Staying the Course -- 07-31-2017

[Superbob]

Staying the Course on this final day of July, which turns out to be quite pleasant -- a low-humidity break from the hot, humid summer. And after today, we welcome August (if "welcome" is the right word for August)....soon enough October and November will come along, two of my favorite months. The older I get, the more I like cool, crisp weather.

Will be heading out now to hopefully enjoy a pleasant dawgwalk. Exercise class tomorrow -- that's become a STC highlight for me lately.

Look forward to hearing from you all.

Cheers,

Superbob

 

[Paleowoman]

It's turned quite cool here, compared to our heatwave in June. I've been getting out for five mile walks most days, plus my usual thrice weekly weight lifting. The walks are so pleasant now - I picked some blackberries yesterday along the river which we had for dessert when some friends came over. Lots of dawggies out for walkies where I walk SB !

 

[jwinter]

Good Morning and good to see this post. You both are such encouraging "coursers" here on the forum. I don't get enough walking in and reading this inspires me. I do spend a great deal of time outdoors and so called working in the yard. We are in a severe drought here with quite a few fires still burning so our water continues to pour on the new grass (and weeds) so plenty to do.

Had my echo and cardio visit last week and cardiologist says it is kind of a baseline echo as the mechanical valve acts differently in each of us. I did ask for a hemoglobin check before he was done and he agreed I am one that needs it tested as I am on iron and struggle to keep my numbers up. It was down, nothing drastic this time but he said at 6 I did need a transfusion so I took two units that night, came home, and went back in morning for test. It was 8 so now he wants me to have another GI series of tests. I just know they won't find anything as they didn't at Mayo last year but I am due the ever wonderful colonoscopy anyway so will have those done end of this month. My smaller town hospital and staff here are not comfortable doing it so will be going 3 hours to Billings for it.

I get frustrated with the system sometimes, all these primary care providers, hospitalists, rules and regulations, and knowing pretty much what they will find but to keep it all working in my favor I feel I have to keep on.

Good news on my INR as it stays stable through it all and for that I am thankful. I don't know much about strokes etc and don't want to know,

That's it for me and sorry if I seem a bit negative but I tell everyone that doctors, clinics, and hospitals, are NOT my idea of a social life. Maybe I will never get past it? I sure hope so.

Have a good week all and don't mind me, lol I am staying the course by talking myself into keeping those appointments!

 

[Paleowoman]

Sorry to hear you’ve had to have some more transfusions and are going to have another colonoscopy jwinter. I share your frustration with the social life we have with these doctors and hospitals - we seem to see more than ever of them post AVR ! Mind you there is one doctor I love seeing so he’s worth it. Happily, though he’s not dealing with my cardiac issues, he’s always interested and wants to keep in the loop and gets copies of reports. He makes all his patients laugh - when I changed from my previous cardiologist to my present better one a few years ago and felt badly for the previous one, he said with a wink and a low voice: “When you change consultants it’s like having an affair”. !

 

[Superbob]

wow, I too am sorry about that rigamarole of medical tests, jwinter. I agree with required seeing of many specialists not being the ideal social life. However, i agree with Paleowoman that one doctor can make a difference. After moving down here 8 years ago, I struggled to find a good cardiologist. Fired one, then a couple others moved or changed practices. Anyway after hearing good things, I signed on with a female cardio for the first time. She is not only very attentive and well-informed about my heart device and heart history, but sincerely interested in what's happening in family life. And it's not just chit-chat -- dealing with the stresses of life is critical to heart health. Anyway, she's great -- also has a wonderful sense of humor. Best cardio I have had since the one back in DC area who detected the severity of my valve leakage and aortic aneurysm back in '05 and therefore (along with a first-class surgeon) saved my life. So docs do matter.

Had a wonderful dawgwalk on a low-humidity day (probably the last non-muggy one in a while), then a good exercise class, and thinking about doing a dusk dawgwalk, too. Glad to hear lots of good doggies are being walked across the pond too!

CHEERS...

 

[honeybunny]

jwinter Yard work is supposed to be one of the best forms of excerise according to some article I read. Like Bob and Anne, I'm sorry you are dealing with rounds of tests. Hang in there!

 

[Superbob]

jwinter Yard work is supposed to be one of the best forms of excerise according to some article I read. Like Bob and Anne, I'm sorry you are dealing with rounds of tests. Hang in there!

Here is my somewhat tongue-in-cheek blogpost of a few years ago about other activities counting as exercise every bit as much as what we label "exercise.":

http://www.steadfastdawgwalker.com/2015/08/running-honey-do-marathon.html?spref=fb

 

[dornole]

Hi there coursers. Not quite as excited as I only lost .3 pounds this week, but that's still three weeks in a row of losses with an average of 2 pounds a week which is a lot as we all know. I'm very happy that I have stuck to the plan so well. Tomorrow I go to my friend's cabin for a few days which used to be a trouble spot for me (like my wording there?) We're going to stop at the grocery near the airport and pick up some healthy food before we head into the mountains. Send me some casual prayers and common sense to EAT that food! I hope to get some good walks and swims in as well. Wishing everyone a good week.

 

[epstns]

Hi, folks! I haven't fallen off the face of the planet. I've just been swamped - both at work and at home. At work, it is my "busy" season, so there is more work than usual, and lots of other projects falling onto my calendar as well.

At home - the Traveling Circus has arrived! We have a house full of guests. My daughter, son-in-law and two grandsons (age 2 yrs and 6 weeks!) are all with us for the entire month of August. Oh, yes, can't forget. . . they brought the Quaker Parrot, too! If you think the insurance commercials featuring Mr. Mayhem are absurd, come on over to our house!

I'm still trying to keep to a fairly normal workout/walking schedule. It is, for now, a holding game, as there is just too much to eat (and drink) every evening when I get home. I guess that as long as I don't gain a ton, I can call it a minor victory. Time will tell.

Our weather has been up and down - a lot of hot, humid weather with a few gorgeous days sprinkled in for fun. It is what it is, and we are most thankful for each day we are granted.

 

[Superbob]

Have enjoyed this week's comments as always. Steve, enjoy the family circus! I know what you mean -- it's all blessings but life does become hectic. Three of my grandkids live next door...as part of the final "D" agreement, my son gets them on alternate weeks and I do what I can to help 'cause he juggles family and work. On weeks he doesn't have them, I barely get to see them. Meanwhile, I keep his big yellow lab and (for different reasons) my Memphis daughter's cat and when it's feeding time for Ellie and them, it is quite a sight. There is some sadness mixed in re the big "D," but we're moving on and everything's going to be good with Life 2.0. (To be continued.) Anyway, I digress -- enjoy that Traveling Circus!

dornole, 2 pounds a week is great! I have been delaying any home weigh-in to see how I compare on my cardio's scales in a few weeks to my time there several months ago. Yes, I should put a new battery in my scales, too. Oh well.... and hey I love your nickname for our merry band -- the "coursers." Hey maybe we should slap it on a label, strike up a tune, and copyright it. © Some good ol' rock 'n' roll maybe. : )

Cheers to all you Coursers!

 

[MartinF]

Missed last week, my wife and I were in Sequoia for a 4 day weekend. We hiked Thurs-Sat, probably 5 miles per day. Went to Crystal Cave, hiked to the top of Moro Rock, hiked to the General Sherman tree (largest tree in the world), General Grant Tree, Crescent Meadow and Tokopah Falls. Saw deer and a bear. Altitude there is 6-7 thousand feet. Had a great time but tired afterwards.

This week I didn't get as many miles in. Today I ran a 5K race, The Pancake Race. Tried to run an even pace and finished in 33:53. Slow time but I haven't been running much lately and I'm happy to finish feeling good. Now I have a time to beat in the next race.

Still need to take our dog for a walk when it cools off. Should get me to 15 miles for the week. Hope everyone had a great week.

 

[FredW]

Hi Folks,

Late in posting for last week. I understand Steve's comments on grandkids visiting. His are younger, but I remember the days of that age grandkids. You love seeing them and you love seeing them go home.

Our older ones have kept us busy the past few weeks. Noise, activity, and the wrong foods fill my days. Then, when you want to have a conversation with a "young-un", they have their faces in a phone, ear plugs in their ears and are listening to some kind of music that could be a good substitute for CPR.

However, using the Tom Sawyer technique, I did get the the visiting exchange student and the teenagers to fly kites for the first time in their life. I guess that is a success of some kind. Now, if I can only get them to eat differently. They opened the refrigerator or pantry and see vegetables and high fiber cereal and comment: "There's nothing in this house to eat!"

Somebody on this thread commented about yard work being as good as exercise as walking? I hope so. Each week, I spend about two hours on behind my push mower, and hour or so weed whacking, an hour maintaining my grass maze and labyrinth, 4 - 6 hours on my tractor cutting 10 acres of grass, and about two hours helping my wife with the garden work. You can see this from Google Maps satellite view at this url: https://goo.gl/sPWPfY which is best viewed from a big screen.

However, last night while cooking over an open fire I learn a new lesson in life: "Old men with bad backs should not act like young men and try to break sticks for fire." Thank goodness for Avil.

Tomorrow, I'm helping my son move my 18 year old granddaughter into WVU for her first year. The young'uns are doing the lifting, I'm a driver. Then, he and I are going for a 30 mile hike. I plan to post a trip report next week.

Does this count as staying the course?

Have a great week all....

 

[Agian]

Fred, you've got crop circles!