Thursday, May 5, 2016

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:

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

Your Exercise Diary for:

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

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

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

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.

Your Food Diary For:

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

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.

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

SNACKED

Snacking is something that I so successfully avoided when my weight initially dropped from 309 lbs down to about 220 lbs. Over the past few weeks I have recently put back on about 20 of those pounds. It is an understatement that the recent level of inactivity due to the hernia for the past 5 weeks have not been helpful to me. Now that the surgery is behind me, I am anticipating spending more and more time burning some calories and being much more active. While it remains true that one cannot undo poorly chosen ingested calories on a treadmill or elliptical machine - it is still a better hobby than sitting on a couch and snacking. Yesterday I 'snacked' and I couldn't be more pleased. It is because I broke my personal record on WORDS WITH FRIENDS. My previous highest point total for one word was 'minivans' which earned 197 points. My new record on WORDS WITH FRIENDS is 'SNACKED' which earned 218 points. There is some kind of cosmic irony that this is the word that is likely to remain my personal record for quite some time. It took me more than 2 years to best the previous record that I had scored with 'minivans.' What is your highest word score?

new personal record Words with Friends - 218 points

Your Food Diary For:

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Malt-o-meal Cereal - Honey Nut Scooters	360	72	5	9	630	27
Sage - Red Delicious Apple, 1 medium apple	95	25	0	1	2	19
3 Egg Omelette - Ham and Cheese, 1 Omelette	400	1	30	40	1,225	0
	855	98	35	50	1,857	46
L U N C H
Havarti - Costco Dofino - Cheese	110	1	9	6	210	0
Pepperidge Farm - Sourdough Bread	240	44	3	8	440	4
Cabbage Soup	100	10	0	2	79	6
	450	55	12	16	729	10
D I N N E R
Pizza Hut - Personal Pepperoni Pizza	630	67	29	25	1,590	7
	630	67	29	25	1,590	7
S N A C K S
Hershey - York Peppermint Patty	140	31	3	1	10	25
Apples - Apples, 2 medium apple	160	44	0	0	0	32
	300	75	3	1	10	57

Totals	2,235	295	79	92	4,185	120
Your Daily Goal	2,276	284	76	114	2,300	85
Remaining	41	-10	-2	22	-1,885	-34
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 346 extra calories from exercise today

Your Exercise Diary for:

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
MATRIX TREADMILL	79	512
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	-166


Daily Total / Goal	80 / 30	346 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	80 / 210	346 / 4,130

Tuesday was the first day since my laparoscopic hernia surgery that I attempted (and succeeded) to have an actual cardio workout. It was not the most vigorous workout that I had ever had - but it was not nothing. As per doctors orders I have removed plastic bandages over the two incision spots on my abdominal area. My followup appointment with the surgeon has been scheduled for Friday the 13th in about two weeks time. I am on my way back.

FIRST SESSION: 65 MINUTES, 4mph, 4.35 miles, 387 calories

SECOND SESSION: 13:24 MINUTES, 4.5mph, 1 mile, 125 calories

Monday, May 2, 2016

THE FIRST 72 HOURS AFTER SURGERY

It is now becoming increasingly clear to me that the biggest challenge facing my complete recovery from my hernia surgery will be successfully refraining from doing too much too quickly. Too much in this case is going to be defined as lifting more than the prescribed amount (15 pounds) before my doctor gives me clearance to do so. I say this because yesterday my family joined me on a walk around downtown Chicago. No lifting was involved, and therefore no risk to my recovery was involved. It is still true that I sit down and sit up with some trepidation, and a clear cut reminder that my midsection was recently patched up, but the actual walking about was completely pain free. I had (repeatedly) asked my surgeon the question about walking. He was quite clear in his response: 'Let your comfort by your guide.' Well, yesterday, bopping around town, I felt no pain. This is in direct contrast to the walking in Minnesota with my daughter one week prior to my surgery. Although, I was walking in the Mall of America and the City of Duluth, there were times during that trip when I was clutching my abdomen in great pain. Yesterday, I was able to move about without any regard to my hernia. I suppose that I can be forgiven for thinking that I no longer have a hernia. Medically, this may be the case. Right now I do not have a hole in my muscles where my intestines are popping out. So, by that definition, I no longer have a hernia. This could be the simple explanation why I walking around pain free, and why the 4 mile walk around downtown Chicago was so enjoyable with my family yesterday. It could have been even more enjoyable had it been a nicer day. What's the deal with it being so cold in May? Yesterday's temperatures in Chicago were under 50° F.

Back in the 'old days' (last month) I would walk around town at and average 13 minute miles. My four mile walk yesterday was closer to 18 minute miles. Still, I am only within 72 hours of my experience on the operating table - so I currently have no complaints. I am mending. Right now, I am grateful for my mobility.

Your Food Diary For:

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Sage - Red Delicious Apple, 1 medium apple	95	25	0	1	2	19
Malt-o-meal Cereal - Honey Nut Scooters	480	96	6	12	840	36
	575	121	6	13	842	55
L U N C H
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich, 2 sandwich	520	70	30	18	700	26
	520	70	30	18	700	26
D I N N E R
Havarti - Costco Dofino - Cheese	220	1	18	12	420	0
Pepperidge Farm - Sourdough Bread	240	44	3	8	440	4
Minestrone - Homemade	400	68	5	24	690	7
	860	113	26	44	1,550	11
S N A C K S
Dreyer's - Outshine Fruit Bars Creamy Coconut, 2 bar	240	40	6	8	80	36
	240	40	6	8	80	36

Totals	2,195	345	68	82	3,172	128
Your Daily Goal	2,620	327	87	132	2,300	98
Remaining	425	-17	19	49	-871	-29
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 690 extra calories from exercise today

Sunday, May 1, 2016

THE FIRST 48 HOURS AFTER SURGERY

It is hard for me to know precisely where my discomfort is coming from now. I have had the hernia surgery and a mesh has been placed over the torn muscles so that my no part of my intestines are poking about where they should not be. I either am no longer feeling pain in my abdomen or imagining that I no longer feel pain in my abdomen. I believe most of my discomfort is localized in my belly button area where the surgeon made one of his incisions. It is still difficult to sit up, sit down, sneeze or cough. When I am actually walking, moving about, I don't feel so bad. I have stopped taking the pain medication because I guess I don't feel enough pain. I think that the physical discomfort that I do feel should be utilized to more accurately assist me in assessing my rate of healing. I feel that it will not be a good idea to further mask the discomfort. I have not lifted anything heavier than a gallon of milk, and that it going to be the biggest challenge going forward. Not attempting to over-exert myself based on doctors orders. I certainly do not want to risk causing the surgery repair to fail.

Your Food Diary For:

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Special K - Original	480	92	2	24	880	16
Sage - Red Delicious Apple, 1 medium apple	95	25	0	1	2	19
	575	117	2	25	882	35
L U N C H
Omelette With Ham, Spinach and Swiss Cheese	600	9	33	64	696	2
	600	9	33	64	696	2
D I N N E R
Roundy's Organics - Cheese Pizza	560	74	16	32	1480	2
	560	74	16	32	1480	2



Totals	1,735	163	44	105	2,317	38
Your Daily Goal	1,930	241	64	97	2,300	72
Remaining	195	78	20	-7	-17	33
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar

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