HARD FOR ME NOT TO WALK

Yesterday was the last day of a five day visit to New York to visit my Mom. On the second day of this visit my Mom tripped and fractured her ankle in three places while we were in Connecticut. (I have suggested to her that she embellish her story and claim that it was a parachute jump accident - something to do with the chute not deploying properly.  Surely this is a more interesting story than tripping on a hemp rug, but this is her decision what she wants to tell people.) After a late night trip to the the Emergency Room in Sharon, Connecticut.  She spent one final night at the home of my youngest brother. On Sunday, we managed to drive home to Long Island with my Mom stretched out in the back seat. We needed the Police to help get her in her home after getting out of the car as they were able to lift the wheelchair to get past the front steps to the front door. She cannot put any weight on her left foot. Since I was with her in New York, within three days, we were able to get her chairlift fixed, purchase a shower chair, get a temporary ramp in the backyard installed, visit a surgeon (although not the surgeon who will perform the surgery) who was able to cut down the original splint so my Mom could at least bend her knee. This surgeon that we did meet was a specialist in shoulders. He was a very young guy and just to add some levity to this visit, we discovered that this day that we met him was his very first day at this particular practice - although not his first day as a doctor.  Still, it was a productive visit as he ordered a cat scan, which we managed to get done at another nearby location. Although nothing is 'nearby' when the struggle to get in and out of the car is so difficult. And finally, and most importantly, round-the-clock home health care workers were organized. I have met one of the three who will be rotating care, and this woman is simply the most wonderful person a person could imagine. We established a rapport and friendship within minutes of her arrival. It turns out that she is a marathon runner. In fact, that is incorrect. She is an ultra-marathon runner. I don't find myself wondering if this woman will have the stamina to take care of my Mom. That apparently is not an issue.  Every step that my Mom takes with her walker is painstakingly difficult and it will be a while before she is walking.

This only serves to remind me how lucky I am. Each and every day I am bopping around counting steps that often exceed 20,000 per day. I often try to walk 10 miles per day.  Yesterday, since it was my last day with my Mom during this trip, I thought it best not to go out for a walk. Even so, when my flight arrived at around 10:00PM in Midway Airport in Chicago, I did hop onto the subway. I departed the train about three miles from home and walked the rest of the way home. When one's hobby is walking, it is 'easy' to find a way to walk no matter what the circumstances of one's day. For me, it is hard for me not to walk. This is in stark contrast to the situation my Mom is in. 

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Your Food Diary For:

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Great Grains - Raisins Dates & Pecans	500	98	10	10	321	31
	500	98	10	10	321	31
L U N C H
Luna Bar - 3 Chocolate Peppermint Sticks	570	84	18	24	330	24
	570	84	18	24	330	24
D I N N E R
Chicken Cacciatore	350	7	11	58	571	0
Homemade - Ratatouiile	100	0	8	8	121	0
Home Made - Garden Salad, 1 bowl	100	6	0	4	400	4
Challah	300	51	7	9	815	0
Bakery - Cookies	500	71	21	4	396	29
	1,350	135	47	83	2,303	33
S N A C K S
Nugo - Vanilla Yogurt Bar, 2 bar (50g)	340	52	5	22	300	26
Oreos - Oreos, 9 cookies	480	75	21	3	420	42
	820	127	26	25	720	68
Totals	3,240	444	101	142	3,674	156
Your Daily Goal	2,724	340	90	137	2,300	102
Remaining	-516	-104	-11	-5	-1,374	-54
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 794 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 214 lbs in 5 weeks.


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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
3 MILE WALK HOME FROM SUBWAY TO HOME	43	544
Daily Total / Goal	44 / 30	794 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	135 / 210	2,222 / 4,130

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I was curious how my MapMyWalk app would record the takeoff of my flight from LaGuardia Airport. So I activated the app just as the plane started roaring down the runway... It was interesting for me to see the path the plane took to turn itself around and start heading west to Chicago.

LAST TWO DAYS OF STRUGGLE

I think I should be down to my last two days of struggle.  I am in the third week of my recuperation from the hernia surgery and still under doctors orders to keep my lifting under 15 pounds. I have an appointment today and tomorrow to show three different fabric lines. It appears I will be making multiple trips from my car to the store to get this accomplished.  On Wednesday, I will be boarding a plane to Salt Lake City for International Quilt Market. The best thing about this is that there will be no heavy lifting... I may have to ask for some assistance getting by carryon luggage in its proper compartment... I can look forward to my return trip when all restrictions will be lifted.  Basically, I am down to my last two days of struggle.

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Your Food Diary For:

Sunday, May 15, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Quaker - Grits - Instant - Original, 2 packet	200	44	0	4	620	0
Butterball - Bacon Style Turkey	140	2	12	8	600	0
Sage - Red Delicious Apple, 2 medium apple	190	50	1	1	4	38
	530	96	13	13	1,224	38
L U N C H
Omelette Ham, Spinach and Swiss Cheese	600	9	33	64	696	2
Butterball - Bacon Style Turkey	140	2	12	8	600	0
Apple - Apple, Red Delicious, Medium	190	50	0	0	4	38
	930	61	45	72	1,300	40
D I N N E R
Homemade Corn Bread Muffins	300	44	11	7	659	12
Weight Watcher's - Cabbage Soup	200	20	0	5	157	11
	500	64	12	12	815	23
S N A C K S
Louis Kemp - Sriracha Crab Delights, 2 leg	80	12	2	6	580	4
Homemade Cookies - Chocolate Chip	330	19	18	7	45	10
Add Food Quick Tools	410	31	20	13	625	14
Totals	2,370	252	90	110	3,964	116
Your Daily Goal	2,604	325	86	131	2,300	97
Remaining	234	72	-3	21	-1,663	-18
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 674 extra calories from exercise today

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Sunday, May 15, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
MATRIX TREADMILL	99	881
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	-207
Daily Total / Goal	100 / 30	674 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	360 / 210	2,732 / 4,130

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ONE MORE WEEK

I admit I was nervous when I visited my surgeon yesterday. During the week I have been feeling slight discomforts and twinges in my abdominal area that I have never noticed before. Last weekend, I even started feeling (and/or imagining) pains and twinges on my left side (my surgery was on the right side!). When I met with my surgeon today, I immediately blurted out that I feared that I was suffering from a new hernia. It took him all of 30 seconds to assuage my fears.  There is no new hernia. The hernia surgery is healing precisely as it should. I have been advised to continue to not lift more than 15 pounds for one week more. After the third week, I was advised that I could physically do whatever I wanted whenever I wanted.  On Monday and Tuesday, I have appointments with customers who will be unoffended as I go back and forth into their stores to bring my samples in on multiple trips. On Wednesday, I fly to Salt Lake City for International Quilt Market. By the time that I return, I should be ship shape and ready to resume my life as it was before this unpleasantness started. The hernia surgery wasn't the worst thing that can happen to someone, but I am glad that this chapter in my life is soon to be concluded.

The surgeon had indicated that my bicycle ride last weekend was not my best idea. The reason that bicycle riding during week one of recovery was ill-advised was that if I had fallen down somehow, that would have been a problem. Nevertheless, I had no mishaps during the bike ride and caused no problems with my recovery. Most of my phantom pains, twitches and twinges ceased to be a nuisance after being assured that I had healed properly.  Once I returned home, I hopped onto my treadmill for a full 90 minute session.  This was the first time I had done any exercise in four days. I think now with a more serious effort to get back on track calorie-wise and the resumption of a daily calorie burn I will have a better shot at losing some of the excess pounds that have been creeping back on.

SATURDAY WEIGHT 239 LBS
better than last week, still much work to do

Your Food Diary For:

Friday, May 13, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Quaker - Grits - Instant - Original	200	44	0	4	620	0
Butterball - Bacon Style Turkey, 4 slices	140	2	12	8	600	0
Egg, whole, cooked, poached, 3 large	215	1	14	19	446	1
	555	47	26	31	1,666	1
L U N C H
Nathan's Skinless Beef Franks	280	2	26	10	960	0
Campbells Soup Italian Wedding	200	26	5	12	820	8
	480	28	31	22	1,780	8
D I N N E R
Shrimp - Cooked, breaded and fried	400	19	20	35	569	0
Cream Corn	100	22	1	2	360	8
Codfish - Codfish	100	0	1	22	74	0
	600	41	22	59	1,003	8
S N A C K S
Sage - Red Delicious Apple, 2 medium	190	50	1	1	4	38
Ghirardelli - Chocolate 86% Cacao	250	15	25	3	0	5
	440	65	26	4	4	43
Totals	2,075	181	105	116	4,452	59
Your Daily Goal	2,665	333	89	134	2,300	100
Remaining	590	151	-16	18	-2,152	40
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 735 extra calories from exercise today

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Friday, May 13, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
MATRIX TREADMILL	90	800
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	-65
Daily Total / Goal	91 / 30	735 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	160 / 210	1,331 / 4,130

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ONE WEEK AGO

As I write this it is precisely 8:00AM Central Time in Chicago.  One week ago at this time, I was probably being stitched up after my surgeon placed a medical mesh over the internal rip in my abdomen that was allowing my intestines to go places where they were very unwelcome and the cause of considerable pain and discomfort. I guess I could have just written that I had had a hernia surgery. My recovery form this minimally invasive procedure has astounded me. I was walking like an old man for two days afterwards and taking a strong prescription for pain.  By day three, it has become evident to me that I was no longer in pain and therefore stopped taking the painkilling medication.  On the third day I was able to navigate a four mile walk with my family around Chicago. This was just a casual stroll.  As the week ended on on Wednesday and Thursday, I was able to spend two hours on the treadmill zipping along at a 4.2 mph pace with seemingly no ill effects, each day logging more than nine miles.  As I was coming out of my anesthetically induced stupor one week ago - I didn't think that the speed of my recovery would be quite so fast. Still I am operating under a highly restrictive order to avoid lifting anything more than 15 pounds.  One week from today, I will visit my surgeon, hopefully for the last time with final instructions which will allow me to resume my life as before (or at least a schedule that will advise me when that time is due).

two gallons of water weigh approximately 15 pounds - this is the limit of what I can lift until the restriction itself is lifted

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Your Food Diary For:

Thursday, May 5, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
3 Egg Omelette - Ham and Cheese	400	1	30	40	1,225	0
Kirkland - Pre-Cooked Bacon	240	0	18	18	1,050	0
	640	1	48	58	2,275	0
L U N C H
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich	520	70	30	18	700	26
	520	70	30	18	700	26
D I N N E R
Golden Butternut Squash	110	21	2	2	740	12
Broccoli	120	12	1	11	98	0
Chinese Style Orange Chicken	640	48	32	42	660	12
	870	81	35	55	1,498	24
S N A C K S
CHERRY VANILLA GRANOLA	500	83	15	10	125	31
Add Food Quick Tools	500	83	15	10	125	31
Totals	2,530	236	128	141	4,598	81
Your Daily Goal	2,974	372	99	149	2,300	111
Remaining	444	136	-28	7	-2,298	29
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 1,044 extra calories from exercise today

Your Exercise Diary for:

      Thursday, May 5, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
MATRIX TREADMILL	65	606
MATRIX TREADMILL	65	594
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	-156
Daily Total / Goal	131 / 30	1,044 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	448 / 210	2,763 / 4,130

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Session 1  minutes: 65   distance: 4.57miles    calories: 606

Session 2  minutes: 65   distance: 4.69miles    calories: 594

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NINE MILES

I remember so well that day in early April when I was taking an urban hike in Bloomington, Illinois and how much pain and discomfort I felt.  The last two miles of that hike were painful and proved to me finally that something was wrong with me. I spent two hours keeping ice on my abdomen thinking that would help.  Ice is not the cure for a hernia. Rest is not the cure for a hernia. Only surgery is the cure for a hernia.  It was less than one week ago when I had my surgery.  I have followed the advice of my doctor and I have not lifted anything weighing more than 15 pounds.  I have also followed the advice that I could walk as much as I pleased as long as I felt no pain or discomfort.  Yesterday, I 'walked' nine miles on the treadmill. It was a bonafide workout. My speed was set to 4.2 miles per hour - which is very close to my top speed of 4.5 mph. After two sessions of 65 minutes each - I had accumulated 9 miles. It felt so good to be breaking a sweat. 

Your Food Diary For:

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
3 Egg Omelette - Ham and Cheese, 1 Omelette	400	1	30	40	1,225	0
Kirkland - Pre-Cooked Bacon	240	0	18	18	1,050	0
	640	1	48	58	2,275	0
L U N C H
Pepperidge Farm - Sourdough Bread, 4 slice	480	88	6	16	880	8
Sensational Seafood Salad	380	18	28	18	960	6
	860	106	34	34	1,840	14
D I N N E R
Homemade - Chicken Breast	360	0	0	0	0	0
Spaghetti With Meat Sauce	480	126	3	21	0	0
	840	126	3	21	0	0
S N A C K S
Nature Valley - Oats 'n Honey Crunchy Granola Bar, 2 bars	190	29	6	4	160	12
Apples, 1 medium apple	80	22	0	0	0	16
	270	51	6	4	160	28
Totals	2,610	284	91	117	4,275	42
Your Daily Goal	2,867	358	95	144	2,300	107
Remaining	257	74	4	27	-1,975	65
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 937 extra calories from exercise today

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Your Exercise Diary for:

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
MATRIX TREADMILL	65	596
MATRIX TREADMILL	65	608
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	-267
Daily Total / Goal	131 / 30	937 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	316 / 210	1,663 / 4,130

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HELLO RAZOR

My carefully cultivated wild (unshaved) appearance which was hatched over a week or so between by surgery pre-op and post-op has come to an end. I was under the impression that I was under doctors orders and forbidden to drive during the first week of hernia recovery. I admit I could not fathom why driving would be disallowed. I did discover that that that particular warning is based on the premise that a patient recovering from hernia surgery might be under the influence of strong pain killer drugs during the first week. My pain was completely dissipated after 48 hours - and I know that the absolute biggest challenge facing my recovery now will be remembering to take it easy and not to lift anything more than 15 pounds. I have made my first post op appointment with a customer to sell some buttons today. I emptied my buttons from their large suitcase and placed them in 6 individual canvas tote bags. Once I start selling my fabrics this will present some additional challenges. Fabric samples are heavy! I meet with my surgeon in 9 days. I am hopeful that some of these weight limiting restrictions will become much less restrictive. The good news is that I am back to exercising daily. I am starting where I started last year. I am spending time on the treadmill. Yesterday I was able to log 6.93 miles in a 104 minute session. The weather should be getting real good real quick and I am looking forward to to once again taking some long vigorous urban hikes. It feels very good to be pain free, as long as I remember not to sneeze, cough or sit up or sit down too quickly. Soon I will be firing on all cylinders. 

Goodbye wild look.  Pre-Shaved, Post-Op Appearance.

Hello Civilized Appearance.  Still Post-Op, but now Post-Shaved

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I would like to thank my wife Jennifer for being very helpful in my quick recovery. She answered the bell last Friday, and got me to the surgical center on time at 6AM. She stood by me as I awoke from my anesthetically induced stupor (if only all stupors were so easy to awake from - I am talking to you, America...way to go making Trump your nominee)  In addition, Jennifer has helped prepare lots of delicious meals while I have been spending more time at home than usual. I am very accustomed to eating my breakfasts at the Super 8 or some other equally uninspiring lodging - it has been much more enjoyable having a delicious freshly prepared ham and cheese omelette for breakfast.

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Your Food Diary For:

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Malt-o-meal Cereal - Honey Nut Scooters	360	72	5	9	630	27
3 Egg Omelette - Ham and Cheese, 1 Omelette	400	1	30	40	1,225	0
Sage - Red Delicious Apple, 1 medium apple	95	25	0	1	2	19
	855	98	35	50	1,857	46
L U N C H
Costco - Cheese Pizza Slice, 1 Slice	700	70	28	44	1,370	7
	700	70	28	44	1,370	7
D I N N E R
Generic - Chicken Breast, 1 breast	500	37	26	28	520	3
Wild rice, cooked, 2 cup	331	70	1	13	10	2
	831	107	27	41	530	5
S N A C K S
Apples - Apples, 3 medium apple	240	66	0	0	0	48
	240	66	0	0	0	48
Totals	2,626	341	90	135	3,757	106
Your Daily Goal	2,306	288	77	116	2,300	86
Remaining	-320	-53	-12	-18	-1,456	-20
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 376 extra calories from exercise today

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Although my photograph of the treadmill display shows 99 minutes, 59 seconds - this is only because this particular treadmill is restricted to a two digit maximum on the number of minutes. After a 99 minute workout, and a 5 minute 'cooldown' the total time spent treadmilling was actually 104 minutes. It felt good to be moving my legs after so many weeks of serious inactivity.  My distance travelled was 6.93 miles.  I am happy.  My fitbit is happy.  My patched up intestines are happy.  I think in about two weeks time I will be given the 'OK' to use an elliptical machine again. And at some point, I should be able to lift more than 15 pounds.  That day can't come soon enough. Then I will be very happy.

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