BARUCH HASHEM - THANK GOD!

BARUCH HASHEM! 

I don't normally trot out Hebrew expressions.  The reason for this is although I am Jewish - I don't know that many Hebrew expressions.  Today, I will proudly proclaim: BARUCH HASHEM!  (This can be translated at Blessed be God, or Thank God!)

My four month relationship with my gastroenterologist is coming to an end.  I was referred to a gastroenterologist in May when my doctor discovered anemia in an otherwise unremarkable blood test.  Although I was asymptomatic - protocol apparently 'demanded' that the source be found. The source was in fact not found.

I was subjected to a colonoscopy.   No source of blood loss located.

I was subjected to an endoscopy.    No source of blood loss located.

I was subjected to a capsule endoscopy.  No source of blood loss located.

I was subjected to a full body cat scan.  No source of blood loss located.

My stool sample was subjected to a full investigation.  No source of blood loss located.

During the four months that this was going on my iron levels have returned to normal - although even now - by blood count - hemoglobin is a little low.  My current official diagnosis normocytic anemia. And it seems possible that my hemoglobin count will also return to normal as that seems to be the current trend.

The real verdict from the gastroenterologist after all of this.  I am fine.

Now listen, I don't want to complain.   Four months ago, when I got the phone call from my doctor urging me to quickly see a gastroenterologist - I was convinced that my death was imminent from some horrible disease or body malfunction.

I am fine.

Baruch Hashem (Hebrew)

BARUCH HASHEM!  THANK GOD!

(...in a side note to the Almighty: Might there have been another way of me finding out that my health was good without spending thousands of dollars before my insurance deductible was activated, or am I being an ungrateful malcontent by asking the question?)

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226.3 lbs

I weigh 226.3 lbs.

I gained 0.5 lbs this week

I have lost 82.7 lbs in 234 days. Today begins Day 235.

I will always be at the beginning of a journey that never ends.

I weigh 226.3 lbs. (234 days ago I weighed 309 lbs)

I have lost 26.8% of my weight since Dec 24.

I have a BMI, body mass index of 30.27 

I had a 42.0 BMI on Dec 24 just 234 days ago (Class III obesity)

I have two words of advice for myself today: REVERSE COURSE

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 FRIDAY MENU

breakfast    oatmeal, center cut bacon, corn thins                                   669 calories
lunch          spinach salad, crisp bread, dried papaya, pink lady apple 1034 calories 
dinner         pink lady apples, wasabi peas, corn, kahuna crunch           765 calories
SNACK     ginger chews                                                                         160 calories

total calories consumed 2628 calories

calories burned

6AM HOME ELLIPTICAL 92 MINUTES, MANUAL SETTING, LEVEL '20'  2071 CALORIES
since I was not sure I would have time for a workout on Saturday - I worked out twice on Friday
9PM  HOME ELLIPTICAL 92 MINUTES, MANUAL SETTING, LEVEL '20' 2125 CALORIES

TOTAL CALORIES BURNED 4196 CALORIES

Friday net calories NEGATIVE 1568 calories

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CAPSULE ENDOSCOPY

Yesterday,  I followed my instructions and had only clear liquids after 12:00PM Noon.   After midnight, I started my complete fast.  Today, Wednesday, I head to the GI Lab (Gastro Intenstinal Lab) at the hospital for a some quick out-patient pill swallowing and to be fitted for the electronic 'belt' that I will be wearing for 8 hours.

I have used an Olympus camera for more than 10 years - although it never occurred to me to ingest it.

Through everything I have been through, I have remained completely vigilant about my daily visits to the fitness room.  I have tried insure that in every 24 hour day, I will have exercised.  Since yesterday, was another half-fasting day.  I was able to squeeze my Tuesday workout in at 12:30AM early, early yesterday morning.

This means that my next workout scheduled for Thursday can take place after a good nights sleep and after I have returned to normal eating.

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 TUESDAY MENU
breakfast    two eggs w/bacon, oatmeal w/prune, oat/honey granola   555 calories
lunch          Huge Spinach Salad, two apples, Whole Foods Granola  1209 calories
dinner        YELLOW JELLO                                                                 40 calories

total calories  1804 calories  


calories burned
12:30AM STAIR CLIMBING (ground floor to 25th floor) 65 calories(4 min, 3.45 sec)
12:40AM ELLIPTICAL 32 MINUTES (level 16, manual setting)  585 calories
01:20AM STAIR DESCENDING (25th floor to ground floor) 15 calories (2 min, 40.0 sec)

TOTAL CALORIES BURNED  665 CALORIES

MONDAY NET CALORIES 1139 CALORIES

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