The Health Thread

[Free For All]

After a long period of procrastination, I finally went in for a physical in August, something I feared and avoided for a long time until my "fear of doctors and medical procedures" finally was surpassed by my "fear of not knowing where I was at health-wise". I got tired of being scared I guess. My fear of all things medical goes way back to childhood- I envy those of you unaffected by this phobia. Anyway, I came through it with no major surprises (the usual things people of my age- 47 - and lifestyle worry about: liver/heart disease, cancer (always a wild card), diabetes etc.) other than the realization that it's time to lose some weight before it kicks my ass. So (after being really grateful that I for now have no major problems) I've joined a gym and have a trainer who kicks my ass once a week. It's a real drag changing habits, but my resolve is strong (as it was three years ago when I smoked my last cig). I also participated in a "sleep study" recently to deal with poor sleep quality and probable apnea. I probably will start using of one those machines when I sleep, which will take some adjustment, but my sleep is so crappy now that I'm basically narcoleptic during the day, which really sucks. That's a whole 'nother thread right there. Very interesting experience.

Anyway, the reason I started this thread was to see if any others are going through similar changes, and perhaps want to contribute words of wisdom. I also have had to really change my diet, so much of the food-related things I used to do in the kitchen are now taboo. I'm also interested in any recipes etc. that are healthy and don't taste like shit.

I should add that I'm not planning to participate in any high-speed fad diets, just a lifestyle-change commitment for the long run. Moderation, diet, exercise (lots of exercise ). No more soft drinks, fried foods, buffets, crappy fast food etc. although I've been told an occasional lapse should not be considered failure.

Change (on a long-term basis) can really only happen when YOU want it to- not because someone else "thinks you should do it". That's how I was able to quit smoking. Of course, concern for loved ones is always a great motivator. We don't have kids, but I still don't want to check out just yet.

I know my problems are pretty insignificant compared to what some here have dealt with, but it's a big deal for me to confront this. The anxieties connected with this have had a negative effect on musical considerations including composition/arranging and improvisation. These issues have already improved following the "confrontation".

There's more to share here, but this is a good start and I hope to get some responses. Thanks folks!

EDIT: I should add that my goal is to lose about 75 pounds. I think if I say that publicly it might help me stay on task- not that I intend to turn this into a Weight Watchers meeting.

Edited October 24, 2005 by Free For All

[wesbed]

I've been a 'runner' since 1997. Last year in August (2004), however, I was running on a perfectly hot and miserable Tucson summer evening. I was running, sweating, feeling light-headed and a bit sick to my stomach. It was near 100°F at the time. I decided at that point that I'd had enough of running and that I'd get back to it when I was damn sure good and ready. About a month ago (September 2005) I decided it was time to start running again.

Now, equipped with a rejuvenated attitude and a new pair of $120 running shoes... I'm back at it. I'm walking more than running, for now, but will be running more in the weeks to come.

It's fun to get back to something that used to be so enjoyable. I'm wondering, now, why I quit running so completely during the past twelve months. Like it always used to do, the running clears my mind, raises my spirits, and will change the body in positive ways. I don't do near as well without it. I should know myself better.

Edited October 24, 2005 by wesbed

[Free For All]

In the short time (a couple of months) I've been going to the gym I've gone from "dreading it" to "craving it" (at least a little). I can see the whole exercise thing becoming an addiction.

I want to get to the point that I can enjoy it more- then I think I'll be on my way.

The similarities to musical pursuits are not lost on me- "the journey is its own reward"!

[wesbed]

The runner's/exercise 'high' is the best I've experienced. I've tried only alchohol, as a drug, in my life. No tobacco or anything else. The runner's high beats all. It's a true high where you feel good because you really do feel good. For me, the high lasts a little more than 24 hours, then I need another fix.

But, a fix of running, as long as I don't get physically injured, brings no harm. And, brings much improvement in the long run.

From my experience, yes, you can get hooked on exercise. There ain't nothing else like it. A little exercise, a little jazz, some good food and you be doin' allright.

[Free For All]

I should mention that I do a LOT of listening while exercising- either watching the TVs at the gym or listening to tunes of my own. This REALLY can make the time fly by.

Anyone have any exercise music favorites?

[BERIGAN]

FFA (If I may call you that!) Glad to hear nothing out of the ordinary! I know as well, if you don't sleep well at night, your body will fight you all day(No narcolepsy yet) If you find a well balanced diet that doesn't suck, will you let me know what it is? Just cutting soda out will help a lot. More sugar in a coke than a scoop of ice cream.

[Free For All]

FFA (If I may call you that!)

←

Please call me Paul, as per my signature!

[Free For All]

If you find a well balanced diet that doesn't suck, will you let me know what it is?

←

No epiphanies yet, but I'm discovering that an artistic skill in seasoning (something I'm still learning about) makes quite a bit of difference.

Garlic is my new best friend!

[Rooster_Ties]

Hey Paul -- Spontoonious and I were gonna give you a call about doing lunch next week (how about Monday, the 31st? - that's really about the only day I can do an extended lunch these days -- though occasionally some Tuesdays I could get out for about 45-minutes to an hour.).

Only bringing this up here 1) cuz I know you'll see it, and 2) this thread ought to have an impact on where we decide to eat!!

More back on topic, I've been needing to loose a number of pounds for quite a few years (at least 30, maybe 40 lbs -- for 5-7 years). Went to the gym for a while years ago, but I always thought it was always a big hassle. Stuck with it for about a year, before I met my wife, and when I had less going on in my life -- but now, I'm sure I'd never fit it in.

But my wife and I have been going for 45-minute walks about 3-5 nights a week, whenever we can find the time. Some weeks we only get out once or twice, but we aim for 4-5 times - if possible.

More on this health topic, relative to me, later.

[jazzbo]

My last physical showed my cholseterol levels were now considered high (mainly because they have re-evaluated what THEY consider high levels, and because of family history of arterial disease) and I was challenged to lower it by altering food habits before having to take pills.

I did drop almost all dairy and red and fatty meat from my diet and it was not easy. I LIVED for ice cold milk. . . and it took quite a while for me to learn to enjoy ice cold SOY milk. . . . But it did happen, I know DO enjoy it. That was the hardest thing to adjust to.

I have been successful so far in lowering my levels to a point where my doctor feels I don't have to take pills. I don't want to take pills, so I'm glad that is the case, and this gives me fuel to keep at it.

[Joe G]

Paul - it sounds to me like you are going about this with absolutely the right attitude. It helps that you are making yourself accountable to your friends and family (here and at home). I would say that you're already a success with this, just because you've confronted your fears, got up off the couch (in a manner of speaking ), and are actively working towards your goals. I think that alone puts you above a large (and unhealthy) segment of the population in this country. And you've already noticed how just dealing with a negative underlying issue frees up energy for other things. All power to you! I love nothing more than to see the people I care about taking good care of themselves. That is, after all, where our first commitment needs to be.

As for myself, all summer I did pretty well, biking to work as well as longer rides on the weekends, walking, and practicing qi gong. I've lost some of my momentum lately, and need to correct this. I'd say my diet is fair; I'm not super strict with myself, other than avoiding red meats and fatty, fried foods generally. I do have a weakness for cookies and dark chocolate. But my solution to that is to just not buy it at the grocery store, so that it's not right there in the house. Really, as in Lon's example, it's a matter of retraining yourself when it comes to food. I don't miss milk anymore either, and now overly salty foods just don't taste good to me. I used to drink a couple of Cokes everyday, now my drink of choice is green tea. Just look at it as making different choices, rather than denying yourself something you enjoy.

Keep up the great work.

[Joe G]

I do have a weakness for cookies and dark chocolate. But my solution to that is to just not buy it at the grocery store, so that it's not right there in the house.

Let me amend that to "just not buy it every time I'm at the grocery store". I do indulge at least once a week.

[DukeCity]

Sounds like you're doing lots of good stuff, Paul. I'm right there with you, trying to make some healthier lifestyle changes. When I'm at the gym (too rarely!) I have a 'workout' mix on my iPod that has some funk, R&B stuff (Chaka, Stevie, James Brown, etc.) and some happy, swingin' straight ahead stuff. If the music is too heavy it gets distracting.

The cooking thing can be a challenge, so my one reccomendation would be to avoid the Paula Dean show on the food channel at all costs. She could be making just a pot of coffee and the recipe would start out with, "First take two sticks of butter and cup and a half of sour cream..."

[Noj]

Every day, I shoot hoops for about 40 minutes, then I run lines until I'm winded, then I complete the workout by doing abdominal crunches (1 set of 80, then one set of 40) and push ups (20, then 10). I've been at this for about 8 months, and it only takes about an hour total each day. The most difficult thing has been trying to increase the number of push ups, they kick my ass every day. I may buy a pull up bar and try incorporating that into the workout. I doubt I can do 5!

I was motivated to do this when I put on a little weight a while back which caused my back and knees to hurt. Freaked me out.

[Rooster_Ties]

I mentioned this in another thread, but in my case - it really ought to go here, in the "health" thread.

I've started biking to work about 3 days a week (weather permitting). It's only about 2½ miles per day, round trip - but at least it's something. Also, my new job involves quite a bit of walking, 3 or 4 days a week (I'm in the office the other 1-2 days of the week). So, I'm no longer at a desk, day in and day out, like I did for 10 years. (I’m in my mid-to-late-30's.)

That, and like I said before, my wife and I are trying to get out walking several days a week, for about 45-minutes at a stretch --- so I'm hoping that all this new activity will have a positive impact. I'm not really trying to loose weight in any formal kind of way, but I really do need to drop 20 lbs, and more like 30 (or 40) really. I'm 5'11" (ok, 5'10" if I'm honest), and I weigh about 225 lbs. If I could get down to 200, I'd be thrilled. Maybe someday.

Trouble is, all my weight is around my middle. (I look like I have a big beer gut, though beer is not the problem, I swear.)

Actually, I debated mentioning this here in public - but what the heck, we're all friends...

Part of my weight problem, I just discovered several months ago, is because I have really, really low testosterone levels. Been a problem all my life (manifesting itself in other areas, if you know what I mean), and I finally got it checked out for the first time ever about 6 months ago. (Note: Viagra doesn't do a damn thing, if one doesn't have enough testosterone in one's system.) Anyway, I only mention this because among other things, low testosterone levels cause men to really put on (and keep on) weight around their mid-sections. I hope to start a testosterone replacement therapy program within a couple months (almost $100 every month, yikes!! ), and that's supposed to help with weight-loss a bit too. (Not a lot, but every bit helps.)

OK, now that I've got that cat out of the bag, anybody else here have any experience with a similar condition? (PM me if you'd rather not go public with it.)

Edited October 24, 2005 by Rooster_Ties

[Rooster_Ties]

And speaking of almost $100 a month expenses (see post above), does anybody (here in the U.S.) have any experience with the "flex-saver/health-spending" program, available to many of us through our jobs?? Something about them docking your pay into "health-savings" accounts, which somehow turn out to be tax-free -- ??

I hate paperwork, taxes, and forms - so I haven't looked into it (and plus, before just recently, I've never had any significant health expenses to save for). But I suppose I should really look into this -- so at least that $1,100 per year ( ) that I ought to be spending on my issue mentioned above, at least will be somewhat cheaper.

I guess my biggest fear is that they'll somehow come back on me and say that the expense was "optional" or "elective" -- and challenge whether the expense was really "necessary".

FWIW, the reason the expense is so high, is that there aren't any decent "generic" drug options for this kind of treatment -- at least not without getting doctor administered injections every week or two (in the arm, you knucklehead!!). But there are other drawbacks (primarily one's testosterone levels very wildly between the time just after one gets the injection (really, really high), to the time before one's next injection (really, really low). Kind of a "roller-coaster" effect. The better (non-generic) treatments involve a daily arm patch (kind of like a nicotine patch), or a topical ointment that I'd rub into my shoulders every day.

Edited October 24, 2005 by Rooster_Ties

[Jim Alfredson]

Rooster, I believe my wife has us enrolled in a similair program through her work (the flex-plan, health-saver thingy) but I have no idea how it works. I will ask her to post here about it.

$100 a month is pretty steep but when it comes to your health, is any price really too high?

Free For All, I have a pretty intense aversion to doctors myself. In fact, I went to get my back checked out and my heart (been having a lot of palpitations recently... my heart has always skipped beats now and then, but it seems to be doing so with increased frequency) and I cancelled my follow-up appointment (I was coming back from the east coast) and have not gone in for my bloodwork yet. I don't know what it is, but I just really don't like doctors and hospitals.

[PHILLYQ]

After a long period of procrastination, I finally went in for a physical in August, something I feared and avoided for a long time until my "fear of doctors and medical procedures" finally was surpassed by my "fear of not knowing where I was at health-wise". I got tired of being scared I guess. My fear of all things medical goes way back to childhood- I envy those of you unaffected by this phobia. Anyway, I came through it with no major surprises (the usual things people of my age- 47 - and lifestyle worry about: liver/heart disease, cancer (always a wild card), diabetes etc.) other than the realization that it's time to lose some weight before it kicks my ass. So (after being really grateful that I for now have no major problems) I've joined a gym and have a trainer who kicks my ass once a week. It's a real drag changing habits, but my resolve is strong (as it was three years ago when I smoked my last cig). I also participated in a "sleep study" recently to deal with poor sleep quality and probable apnea. I probably will start using of one those machines when I sleep, which will take some adjustment, but my sleep is so crappy now that I'm basically narcoleptic during the day, which really sucks. That's a whole 'nother thread right there. Very interesting experience.

Anyway, the reason I started this thread was to see if any others are going through similar changes, and perhaps want to contribute words of wisdom. I also have had to really change my diet, so much of the food-related things I used to do in the kitchen are now taboo. I'm also interested in any recipes etc. that are healthy and don't taste like shit.

I should add that I'm not planning to participate in any high-speed fad diets, just a lifestyle-change commitment for the long run. Moderation, diet, exercise (lots of exercise ). No more soft drinks, fried foods, buffets, crappy fast food etc. although I've been told an occasional lapse should not be considered failure.

Change (on a long-term basis) can really only happen when YOU want it to- not because someone else "thinks you should do it". That's how I was able to quit smoking. Of course, concern for loved ones is always a great motivator. We don't have kids, but I still don't want to check out just yet.

I know my problems are pretty insignificant compared to what some here have dealt with, but it's a big deal for me to confront this. The anxieties connected with this have had a negative effect on musical considerations including composition/arranging and improvisation. These issues have already improved following the "confrontation".

There's more to share here, but this is a good start and I hope to get some responses. Thanks folks!

EDIT: I should add that my goal is to lose about 75 pounds. I think if I say that publicly it might help me stay on task- not that I intend to turn this into a Weight Watchers meeting.

←

If you are overweight, it's possible that you might not have sleep apnea. I mention this because I had a massive snoring problem that ruined my sleep and left me a walking zombie in daytime. I went to a ear/nose/throat doctor who gave me the suitcase with the machine in it to test for sleep apnea. It turned out noe to be sleep apnea, but once I lost about 20lbs. I stopped snoring.

Learn to love chicken cutlets- they have no fat or any of that bad stuff and they can be prepared about a million different ways. Broiled or on the grill, with the right marinade/sauce/spice rub they can be great. Some stores by you may have dry spice rubs, or you can make your own(tons of recipes online) according to your taste. GOOD LUCK!!!

If I can be of any help with recipes, etc, just let me know.

[maren]

I just can't bring myself to get into a Health-Spending-Account that's "use-it-or-lose-it" -- which is the only option my employer offers. Meaning that any unspent money is no longer yours at the end of the calendar year.

I guess not all plans are use-it-or-lose-it. If I had a "carryover" option I'd look into it.

[ejp626]

The details of the Health Spending Plans vary enormously, and you do need to ensure that your costs are covered. If so, it can be a help, since it has those tax advantages. I almost never go to the doctor, so I would not benefit from this plan, particularly if the carry-over rules were strict.

It is great to be in a place where you are ready to get fit. While I know intellectually that I will feel better if I exercise, sometimes I get so down about work or something else, that I can't bear to exercise. I went through a two year cycle where I just didn't exercise much, aside from walking. Now part of this was exhaustion from our new baby (talk about a crimp in one's old lifestyle) but I was also depressed about my job and the state of the country (hard to tell which was worse) so I stayed up too late, woke up late, got to work late, took short lunches at my desk and stopped exercising.

After some major moves, I am enjoying my new job and basically am enjoying living in England. I bike to work 4 days a week (25 minutes each way) and walk a lot. I even joined the company soccer team. I've lost some weight and am getting my wind back. People seem to notice, which is good since they also noticed how fat I'd gotten. I'd like to lose another 40 pounds, though 25 is probably more realistic and maintainable (the consultant lifestyle is not a particularly healthy one).

I'd like to offer my moral support to anyone just getting back on the road to fitness (like the road to Damascus?). It can certainly be a challenge sometimes.

[SEK]

I just can't bring myself to get into a Health-Spending-Account that's "use-it-or-lose-it" -- which is the only option my employer offers.  Meaning that any unspent money is no longer yours at the end of the calendar year.

I guess not all plans are use-it-or-lose-it.  If I had a "carryover" option I'd look into it.

←

The plan that my wife has through her employer has no carryover option, but we have so many qualifying medical expenses that are not covered by insurance that it's never been a problem (I wish it was...). We've always managed to underestimate the amount to be set aside by a significant amount (not purposefully). It does pay off at tax time.

[catesta]

Well it finally happened.

I joined a gym lastnight after a long (very long) break from exercise. I've gained some weight since the move and I'm not happy about it.

My girlfriend signed up as well. She met with a personal trainer today and started her workout routine.

I meet with the dude on Monday.

Overall my diet is pretty good but as I get older I know I need to exercise on a regular basis and pay a little cloer attention to what I eat.

[DukeCity]

Well it finally happened.

I joined a gym lastnight after a long (very long) break from exercise. I've gained some weight since the move and I'm not happy about it.

My girlfriend signed up as well. She met with a personal trainer today and started her workout routine.

I meet with the dude on Monday.

Overall my diet is pretty good but as I get older I know I need to exercise on a regular basis and pay a little cloer attention to what I eat.

Good for you, Catesta! Good luck with the trainer meeting on Monday. It's been way too long since I darkened the doorway of the gym that I belong to. Now that the holiday (read: eating) season is in full swing, I need to get going.

[Free For All]

Congrats, catesta!

I've been going to the gym faithfully and am now down about 15 pounds (in two months). I've still got quite a way to go, but this is encouraging and I am going to stick with it. I haven't been on any extreme diet but have cut back portions and am not eating any fast food or drinking any pop. I haven't given up alcohol but have cut back there too.

It really hasn't been that hard and I'm someone who doesn't like changing habits. My strategy is to make this a permanent change, not just 'til I lose weight, but for life.

My favorite gym machine is the elliptical trainer, the one where you are in a running motion, arms pumping. It burns calories at a much higher rate than the treadmill and is very low-impact on the knees. I had been doing a half-hour on it every day (which amounts to about 550 calories) but felt I could go longer and am now doing an hour every day (1100 calories! Yippee!). Some days I really have do drag my ass to the gym, but I'm doing it.

I'm inspired by others who are doing the same! Good luck all!

[catesta]

15 pounds!

Nice job.

The elliptical trainer is the way to go.

My diet plans are about the same. Smaller portions and probably a little more protein. I never have been much of a soda drinker or fast food junkie so no issue there. As for alcohol, no way I will give it up, but I've been trying not to drink much during the week.

The excercise is the most important and needed change.