Phase 2?

It’s been a week since my last blog post. My plans got pushed back because I was worried I might have COVID or tendinitis. I lost my sense of smell (which was a huge relief since I didn’t have to deal with unpleasant smells like farts), had a hard time breathing, felt weak, and had some serious muscle aches. But guess what? I started feeling better about two days ago! 

That’s good because I’ve almost regained all the weight I lost in the first 12 days of this month. My current weight is 312.8 pounds; I wonder if some of the gain isn’t muscle. I find it easier now to do more than 10 pushups in the morning and to hold a 30-second plank, whereas three weeks ago I struggled to hold even 10 seconds. So far this month, I’ve biked 144 miles, walked 4 miles, and done elliptical workouts and weight training during my gym visits. I need to do more, but again, there were four days when I could do little or nothing!

I’ve been looking into the medicines my doctor gave me. She mentioned up to seven, but I turned down three, so I’m now taking four, though only two of them are taken regularly, like iron. She thinks I should be on more drugs than I am; I don’t see any real benefits. After looking into it, it seems like there might be more downsides than upsides. For example, I’ve been dealing with anemia and breathing problems as side effects. I’ve decided that I’d rather spend the next 10 to 12 years without all these side effects, feel better, and not live into my mid-80s than struggle through the pain I’m experiencing now with some of these medications. I’ve been off them for three days, and I’m not reaching for an inhaler as often anymore. Already feeling better!

I was really surprised to find out that one of the medications is a Black Box drug, which has been around for over 50 years. It seems to cause muscle strain, major stomach problems, and a significant impact on B vitamins, along with other issues that are a bit surprising. One side effect was anemia! I’ve been dealing with anemia at a high level for the past few years. I almost think it’s linked to his medicine because they can’t seem to pinpoint what else might be causing it! So, I decided not to take it anymore. I don’t need to see my physician until January, and she doesn’t need to know until then. It’s just frustrating these days. They seem to spend more time trying to convince patients they should take medicine that only causes issues, which you then take another medicine for—this cycle just keeps repeating until I realize you’re taking 10 or 12 different medicines every day.

I decided to go for a long bicycle ride on Saturday since the weather was forecast to be over 70°. I headed out and really enjoyed the ride! Then I turned around and realized I had a tailwind blowing at 20 to 25 miles per hour for the first 7 miles. My goal was to ride for a couple of hours, and I achieved that, covering 27 miles, but I was exhausted. I had committed to limiting the use of the electric bike. The electric bike report shows that most of the work was done by me.

So I hope that I do not fall ill or have pain like earlier this month. I was doing well for the first 10 days and need to maintain that effort. Here’s to success.

Carry on my friends, carry on!

That hurts!

 I’m frustrated! I was doing well with my exercise and weight loss until Monday. I woke up that day with severe pain in the back of my right knee. It seemed like the pain was slightly above the knee, near the hamstring. When I put pressure on it, it felt like tendinitis. I know I increased my exercise a bit more than I probably should have, but it’s very hard to walk without a major limp.

It’s a shame, but unfortunately, that's just how it is when you're my age. To my delight, I haven’t seen much change in my weight over the past three days with little exercise. I reached 309.2 pounds on March 9 (when I woke up in pain), down from 313.9 pounds on March 1. I am now 309.9 pounds, which is three pounds less in 12 days. That means I am within my minimum goal of losing at least 2 pounds per week. Again, the goal is to weigh around 250 pounds for my son’s wedding in September.

I also wonder if part of my issue has been related to my heavy congestion, difficulty breathing, and complete loss of smell. I didn’t test for COVID-19, but I suspect I might have contracted it. I did not take a test to confirm my suspicions. That could explain why I’ve been struggling over the past five days. My sense of smell has been absent for at least five days, and I'm just beginning to regain some of it. For example, on Monday, if I put Vicks VapoRub right up to my nose, I couldn't smell it! Now, today, I can tell it's Vicks VapoRub by smell, but if I had my full sense of smell, it would be much stronger. I hope that in the next few days, my sinuses and leg will feel better so I can start working out again. But until then, I will just watch what I eat and carefully follow my weight-loss schedule.

I have also, in my downtime, let my mind wander all over the place. I started thinking about some things I knew as a kid and realized how many I no longer use at all. Some of them were:

1. I am one wrong decision away from making headlines on the front page. - You have done so many things wrong that it will be highly newsworthy!
2. Hold your horses. - Before cars, this phrase reminded people to slow down and control their horses—figuratively, their impatience.
3. Don’t get your knickers in a twist. - A phrase used to tell someone not to overreact.
4. Well, I’ll be a monkey’s uncle! - A way to express disbelief. 
5. It’s like herding cats. - Refers to trying to control something difficult to manage.
6. Heavens to Betsy! – an exclamation of surprise. I’ve never known who Betsy was.
7. A stitch in time saves nine. It means fixing problems early before they get worse.
8. I wouldn’t count my chickens before they hatch. - Someone should not rely on something they hope for until they are sure it will happen.
9. There’s no point in beating a dead horse. - Not to keep talking about a subject that has already been discussed or decided.
10. Never look a gift horse in the mouth. - You shouldn’t criticize a gift, even if you don’t like it very much.
11. I’m plum tuckered out. - It means completely exhausted or extremely tired. The phrase is a colloquial way of expressing extreme fatigue.
12. Well, I declare. - An exclamation of surprise.
13. You’re just trying to butter me up. - To flatter someone excessively, often to gain favor or get something in return.
14. A stitch in time saves nine. - It’s better to deal with a problem early rather than waiting until it worsens and requires more effort to fix.
15. I’m so mad I could spit nails. - An expression of strong frustration.
16. Don’t take any wooden nickels. - This meant “be careful” or watch out for trickery.
17. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. - The person or problem that complains the most is the one most likely to get attention or be addressed.
18. You can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs. - Achieving a desired outcome often requires sacrifices or enduring some damage or hardship.
19. I haven’t seen you since you were knee-high to a grasshopper - someone who has grown substantially since the last time they were seen.
20. You’ll catch more flies with honey than vinegar. - Being kind and polite is more effective in achieving your goals than being harsh or rude.
21. This isn’t my first rodeo. - Someone has experience in a specific situation and isn’t easily surprised or intimidated.
22. Blood is thicker than water. - A family bond will always be stronger than other relationships, and family comes first.
23. Make hay while the sun shines. - Take advantage of your opportunity while the moment lasts.
24. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. - You can give someone an opportunity or the means to do something, but you can’t force them to take it.
25. Don’t cry over spilled milk. - There’s no use in being upset about something that already happened and can’t be changed.
26. You’re preaching to the choir. - Arguing with people who already agree with you.
27. Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes! - It’s so good to see you!
28. Let’s bury the hatchet - to end a conflict and become friendly.
29. That doesn’t amount to a hill of beans. - Used in negative statements to show something has very little value or isn’t important. 
30. The early bird catches the worm. - Those who begin early or act quickly are more likely to succeed or achieve their goals.
31. Don’t judge a book by its cover. - You shouldn’t judge someone or something only based on what you see on the outside or what you perceive without understanding the full situation.

That is enough rambling. Time to call it a night and hope I feel better tomorrow!

Carry on, my friends, carry on.

Continued Focus time!

Shelley has been having a very difficult time with the death of her aunt and problems with her father. It seems like daily, her dad has a severe diarrhea episode and isn’t functioning very well.

Shelley forgot to pay the electric bill and has been a bit scatterbrained about other things, all because she's focused on her aunt and her father. That makes sense, and I realize I really need to pay closer attention to ensure that the things she normally takes care of don’t fall by the wayside.

Additionally, my sister needed a knee replacement, and I have been her chauffeur. I don't mind because I am retired, and it gives me a chance to get out and about. Near her physical therapy location, there’s a free charger, so I basically get to charge for free while she is getting her treatment.

I am on the fifth day of tracking my weight and exercise in great detail. I haven’t started tracking my diet yet because I didn’t want it to feel overwhelming or to lose focus. I’m pleased that, according to the scale, I have lost 2 pounds after the first five days. I notice that being accountable to weigh myself every day makes me think twice before grabbing a snack—just before I put it in my mouth. That alone is a good deterrent from emotional eating. I'm just hoping this continues at a steady pace, as my goal is to lose 2.5 pounds per week, aiming to be near 250 pounds for my son’s wedding.

My sleep has been somewhat stable, although I have been using various sleep medications or aids. For example, I took Advil PM two of the last three nights, and I also took the prescription meds, half of a dose, on the other nights. According to my chart, my sleep score has been between 80 and 85, which is good. What I have noticed is that it takes me a lot longer to fall asleep than it used to. However, once I do fall asleep, I tend not to wake up more than once to go to the bathroom, which is good, as it has occasionally been two or three times a night.

I’ve been going through a bunch of old images lately and found some pretty cool ones. Some samples are below, enjoy.

 

 

Carry on my friends, carry on!

Focus time

It’s March 1, 2026. I am officially 87 pounds heavier than I was on the same date twenty years ago and 27 pounds heavier than I was ten years ago. I’ve been frustrated with my weight for years and concluded it was due to stress, anxiety, and aging. When I retired, I lost 25 pounds in the first six months (gained 13 pounds back in the past year). In February 2025, I started to feel dizzy, short of breath, extremely fatigued, with cold hands and feet, and my heart racing. I knew the problem! Anemia was once again pushing me into oblivion!

I contacted my Physician with concerns, and she emphasized taking the prescribed 325 MG of Ferrous Sulfate at least every other day. I wanted a blood test, but she stated the oral iron should be enough. It was in June 2025 that I finally convinced the Physician to do a blood test, as the stomach pain and anemia issues were really impacting my life. I believe taking Ferrous Sulfate should help, but it also caused stomach pain, and I think it increased bleeding. 

The blood test verified my suspicion!

• Hemoglobin should be 13.5 - 17.5 g/dL - I was 10.3 or 76% of the minimum
• Ferritin should be 26-388 ng/ml - I was 13 or 50% of the minimum
• Iron should be 35-180 ug/dl - I was 18 or 51% of the minimum

Therefore, in August, I was able to proceed with infusions. I also convinced my Physician to refer me to a Hematologist. However, the first appointment was three months away. That was frustrating, but it was my only option!  

After the infusions, I felt better and am now fully recovered. The infusion may have helped, but it only brought me close to the baseline. My Physician agreed to do another blood test. After the infusions, I was still below the threshold.

• Hemoglobin should be 13.5 - 17.5 g/dL - I was 12.7 or 94% of the minimum
• Ferritin should be 26-388 ng/ml - I was 21 or 80% of the minimum
• Iron should be 35-180 ug/dl - I was 23 or 65% of the minimum

I met with the Hematologist in November. He did another blood test, and my levels stayed the same, still below the minimum thresholds. So, I was planning to get another round of infusions, four months after the last one. I had a follow-up blood test six weeks later, and my numbers looked good after 6 infusions! The numbers were:

• Hemoglobin should be 13.5 - 17.5 g/dL - I was 14.8 - mid-range of recommended
• Ferritin should be 26-388 ng/ml - I was 59 or slightly above the minimum
• Iron should be 35-180 ug/dl - I was 126 or slightly above mid-range recommendation

When I met with the hematologist, he ordered blood tests every 3 months and mentioned we might need to do annual infusions if my levels aren’t maintained. He attributes the issue to a large hiatal hernia I have and believes I slowly lose blood from that problem. 

So, that brings us to March 1, 2026. I am feeling better two months after completing my last infusions. One of the best ways to reduce health issues is to lose weight. So today, I started tracking again, as I did in 2006. I’ll weigh myself each morning when I wake up. I also do a few push-ups and timed planks before starting the day. I will monitor my diet and do some form of exercise every day. I'll vary the routine to ensure adequate rest. On an off day, it might only include a 45-minute walk around the neighborhood. Today was a great 16-mile bike ride!

I aim to get this under control so I can enjoy retirement again. Wish me luck!

Carry on my friends, carry on!