Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Entry 3/31/09
Weight: 235 lbs. Gained a pound since yesterday. Not alarmed .... yet. Remember it takes about 4 days to spot a trend.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Entry 3/30/09
Weight: 234 lbs.
Breakfast: Two fried eggs, 2 slices of whole wheat toast, and cup of coffee with creamer and sweetener. Omega 3 capsule, vitamin. I take the omega 3 and vitamin every day but don't always mention them here. See my earlier post about my blood work. I attribute a lot of the good result to the omega 3.
I haven't been doing a good job of breaking up my meals into smaller amounts, like dividing lunch in half and eating 2 hours apart. Nor have I been getting enough snacks. I will try to do better.
Lunch: Chicken BLT Salad from Wendy's with Ranch dressing. Diet coke.
Dinner: Burrito, Taco. Diet coke.
Breakfast: Two fried eggs, 2 slices of whole wheat toast, and cup of coffee with creamer and sweetener. Omega 3 capsule, vitamin. I take the omega 3 and vitamin every day but don't always mention them here. See my earlier post about my blood work. I attribute a lot of the good result to the omega 3.
I haven't been doing a good job of breaking up my meals into smaller amounts, like dividing lunch in half and eating 2 hours apart. Nor have I been getting enough snacks. I will try to do better.
Lunch: Chicken BLT Salad from Wendy's with Ranch dressing. Diet coke.
Dinner: Burrito, Taco. Diet coke.
Entry 3/29/09
Weight: 234 lbs.
Breakfast: Two fried eggs (canola oil), two slices whole wheat toast with tiny bit of strawberry preserve, and cup of coffee with creamer and sweetener
Lunch: Sardines with Franks Red Hot sauce. Hush ....hold your nose and eat them. They are high on omega 3. I was introduced to them at very young age when I would go fishing with my dad. They were delicious after being on the lake all morning.
Dinner: 8 oz white fish and cole slaw. Diet Pepsi
Exercise: Walked/jogged 2.26 miles in 36 mins 49 seconds, avg Heart Rate 119 bpm, Max HR 155 bpm. Burned approximately 280 calories. If you don't have a heart rate monitor count your pulse for 15 seconds and multiply by 4. You can count for 12 seconds and multiply by 5, 10 seconds and multiply by 6 and so forth. However the shorter the counting period the less accurate the measurement. A heart monitor is so much easier. It's hard for me to count while I'm moving. Once you get in good shape your pulse will decrease quickly as soon as you stop your exercise. A heart monitor will capture the exact rate at any point but if you stop to count you may be off a bit.
Breakfast: Two fried eggs (canola oil), two slices whole wheat toast with tiny bit of strawberry preserve, and cup of coffee with creamer and sweetener
Lunch: Sardines with Franks Red Hot sauce. Hush ....hold your nose and eat them. They are high on omega 3. I was introduced to them at very young age when I would go fishing with my dad. They were delicious after being on the lake all morning.
Dinner: 8 oz white fish and cole slaw. Diet Pepsi
Exercise: Walked/jogged 2.26 miles in 36 mins 49 seconds, avg Heart Rate 119 bpm, Max HR 155 bpm. Burned approximately 280 calories. If you don't have a heart rate monitor count your pulse for 15 seconds and multiply by 4. You can count for 12 seconds and multiply by 5, 10 seconds and multiply by 6 and so forth. However the shorter the counting period the less accurate the measurement. A heart monitor is so much easier. It's hard for me to count while I'm moving. Once you get in good shape your pulse will decrease quickly as soon as you stop your exercise. A heart monitor will capture the exact rate at any point but if you stop to count you may be off a bit.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Entry 3/28/09
Weight: 233.5 Still haven't exercised in while. Cold front come through yesterday so I won't be outside (what a whuss...someone please tell me correct spelling if there is one)and I just can't get motivated to go lift weights.
While I am having less and less respect for Barbara Walters these days, I did find this interesting. I take a antioxidant product called Resvinatrol as a liquid. I'm searching for an even more concentrated source of Resveratrol. View and make up your own mind.
May God's will be done in all things . If it's time for you to go you will go. But there is no reason not to feel better while we're here.
Lunch: Chicken breast and less than 1/2 cup of rice in some kid of concoction my wife made. Dr. Pepper
Dinner: Two hot dogs with mustard and one wiener. That's three wieners. Not a good day for the ole weight loss program. Oh well, there are days like this. One just tries to get through them without totally throwing good judgment out the window. There is always tomorrow to do a better job.
"Anonymous" left me a comment that they had lost their job and they went on a binge. That's perfectly ok. Just as you are not going to lose a lot of fat in a day or two you are not going to gain a lot of fat in a day or two. Please note I say "fat". I didn't say weight. There are a lot of things other than just fat that affect your weight. I've discussed those in earlier post. The important thing is to not get discouraged and give up on your weight management for an extended period of time. As soon as you can get back with the program. Here's a few things to do to get you through these type days.
Include a little more chocolate (preferably plain cocoa or 82 % cocoa chocolate bars not milk chocolate), oats, bananas, mangoes, dried dates, yogurt, cottage cheese, red meat, eggs, fish, poultry, sesame, chickpeas, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, spirulina, peanuts and a lot more turkey and milk in your diet. If you have reduced your carbs add a few more back for a few days . Try to include more foods that contain omega3 like salmon, mackerel, sardines. Take an omega3 supplement-about a 1000mg a day. The first group of foods above especially milk and turkey contain high amounts of the protein Trytophan which is a precursor to Serotonin. Serotonin helps prevent depression and is the precursor to melatonin which helps us sleep. The carbs will raise the blood sugar a little, which improves the mood a bit. However try to consume low glycemic carbs so you don't through peaks and valleys of blood sugar and resulting mood swings. The omega 3 foods will help with mood. Since they are fats they will satisfy the hunger and omega 3 is the good fat. These foods will help you get through these periods of "emotional eating" with less damage to the waistline.
Lastly try motivate yourself to get some moderate exercise. This will help a lot with your mood and if you do eat more it will offset some of the extra calories.
I hope all my readers will keep "Anonymous" in your prayers. All things are possible through good. Many times loss of one job opens an opportunity for a better one. One that you would have not found if you were not looking.
While I am having less and less respect for Barbara Walters these days, I did find this interesting. I take a antioxidant product called Resvinatrol as a liquid. I'm searching for an even more concentrated source of Resveratrol. View and make up your own mind.
May God's will be done in all things . If it's time for you to go you will go. But there is no reason not to feel better while we're here.
Lunch: Chicken breast and less than 1/2 cup of rice in some kid of concoction my wife made. Dr. Pepper
Dinner: Two hot dogs with mustard and one wiener. That's three wieners. Not a good day for the ole weight loss program. Oh well, there are days like this. One just tries to get through them without totally throwing good judgment out the window. There is always tomorrow to do a better job.
"Anonymous" left me a comment that they had lost their job and they went on a binge. That's perfectly ok. Just as you are not going to lose a lot of fat in a day or two you are not going to gain a lot of fat in a day or two. Please note I say "fat". I didn't say weight. There are a lot of things other than just fat that affect your weight. I've discussed those in earlier post. The important thing is to not get discouraged and give up on your weight management for an extended period of time. As soon as you can get back with the program. Here's a few things to do to get you through these type days.
Include a little more chocolate (preferably plain cocoa or 82 % cocoa chocolate bars not milk chocolate), oats, bananas, mangoes, dried dates, yogurt, cottage cheese, red meat, eggs, fish, poultry, sesame, chickpeas, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, spirulina, peanuts and a lot more turkey and milk in your diet. If you have reduced your carbs add a few more back for a few days . Try to include more foods that contain omega3 like salmon, mackerel, sardines. Take an omega3 supplement-about a 1000mg a day. The first group of foods above especially milk and turkey contain high amounts of the protein Trytophan which is a precursor to Serotonin. Serotonin helps prevent depression and is the precursor to melatonin which helps us sleep. The carbs will raise the blood sugar a little, which improves the mood a bit. However try to consume low glycemic carbs so you don't through peaks and valleys of blood sugar and resulting mood swings. The omega 3 foods will help with mood. Since they are fats they will satisfy the hunger and omega 3 is the good fat. These foods will help you get through these periods of "emotional eating" with less damage to the waistline.
Lastly try motivate yourself to get some moderate exercise. This will help a lot with your mood and if you do eat more it will offset some of the extra calories.
I hope all my readers will keep "Anonymous" in your prayers. All things are possible through good. Many times loss of one job opens an opportunity for a better one. One that you would have not found if you were not looking.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Entry: 3/27/09
Weight: 233.5 lbs. I haven't exercised in the last 5 days so therefore I haven't lost any weight. At least for me, exercise is essential if I'm going to lose weight. When I was younger this was not the case. I could modify my eating habits and lose. I even bought into the diet psychology and would lose and maintain for awhile only to go off the "diet" and gain the weight back. Successful weight loss and management,barring some physical problem like diabetes or thyroid dysfunction, is a combination of psychology, exercise and eating habits (not dieting). Some people try to modify their eating habits and have mixed success because they don't exercise. Some think all they have to do is exercise and they don't pay proper attention to how they eat. Exercise and diet effects psychology and psychology determines our motivation to exercise and eat right. They are all inseparably dependent on each other. I have to pay attention to all three to achieve success.
I'm glad to hear that Phil, one of the regular readers of my blog, had a good report on his blood work, cholesterol included, and physical. It appears he is doing a good job of exercising and eating right. Way to go Phil! BTW he says he has incorporated walnuts as a snack in his diet.
Breakfast: Slice of American cheese on whole wheat toast and All-bran cereal with cup of whole milk. One fish oil capsule and vitamin. Cup of coffee with creamer and sweetener. Eight O'clock Colombian coffee beat out Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts and all other coffees in a recent taste test. Just their Colombian.
Lunch: Had a craving for Kentucky Fried Chicken Original. Ordered 3 thighs with coleslaw. Only ate the top crust off the biscuit. Diet Dr. Pepper. I could have done worse but sure could have chosen better. When I have a craving like this one of my favorite lines from the Desiderata comes to mind: "Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself".
Dinner: Taco Bueno nacho salad and taco. If it were not for the chips this wouldn't be a bad choice. But if a from had wings! Bueno is very close to my office so I tend to eat there a lot.
I'm glad to hear that Phil, one of the regular readers of my blog, had a good report on his blood work, cholesterol included, and physical. It appears he is doing a good job of exercising and eating right. Way to go Phil! BTW he says he has incorporated walnuts as a snack in his diet.
Breakfast: Slice of American cheese on whole wheat toast and All-bran cereal with cup of whole milk. One fish oil capsule and vitamin. Cup of coffee with creamer and sweetener. Eight O'clock Colombian coffee beat out Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts and all other coffees in a recent taste test. Just their Colombian.
Lunch: Had a craving for Kentucky Fried Chicken Original. Ordered 3 thighs with coleslaw. Only ate the top crust off the biscuit. Diet Dr. Pepper. I could have done worse but sure could have chosen better. When I have a craving like this one of my favorite lines from the Desiderata comes to mind: "Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself".
Dinner: Taco Bueno nacho salad and taco. If it were not for the chips this wouldn't be a bad choice. But if a from had wings! Bueno is very close to my office so I tend to eat there a lot.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Entry: 3/19/09
Weight: Forgot to weigh this morning. Must start eating more "brain" food.
Breakfast: Two tbsp. of peanut butter on two slices of whole wheat toast. Cup of coffe, with creamer and sweetener
Lunch: Ate at Hutchins Barbecue in "Historic Downtown Mckinney". Had 10 ounces of pulled pork. I'm guessing. NO I didn't ask the man to weigh it. I bet you can't find a scale in a GOOD barbecue restaurants. Also had green beans, and barbecue beans. One cup of barbecue sauce (350 calories). It's in the sauce! All the good stuff has the calories. Without the sauce this would have been a good choice. The sauce makes it not even a "Better Bad Choice" but a bad choice for a meal.
Dinner: Schlotzki's small original sandwich and diet coke. Too many carbs but I was craving it.
Snack: 4 walnuts.
Yesterday I attributed my lower than normal cholesterol results to omega 3. While I don't "diet", if you pay attention to what I eat, you'll notice there is not a lot of carbohydrates. Low carbohydrates forces your body to use fat for energy. To do that your body has to have the right chemical make up to convert that fat. That is another reason for my lower cholesterol. I've discussed these chemicals in earlier post.
Breakfast: Two tbsp. of peanut butter on two slices of whole wheat toast. Cup of coffe, with creamer and sweetener
Lunch: Ate at Hutchins Barbecue in "Historic Downtown Mckinney". Had 10 ounces of pulled pork. I'm guessing. NO I didn't ask the man to weigh it. I bet you can't find a scale in a GOOD barbecue restaurants. Also had green beans, and barbecue beans. One cup of barbecue sauce (350 calories). It's in the sauce! All the good stuff has the calories. Without the sauce this would have been a good choice. The sauce makes it not even a "Better Bad Choice" but a bad choice for a meal.
Dinner: Schlotzki's small original sandwich and diet coke. Too many carbs but I was craving it.
Snack: 4 walnuts.
Yesterday I attributed my lower than normal cholesterol results to omega 3. While I don't "diet", if you pay attention to what I eat, you'll notice there is not a lot of carbohydrates. Low carbohydrates forces your body to use fat for energy. To do that your body has to have the right chemical make up to convert that fat. That is another reason for my lower cholesterol. I've discussed these chemicals in earlier post.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Entry 3/18/09
Weight: 233.5 lb I haven't been eating the right foods and no moderate exercise. Now that warmer weather is here I won't have an excuse for not going on at least a 30 minute walk.
This is an article out of Newsmax.com:
“Moderate Intensity” Physical Activity Defined
The benefits of moderate physical activity to general health and well-being are well known. It is recommended that people engage in 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity physical activity, equivalent to 30 minutes each day 5 times a week. Although pedometers are widely used as a physical activity monitoring tool, they are unable to measure activity intensity. Researchers have determined that a rate of at least 100 steps per minute achieves moderate intensity activity. Therefore a simple pedometer-based recommendation of 3000 steps in 30 minutes can get people started on a meaningful exercise program. The study is published in the May 2009 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
While being monitored for oxygen uptake during walking on a treadmill, 58 woman and 39 men completed four 6-minute sessions at different treadmill speeds between 65 and 110 meters per minute. All wore pedometers and their heart rates were recorded. Using 3 METs, or metabolic equivalents, as the minimum level of oxygen demand which approximates moderate exercise, participants were monitored to determine whether they had reached the moderate-exercise level at a given treadmill speed. From these data, the researchers found that for men, step counts associated with walking at 3 METs were between 92 and 102 steps per minute. For women, the range was between 91 and 115 steps per minute.
Although a main finding of this study is that considerable error exists when using pedometer step counts to measure METs during treadmill walking, with only 50% of individuals correctly classified as walking at moderate intensity using step rate alone, the authors suggest that the pedometer can be used as a simple technique for anyone trying to meet exercise guidelines. (This comment is my own: If you find this statement contradictory to the rest of the article, you're not alone.)
Lead investigator Simon J. Marshall, PhD, School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University, states, "We believe that these data support a general recommendation of walking at more than 100 steps per minute on level terrain to meet the minimum of the moderate-intensity guideline. Because health benefits can be achieved with bouts of exercise lasting at least 10 minutes, a useful starting point is to try and accumulate 1000 steps in 10 minutes, before building up to 3000 steps in 30 minutes. Individuals can monitor their progress using a simple pedometer and a wristwatch."
Newsmax
I think a heart monitor is by far the best way to measure your exercise intensity. You can buy a heart rate monitor you wear on you wrist for about $30. That's not much more than a quality pedometer. Your heart rate should be 65-70% of maximum to be classified as moderate. I do agree that duration of your exercise should be close to 30 minutes to be defined as "moderate".
Also "moderate" is a relative term. If you are in good shape, you will have to do more work to reach the "moderate" level of exercise. This is another reason why a heart monitor is a superior measure. When you start exercising after being sedentary for a long time, your muscles will be smaller. Your heart will have to work harder for you to walk a given distance at a given rate. After a couple of weeks of regular moderate exercise your muscles will be bigger and your blood capillaries will have increased. While this is a good thing, your heart will not have to work as hard as it did in the beginning. So unless you increase your rate and/or time of exercise, the intensity of your heart or cardiovascular workout will begin to flatten out. But if you are monitoring your heartbeat you will always know if you are working your heart and cardiovascular system at a moderate level. You will find that you have to increase the rate of work in a given period to reach the "moderate" level for your heart.
It is also good to have a heart monitor the day you start exercising so you know that you are not working your heart too much and risking a heart attack. This becomes more important as we age. If you have exercised a lot during your life and you've paid attention to the amount of work you did and how you felt you will have an idea of the intensity without a heart monitor but I still recommend one. I wear my monitor almost every time I exercise moderately or aggressively.
Lunch: Five oz. turkey breast, green beans, and garlic spinach. Water with lemon to drink. Ate at Boston Market
Snack: 8 walnuts
Dinner: Grilled chicken (dark meat), beans, grilled veggies,and lots of pico de gallo. Diet coke to drink. Ate at Charro Chicken.
This is an article out of Newsmax.com:
“Moderate Intensity” Physical Activity Defined
The benefits of moderate physical activity to general health and well-being are well known. It is recommended that people engage in 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity physical activity, equivalent to 30 minutes each day 5 times a week. Although pedometers are widely used as a physical activity monitoring tool, they are unable to measure activity intensity. Researchers have determined that a rate of at least 100 steps per minute achieves moderate intensity activity. Therefore a simple pedometer-based recommendation of 3000 steps in 30 minutes can get people started on a meaningful exercise program. The study is published in the May 2009 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
While being monitored for oxygen uptake during walking on a treadmill, 58 woman and 39 men completed four 6-minute sessions at different treadmill speeds between 65 and 110 meters per minute. All wore pedometers and their heart rates were recorded. Using 3 METs, or metabolic equivalents, as the minimum level of oxygen demand which approximates moderate exercise, participants were monitored to determine whether they had reached the moderate-exercise level at a given treadmill speed. From these data, the researchers found that for men, step counts associated with walking at 3 METs were between 92 and 102 steps per minute. For women, the range was between 91 and 115 steps per minute.
Although a main finding of this study is that considerable error exists when using pedometer step counts to measure METs during treadmill walking, with only 50% of individuals correctly classified as walking at moderate intensity using step rate alone, the authors suggest that the pedometer can be used as a simple technique for anyone trying to meet exercise guidelines. (This comment is my own: If you find this statement contradictory to the rest of the article, you're not alone.)
Lead investigator Simon J. Marshall, PhD, School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University, states, "We believe that these data support a general recommendation of walking at more than 100 steps per minute on level terrain to meet the minimum of the moderate-intensity guideline. Because health benefits can be achieved with bouts of exercise lasting at least 10 minutes, a useful starting point is to try and accumulate 1000 steps in 10 minutes, before building up to 3000 steps in 30 minutes. Individuals can monitor their progress using a simple pedometer and a wristwatch."
Newsmax
I think a heart monitor is by far the best way to measure your exercise intensity. You can buy a heart rate monitor you wear on you wrist for about $30. That's not much more than a quality pedometer. Your heart rate should be 65-70% of maximum to be classified as moderate. I do agree that duration of your exercise should be close to 30 minutes to be defined as "moderate".
Also "moderate" is a relative term. If you are in good shape, you will have to do more work to reach the "moderate" level of exercise. This is another reason why a heart monitor is a superior measure. When you start exercising after being sedentary for a long time, your muscles will be smaller. Your heart will have to work harder for you to walk a given distance at a given rate. After a couple of weeks of regular moderate exercise your muscles will be bigger and your blood capillaries will have increased. While this is a good thing, your heart will not have to work as hard as it did in the beginning. So unless you increase your rate and/or time of exercise, the intensity of your heart or cardiovascular workout will begin to flatten out. But if you are monitoring your heartbeat you will always know if you are working your heart and cardiovascular system at a moderate level. You will find that you have to increase the rate of work in a given period to reach the "moderate" level for your heart.
It is also good to have a heart monitor the day you start exercising so you know that you are not working your heart too much and risking a heart attack. This becomes more important as we age. If you have exercised a lot during your life and you've paid attention to the amount of work you did and how you felt you will have an idea of the intensity without a heart monitor but I still recommend one. I wear my monitor almost every time I exercise moderately or aggressively.
Lunch: Five oz. turkey breast, green beans, and garlic spinach. Water with lemon to drink. Ate at Boston Market
Snack: 8 walnuts
Dinner: Grilled chicken (dark meat), beans, grilled veggies,and lots of pico de gallo. Diet coke to drink. Ate at Charro Chicken.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Entry 3/17/09
Weight: Didn't weigh this morning. If I can't weigh at the same time everyday I just skip it. I weigh first thing when I go to the kitchen in the morning before I eat.
Breakfast: Cup of All Bran and half cup of raisens with whole milk. Was out of Skim Milk. A vitamin and 1 DHEA tablet. Still haven't thought to pick up some Omega 3 capsules. Been eating walnuts (good source of omega3) throughout the day though.
My family makes fun of my walnuts. But I got my results back from my physical yesterday. The Doctor told me that I wasted my money. My blood work was perfect. I was surprised to say the least. In the past my Cholesterol has been too high. This was the first physical I've had since I started eating walnuts almost daily, taking omega3 capsules and eating fish rich in omega 3. My total Cholesterol this time was 159 (acceptable range is 125-200. LDL (I call it Least Desirable Level so I remember which is good and which is bad) was 104 (less than 130 is acceptable) and my HDL(Highly Desirable Level) was 42 (greater than 40 is acceptable). This was the best I've ever tested. My Triglycerides were 65 (less than 150 is acceptable). Make fun of my walnuts now why don't you!
I did get a scare though. Doctor said there was a problem with my EKG. He went into a detailed description of the waveform and what each blip indicated. He drew a diagram of the heart and how the electrical signals function.
The "pacemaker" is the Sinus Node. That is where the heart beat starts. It sends signals to the rest of the heart so the muscles will contract. First, the atrium (top chambers)contracts. Next, the electrical signal travels to the area that connects the atria with the ventricles. This electrical connection is critical. Without it, the signal would never reach the ventricles, the major pumping chambers of the heart. The first structure it reaches is another natural pacemaker called the atrioventricular (AV node). A structure called the bundle of His emerges from the AV node and divides into thin, wire-like structures called bundle branches that extend into the right and left ventricles. The electrical signal travels down the bundle branches to thin filaments known as Purkinje fibers. These fibers distribute the electrical impulse to the muscles of the ventricles, causing them to contract and pump blood into the arteries.
Doctor then told me that in my heart, the time that the electrical signal traveling from the sinus node to the AV node was longer than normal. The condition is called First Degree Blockage. His explanation took about 10 minutes during which I was holding my breath. He THEN states that this is nothing to worry about. I can run, lift, do strenuous work.. anything physical without any worry. Whew... thanks doc now I can breathe. He did say that it wasn't critical but to "put a bow around the package" I should consider wearing a Holter pack for 24 hours to record my heartbeats to make sure I was not dropping more than the normal amount of beats. Yeah doc I want to do that.
Breakfast: Cup of All Bran and half cup of raisens with whole milk. Was out of Skim Milk. A vitamin and 1 DHEA tablet. Still haven't thought to pick up some Omega 3 capsules. Been eating walnuts (good source of omega3) throughout the day though.
My family makes fun of my walnuts. But I got my results back from my physical yesterday. The Doctor told me that I wasted my money. My blood work was perfect. I was surprised to say the least. In the past my Cholesterol has been too high. This was the first physical I've had since I started eating walnuts almost daily, taking omega3 capsules and eating fish rich in omega 3. My total Cholesterol this time was 159 (acceptable range is 125-200. LDL (I call it Least Desirable Level so I remember which is good and which is bad) was 104 (less than 130 is acceptable) and my HDL(Highly Desirable Level) was 42 (greater than 40 is acceptable). This was the best I've ever tested. My Triglycerides were 65 (less than 150 is acceptable). Make fun of my walnuts now why don't you!
I did get a scare though. Doctor said there was a problem with my EKG. He went into a detailed description of the waveform and what each blip indicated. He drew a diagram of the heart and how the electrical signals function.
The "pacemaker" is the Sinus Node. That is where the heart beat starts. It sends signals to the rest of the heart so the muscles will contract. First, the atrium (top chambers)contracts. Next, the electrical signal travels to the area that connects the atria with the ventricles. This electrical connection is critical. Without it, the signal would never reach the ventricles, the major pumping chambers of the heart. The first structure it reaches is another natural pacemaker called the atrioventricular (AV node). A structure called the bundle of His emerges from the AV node and divides into thin, wire-like structures called bundle branches that extend into the right and left ventricles. The electrical signal travels down the bundle branches to thin filaments known as Purkinje fibers. These fibers distribute the electrical impulse to the muscles of the ventricles, causing them to contract and pump blood into the arteries.
Doctor then told me that in my heart, the time that the electrical signal traveling from the sinus node to the AV node was longer than normal. The condition is called First Degree Blockage. His explanation took about 10 minutes during which I was holding my breath. He THEN states that this is nothing to worry about. I can run, lift, do strenuous work.. anything physical without any worry. Whew... thanks doc now I can breathe. He did say that it wasn't critical but to "put a bow around the package" I should consider wearing a Holter pack for 24 hours to record my heartbeats to make sure I was not dropping more than the normal amount of beats. Yeah doc I want to do that.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
Entry 3/13/09
Weight: 233 Lbs. Holding my own. Only one walking day in 7 days. Not eating well just making "Better bad choices". Extremely busy. Went for bloodwork and EKG Tuesday...results on Monday.
Friday the 13th! So what...This is a day the Lord has made, rejoice in it!
Friday the 13th! So what...This is a day the Lord has made, rejoice in it!
Monday, March 9, 2009
Entry 3/9/09
Weight: 233 lbs.
Breakfast: Oatmeal, 2 slices whole wheat toast, coffe with creamer, sweetener.
Vitamin, 1 DHEA tablet
Breakfast: Oatmeal, 2 slices whole wheat toast, coffe with creamer, sweetener.
Vitamin, 1 DHEA tablet
Friday, March 6, 2009
Entry 3/6/09
Weight: 233.5 Although my weight is stable it's not all good news. While it does mean I've lost fat since last week, I probably have lost a little muscle since I haven't worked out significantly since Thursday one week ago. Therefore I haven't lost as much fat as the scales indicate. After 3-4 days your muscles begin to atrophy if they are not exercised to at least 80 % of their capacity.
Breakfast: Two fried eggs with only one yolk. That was unintentional. I don't have the "Waffle House Flip" perfected. One yolk came out of the pan. Fortunately most of the white stayed in. One sausage patty, 2 slices of whole wheat toast and 2 cups of coffee with cocoa, sweetener and creamer. I'm out of fish oil capsules! A vitamin and 1 DHEA tablet.
Breakfast: Two fried eggs with only one yolk. That was unintentional. I don't have the "Waffle House Flip" perfected. One yolk came out of the pan. Fortunately most of the white stayed in. One sausage patty, 2 slices of whole wheat toast and 2 cups of coffee with cocoa, sweetener and creamer. I'm out of fish oil capsules! A vitamin and 1 DHEA tablet.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Entry 3/5/09
Weight: 233.5 At least I'm not gaining. That's good especially since I haven't been eating well. I have been making some better bad choices mostly due to time constraints. Hopefully I can go back and update the last few days.
I'm excited that Fitlynxx has again started sending me Elephants. Are you curious?
Stay tuned.
I'm excited that Fitlynxx has again started sending me Elephants. Are you curious?
Stay tuned.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Entry 3/3/09
Weight: 233.5 lbs No change from yesterday. Haven't exercised since last Thursday. That's no good.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Entry 3/1/09
March already. The more experience you have with it the faster time slides by.
Weight: 234 lbs. That is about one pound of absolute weight loss for the week, but I figure about 2 pounds of fat loss. I worked out with weights a couple of times this week, so there was some muscle gain. I can also tell by the way my clothes fit.
Weight: 234 lbs. That is about one pound of absolute weight loss for the week, but I figure about 2 pounds of fat loss. I worked out with weights a couple of times this week, so there was some muscle gain. I can also tell by the way my clothes fit.
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