9 Month Post WLS Check In Blog

Figured it was time to do a summary of where I am, what I have going, and some compare pictures again.

Making a lot of progress but have to really keep in mind the tools and not get lazy.

I am almost to my first goal for AFSP walk where I will add another 22lbs to my pack.
Please consider donating to a great cause.
Share the URL if you can: https://afsp.donordrive.com/participant/RuckForAwareness

Couple of goals made in the last several weeks.
I made sub 12 minute mile.
I made sub 40 minute 5k.
I finished the break down flag poles that will be used at the Buddy Check 22k next week.

I am planning on getting some more flags.
Think I am going to get a 3'x5' of the top one and then a 12"x18" of both designs to hang on packs.

I am also looking to get t-shirts made from the previous flag design.
Let me know if you might be interested.
Cotton feel dry gear style shirt with printing on front.
Cost will be between $15&$20 depending on what price break I can order to.

Numbers so far:

DATE	6/24/2018	7/18/2018	01/01/2019	04/14/2019	LOSS SO FAR
Weight	374.9	337.8	256.6	223.4	151.5
Around Shoulders	64.25	62	55.25	53.25	11
Chest at Armpit	58	55.5	49.25	46.25	11.75
Chest at Nipple	60.25	57	49.5	46.5	13.75
Chest at Sternum	60.5	55.5	46.5	42.5	18
Waist	66	62.5	51	46	20
Hips	50	48	40.25	39	11
Bicep	22	20	17.25	15.5	6.5
Forearm	16	15	13.5	12.75	3.25
Wrist	8	8.25	7.75	7.5	0.5
Thigh	29	28.5	25.75	24	5
Calf	20.5	19.5	17.5	17	3.5
Ankle	11.5	10.5	11	11	0.5

Goals Update:

2019 Fitness Goals
1000 Daily Miles (Includes all mileage walking & workouts)
398.57 Daily Miles YTD
- I will be logging this on Charity Challenge with my team as: 
YIAAGAITIA

500 Fitness Miles (Workouts and events)
215.57 Fitness Miles YTD
- I will be logging this on Charity Challenge with my team as:
BuddyCheck22k

Events planned and completed this year:

Event	Dates	DONE
GoRuck Resolution Ruck 50 miles in first 15 days of 2019.	20190101 - 20190115	X
Ruck.Beer Monthly Ruck 20.19 miles in January.	20190101 - 20190131	X
Buddy Check Jan 2019	20190120	X
GoRuck Monthly Ruck Ruck 1 mile per day every day of February.	20190201 - 20190228	X
Ruck.Beer Monthly Ruck Ruck 86 flights of stairs.	20190201 - 20190228	X
ParkRun Eagan 42:47 5k	20190326	X
Ruck.Beer Monthly Ruck Ruck 1000 Mile Pounds.	20190301 - 201900331	X
ParkRun Eagan 41:17 5k Started 60-90 seconds late.	20190406	X
ParkRun Eagan 38:36 5k Next goal is sub 36 minute	20190420	X
Ruck.Beer Monthly Ruck Ruck 10 Miles with Coupon.	20190401 - 201900430
Buddy Check Apr 2019	20190427
???GoRuck Light Battle Baghdad??? Might shadow this event especially if I know people in it.	20190504
GoRuck Scavenger	20190505
The Old Glory Run St. Joe	20190518
FANS (I will be doing support for my brother and walking/rucking/jogging as I can.	20190601 - 20190602
Eagle UP Ultra 2019 Goal is 50K. Not sure if I will ruck it all or mix it up.	20190608 - 20190609
Freedom Fest Ruck'N'Roll 10K Ruck to support Operation: 23 To Zero	20190629
GoRuck Red Wings 1 yr anniversary from WLS. 3 yr anniversary from last GRL.	20190720
Buddy Check Jul 2019 Day after GRL so will see what I can do.	20190721
Chasing Bigfoot	20190728
Ragnar Relay MN Working with Operation: 23 To Zero.	20190816 - 20190817
GoRuck Star 12 Miler Friend driving in from out of town to do this with me.	20190824
AFSP Walk Join My Team	20190915
Ragnar Relay Trail Northwoods On a team with my brother.	20190920 - 20190921
Warrior 196 Waiting on sign up.	20190928
???GoRuck Light Mogadishu Mile???	20191005
Team RWB Old Glory Relay Guessing on date.	201901011 - 20191013
Buddy Check Oct 2019	20191020

Pictures:

We did change where we have the camera set up but you can still tell the changes. 
Yes, I am tearful and thankful.


#IAmWorthIt
#DFQ
#RuckForAwareness
#RuckingForAwareness
#CharityChallenge
#OneFatGuysJourneyToHealth

News

Figure I will get an updated list of events posted.
Also an update to my workouts and runs that I have added.
And finally weight update since it is Sunday.


First and foremost, it seems most people missed this on my last blog so I will make a not here too.
I went to the doctor to do a follow up.
I am no longer considered diabetic.
This means the list of ailments I have removed can include, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity.
While I am still heavier than the "normal" my doctor is happy with where I am.

And in reverse order, weight:
223.8 pounds
Seems like I didn't lose as much muscle mass this time but need to get a few more weeks to verify after my med and diet change.


Running:
I have started trying to do more running.
Going over to do the ParkRun in Eagan.
They do a timed 5k every Saturday for free.
All volunteer run and after, we go over to Starbucks to hang out and chat.

2019 Fitness Goals
1000 Daily Miles (Includes all mileage walking & workouts)
351.73 Daily Miles YTD
- I will be logging this on Charity Challenge with my team as: 
YIAAGAITIA

500 Fitness Miles (Workouts and events)
190.25 Fitness Miles YTD
- I will be logging this on Charity Challenge with my team as:
BuddyCheck22k

Event	Dates	DONE
GoRuck Resolution Ruck 50 miles in first 15 days of 2019.	20190101 - 20190115	X
Ruck.Beer Monthly Ruck 20.19 miles in January.	20190101 - 20190131	X
Buddy Check Jan 2019	20190120	X
GoRuck Monthly Ruck Ruck 1 mile per day every day of February.	20190201 - 20190228	X
Ruck.Beer Monthly Ruck Ruck 86 flights of stairs.	20190201 - 20190228	X
ParkRun Eagan 42:47 5k	20190326	X
Ruck.Beer Monthly Ruck Ruck 1000 Mile Pounds.	20190301 - 201900331	X
ParkRun Eagan 41:17 5k Started 60-90 seconds late.	20190406	X
Ruck.Beer Monthly Ruck Ruck 10 Miles with Coupon.	20190401 - 201900430
Buddy Check Apr 2019	20190427
???GoRuck Light Battle Baghdad??? Might shadow this event especially if I know people in it.	20190504
GoRuck Scavenger	20190505
FANS (I will be doing support for my brother and walking/rucking/jogging as I can.	20190601 - 20190602
Eagle UP Ultra 2019 Goal is 50K. Not sure if I will ruck it all or mix it up.	20190608 - 20190609
GoRuck Red Wings 1 yr anniversary from WLS. 3 yr anniversary from last GRL.	20190720
Buddy Check Jul 2019 Day after GRL so will see what I can do.	20190721
Chasing Bigfoot	20190728
Ragnar Relay MN Working with Operation: 23 To Zero.	20190816 - 20190817
GoRuck Star 12 Miler Friend driving in from out of town to do this with me.	20190824
AFSP Walk Join My Team	20190915
Ragnar Relay Trail Northwoods On a team with my brother.	20190920 - 20190921
Warrior 196 Waiting on sign up.	20190928
???GoRuck Light Mogadishu Mile???	20191005
Team RWB Old Glory Relay Guessing on date.	201901011 - 20191013
Buddy Check Oct 2019	20191020

2019 Charity:

I am going to include this section about the AFSP walk on most every post I do I think.
I really want to raise the money for it.

My big charity event this year will be the AFSP Out of the Darkness walk in September.
https://afsp.donordrive.com/participant/RuckForAwareness
I am going to carry 22lbs in my back pack for the 22 Veterans that suicide every day.
I will carry the weight to represent the weight that those thinking about suicide carry EVERY DAY.

If I reach $250 in donations I will double that to 44lbs.

If I reach my goal of $500 in donations, I will carry the 44lbs in my bag AND 2 10lb kettle bells the entire way.

Currently I am at $175 so have started the training with the plan of making the higher number.

I have close friends that have attempted suicide.
I have talked to people that have been able to tell me what a gun feels like in their mouth when they pulled the trigger to practice for their suicide.
I have seen the scars on their arms where they cut themselves.
I have seen the effects of their attempts on their friends and family.


#IAmWorthIt
#DFQ
#RuckForAwareness
#RuckingForAwareness
#CharityChallenge
#OneFatGuysJourneyToHealth

Workout Thoughts

First and foremost is not workout thought related:
I went to the doctor to do a follow up. 
I am no longer considered diabetic.
This means the list of ailments I have removed can include, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity.
While I am still heavier than the "normal" my doctor is happy with where I am. 


Med change with change to eating:
I did my weigh in a bit late this week due to travel.
I was down to 225.8 pounds and lost more muscle weight than fat again.
I sent a note to my doctor and told her I was going to go ahead and fully stop the Victoza.
Part of the effects of that medicine is appetite suppression and weight loss.

I had been limiting my eating since I wasn't really hungry and had really been eating closer to keto than I should have.
I have made a conscious effort to now make sure to include more/good carbs to meals, like veggies/fruit.
I still avoid bread since it really is just a filler.

I am now only on testosterone, which I will never go off of due to cancer, and Pravistatin, which the doctor wants me to stay on due to history of diabetes and high triglycerides.
Lots of vitamins but only 2 meds.


Going harder/longer in workouts:
I had realized I was cruising since I took more than 2 times as long to get distance as before.
I also realized I wasn't moving up in weight.
Part of that was probably due to the meds and using up muscle but med and diet changes should help.

I have upped my distance and weight in my ruck in the last week or so and plan on getting up to the 44 pounds in case I need to do it for AFSP.
I also have a ruck challenge to do 10 miles with a coupon.
I plan on carrying some kettlebells for my coupon since I need to also train for AFSP.
Just have to figure how to carry them with the heavier gloves in the morning, maybe weight lifting straps.


Neck/shoulder ache:
Shoulder is still recovering but doing better.
Neck and shoulder tend to ache and I could use a massage.
I have been stretching and that has helped some.
Chiropractor said it has gotten better from his perspective tho.


ParkRun Eagan on Saturdays:
I did 1 ParkRun and got my sub 43 minute 5k and will definitely be back again.
I should be able to make it to the next 3 of them.
Not sure if they are going to do it Easter weekend but I think they will.
I have my BuddyCheck22k on 4/27 so will miss the 2 year anniversary event.
I am actually a bit excited about being able to do this running and training for the Ragnar later this year. 


No more virtual runs (unless money is for good cause):
I had been doing a lot of virtual runs to help encourage me to move.
I have decided unless it is a special event, I won't be doing them anymore.
I need to clear off my medal rack and put specific event awards there.
Maybe even figure a way to hang event patches.
Not sure what I will do with all the medals I already have (mostly from Yes.Fit).
I just don't need them anymore. 


New clothes:
I had bought a new pair of pants and they are already getting loose.
I got a bunch of shirts from WillyCon from previous years that fit just to have some workout shirts that actually fit and don't look sloppy.
I also got some new 2x t-shirts from Walmart that were really cool and fun.
I also need to go thru all my current clothes and purge more. 
I have given away hundreds of dollars of clothes so far. 


Mental body image issues due to sloppy skin:
I know intellectually that losing weight will cause the loose skin but mentally/heart-wise I am struggling with body image.
I see myself in the mirror and feel frustrated.
I know that it will get better but due to the speed that I have lost, this is to be expected.
I just want it to be fixed and it won't be for a while.
They won't even consider skin flap surgery until at least 1 year. 
I have to just live with it for now but it really does make me self conscious at times.


How far I have come:
I was talking to boss at a planning meeting today and remembered that last year, I had to park about 5 blocks from the event and had to walk up to the meeting.
I remember that I got part way and had to stop.
Since I do play pokemon go, I pulled my phone out to play but that was a cover excuse versus something I had planned.
Physically I was unable to go the full 5 blocks in 1 go but had to stop due to the discomfort I was feeling. 

My walk this morning was only 1.6 miles.
If I hadn't had to be back in time, I really felt good and could have kept going further before turning around and heading back.
The fact that I say that 1.6 miles is ONLY, is really telling. 
I am starting to ponder about the Star course later this year for GoRuck and wondering if I could do the 26 mile event instead of just the 12 mile one.

I was also looking at whether I could do the GRL in May.
With the muscle loss so far, I have been struggling with strength overall so not sure I would be able to do it.
I think April will have a lot of work to test and try to build up the ability to do workouts that include things that they will do during a GRL Welcome Party.
Here are some examples of workouts that I will need to try to work on to see where I am at.
https://content.goruck.com/rucking-challenge/april-rucking-challenge-worksheet.pdf


2019 Charity:

I am going to include this section about the AFSP walk on most every post I do I think.
I really want to raise the money for it. 

My big charity event this year will be the AFSP Out of the Darkness walk in September.
https://afsp.donordrive.com/participant/RuckForAwareness
I am going to carry 22lbs in my back pack for the 22 Veterans that suicide every day. 
I will carry the weight to represent the weight that those thinking about suicide carry EVERY DAY. 

If I reach $250 in donations I will double that to 44lbs. 

If I reach my goal of $500 in donations, I will carry the 44lbs in my bag AND 2 10lb kettle bells the entire way.

Currently I am at $175 so have started the training with the plan of making the higher number.

I have close friends that have attempted suicide. 
I have talked to people that have been able to tell me what a gun feels like in their mouth when they pulled the trigger to practice for their suicide. 
I have seen the scars on their arms where they cut themselves. 
I have seen the effects of their attempts on their friends and family.


#IAmWorthIt
#DFQ
#RuckForAwareness
#RuckingForAwareness
#CharityChallenge