Seems I can’t make this a habit any more. I’ve started to write several times but things have gotten in the way. So let me try to get y’all caught up with me a bit.
I’m still unemployed, though there seeems to be some movement in the job market lately. I’ve been wanting to try to take this time to get myself back in shape. I’ve joined Weight Watchers with my wife and it has made me aware of all the food that I’ve been consuming. It seems I do pretty good until sometime around 9:00PM when I start craving sweets.
I also found a problem I was having with some medication that I’ve been taking that could be a big part of my recent weight gain. Amlodipine causes edema. I noticed my feet were swelling about a week after I stepped on the scales and noticed a sudden ten pound weight gain. The weight gain proded me into joining Weight Watchers. I began searching for causes of edema and found that Amlodipine can be a culprit. Since I am also on Toprol XL I just quit taking the Amlodipine and started monitoring my blood pressure more closely. My blood pressure remained stable and after two weeks off the medication the edema cleared up.
That wasn’t the only thing that cleared up. I had been having trouble making any progress on WW. I was losing but losing by a pound or half a pound a week. Last week I wiped out all my losses and had actually gained a half a pound overall. Last night I had lost seven pounds and made my 5% goal.
The losing weight is only one side of the equation. Getting in shape means I have to move more. I’ve been walking and exploring some local parks. The rains have been playing a bit of havoc with my walking intentions but I’m determined I will be walking more and more. I’ve got to. I’m not happy with what I’ve become and I’m not doing my dog the service she deserves by not being active with her.
Ft. Yargo is a local state park that I’ve been going to. The hiking there is fairly flat but there are miles and miles of trails there around a nice lake. I’ve also been walking and hiking at Harbins Park a new Gwinnett County park that features over five miles of hiking trails in what gives the appearance of being wilderness. There is also the Suwanee Greenway Park.
When not visiting the parks my subdivision gives me a decent amount of space to walk in. I can get three miles in just lapping my subdivision and the one across the highway.
Anyway, that’s what I’ve been doing. I’ll try to finish up some of the essays I’ve also been starting and stopping on and share them with you soon.
Larry,Have found through trial and error that the doctors, physical therapists, and coaches were right all along. The way to lose weight is diet and exercise. By "diet", I don't mean go on a diet, I mean pay a little attention to what you're eating. Youdon't have to derpive yourself of the foods you love, but youshould eat five or six small meals daily instead of stuffing twoor three times. As the old saying goes; "All things in moderation." By "exercise", I don't mean a leisurely stoll through the park, I mean winding yourself for 20 to 30 minutes daily. Whether it's calisthentics, pumping iron, or jogging, your body doesn't care, long as you get and keep the heart rate up for awhile.
Ah, the struggle over weight. I have been doing the same over the past year. The older we get, the more unpleasant the effects of overweight. Good for you, Larry, making progress on that front.
Both Barbara and I have been working out several times a week, as well as walking, for the past year. Done us both good. Now we are both working, Barbara has changed to days, and our schedules have interfered with the daily gym sessions, as well as with walking.
I am glad you are doing well on your regimen. I need to buckle down again.
Buckling down is hard, especially when I spend the weekend with my brother and sister-in-law and snacks are prepared to have something to munch on the all day long. I still think my weight is trending down, though.
You are back working? That’s good. I’m picking up some jobs here and there now. That didn’t start until last week but since Wednesday I’ve had four people contact me about work they needed done. I had to turn one of them down but hopefully I can help the other three.
I have been temping with my old employer, the Chattanooga Housing Authority, doing inspections in the Section 8 program. I did a couple of weeks last Nov-Dec and they have called me back for a couple of months this time. I ain’t fully employed, although it is nice to see a paycheck again, even if small and temporary.
I don’t know if you follow local news from up here, but CHA has been in deep financial trouble for the past two years. The management who shook up the organization in the name of ‘saving’ it in tough times gutted the reserves, spent money they didn’t have and in consequence, a third of the staff have been laid off. Thus temp work became fitfully available, for as long as they have funds.
I was one of the earlier casualties, back in 2003, and now those who found me disposable have in turn been sent packing. Screw them. Serves them right, unfortunate that CHA has been so damaged by high-priced whiz kids. Maybe they can become mortgage bankers. Feh.