Mirocu, those chairs look great!

Chair update


Only need to get some paint for my paint gun now.

Project: Evaluate "new" breakfast
Status: Ongoing

I admit to having made these most recent changes with some apprehension. While I've questioned the FDA's and Heart Association's food guidelines for some time, questioning and going against their recommendations are two vastly different things. At the very least, I suspected that the switch from oatmeal-and-fruits to Bacon, an egg, half an avocado and some raspberries would put back on some or all of the weight lost due to my prior breakfast alterations. To my happy surprise, the advice followed to formulate my new breakfast has proven right, at least weightwise. Not only have I not gained weight, but actually lost some! In fact I'm now at the borderline of dropping too low!

Today's exercise-walk was the best (so far) this year. I had plenty of energy for those two steep inclines near the halfway point, and was still going strong at the end. My low-weights lifting session went well too. I still have breathing issues, but am not sure any diet is going to cure or improve Chronic Bronchiectasis. At any rate, I'm satisfied enough to keep breakfast as-is for the time being.


Project: Move boxes to attic
Status: Partial fail, and a lesson in reality

Feeling more energetic than usual this week, on Tuesday I tackled a years-put-off project; moving essential-to-retain, large, heavy boxes from the middle of my living-room floor to the attic. Also on the agenda; do the same with a ton of broken-down Amazon shipping boxes. I bought a construction helmet awhile back, so need no worry about cutting my head on roof nails. The flashlight was loaded with fresh batteries.

The attic is accessed via a fold-down wood ladder located in my computer room.

I started off moving three broken-down essential boxes.These were heavy enough to require tackling one at a time. The first transfer went well. The second, not so much. My left knee buckled during the climb. All that kept me from crashing to the floor was somehow being able to grab hold of the handrail located on one side of the steps. By the time I finagled that second box to the attic, I was panting up a storm. My arms were so shaky that when I attempted to pick up the flashlight, placed on the attic floor, it slipped through my fingers and rolled to the stairwell, then dropped to the computer-room floor. I sat on the attic floor some minutes, until feeling up to climbing down to retrieve the flashlight.

It was OK, though I had to fiddle with it maybe five minutes before it would turn on. I then carted the third and final broken-down essential box up the steps and positioned all three boxes where I wanted them. The final two essential boxes, which can't be broken down, proved too big to fit through the attic entry hole. (I should have measured them beforehand.)

By that point, I was exhausted beyond my limit. The project was abandoned. I did some juggling and created a new, out-of-the-way home in my bedroom for the two remaining essential boxes, and tossed all those Amazon boxes in the trash. I firmly believe that my days in the attic are behind me. Whatever's up there is likely to stay there, forever. If I need any essential boxes, I'll ask a neighbor for help.

The lesson learned here is that, despite feeling well, exercise, and trying to eat a healthy diet, some things that were once easy are now beyond me. The trick is in knowing what those things are before they do me harm. And hoping that a wrong assumption doesn't result in permanent damage.

I LOVE these chairs! And I can see in the background former projects of yours from years ago that I remember you posting at the time they went up, LOVE that they are still there and thriving!!!!!

Of course it's all there! All our projects have turned out nicely for us. Thanks!


Btw, here's another update And yes, I will paint those table legs red after another coating of the yellow

Thanks, guys!

Yeah, that yellow color was perfect! I'll get another bucket of it this afternoon

The diet of bacon and eggs is what I eat to keep my weight down; not gain weight. It is high in protein, low in carbs = lose weight. If you ate buttered toast with it, that might balance it out by adding carbs. The good thing about it is that eating that high protein WILL increase your muscle tissue; so it is actually better for you than what you have been eating on your "heart healthy" diet. My doctor told me the same dire warnings about eggs and bacon; but my heart actually improved when I finally started eating them again; so who knows?

Didn't I do this nine years ago?


Welp, indeed I did!

Help me out on this one. Just how does this connect with bacon?

Didn't I do this nine years ago?


Welp, indeed I did!

You can eat some whilst sitting by the freshly painted table

Project: Survive Nephrology Appointment
Status:

I've seen the Nephrologist every so many months for over a year. The issue? I've had low Blood Sodium readings for some sixteen years. Beginning two years ago, they dropped below the chart's "safe" line. Not so low as to require immediately drastic action, but low enough for frequent monitoring. During my previous visit, there was talk of me going on salt tablets.

This got me thinking (to the limited extent that's possible). For over two decades I followed orthodoxy by eating a low sodium diet. These last several years it's been a very low sodium diet. Why take tablets when I can simply modify my diet to consume more sodium/salt rich foods? What I learned researching this eventually led me to drastically alter breakfast, from oatmeal plus fruits to bacon, egg, half an avocado, and berries. This is week five on the new breakfast.

Today's blood work shows what the doctor says is a "perfect" sodium level! No tablets for me. Nor will I have any further Nephrology visits unless things ago astray.

I was a bit worried when I told the doc how I corrected the problem, since bacon and eggs are often frowned on by the medical establishment. Needlessly. He had no (outward) problem with my breakfast, and told me to keep at it. Now, I am NOT going to mention breakfast when visiting the heart doctor next Monday, unless forced to by unexpected circumstances.

Project: Survive Cardiology Appointment
Status: SNAFU

I arrived at the clinic's Cardio check-in desk about fifteen minutes prior to my 0900 appointment. To be told that the doctor I see is away today. The appointment had to be rescheduled. It now happens at 0900, Jul 24th. The receptionist said they tried to contact me Friday. If so, I somehow wasn't aware of it, and no message was left. They tried again this morning, and left a message. But, they called at 0830. I need to leave the house NLT 0810 to make a 0900 appointment at that clinic. No biggie, I guess. I needed to drive into town for groceries, appointment or no appointment.


Project: Health and Diet
Status: Ongoing

I'm beginning week six (or is it five?) of my "new" breakfast. Switching from oatmeal-and-fruits to bacon, egg, avocado and a small amount of raspberries led to another weight drop. I'm now 125lbs, and holding steady there. That's within "normal" range for my height, so I've no complaints . . . weight wise. One noticeable improvement, I now cough up phlegm appreciably less frequently than before the change, and haven't coughed up phlegm-with-blood in several weeks! (Both a side effect of Chronic Bronchiectasis.) On my "best" days, I feel better than my "best" pre-change days. Other days, not so much.

Some weeks ago, maybe a month or over, I added every-other-day weight-lifting to my routine. Very light weight lifting. The only weights available to me are one 10-lb dumbbell, a pair of weighted wrist/ankle-wraps at 5-lb each, and a pair of wrist-wraps at what I guess to be 3ish-lb each. Truth to tell, I don't have the strength for anything heavier. Not at the moment.

Around a week ago I dug out my ancient Bullworker from under the bed. Haven't used it in any serious way since the 1970s. It's now added to my routine. Good thing about it is that it doesn't matter what fitness level you're at to get the max benefit from each exercise. Between weights and Bullworker and walks, I like to think I'm getting improving my physical health, but admit I'm likely kidding myself.