Improved health

posted April 2008

Despite a challenging workout routine I'm feeling great....better than ever.

The gluten/dairy free diet is a challenge but the results are outstanding. My sense of smell and taste is amazing. There's a lack of soreness that's I've not experienced. My body on Sunday is completely recovered from a week of exercise. This is unprecedented for me in recent years.

There's no cold plunge in Texas and I haven't needed it!

My sleep patterns are better. I'm getting about 7 1/4 hours of sleep per night. Most nights my data A is between 20 and 31. Sometimes I wake with apnea, but that's rare. I have no numbness or tingling of arms. No excess dry mouth in the morning. Several nights no trips to the toilet at 3 am....

My tail bone itches in the middle of the night....that's my biggest complaint! In May I visit with a holistic Doctor to discuss the results of my dietary changes. Maybe we can get at the itching!

I'm suspicious that my diet may be high in acid foods....tomatoes seem to cause water retention/inflammation. Cutting out tomatoes has reduced bloating.

So put on the big smiley face!

Some knee tightness

posted December 2007

After running the hills of Austin for several weeks with no knee issues I suddenly developed "soreness" in both knees back in Michigan. I believe it's from walking the dog in 2-4 inches of frozen snow over the last week. This on top of my fitness routine (Phase II offseason) was enough to flair up the knees. Quads around the knees are sore.

After spending 5 weeks in Texas I didn't gain a pound...same weight and bodyfat.

Sinuses are decent with the infection finally gone (ie no green stuff with flush). Been sleeping great with DATA A over 20 all nights except 3 and those were all over 18. Sinuses and sleep apnea are related for sure.

Burning about 4000 calories per week but not seeing any strength gains. Feeling great other than the knees.

Update 12/15/07: Knees fine...did 4 miles easy on Friday, Saturday and Sunday reload days. Next week phase 3.

Nasal polyps, Windpipe bulge

posted May 2007

I seldom take a good rest without it being because of injury or illness.

I haven't worked out since Monday (5 days ago). Planned a rest week, but was going to be more active. All I've done is walk slowly for 20-30 minutes.

Exercise and diet might help my sinus issues, but the fact is I still have major problems with polyps. Mucus production is very high right now.

After 9 days the neck issue has cleared...at least it doesn't hurt when lying on my right side (weird because the pain is only felt on the left side.) I might have pulled a small muscle deep in my neck when trying to breath through my nose and exhale out the mouth.

Saw a couple of Docs this week to get opinion on the neck. Both recommended a CAT scan of the soft tissue. One did a scope down the throat and saw a "bulge" which might explain the pressure I feel on the windpipe when I take a deep breath. That has subsided. Same Doc wants me to go on Antibiotics, which don't work for polyps. He said he had trouble getting through my sinuses to my throat with the camera due to polyps. I've had them removed 3 times in my life and they always come back. Flonase helps to reduce inflammation when it's at the worst. I may be dairy and gluten intolerant, but not sure. When in Texas last spring...I felt great...no congestion.

Increased my suppliments (probiotics) to stablize good bacteria in stomach. Also, taking more enzemes prior to meals. Using Flonase until I can smell clearly, which means polyps have shrunk.

I need to shrink these polyps. They will destroy bone structure over time and that is impossible to replace. This hasn't been right in years. I've tried every med and non-med solution known and still I suffer with this. IT MUST STOP!

When to rest?

posted over 2 years ago

Starting to feel a little run down...enthusiasm declined a bit this week. Today started with a "don't know what I'm going to do except spin." Ended with a smart move to eliminate a couple of chest/arm exercises because I'm feeling sore. Focused instead on quads and hamstrings. Did a personal best squat of 250 lbs. 6 repetitions (good form 3,1,1 tempo) followed by 120 lb. leg curls X 6.

Total Calories for the day: 1050

Sinus Problem Gone

posted April 2007

For almost one month I was beginning to doubt my sinuses would improve. I desperately used Afrin nasal spray, flonase, and finally antihistamines to get rid of what started as a minor sore thoat and ended up as chronic inflammation and sinus congestion. I couldn't breath out of my nose. I couldn't smell the worst odors, and I couldn't taste much of anything. It was depressing!

I had not used anti-histamines in almost 3 years!

I floss my teeth with a mint floss. I could NOT taste the mint.

Finally after a week of anti-histimines and flonase my nose started to clear. All the while I had been using "sinu rinse" to "FLUSH" the mucuss from my nose. The "material" was greenish crap that seemed to have no end!

NOW I can smell and taste again 99.9% without anti-biotics which is the VERY first thing the Doc would have prescribed. I continue to "rinse" my nose 2-3 times a day, but have stopped all meds.

Feeling really good!

posted over 2 years ago

Starting to smell odors (good and bad!)....

Today was just a normal recovery day (580 calories). Yamuna for 25 minutes, 45 minute walk at 4.5 mph 5 degrees, some core and stretching 15 minutes.

I tapered off this week trying to eliminate aches and pains. Those back to back double workouts are too much for me, especially when I try to up the weights each week.

Tomorrow is spinning...will do no more than 40 minutes at 85% MHR versus the usual 93% or so.

Have to decide whether to rest next week or start phase I golf or do Colgan hardcore for 3-4 weeks prior to medicine ball/plyometrics.

Lactose Intolerant?

Spinning and Legs

posted over 2 years ago

Last day of phase 6 and it was leg blast day. Spinning am and leg work out after an 1 1/2 hour break. All moving parts still functioning. Nose is still stuffy, but better at the moment (flonase is kicking in).

I'm really starting to wonder if I'm lactose in tolerant. Trying to take an enzime before meals to help.

Still having itches at night for past 2 weeks coinciding with sinus problems. Small hives....

Phase 6 Aches update

posted March 2007

Since last post:

Monday: Spinning AM; Chest/Back/Core routine PM
Tuesday: Combined Legs/Cardio
Wednesday: Recovery
Thursday: Combined Chest/Back/Cardio
Friday: Spinning AM; Legs PM
Sat: Recovery

Totals about 4500 calories burned in the week.

My weight and strength have increased. Bodyfat staying around 14.5%. Last weight 186.6.

Dead lift one time 270 lbs. (did 10 reps of 190 x 3 sets)
One arm row: 65 x 6
Push ups: 15 quality x 3 sets
Pull ups: 3 sets of 3 plus 160 lb. on lat pull down machine.

Aches and pains inventory:
1. L. hip is ok now that I cut back on the running on Tues and Thurs. AND stopping the contra one arm one leg row (do on bench)
2. R. knee a little tight. Could be the new nike Frees...Was fine on Tues after slight injury doing deadlifts on Friday. Tweaked it again and felt nothing until Thursday am. May have been after walking 45 minutes with Nike Frees.
3. Nose still congested...can't smell much...99% gone. :-(
4. R. & L elbow tender after massage therapist put extra pressure after chest/back workout. Got to watch that!
5. Both quads are tight and small muscles around r knee are tight. Not unusual 48 hours after leg workout!
6. Not sleeping that well. Pain not the issue, the nose is.....Data A averaging around 20 mins. the last 8 days after an 8 day run of 26 minutes....
7. Looking forward to rest after next Thursday.

Didn't do cold plunge on Wednesday. Thought being that the cold could aggravate the nose. Didn't notice much difference in congestion. Muscles are a bit more sore on Thursday.

Gluten and Dairy Sensitivity

posted January 2008

"It's recommended that you completely remove dairy and gluten from your diet." HOLY COW! No pun intended... I took the lab test and that's what was found. I'm way over the limits on dairy and gluten reaction. I have celiac disease. Wow....

That is what has caused my sinus problems among other things. Better late than never to have found out. It all makes sense now.

Today is the first day of the rest of my life.....

Sinus Update

posted October 2007

Around September 4th I developed a sore throat followed by severe sinus drainage...clear liquid almost like water. In the following days the throat cleared up with some chloreseptic help, but the nose drainage persisted. On one afternoon at Jamestown Virginia I used one box of Kleenex. Also, my handkerchief was totally soaked, but NO yellow or green ONLY water like! NON-Stop drip. Need to say had trouble sleeping. Hotel in Williamsburg was old and musty...lost sense of smell....basement meetings were in a cold room. We moved after one night in motel to a Hampton Inn. Felt so rotten that I missed the farewell dinner...sneezing and runny nose. Took only lozenge for throat.

Eventually, the drippy nose turned into a full blown sinus infection including the usual swelling and thick sticky discharge. Sense of smell was gone in a few days and taste has diminished.

A couple of nights I woke at 2-3 in the morning and felt like I was suffocating. So I used a temporary relief nasal spray PLUS resumed Flonase. The spray gave IMMEDIATE relief but shouldn't be used past 2 weeks. I thought if I could get sleep plus open the sinuses and use the saline rinse (sinucleanse) that EVENTUALLY the problem would subside. The 12 hour relief (one spray in each nostril) lasted for about 15 hours. Stepped up the sinucleanse rinse to 3 or 4 times a day.

The culprit may be the Candida fungus triggered by the amount of sugar I had been eating. Couple that with an old hotel and problems happen. I was also eating 2-3 odwella bars per day PLUS a couple of cups of sweet cherries on top of my other fruit (shake and breakfast). BBQ was creeping back into my diet. Also, this is ragweed season (nearing an end now).

Notices some other symptoms, clear bubble sore on my lower lip, and muscle soreness.

In any case, I'm back on the NO sugar diet...UGH which means minimal fruit...not after 1 pm. About 1/4 cup of fresh blueberries and 3/4 cup of frozen strawberries for lunch (shake) is it. I'm going to cut out sweetened soy milk...going to plain start tomorrow. Trying some non-gluten grains/chips and almond/cashew butter.

It's been 2 days without meds and without most sugar...also using 2 drops of grapefruit seed extract in my 8 oz of saline rinse (8 oz. per side now!). The results are no smell, no taste, but reduced congestions (ie can breath with mouth shut). Can smell only during hard exercise.

Continuing my fitness routine. Burning between 4000-5000 calories per week.

October 18th: Been on this diet for a week with some success, but still no sense of smell and little taste. The diet sucks...but not breathing sucks more! Cut out meds except the saline rinse 1-3x's a day. Rattles in the nose, and light yellow mucus, light green in the AM. Resting better some nights.

November 29, 2007 update: Feeling great...can smell and taste since 10-31. Sinu-cleanse in the morning produces a small amount of mucosa. Last several days have been 8 on a scale of 10. Sleeping with mouth open, but during the day breathing through nose.

Sleeping great with average data A around 23 minutes. Only one day in last 23 below 20 minutes.

sinus update fall 2007

posted over 2 years ago

Incredibly busy with new dog and travel. Cut back workouts to 1-2 lifts per week, 1-2 core sessions, 1-2 spinning, 1-2 running, plus the usual 3-4 rounds of golf per week.

Caught some nasty virus OR had a reaction to sour cream added to peanut soup. In any case lots of drainage, worse since starting new diet last February. Unable to smell MOST odors, but NOT totally blocked. Had a sore throat followed by runny nose (1 box of Kleenex in ONE afternoon.)

One more week of serious golf then back to off season routine.