Hemoglobin A1C test was the highest it's been in eight years, and is just over the line in the pre-diabetic area. 

I'll be talking about that with my primary care guy next week, and with my cardiologist the week after. I'm not happy with that result, and I don't know what caused this change - is it the result of my surgery, slight changes in diet (I'm eating more whole grains and nuts, and less beef) changes in medication and supplements, or something else?

I definitely want to turn that around.

Otherwise, I've been exercising both with cardio rehab and at home, and my calf hasn't been bothering me as much as I've gotten used to in the last couple of years. Nonetheless, next week I'll get a new test to locate where the blood flow restriction is happening there.

I'm grateful for the health I have that enables me to pursue getting healthier.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    203.2 lbs.

Previous Weight (11/6/20):         204.1 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.9 lbs.

Diet Comment

I am not surprised at all by this hopefully temporary weight gain. I was bound to rebound from my fast when I started eating again, after a forty-hour fast.

Food Log

Breakfast
1:00pm:

LEO (lox, eggs and onions - in this case sautéed with turmeric, hence the 'brown' look) with a slice of dry Ezekiel 4:9 Flax sprouted grain toast. Not shown: steamed brussel sprouts with balsamic vinaigrette and creamed cottage cheese.

Lunch
3:35pm: A Quest bar and peanut butter.

Dinner
8:10pm: 

Bacon cheeseburger and coleslaw.

Snack
11:10pm: A bag of pork rinds.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 0;   Coffee: 24 oz.;  Water: 76+ oz.; 

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

#2539, Friday, November 6, '20: Nice day!

Post 2539

- 9 years and 311 days since I started this blog -

 

Daily Comment

I had such a good day today!

To begin with, I got to spend some time with Alex via Zoom, and, although I had caught him up with my latest last night, he had some good news of his own. My day was off to a good start.

It was also a beautiful warm Fall day. I went for my longest uninterrupted walk since, well, Cuenca, Ecuador in February. Twenty minutes. Unlike back then, this walk was, wonder of wonders, pain-free! A subtle touch of soreness in my calf - but far from the usual painful cramping.

I felt it was a good workout, and I am now keeping an exercise log - I'm going to try and walk every day I don't have cardio rehab, and eventually get to thirty minutes a day, maybe more. 

I also returned my heart monitor, which ended up meaning a trip to the post office, as the prepaid mailer wouldn't fit in a mailbox. My month of twenty-four-seven heart monitoring is complete - almost without incident. There was one time they called, I mentioned it in a previous post, that amounted to nothing. One more 'clean bill of health'. What keeps it from being boring is that I can never get enough good news.

I also did a load of laundry.

I count this as one of my most productive days that didn't involve medical appointments since my surgery.

I'm just grateful.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    204.1 lbs.

Previous Weight (11/5/20):         201.9 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     + 2.2 lbs.

Diet Comment

I am not surprised at all by this hopefully temporary weight gain. I was bound to rebound from my fast when I started eating again, after a forty-hour fast.

Food Log

Breakfast
1:00pm:

LEO (lox, eggs and onions - in this case sautéed with turmeric, hence the 'brown' look) with a slice of Ezekiel 4:9 Flax sprouted grain toast. Dry. Not shown: steamed brussel sprouts with balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

Lunch
6:40pm: Peanut butter and a pint of low carb coffee ice cream.

Dinner
11:40pm: Cottage cheese and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 24 oz.;  Water: 72+ oz.; 

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

#2538, Thursday, Nov 5, '20: Health update

Post 2538

- 9 years and 310 days since I started this blog -

 

Daily Comment

I had a colonoscopy yesterday. It was, by far, the easiest one yet. An hour-and-a-half, door to door.

And the result was - perfect. Nothing found.

I have been on a 3-year schedule for colonoscopy's ever since my first one, about twenty years ago. I have had four, including yesterday's, since moving to Syracuse, and there has been a problem with each one until now, and the problem was in the prep, not the findings. 

So, I am hoping to move to a five- or six-year schedule now.

Today I had my annual eye exam after my cardio rehab. 

This is always a big deal, because it is very thorough, and because after all the tests, Dr. Tucker does an exam of his own and that is always entertaining. He's really something - a Buddhist (there are pictures of him with the Dalai Lama(!!!) all over the office. Apparently he had a private audience at some point) and a really funny guy.

The verdict? My eyes are in good shape - no hint of any "possible problems" he'd been watching the last few years, looking mainly for complications arising from my original referral, for diabetes, almost ten years ago. I enjoy reminding him that I've had everything under control for years, and that I was no longer considered diabetic.

As to the cardiac rehab, I've been coming right along from that. I've had five sessions in the last two weeks (missing yesterday's for the colonoscopy), in which time I've gone from twenty-five minutes of very low intensity work to thirty-six minutes of more-intense-but-still-low intensity workouts, which leave me feeling that I have exercised. So, coming along nicely.

I'm grateful for all the good health I'm enjoying, and for the progress in restoring the less-healthy cardiovascular and skeletal systems to health.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    201.9 lbs.

Previous Weight (11/2/20):         205.9 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 4.0 lbs.

Diet Comment

In preparation for the colonoscopy I had yesterday, I fasted Tuesday, as well as totally emptying my digestive tract Tuesday night. I ate a regular amount of regular food Wednesday. Thus, the big loss today.

Food Log

Breakfast
10:00am: Sautéed spinach, kale, onions, peppers and mushrooms with eggs and parmesan cheese.

Lunch
4:25pm: Cottage cheese and pork rinds and macadamia nuts.

Dinner
8:10pm: Carrots and home-made mayonnaise, parmesan crisps, a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 60+ oz.; 

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

#2537, Monday, November 2, '20: This weird week

Post 2537

- 9 years and 307 days since I started this blog -

 

Daily Comment

I don't deal well with the time change, "Fall back". I do better with Fall back (not well, but better) than with "Spring forward," though.

But things get unsettled. It took forever to leave the house, and I was a little late to get to cardio rehab.

There will be no blog posts/updates the next two days, Tuesday and Wednesday. Tomorrow (Tuesday) I will be fasting and cleansing in prep for Wednesday's colonoscopy. I will not write more until my Thursday update.

It will be my sixth colonoscopy. The last two had no findings, due to poor prep. The poor prep was not due to me not following instructions, but because the prescribed prep materials were ineffective. Not this time. 

Anyway, things are in a state of flux until I resume my regular schedule on Thursday, when I have my cardio rehab and then my annual vision check-up.

I'm just grateful to still be able to maintain my life, and hopefully, improve it.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    205.9 lbs.

Previous Weight (10/30/20):        205.1 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     + 0.8 lbs.

Diet Comment

I'm not particularly happy to have gained weight over the weekend. But, given that I will be fasting tomorrow in preparation for Wednesday's colonoscopy, I fully expect to be lighter at the end of the week. So, all good.

Food Log

Breakfast
10:00am: Toasted Ezekiel 4:9 Flax sprouted grain bread with peanut butter (aka, peanuts).

Lunch
3:05pm: Salmon salad (wild-caught salmon, home-made mayonnaise, arugula, cabbage, chard, kale, spinach, walnuts) and parmesan crisps.

Dinner
8:10pm: A Quest bar, carrots and home-made mayonnaise.

Liquid Intake

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

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