New Year Old joedog

[joedog]

I was talking to my friend Starpuck about the new podcast Battlestar Galacticast which all BSG fans should check out. I told her that I was pretty much flailing my way through life. The net result of the conversation was me saying I would try another challenge. I've been lurking around the forums for the last week being shy and introverted. It's time to declare my intention for the next 4 weeks. 

 

I'm currently flirting with my heaviest weight and my fitness is poor. My depression has been pretty bad for the couple of years. This challenge is going to be something of a low bar because any structure in my life is going to be a vast improvement over where I've been. Honestly just saying I would do a challenge caused a pretty good lift for getting my sh*t together. 

 

Goal 1: Go to the gym twice a week. Starting with baby steps. 

 

Goal 2: Eat at least one serving of vegetables a day. Diet has always been the boss battle I just can't beat. Making one small change for this month. I realized how much I needed this after telling a friend the only vegetable I had eaten in 3 days was pizza sauce. For this goal pizza sauce, pasta sauce, etc don't count. 

 

Goal 3: Med compliance. For many years I was rock solid with med compliance. All of a sudden starting 2 years ago I couldn't seem to string 3 days together. Also 2 years ago my depression started to really be a problem again. It's almost like the 2 are related. Meds. Every day. No excuses. 

 

It's good to be back. I missed you guys. 

 

 

[starpuck]

Found the perfect gif for my BSG loving, monk friend!

 

 

Welcome home Joedog!  We are here for you chica!   SOOOOOOOO GLAD you are back!

 

 

[RisenPhoenix]

1 hour ago, joedog said:

Goal 2: Eat at least one serving of vegetables a day. Diet has always been the boss battle I just can't beat. Making one small change for this month. I realized how much I needed this after telling a friend the only vegetable I had eaten in 3 days was pizza sauce. For this goal pizza sauce, pasta sauce, etc don't count. 

 

Oh hai.  My veggie intake has been crap in comparison to my past habits.  We should harass one another.

 

With love, obviously.

[Kishi]

Aah, yes, there you are! Welcome back!

 

Bars are good for clearing - doesn't matter how high or low they are. Set it and get it!

[joedog]

On 1/7/2019 at 2:14 PM, Starpuck said:

Found the perfect gif for my BSG loving, monk friend!

 

 

Welcome home Joedog!  We are here for you chica!   SOOOOOOOO GLAD you are back!

 

 

 

That was such a great episode. I'm watching it again now. 

 

On 1/7/2019 at 3:14 PM, RisenPhoenix said:

 

Oh hai.  My veggie intake has been crap in comparison to my past habits.  We should harass one another.

 

With love, obviously.

 

Harassment is generally how I show affection. But carrot sticks count for me. 

 

On 1/8/2019 at 10:18 AM, Kishi said:

Aah, yes, there you are! Welcome back!

 

Bars are good for clearing - doesn't matter how high or low they are. Set it and get it!

 

No need to set a bar I can't reach. It is good to be back. 

[joedog]

Time for a challenge update. It's going really well so far. 

 

I haven't been to the gym yet this week. I wanted to get over my cold so I didn't share the wealth plus I've been really busy. Rugby board meeting Monday night. My Mom had surgery last Friday so I needed to do some things for her last night. My plan is Thursday evening and then once over the weekend. Mom is healing well. She just needs some help with some things. 

 

I have eaten what to me feels like ALL the veggies. I had fajitas with peppers and onions Monday, tomatoes on Tuesday and carrot sticks today. Those are all my favorite easy go to vegetables. Hoping to branch out a bit. 

 

I've taking my meds every day this week so far. That is definitely down to this challenge. 

 

I had my annual check up this morning. Doctor fussed about my weight and the scores on my depression assessment but when I told her about the challenge and my goals she was really happy. I also got blood drawn and 2 shots. 

[Kishi]

Yeah, the pressure to train is a head thing more than a body thing. Just focus on eating well and getting good rest. The field, the gym, all that stuff will still be there next time.

[starpuck]

Nice job chica!     That's a great way to approach the veggies.   Get your sure-win's going, and use that feeling of Yeaaah Veggie! to expand.    Keep it up lady!  You are wonderful!

 

[Teirin]

Glad to see you back!

[joedog]

21 hours ago, Kishi said:

Yeah, the pressure to train is a head thing more than a body thing. Just focus on eating well and getting good rest. The field, the gym, all that stuff will still be there next time.

 

I struggle with making things way harder than they need to be. I've spent most of my life in a loop of I can't be perfect so why bother. I'm getting closer to breaking that. 

 

19 hours ago, Starpuck said:

Nice job chica!     That's a great way to approach the veggies.   Get your sure-win's going, and use that feeling of Yeaaah Veggie! to expand.    Keep it up lady!  You are wonderful!

 

 

It's really been working. I've got boxes of cherry tomatoes scattered around work and home so I can pop a few in my mouth at any time. 

 

15 hours ago, Teirin said:

Glad to see you back!

 

Good to see you too! 

[joedog]

Challenge update:

 

Yesterday did not go according to plan. A young lady from my wife's community of friends passed away somewhat unexpectedly. She had fought a long battle with Stage 4 cancer so not totally unexpected but she was still fighting. She developed a blood clot and those kinds of things really don't care about our plans. I hate legitimate excuses because the open the door for my crap excuses but I will persevere. Hoping to make it up today and go again on Sunday contingent on the winter weather that is filtering in to the area. 

 

I'm still batting a thousand on vegetables. It is having the desired effect that I'm thinking more about my food intake without overthinking. 

 

I did miss my pills yesterday. It was a crazy day. I need to switch to taking them first thing in the morning before the day has a chance to blow me off course. I'm back on track for today. 

 

Hope everyone else is having a good challenge week! 

[joedog]

Week 1 recap:

 

Gym 0/2

Vegetables 6/7

Med compliance 5/7

 

Yesterday morning I was down a couple of pounds. That isn't really a goal right now but it's nice to see the veg quest having impact. My gym plans for the week are today (Monday), Thursday and/or Sunday. 

 

The best thing about this week is I get the pins out of my hand Friday! For those who didn't see on Facebook, I had surgery to fuse the joint at the base of my thumb due to an old injury and arthritis. Had surgery November 14. My hand feels weird but the constant pain in that joint is gone. The next step is rehab and seeing how much range of motion I lost. 

[starpuck]

So sorry to hear about the unexpected.   It has a way to really take all the wind out of sails, and there's no judging in accepting that.    Your cherry tomo plan is having a great effect though, so cling to those lil red beauties with all you've got.

 

Good luck on the thumb!  My foot ortho said my toe has one more 'clean up' surgery, and then after that it's fusion.   So I'm super curious to see how things go and if the loss of motion trumps the living with pain option of NOT doing it.   Follow those rehabbers plans to the T girl!  So so important.

 

You're doing just fine my friend!

  

[Kishi]

I'm sorry for your loss.  Cancer sucks. If you or she need anything, we're here.

 

On ‎1‎/‎14‎/‎2019 at 11:19 AM, joedog said:

Yesterday morning I was down a couple of pounds. That isn't really a goal right now but it's nice to see the veg quest having impact.

 

That's very good! Watch yourself, though. If you're anything like me, seeing the scale shift because of a dietary change opens the door to the temptation to make more changes than are sustainable long term. It's a mind-weasel thing. Stay focused.

 

I'm glad to hear the pins are coming out! Hopefully the PT will yield promising results.

[joedog]

On 1/14/2019 at 11:29 AM, Starpuck said:

So sorry to hear about the unexpected.   It has a way to really take all the wind out of sails, and there's no judging in accepting that.    Your cherry tomo plan is having a great effect though, so cling to those lil red beauties with all you've got.

 

Good luck on the thumb!  My foot ortho said my toe has one more 'clean up' surgery, and then after that it's fusion.   So I'm super curious to see how things go and if the loss of motion trumps the living with pain option of NOT doing it.   Follow those rehabbers plans to the T girl!  So so important.

 

You're doing just fine my friend!

  

 

I've been really happy with the fusion so far. Well...other than the mad fits over not being able to cut my own fingernails or tie my own shoes. It has been a very good lesson in asking for and accepting help when I need it. I still don't know exactly how much ROM I've lost since I still have a pin in it but I'll be able to deadlift and carry buckets of asphalt. The other surgical option would have been the end of deadlifting and carrying buckets so I had to go for the fusion since the 401k says we are too young to retire. 

 

I'm doing so far from perfect but that's ok because I'm still doing. 

 

On 1/15/2019 at 12:59 PM, Kishi said:

I'm sorry for your loss.  Cancer sucks. If you or she need anything, we're here.

 

 

That's very good! Watch yourself, though. If you're anything like me, seeing the scale shift because of a dietary change opens the door to the temptation to make more changes than are sustainable long term. It's a mind-weasel thing. Stay focused.

 

I'm glad to hear the pins are coming out! Hopefully the PT will yield promising results.

 

Weight loss is such a tangential goal right now that it didn't mess me up. But I've definitely experienced that before. Right now I just want to feel better. So far I've been successful with that. Weight loss will either happen as a result of other things or I will one day be ready to make that my main strict focus. For the sake of my knees, I hope I get there but I'm done trying to force myself into things. 

[joedog]

Week 2 update

 

Still here, even though I didn't post much last week. Week 2 was not quite the barn burning success that week 1 was but I'm ok with that. 

 

Gym 0/2 I'm having a hard time getting there. I drove through the parking lot one day last week. That's as close as I got. 

Vegetables 4/7 Still more than half the days and I ate some things I wouldn't normally that mission accomplished for me. 

Meds 3/7 Whoops...I felt it too. No sleep for me this weekend. I've already had them today and back on the path. 

 

The doc was only able to take 2 of the pins out of my thumb. He had trouble finding the end of the third one and then when he did, it wasn't ready to let go. I go back on Feb 12 unless it "works its way out". I don't have to wear my splint full time anymore which is awesome! He didn't give me any specific things to do since I still have a pin but I'm working on ROM and all that good stuff. I can type with both hands! 

 

Last week was pre shark week and I didn't have the massive crazy snack cravings. I ate a lot of apples but no candy bars. That is probably the best news I have. Unplanned sugar cutbacks are always happy news. 

[starpuck]

Oof, that pin business sounds prickly!    You seem to be handling it like a champ though.

 

Glad to see you check in.  I was about to harass on the faceplace.   That's how we roll here ya know.

 

[Kishi]

So, hey! Hope things have been good and that the pin is out!

[joedog]

On 1/21/2019 at 4:56 PM, Starpuck said:

Oof, that pin business sounds prickly!    You seem to be handling it like a champ though.

 

Glad to see you check in.  I was about to harass on the faceplace.   That's how we roll here ya know.

 

 

The pin business was unpleasant. I'll be really glad when the last one is out. I sincerely hope you haven't frozen to death in the polar Chicago weather. 

 

On 1/29/2019 at 11:57 AM, Kishi said:

So, hey! Hope things have been good and that the pin is out!

 

Things have been good. Oddly enough this is the least I've ever posted on a challenge and yet somehow the best I've ever done. 

[joedog]

Rugby has started happening and that is eating up some of my attention. I've sent soooo many emails and facebook messages this week. I hope some of them actually show up. 

 

Last week I got 0/2 on the gym. I'm thinking through what I want to do differently next month so I have a more attainable movement/fitness goal. 

 

Got 5/7 on vegetables. Lots of tomatoes and carrots. Again, thinking about what incremental change I want to do for next month. 

 

Also 5/7 on meds. I want to make some self deprecating remarks about why I'm at 5/7 instead of 7/7. Instead I'm reminding myself that for the last few years I rarely if ever hit 5/7 in a week. I'll get there. 

 

I'm also down about 8-9 pounds from the beginning of the challenge and 12 from my heaviest ever weight that I hit in December. That's a totally unintended consequence but its a direct result of the 2 goals I've been doing pretty well at this month. I made a microscopic change to my diet but it's made me a lot more conscious of what I am eating. I never had to feel guilty if I ate something silly because all I had to do was eat a vegetable of some kind to meet my goal. Taking my meds helps me think more clearly, make better decisions and be more forgiving to myself when I have gone off the path. 

 

This week I'm 3/4 on meds and 4/4 on vegetables so far. 

[Kishi]

I'm just glad that all it took was a small change to get some good results. Tiny adjustments repeated make for big changes.

 

I haven't been over to the new challenge yet, but I hope this one wrapped well and that you're back with us for the next round!