10 years later!

Wow, that just flew by! I am still alive and kicking! I really lost track of this blog because the email to which it was associated has been long lost.

I think it is so cool people have found my post on the Voldyne 5000 helpful and entertaining.

So many things have happened since the last update.

• My wife survived breast cancer. That scared me more than my heart surgery.
• My son graduated from The University of Texas and now lives in Los Angeles.
• My department was closed in 2011. I was able to get another position.
• In typical "My Life Is Charmed" fashion, I now have the greatest job of my career.
• In perhaps my greatest achievement, I "ran" the CASA Superhero 5K in a unicorn costume!

Some things haven't changed.

• I let my weight get away from me a few years ago. I got up to 240! I am now back in the 195-200 range most of the time. 185 is still the goal. Weight is a continuing struggle.
• The scar is still there though not nearly as gruesome as it once was.
• Still live in and love Austin, Texas.

Maybe I'll update again in 10 years.

I guess one's digital footprint really is persistent!

Marc

Stuck on the last few pounds....

The good news is I am the lightest I have been during my son's life. I have never been below 200 lbs since Rocket was born. The bad news is I seem to be stuck around 194-196 lbs. My goal is 185 lbs. I need to re-dedicate myself to the goal. Increase my exercise again and cut more fat and carb out of my diet. I'm running 45-60% protein and 20% or less fat as it is. I guess I have to hit the weights harder than I have been. I have to be careful not to overdo it because my breastbone gets very sore along the saw line if I do too much.

Been Ages but I'm doing much better...

Zoinks! I haven't posted in ages. I guess the point is really moot now. I feel great. I've lost about 25 pounds since October. The only problem I've experienced is low blood pressure when I stand up. The cardiologist still has me on a beta-blocker to help my heart learn to pump with less force. Due to the weight loss, my dose was too high. Doing much better now that he dropped me to one dose a day rather than two.

I'm still walking just about every day. When it is cold and rainy, I take a pass and sleep for an extra hour. I'm doing about 1 hour a day at about 3.5 mph. I just put on an audiobook and hit the road. Currently, I'm listening to Have Space Suit - Will Travel by Robert Heinlein.

12-14 Update

Well, this has become a once in a blue moon sort of thing. Haven't updated in a white again.

Rocket and I went to see Kiss with Buckcherry on Dec 4th. Great show. Maybe the best I've ever seen Kiss.

Still working on getting back into shape. I'm down 18 pounds now since starting in late October. I'm just over halfway there! I'm getting up at 5:30 every morning and walking 45-60 minutes before I start getting ready for work. I'm also trying to push a higher percentage of my caloric intake to protein. I'm averaging around 35-55% of my calories from protein. I made it through Thanksgiving without gaining any weight back. Hopefully I can make it through Winter Break the same way. Not drinking alcohol has made it easier but I haven't have a drink since last January so there's more to it than that.

I'm looking forward to the time off. I bought a drum kit a few months back. I can't play it worth a darn but my friend Eloy can. Hopefully, there will be much music and mirth during the holidays. Playing guitar standing up burns about 200 calories per hour. Drums are closer to 300. I figure it will be a great way to workout. :p

11-07-09

Last night Rocket and I went to see ACDC. It was an excellent show!

Last night was the first concert, or live music performance for that matter, since my surgery.
I will post some pictures when I have time.

Over the past month I have been working at getting back into shape.
Up every morning at 6 and out walking by 6:15.
Walking evenings.
Jogging a bit.
A bit of work with weights.
Watching my what I eat.

In the last month, I have lost 10 pounds and I feel really good.

10-07-09 update - Still alive!

Haven't updated in forever. I went to see the cardiologist on September 25. Due to several weird occurrences, this was the first time I had seen him since my surgery.

My cardiologist walked in greeted and said, "How are you feeling?" I told him I feel great since the surgery -- no shortness of breath, no palpitations, no burning lungs when I walk up stairs or run. He said, "You gave me a lot of gray hairs." Evidently, my situation was worse than I knew at the time. If I had not had my surgery, I could have had a sudden cardiac event and died -- at just about any time! I knew my mitral valve was sticking to my septal obstruction and closing poorly. What I did not know was that it was basically not closing from time to time. My left ventricle was working, maybe, half as effectively as it should. After my examination, Dr. M gave me the all clear. I can exercise (more than just walking) again!

Since the surgery and recovery, I feel much better. I can exercise again. My heart can take it. I just have to get my muscles back. After about 7 months of reduced activity, my muscle tone has been lost quite a bit. I can walk or, even, jog fine as far as my heart is concerned. My muscles tell another story. Trying to get back into an exercise routine has been fraught with soreness and pulled muscles. I have to get the weight off that I gained since the diagnosis and surgery (about 10 lbs) plus the weight I was trying to lose in the first place (another 10 lbs). Since getting the clear, I've lost a couple lbs but their is much work to do. Luckily, the weather is turning cooler.

8-28-09 update (evening)

BP 116/79 Pulse 78
Weight 215.2 lbs

Chest still itches from time to time but the overall soreness is less noticeable. Maybe I am so used to it that I don't notice it unless it gets past a certain threshold. Anyway, I haven't noticed much discomfort during the day. I have continued to experience muscle stiffness in the mornings but that, too, appears to be improving.

Been really busy at work this week. Lots of walking. Lots of stairs. I have been feeling pretty good the whole time. No shortness of breath. No difficulty on stairs. Next week should be a similar workload.