I Will Post Again!

Right now I am between a rock and a hard place when it comes to computing. My computer is presently down, and I am waiting on a part from Dell. Perhaps by the end of the week I will have my computer back on line. I am presently using my wife's computer. That should do, but I don't like the left-handed way she has the layout of her monitor and mouse and I don't like the way I have to open a drawer and slide out the keyboard in order to type. Also, her computer is sooooooooo sloooooooowww (I've got to get here a better computer). I know that is all trivial stuff, but I guess I just like my own computer. Besides, there is a vast amount of information on my computer that I can't get to because it is off line.

I am feeling very well physically. I believe that I am almost up to normal in strength and energy. However, if I've been operating on less than normal for years, while thinking I was normal, then I may have a little further to go, but I'm getting there. When I refer to normal strength, I'm not talking about a muscle bound athelete. I know I've got a lot to do on my muscles. I'm still at 185 lbs. Loosing 65 lbs. should make anyone feel better, don't you think.

I'll try to get back and post something when I get my computer back in operation.

My Last Visit To The Specialist!

Well, well, well! What will I blog about now? Since I have been taken off my medication and the therapy has stopped, I should be feeling better. I am feeling better. Ain't that something? Off the medicine and feeling better! So "my progress" is just going to be gooder-n-gooder. I guess I'll have to blog more about "church, my family, sermon thoughts, theology, other and new things". (see my blog labels)

Let me just say this concerning the doctor visits to Dr. Buchner: It was kinda sad to say good-bye to those nurses. After seeing them so many times, I begin to think of them as my friends. So, why didn't I think of the doctor as my friend? Simple! Believe it or not, I never did even meet the doctor. I wouldn't know him if I bumped into him. I think he only comes to the Cleveland office once a week. Now, he could be comming more than that, but I still never met him and I don't know him. He sure has a good staff though, and I was well pleased with the care I received from them.

On this last visit, Monday, Nov. 12th., for the first time, I didn't loose any weight. As a matter of fact I gained 2 lbs. My blood counts were almost normal. I was almost out of the anemic stage, falling short of it only by a .2 (point two) reading of one of the four or five or more readings that they do. I knew I was getting better. In summary: It was hepatitis-c, geno-type 1b, I completed 28 weeks of the 48 week therapy session, beginning viral load of 7.2 million, mid-term load of 164,000, ending load of 1.02 million, I would not clear the virus, my primary care physician would receive a report of all that was done and he can do the same lab work if he desires. That's the doctor's report but there is another report to consider (See my blog dated Thursday, Oct. 18th., entitled "Whose Report Will You Receive?")

Should there be any important developments concerning my fight with the hepatitis-c virus, I'll probably post something about it on this blogspot.

Here's something new for you to feel sorry for me about. I have to renew my driver's liscense by Nov. 20th. This is the 16th. However, I can't do it yet. I'm waiting for the office of vital statistics in Florida to send me a certified copy of my birth certificate so I can prove to the liscense bureau that I am who I said I was five years ago when they issued me a Tennessee State driver's liscense. Mercy, mercy, mercy! I have my valid Tennessee driver's liscense, with my picture on it, and all the other important info, but that want do. The requirement is that since this is my first renewal, I must have my birth certificate. I ask you now. Does that mean that they are admitting to the possibility that they may have liscensed me illigally? Sounds like it to me. Well, the best way for me to respond to all that is just like I am doing now. I've put a rush order in for my birth certificate and I'm waiting. When it comes, I'll just go down to the liscense bureau office and take my number and go through the mill for my renewal. I'll not grumble nor complain. Err...ah, is that what I am doing now? Complaining? I'll get over it.

How To Burn Off Calories

OK, I know it's time I should have blogged already! I'm really trying to wait until my Nov. 12th. appointment is over, (I have a doctor's appointment - my last one to Dr. Buchner) but I just can't, so here's something to consider if you want to loose weight

If you rake leaves for 50 minutes you will burn approximately 210 calories.

If you lift weights for 1 hour and 30 minutes, you will burn approximately 257 calories.

If you houseclean for 2 hours and 35 minutes you will burn approximately 525 calories.

If you work in the garden for 35 minutes, you will burn approximately 165 calories.

If you walk leisurely for 1 hour and 10 minutes, you will burn approximately 400 calories.

If you ride a bike for 1 hour and 25 minutes, you will burn approximately 500 calories.

If you walk approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes, you will burn 305 calories

If you vacuum for approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes you will burn 310 calories.

If you play golf (while walking and carrying your clubs) for 1 hour, you will burn 350 calories.

If you walk the dog for 1 hour and 20 minutes, you will burn 400 calories.

If you do water aerobics for 1 hour and 15 minutes, you will burn 360 calories.

If you play tennis for 55 minutes, you will burn 380 calories.

If you wash the car for 1 hour and 15 minutes, you will burn 220 calories.

If you do aerobic dance for 1 hour and 5 minutes, you will burn 430 calories.

By the way, I now weigh 185 lbs. Just 10 more to go, then I may go to the Pizza Hut. No, no, now! I'm not going to start going to the Pizza Hut, I'm just planning on going once. Just once. Well, maybe after I wait a long time, I may go again. I can't afford to put that weight back on. I've already gotten rid of my larger clothes. I'll just have to be disciplined. Yeah, right! Help me ya'll.

More Weight Loss!

I'm still loosing weight. The last few days I have weighed in at 189 lbs. I think it's great that I am losing weight but Janis and momma are getting worried. Back in late January or early February when I started on a diet, and weighed about 250 lbs, I told Janis I would look older and people would say, "Oh, you're loosing too much weight," or "I think you've lost enough." Well, it's happening, and Janis is joining them. Now, we didn't know at that time that I would soon be on medication that would help with my diet (that's the way I look at it). I lost about 20 lbs. before medication and I've lost about 40 since beginning the medical treatment - a total of 60 lbs. since January.
I'm glad I'm loosing the weight but the medication has taken away that drive that's always demanding more food. I guess some would say that I have lost my appetite. I've gone from a size 44 waist to a size 38. Now, think about it. My closet was full of size 42s and a few 44s. I especially liked those pants with the additional few inches supplied by the stretchy waist band. Now, having a smaller waist, I go to the closet and pull out just about any pair of pants and they are too large. That means I've got to buy some new clothes. Well I did that and bought some 40s. Ah yes! That felt much better, but when the 40s began to be too large I decided to try 38s. Ah yes again! So now I have a few 38s and a few 40s and a lot of 42s. Who knows? Before my 23 more weeks of treatment is over, I may have to buy some 36s.
I can hear momma and Janis right now. "Oh no you're not. We're not going to let you lose any more weight. You are going to eat."
My reply is, "We'll see."
I am still overweight, so whats the big deal. Let me lose about 15 more lbs. and then I'll start eating some of those delicious, dripping with juice, Wendy's hamburgers, and frosties, and maybe even a few french fries. Oh, yeah! I know I could gain it all back when I'm off the medicine. Now, there's a scary thought. But by the help and grace of God, I'm not going to gain it back. You know when people gain back the weight they've lost, they always gain more. My prayer: "Oh Lord! Please help me to never gain too much weight again. Amen!"

Be careful how much weight you loose!

I am slimmer, but as you can see, I still need to loose a few more pounds.

Here, you can see what my son calls 'my turkey neck'.

About January of this year, I really started trying to loose weight. I have lost about 40 lbs. Part of my motivation was the sick feeling I got about that time that drove me to the doctor. When you're not feeling well, it's not real hard to skip a meal or eat chicken noodle soup. I was also motivated by my very uncomfortable state of existence. I mean, when you can't even tie your your shoes without almost passing out, it's time to do something. When all your clothes are just about to burst at the seams, it's time to do something. One thing I did was buy bigger clothes. That seemed to help, but it really cost money. I bought some size 44's and some 42's with that wonderful 'stretch band' that added about 2 - 4 inches to the waist line. I got some good pants. Louis Raphael, Haggar, Geoffrey Beene - even some Puritan and George (Walmart specials). All total, I guess I bought about 16 pair of pants. I really liked them too, but now, they are just too big for me. I look like a big bag of sticks in them. So, now, I guess, somebody is going to have a blessing in clothes.

I couldn't hardly believe how many pairs of pants that I still had. I mean, these were the pants that I used to wear before I reached 235, 240, and yes, even 250 lbs. I will just have to get these dry cleaned so that they will have a little bit of professional look about them and then wear them for a while. I don't want to spend that much money again, too soon, on pants. I lost weight and I lost money too. I can remember when I couldn't afford to buy a new pair of pants. My, how God has blessed us, Janis and I.

I haven't been through my shirts yet, but that is coming. Most of my shirts, I do not even wear. I just don't really like them. Janis may have to help me with the 'shirt' chore. She likes some that I don't, and I like some that she don't. Oh, dear! I sure hope it doesn't end up in a feud. If it does, I'll just blame it on my medicine.

Here's hoping that I will continue to loose a little more weight (at least 15 more lbs. for now) and that I will then keep the excess weight off.