Running: A Fever

How often have you heard someone (or even yourself) say “I’d love to X, but the reality is I am,” as if to say that a door is closed to one? For example, “I would love to lose weight, but the reality is that I’m fat. I’ve always been fat, never been able to lose weight – it’s just reality and I have to accept it.” Or “I’d like to go to college, but the reality is I’m just not smart enough.” Poppycock! Nothing in the future is reality until it happens. Challenge “reality”. Question it. Make your own reality. Nothing is impossible.

I start at Veteran’s park, where trees are blooming. There seems to be a discrepancy in the mile markers. One of them says the whole loop is 5.25 miles, and it marks the 5.28 mile point? It’s a beautiful day and I discover a new part of the Lake Fayetteville trail. Lack of sleep changes my resistance, both mentally and physically. I’ve been a little short of sleep lately and find myself indulging in some big high-fat meals. If you can catch up on sleep, that’s what I’ve been doing.

This is the time when diets and whole health plans go wrong. I’ve lost a lot of weight quickly and my metabolism is shot. I can’t eat more than about 1200 calories without gaining. Perhaps the hardest part of this process is fine-tuning my diet. It’s not easy to move just 60 calories more or less, but I need to make small adjustments now. You can avoid this by not losing weight so quickly! As hard as it is for most of us to lose weight, it is tempting, once you get in the groove, to move too fast.

It’s a great spring day, so I am sorry if you are reading this in the heat of August wherever you are. Just think of me as a breath of crisp spring air in your sweltering day. And you can gloat when it’s August for me and you’re enjoying crisp fall weather!

I lost 1.8 pounds last night. It’s a constant battle trying to increase the calories I can burn in a day. It’s the Battle for Metabolism. I acquire an inversion table and try it out. It feels amazing, really unlike anything I’ve ever felt. I meet my friend Brittany on the trail without even recognizing her until after she has past. And get closer to some ducks than humans should be allowed to get. A beautiful spring day on the trail at Lake Fayetteville. Enjoy. Weight (change since Jan 2018): 215 (-59) Workout time: 47 Minutes Total Distance (total since Nov 2017): 1.85 Miles (75.93) Steps: 14,486 Goals: (1) Run 10.5 miles in one day by 11/18/18 (2) Lose 100lbs by 12/25/18

I keep close track of calories, trying to slowly cut to a point that would level me out at 204 pounds, the weight I was at the end of the contest, but without starving and dehydrating myself to that point. Weight (change since Jan 2018): 215 (-59) Workout time: 40 Minutes Total Distance (total since Nov 2017): 1.87 Miles (74.08) Steps: 14,117 Goals: (1) Run 10.5 miles in one day by 11/18/18 (2) Lose 100lbs by 12/25/18

I see my general practitioner, who breaks down the possible causes of my arm pain. He also displays his artistic skills on a sheet of exam table paper, preserved here as the featured image. The problem is with a pinched nerve in my neck. It also may be complicated by scoliosis, because it seems my shoulders are unbalanced. Lots of good information here. Weight (change since Jan 2018): 212 (-62) Workout time: 0 Minutes Total Distance (total since Nov 2017): 0 Miles (70.65) Steps: 4105 Goals: (1) Run 10.5 miles in one day by 11/18/18 (2) Lose 100lbs by 12/25/18

I visit my doctor and get some information about what might be happening to my back and causing the arm pain that I have been experiencing. Heading out under the light of the moon on an early Saturday morning, I ponder moving forward with my health after the weight loss contest. I talk about my “cheat meal” and, with all the things going on with my body right now, decide not to run again for a while. The effect of 60 hours of fasting was an 8-pound loss, prior to the final “biggest loser” weigh-in. I gained it all back in one night. Much of the food and water in my system just wasn’t there. I probably lost a half-gallon of water in that time. I now begin the process of slowly increasing my caloric intake to rebuild my metabolism. Plenty to work on and a feverish pace to keep! Weight (change since Jan 2018): 214 (-60) Workout time: 33 Minutes Total Distance (total since Nov 2017): 1.56 Miles (72.21) Steps: 5353 Goals: (1) Run 10.5 miles in one day by 11/18/18 (2) Lose 100lbs by 12/25/18

Today I learn something from Dave Jackson’s Logical Weight Loss podcast: calories burned depends on, among other things, total body weight. So I’ll be getting more accurate information from my fitness watch now as I periodically update my weight in the app. The end of the “Biggest Loser” contest at work, which I am going to win by the way, is so close I can taste it, and I plan to immediately resume a more reasonable weight management diet and exercise plan after the final weigh-in. I saw, in the grocery store, a Weight Watchers brand scale that provides BMI, body fat percentage, weight of fat and lean body mass, and possibly even more. So for cheap, you can get this information and track it. As body composition, not weight, is a healthier way to judge overall fitness, I think this is a valuable thing to have. Equally valuable to me is having a log in which I track my caloric intake. An official “Hello!” to all my Swedish listeners, and thanks for tuning in! Weight (change since Jan 2018): 210 (-64) Workout t

I start the workout coming straight from the grocery store, which makes an excellent opportunity for an accurate diet report. I discover my medical mantra, which is “Take care of yourself, your body is your most important asset.” Oatmeal, the superfood, comes in flavors that add 30-100 calories, but provide a little variety. Edamame is available in the area of the frozen foods section where natural foods are found. It’s important not only to think positively but to talk positively, because psychologically they are the same. Saying things like “I’ve always been overweight,” or “I’ve never been able to stick to an exercise program,” are examples of the opposite. If we say these things enough times we start to believe them, and it is near impossible to accomplish something I don’t believe I can do. Using my left hand to operate my mouse at work has been life-changing. It is difficult and weird to use the mouse, but other things are also affected. Using the keyboard feels different. I hesitate when performing som

I find myself a twelve-hour away from home on a short trip to the east. In a hotel that is way too hip for me, I find a gym and record the first ever Running: A FEVER episode from a treadmill. This is a good example of a situation that makes exercise and healthy dieting inconvenient. I find some ways to deal with this, though. The trip is short, so I just bring most of my food with me in a cooler. I have a Wendy’s chili, 350 calories, on the way. The neighborhood is not conducive to walking outside, but the hotel had a small gym and I have it all to myself. I hit the treadmill and mentally make my plan for the rest of the trip, which includes abdominal strength exercises the following morning before I hit the road for another twelve hours. I have some fun describing the video feature of the treadmill, and enjoy the view through a window, which features snow on the ground. All in all, this is a successful trip and my health routine gets me through it with flying colors. Weight (change since Nov 2017): 219 (-50

It is the first day of spring and a beautiful one, though it was freezing when I left for work this morning. I give a full definition of anabolism and catabolism in the first ever Chemical Biology section of the Medical Department report. Two things happen when you have enough water and are not dehydrated. Anabolic hormones are released causing growth of muscle tissue vs. destruction (catabolic hormones) due to dehydration. And fat cells more easily release fat into the bloodstream. So it’s important to hydrate before and after strength training. Confession time again. I’m overdoing my exercise and still on the starvation plan to win the contest, but it is the last week and I will soon be able to go back to a healthier level of intake and work on my health and trying to return to a normal metabolism. Resources on metabolism, anabolism and catabolism: http://www.ergo-log.com/anabolism.html http://www.rsc.org/Education/Teachers/Resources/cfb/metabolism.htm Stats as of March 21, 2018: Weight (change since Nov

In addition to trying out my rain suit for the first time on the trail, I present a lengthy hydration report including a reference to what bodybuilders call anabolism, which, per BioNinja.com means “the synthesis of complex molecules from simpler molecules including the formation of macromolecules from monomers by condensation reactions”. Translated, this means basically building, as opposed to catabolism, which refers to breaking down, and which the same site refers to as “the breakdown of complex molecules into simpler molecules including the hydrolysis of macromolecules into monomers. I have found a couple of new diet options: 99% lean turkey, which has a higher protein/fat ratio than chicken, and diet fruit juice, just 5 calories per serving. My metabolism is still very low and I am strictly counting calories, but on track to finish strong in the weight loss contest at work. Weight (change since 11/20/17): 223 (-46) Workout time: 30 Minutes Total Distance (total since Nov 2017): 1.26 Miles (62.67) Run Di

The MOVE! Program at the VA is “a weight management, health promotion program designed to improve the lives of Veterans. MOVE!’s core ideas—encouraging healthy eating behavior, increasing physical activity, and promoting even small weight losses—are easy to follow and based on the latest in nutrition science. With the help of your MOVE! Care team, you can reduce health risks, prevent or reverse certain diseases, improve your quality of life, and even live longer!” Source: https://www.move.va.gov/ Statistics for March 12, 2018: Weight (change since Jan 2018): 225 (-44) Workout time: 27 Minutes Total Distance (total since Nov 2017): 1.09 Miles (58.77) Run Distance: 0 Miles Heart Rate (min/max all day): 51/96 Steps: 10616 Goals: (1) Run 10.5 miles in one day by 11/18/18 (2) Lose 100lbs by 12/25/18  

I take a walk on breaks at work on an early Sunday morning when no one else is at the office. As the biggest loser contest draws to a close I begin to reflect on the journey we have taken together so far. I recognize the importance of setting a goal, the concept of a motivating factor that is not just the destination, but a passion that drives the daily grind of making my way to that goal.  Statistics for March 18, 2018: Weight (change since Jan 2018): 220 (-49) Workout time: 26 Minutes Total Distance (total since Nov 2017): .84 Miles (61.41) Run Distance: 0 Miles Heart Rate (min/max all day): 49/79 Steps: 5675 Goals: (1) Run 10.5 miles in one day by 11/18/18 (2) Lose 100lbs by 12/25/18

I went to Walmart to try on some jeans. I’ve gone from a size 44 to a size 38. I’m still putting off buying a new wardrobe because I’m not down to my ideal weight yet. But at least I know where I stand. I’ve lost six inches in my waist. I talk a little about the BMI controversy. Fortunately the biometrics standards at my company account for that somewhat by allowing a waist measurement to suffice (37 inches or less for men, 35 for women) if my BMI is too high. I’ve been trying six meals a day for a while and it is really working out well. I don’t get hungry, and I always have plenty of energy throughout the day, so that concept now has my full endorsement. Weight (change since Jan 2018): 221 (-48) Workout time: 18 Minutes Total Distance (total since Nov 2017): .84 Miles (60.57) Run Distance: 0 Miles Heart Rate (min/max all day): 47/94 Steps: 8328 Goals: (1) Run 10.5 miles in one day by 11/18/18 (2) Lose 100lbs by 12/25/18

The contest has gone nine weeks and I am in the lead. I look forward to winning the prize to offset some of my recent purchases of workout clothing. I’m going to finish the contest but I do not plan to do this again. I hope I don’t have to, but I am now convinced that just losing weight is not the goal, and can be dangerous if a lot of weight comes off in a short period of time. Here is a spreadsheet I developed for biometrics tracking at work: https://Biometrics_Spreadsheet It will calculate your BMI and also provides an evaluation of compliance and financial benefit based on the requirements of my employer regarding company-provided insurance. Enter your height in inches, weight in pounds, sex and age, and optionally, waist measured at the belly button, and blood pressure. The rest of the fields will be calculated based on these numbers. Weight (change since Jan 2018): 221 (-48) Workout time: 26 Minutes Total Distance (total since Nov 2017): .96 Miles (59.73) Run Distance: 0 Miles Heart Rate (min/max all da

I start the day with already over 7,000 steps, and though I’m only going a half mile, I’m hitting the hills and increasing my pace to be a little more aggressive, and build strength. I had a consultation with a dietitian today, and got some great information that I’ll detail in a special episode. But she was pretty amazed at the fact that I am still losing weight, because most people plateau earlier. I think there is a chance for me to recover my metabolism and avoid the yo-yo effect. But now I can begin the process of developing a good maintenance diet so I can keep fit in the long term. I may not be able to lose the total of 100 pounds I set as a goal to lose this year. I need to be willing to change for the better. It’s about gaining health, not losing weight. This is difficult, and it’s going to be difficult, which is why I need a fever for it. A passion to stay fit. And in the end, it is well worth it. Weight (change since Jan 2018): 225 (-44) Workout time: 27 Minutes Total Distance (total since Nov 2017

Today I’m off to a sports nutrition store near where I live called Complete Nutrition. In talking with some fellow “losers” at work I found out they can provide a body composition report. The report give weight of fat, water, and muscle/skeletal tissue, BMI, body fat and muscle by percentage of total weight, and, weirdly, the weight of various body parts.

Because I am trying to improve my strength I am taking trails with more variance in elevation. I think I will get more resistance and challenge my muscles by walking up and down the hills. One thing I learned from the body composition test was that I need to build muscle. No big surprise there, as I suspected that my weight loss included muscle as well as fat. I am considering different options. I will probably join a gym to have access to machines that will help me isolate different muscle groups. I am also starting some work on my abdominal muscles. I have to do exercises that don’t fatigue my right arm, which has suffered, probably, from a combination of rapid weight loss and scoliosis.