Category: Health

Happy New Year 2016

Typically, there is a lot of reflection around January 1. This is no exception, but I am a bit to low on the creative energy to go too deep.

  1. Since being laid-off in late October, I have been in some kind of period of reflection of my work life. I feel surprisingly optimistic about my work prospects for the future. I have a lot of hope that I can build a work life that works for me. I have a lot of positive thoughts there.
  2. Amy and I have continued our transition to an empty nest. As you might guess with college age kids, it isn’t really empty 100% of the time. That suits us. But, as time has passed, I am also beginning to see the need for us to adjust the exhibits in the museum. We are moving stuff around in the house and trying new experiments with what works for us. More change to come. I feel good about.
  3. Last year, I lost weight. My cholesterol improved. I look forward to continuing that so that I can transition from being a “loser” to a “maintainer.” I feel good about that too.
  4. There were some tough times last year as Amy’s parents both shuffled off this mortal coil, if I might put it in the words of Shakespeare. That provided challenges in many complex ways. But through a lot of hard work and time on Amy’s part, she has been able to move forward and regather her strength. I hope she feels good about that.
  5. More than anything else, I feel that we are both moving in the same direction in our broad lives. That feels good too. 
  6. In the areas that are challenging, I am making changes. This isn’t easy but progress is being made. I have no doubt that some efforts will fail and some will succeed. As we get the results, we will continue to refine and try again. Perseverance is really our only tool here. I don’t feel great about this but that is ok.  I feel like I have the will to keep at it.
No big pronouncements this year. I did one thing on my last years list out of three. I lost weight. I did not run a 5K per se but I feel very close to being able to actually run (as opposed to walk/run). No progress on swimming an IM. Still on my list of things I want to do.
Good luck in 2016.

Much simpler post

I am not a New Years resolution type of guy. But, for the first time in a couple years, I’m willing to put some athletic/health goals out there. In no particular order:

1. a. Get my weight under 200 lbs. I’m at 220.
    b. Revisit my cholesterol managament – my cholesterol moves with my weight. If I were not a guy who has already had heart surgery, this would be considered overthinking it. But I am approaching 55 and that’s something of a magic number. Namely, at that point, both my cardiologist and primary would probably insist that I take statins. Therefore, if I am a successuful with a diet and exercise approach now, I can probably stave it off.
If you want the actual numbers let me know.

2. Run a 5k. I don’t need to do this in a race, but I might. I was running all summer and probably good have done it. But I never actually push myself to do it. I think this will happen later in the year. You have to run to run, if that makes sense. Riding a bike and swimming will help but it won’t really get you there. Running lighter is much better than running at 220.

3. Swim an IM. I have had this one for a while and I feel it is in reach. Backstroke and fly are the most challenging strokes to do well. I can do backstroke ok but bad turns can really kill your overall time. I need work there and swimming is 90% technique if not more.

Anyway, just needed to put that out there in the semi-public someplace. I found the note I made back in January. In one month, I have not made a ton of progress but that’s kind of expected. I’m changing basic stuff first.

Both my doctors and tons of other people like the concept of the slow-carb diet. Simply put, eliminate white stuff. It’s harder to execute than I thought. But overall, reducing things like pasta, rice and instead adding veggie proteins (beans, legumes) and other veggies. Stuff like cheese, milk, sugars is harder because it is in a lot of prepared food. But yeah.