#2565, Tuesday, December 15, '20: No comment

Post 2565

- 9 years and 350 days since I started this blog -

At the end of Friday's walk (Liverpool, NY) 

Daily Comment

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

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    197.7 lbs.

Previous Weight (12/14/20):        197.0 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     + 0.7 lbs.

Diet Comment

A new low weight for the year! I have, unintentionally, lost almost five pounds in a week. I should be happy, but, truth be told, I'm a little concerned.

Food Log

Breakfast
2:30pm, from CoreLife Eatery: Chicken bone broth bowl with tofu, sliced almonds, walnuts, kale, quinoa, spicy broccoli, sriracha sprouts, shredded beets, roasted peppers, ginger and hardboiled egg. A Quest bar.

Lunch
Skipped. 

Dinner
8:30pm: Cheese omelet and high-protein Irish oatmeal soup: steel-cut oats, chia and hemp seeds, kefir, vanilla whey protein powder, wild blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, peanut butter, and stevia.

Snack
10:30pm: Carrots and homemade mayonnaise.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 72+ oz.; 

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#2564, Monday, December 14, '20: A-Fib

Post 2564

- 9 years and 349 days since I started this blog -

At the end of Friday's walk (Liverpool, NY) 

Daily Comment

Since Friday, I have had a couple of episodes of atrial fibrillation (A-Fib).

These episodes have been different than the two previously known episodes because there was no identifiable trigger and there were physical symptoms: tiredness, slight light-headedness, and a slight constriction of airways, felt as a bit of pressure when taking a deep breathe. Nothing that would slow me down for a second, but enough to make me check my pulse and blood pressure.

I spoke to my cardiologist today. She explained that the monitoring loop implant might be delayed because of the pandemic emergency in Syracuse, where it is difficult to schedule an OR because doctors, nurses, and personal protection equipment are in short supply thanks to Syracuse's surge.

But we're trying for a time two weeks from now - we'll see. I was given new prescriptions, one an anti-A-Fib pill and the other a blood thinner. 

Today, I'm feeling fine, even though I had another episode in the early afternoon, I knew what to do this time - nothing. Relax. Wait it out.

I'm grateful for every day.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    197.0 lbs.

Previous Weight (12/11/20):        199.2 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 2.2 lbs.

Diet Comment

A new low weight for the year! I have, unintentionally, lost almost five pounds in a week. I should be happy, but, truth be told, I'm a little concerned.

Food Log

Breakfast
4:10pm: Ezekiel 4:9 Flax sprouted grain bread with peanut butter. 

Lunch
Skipped. 

Dinner
8:10pm: Almonds, walnuts, manchego cheese, homemade coleslaw and a Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 72+ oz.; 

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#2563, Friday, December 11, '20: Week-end review

Post 2563

- 9 years and 346 days since I started this blog -

Wot, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Daily Comment

I don't really know what to say about this week. The Covid-19 pandemic reared its ugly head again, in ways that affect me like no presidential election ever could.

One friend died. Another received a diagnosis that his cancer, in remission for almost ten years, had returned, and metastasized. The facility where I was taking cardiac rehabilitation shut down (again) due to Syracuse's major wave of Covid infections.

I had one day of feeling like shit after a night of very little sleep.

Things aren't much fun at Casita Reverend Ken. 

Likely, they won't be until things start returning to normal. Based on what seems to be an aggressive vaccination schedule, I am hoping that will happen as early as March, and think it likely by April. But what do I know?

I have been a little less sanguine about my medical condition. Mainly, I find myself increasingly forgetful, especially of near term matters (why am I in this room?). I've attempted to ease these feelings by meditation...  and retail therapy.

I am trying to reconcile my ideas of moving overseas with the prospect that I may not be able to fulfill this dream.

I'm grateful for having options, and just for being here to discuss same.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    199.2 lbs.

Previous Weight (12/10/20):        200.1 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.9 lbs.

Diet Comment

This is my low weight (actual scale weights) for the year! It is satisfying to see that, throughout the roller coaster of my progress thus far, the trend on my weight has been down since I left the hospital in August. Today is, maybe, a breakthrough.

Food Log

Breakfast
1:20pm: Scrambled eggs and oatmeal with peanut butter, wild blueberries, chia and hemp seeds. 

Lunch
Skipped. 

Dinner
7:30pm: Kale and spinach curry with lentils on riced cauliflower.

Snack
10:00pm: Manchego cheese, almonds and walnuts.

Liquid Intake

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

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Thank you!

#2562, Thursday, December 10, '20: A very slight detour on the recovery road

Post 2562

- 9 years and 345 days since I started this blog -

Wot, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Daily Comment

Today was probably my worst day since I left the hospital.

I didn't get much sleep - about three-and-a-half hours, according to my Fitbit.

I woke up with some stiffness in my neck and back, and my left knee was bothering me (go figure). Later, I developed a low-grade headache.

It wasn't a feeling like being sick (although, these days, any unusual feeling has me questioning whether or not I'm sick) - more like a feeling of "am I getting sick?" 

It was enough, early on, that I canceled what would have been my last day at cardiac rehab. The slightly unpleasant feelings lasted until I went to bed.

So it goes. I did not expect my recovery to be linear, and I did not think I would be immune from normal everyday ills that everyone is vulnerable to.

It's a good reminder of normalcy that includes the occasional unpleasantness.in strange times like these, and that I mustn't take anything for granted.

I'm grateful for all the progress I've made and continue making towards a full recovery.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    200.1 lbs.

Previous Weight (12/9/20):         201.0 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.9 lbs.

Diet Comment

I am, once again, at goal weight, to all intents and purposes. Hopefully, maintainable (or improvable) over the three-week remainder of the year.

Food Log

Breakfast
1:10pm: Greens with eggs and cheese (and mushrooms, onions and peppers). Ezekiel 4:19 Flax sprouted grain toast with guacamole. 

Lunch
Skipped. 

Dinner
8:10pm: Salmon salad (wild-caught salmon, walnuts, homemade mayonnaise, arugula, chard, kale and spinach). A Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 0;   Coffee: 24 oz.;  Water: 60+ oz.; 

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Thank you!

#2561, Wednesday, December 9, '20: The other shoe

Post 2561

- 9 years and 344 days since I started this blog -

Wot, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Daily Comment

Today, at Cardiac Rehab, the other shoe dropped.

The facility is closing, the nurse's and techs need to work in the hospitals, where they are dealing with a surge in Covid-19 cases.

This is where I came in.

I started after the first wave, when the facility was reopened. This week is my half-way point. When the surge is over (my guess? sometime after the inauguration), I'll be back. 

It's going to be difficult keeping up my current exercise pace, since at home, the only cardio I can do is Heavyhands (walking in place while curling weights).

I'm just grateful for how well I feel right now, and for being able to do exercise at home in the first place.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    201.0 lbs.

Previous Weight (12/8/20):         201.5 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.5 lbs.

Diet Comment

I am pleased that I've erased the little blip from the weekend.

Food Log

Breakfast
10:10am: PBVF protein smoothie with peanut butter, kefir, large organic egg, chia gel, kale, spinach, frozen wild blueberries, 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
6:15pm: Carrots and homemade mayonnaise, and a Quest bar.

Dinner
8:55pm: 

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

Liquid Intake

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

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Thank you!

#2560, Tuesday, December 8, '20: Sad milestone

Post 2560

- 9 years and 343 days since I started this blog -

Wot, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Daily Comment

I've been hunkering down, Covid-style.

I'm watching a ton of TV - I've already mentioned it is quantitatively more than I've ever watched in my life.

But I'm getting some exercise every day: Either I walk in place while curling two-pound dumbbells (Heavyhands exercising), or go to Cardiac Rehab, which is basically a free gym membership, with medical professionals.

Syracuse, though, is experiencing a surge in virus infections, and I am wondering if Cardiac Rehab, which I started three months late because of first-wave closure, will be affected.

I've been dealing with a non-Covid-related medical situation. A close, dear friend has had his colorectal cancer come back - it has metastasized and, after ten yeaars of remission, he is in the hospital with a mass in his right lung. 

I spoke to him today, the first day since last week that he's been alright to talk, and he was in a good mood.

A few weeks ago, I was talking with him. He was in Mexico, where he had plans to move, now on hold. We were talking about the pandemic, and he couldn't understand why nobody he knew had it, or, given the numbers, knew somebody who'd died from it.

I knew a couple of people who had tested positive, but none of the cases were serious.

Today, that changed. A wonderful guy, the singer in my favorite Syracuse band, has died from Covid-19. I was a huge fan, and will remember his humanity and friendship warmly. I will miss seeing him perform - he was my favorite singer among all the NY bands.

This one stings.

I'm grateful for my own health situation, which is excellent, given my place along the recovery path.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    201.5 lbs.

Previous Weight (12/7/20):         200.8 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     + 0.7 lbs.

Diet Comment

I actually ate a lot yesterday, even having a late, high-calorie snack (peanut butter). Today I paid the piper, and ate a bit less.

Food Log

Breakfast
Skipped.

Lunch
1:55pm: Scrambled eggs with mushrooms and onions. Oatmeal with peanut butter, wild blueberries, chia and hemp seeds. Greek yogurt with walnuts. 

Dinner
9:55pm: Vegetarian sloppy joe (Quorn Grounds, Wegman's 'Grandpa's Sauce Goes Vegetarian', kale, spinach) on edamame and mung bean fettuccini, with shaved parmesan.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 24 oz.;  Water: 68+ oz.; 

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Thank you!

#2559, Monday, December 7, '20: No comment

Post 2559

- 9 years and 342 days since I started this blog -

Wot, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Daily Comment

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

Actually, I'm watching too much television.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    200.8 lbs.

Previous Weight (12/4/20):         202.0 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 1.2 lbs.

Diet Comment

Most weekends - when I'm not documenting my eating - are times of indulgence, and most weekends I gain weight. I'm always pleased when I make it through a weekend at a better (lower) weight than when I went into it.

Food Log

Breakfast
10:20am: Oatmeal with peanut butter, wild blueberries, chia and hemp seeds.

Lunch
2:45pm: Vegetarian sloppy joe (Quorn Grounds, Wegman's Grandpa's Sauce, spinach and kale), and a salad (arugula, cabbage, chard, kale, spinach, shaved parmesan cheese, walnuts and balsamic vinaigrette, and a Quest bar. 

Dinner
8:10pm: A LEO (lox, eggs and onions) and brussel sprouts with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Snack
8:10pm: Peanut butter.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 24 oz.;  Water: 72+ oz.; 

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

#2558, Friday, December 4: Very emotional

Post 2558

- 9 years and 339 days since I started this blog -

Rio Tomebamba, Cuenca, Ecuador (February, 2020)

Daily Comment

These days, I find myself very emotional and very sentimental.

On the one hand, I get excited by my daily work on my investments (it is mostly score-keeping, but I am doing end-of-year stuff), even though I'm not day-trading, which was the excitement of gambling.

On the other, I am easily moved - one could say, emotionally manipulated - by things I see on TV. I'm alone, but I still feel a bit embarrassed, yet still enjoy the catharsis.

However, as I write this, I have been crying a lot over a friend of mine who is sick and in hospital and in pain. 

For the most part, I am that guy who stays calm in an emergency. I have been accused of being unemotional in the past. Aloof.

Some people, friends up here in Syracuse, think I have only one mood. I think of myself as very emotional, but usually, not so much in a reactive sense. In the past, I would sometimes over-react. Now, I tend to let go of things that cause great emotional upheaval.

I'm working on that at the moment - letting go of my own reactions, now that I've had them, so I can better be present for the people who provoked them in the first place.

I'm grateful for the skill with which I get to a place of non-attachment, especially as it applies to my inner dialog.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    202.0 lbs.

Previous Weight (12/3/20):         202.8 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.8 lbs.

Diet Comment

A nice ending to the week - on a 'down' note.

Food Log

Breakfast
Skipped.

Lunch
3:25pm: 'Dark Chocolate Medley' (dark chocolate, almonds, cashews, pecans). 

Dinner
7:45pm: Salmon burger on Ezekiel 4:9 Flax sprouted grain bread with coleslaw and brussel sprouts with olive oil and shaved parmesan cheese. And a Quest bar.

Snack
7:45pm: Whipped cottage cheese with wild blueberries.

Liquid Intake

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

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

#2557, Thursday, December 3, '20: New phone day

Post 2557

- 9 years and 338 days since I started this blog -

Rio Tomebamba, Cuenca, Ecuador (February, 2020)

Daily Comment

I made the arrangements to trade in my iPhone 8+ for a new iPhone 12 Mini yesterday. I was told because I wanted 256GB memory, the wait would be about six weeks. The 128GB memory model could be had in a week.

That model, surprisingly, arrived today, less than twenty-four hours after the order was signed, in-person, at my nearest T-Mobile store (next to CoreLife Eatery, in fact).

I went back today and got all my data and apps transferred over from my old phone to the new. It took a while, but only because it takes a while - everything went smoothly.

I really like it - it is quite obviously faster, has a better screen and is smaller and better designed than the 8+. My first call, FaceTime to Alex, he commented that the picture was better (better front-facing camera). The audio is better, too. 

There were a few apps - particularly my hearing aids app - that had to be re-set up on the new phone, but it didn't take long. Facial recognition is a good improvement over fingerprint recognition. The better screen more than makes up for the smaller size, which is obviously more convenient and easier to use.

I didn't, this time, get the model (Pro Max) that had the best camera. I have a great camera now, I don't need it. The 'standard' camera is more than fine, as it has been with the older model.

The main thing that recommended this deal for me is that the iPhone 8+ had a significantly higher trade-in value against the Mini than with any of the other models in the line, so my out-of-pocket costs are very low. Spread out over a zero-interest, twenty-four month payment plan, they're less than six bucks a month.

I'm grateful for a life of abundance.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    202.8 lbs.

Previous Weight (12/2/20):         202.8 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.0 lbs.

Diet Comment

Same weight as yesterday. So it goes.

Food Log

Breakfast
10:35am: Oatmeal with peanut butter and wild blueberries.

Lunch
6:25pm:

LEO (lox (smoked salmon), eggs and onions) on riced cauliflower.

Dinner
8:10pm: 'Dark Chocolate Medley' (dark chocolate, almonds, cashews, pecans).

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 80+ oz.; 

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

#2556, Wednesday, December 2, '20: No comment

Post 2556

- 9 years and 337 days since I started this blog -

Rio Tomebamba, Cuenca, Ecuador (February, 2020)

Daily Comment

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

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    202.8 lbs.

Previous Weight (12/1/20):         202.9 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.1 lbs.

Diet Comment

Same as yesterday. Again, I'll take the win.

Food Log

Breakfast
9:35am: Two slices of Ezekiel 4:9 Flax toast with peanut butter.

Lunch
3:45pm: 

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

Dinner
7:10pm: 

93% lean organic hamburger with sriracha, brussel sprouts with balsamic and olive oil, edamame and mung bean fettucine with cottage cheese. Not shown: A Quest bar.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 2;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 92+ oz.; 

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

#2555, Tuesday, December 1, '20: Retail therapy

Post 2555

- 9 years and 336 days since I started this blog -

Rio Tomebamba, Cuenca, Ecuador (February, 2020)

Daily Comment

I decided to upgrade my phone from an iPhone 8+ to the iPhone 12 Mini.

That will be tomorrow.

I am downsizing. I like the Mini, it is definitely the best buy iPhone. It doesn't have the best camera, but I have an actual camera, so it will be fine.

I am doing some retail therapy to cope with the boredom of pandemic isolation. 

I got a replacement for my favorite sports jacket, which was damaged beyond repair on the flight from LA to Cuenca. It is a perfect replacement, almost the same color (slightly less blue, more gray), but much lighter weight and better for travel, which is what it was designed for - and it has more pockets, a few secret ones!

It arrived today and fits great.

I'm grateful for the wherewithal to continue my material existence with a feeling of abundance.

Food and Diet 

Today's Weight:                    202.9 lbs.

Previous Weight (11/30/20):        203.0 lbs.

Net Loss/Gain:                     - 0.1 lbs.

Diet Comment

A microscopic move in the right direction is still better than any move in the wrong direction, right? I'll take the win, no matter how insignificant.

Food Log

Breakfast
1:05pm: OLE (a LEO with too much onion): eggs, smoked salmon, onions. Also oatmeal with peanut butter and wild blueberries.

Lunch
6:25pm: Kale and spinach curry with lentils on riced cauliflower.

Dinner
8:10pm: A Quest bar and cottage cheese.

Liquid Intake

   Espressos: 1;   Coffee: 0 oz.;  Water: 88+ oz.; 

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