Running Is Hard For A Non Runner

Running sure is a hard thing to do if you haven't run in a while. I know I stopped at some point during my coughing problem. It's been a while,  and I have no idea how long. Long enough you could consider me a non runner. I am putting in 11:00-12:00 minute paces in my ~1.5 mile route. It isn't exactly easy either. My lungs are not used to this cardio thing. I rode my bike for transportation a lot, but it isn't the same. My commute is super short,  and I don't time trial it at all. I don't go slow, but I don't try and kill it. 

So, basically I start as a non runner, and I'll tell you what.  People who want to be runners have a steep hill to climb. It just isn't easy at all. Luckily I already know how the other side is, so I won't get frustrated. running 30 days in a row is a grind though. I've only done it 7 days so far. 

I drank last night. Just my usual. I don't plan on doing it again til maybe next Saturday if I feel like it. Like I told you the addiction is gone, so I did it for the heck of it. I thought it would be a good way to relax at the end of my week. At the expense of reading my book, and doing other stuff. I was tired, and beat. 77 miles last week was my total. Running after my Saturday job is not ideal, but I had to get it in. It was then I realized or re-reremembered how hard running really is. I did my pushups,  and pullups too. 

I gained another pound last week. 164.7, and I continue to lose body fat as a percentage. Lemme check. 23.2% was my high,  and I am at 21.5%   my goal is a random 15%  obviously body weight does not fluctuate a ton. Mine had been going down steadily over the last month or so. Not a ton,  but a bit. 

Oh, I slept almost 10 hours last night. I got an 80 score. It wasn't higher cuz my REM was only 1.5 hours, not 2.5 like it should be with that amount of sleep. Drinking fucks up your sleep too. My BP was fine this morning, as I assumed it would be. One day of drinking will not necessarily have bad health repercussions if it is just one day per week.  Every day is bad. Trust me. I tried everything to have my cake and eat it too, or whatever that saying is. My resting heart rate went up 3 BPM though,  that you cannot escape,  but still way down from when I drank every day. 

I have to cut the grass again, and I think I am going to Dicks Sportting Goods to buy exercise equipment. I think I'll do the home gym. Obviously the old peoples workout place isn't a social activity for me. It's just do my work, and call it good. I can do that at home without a monthly fee. I figure one year of that monthly fee will pay for my equipment. Also I know I'll use it. Plus I can add squats to my repertoire,  so that would be good. I can't do all the exercises I did at my workout place,  but I can still do all the muscles plus different stuff. I am excited about that actually.  

Besides that not much. Today will be a busy day. A lot to do kinda. It will be a good day though. Another stretch of not drinking starts again. Also more running, and more working out. I eat like a guinea pig throughout my work day. An orange here, an apple there. Cherries if I have them. Those are so good. I eat a salad, and a sandwich too. Also i have unsalted cashews too. I eat non stop at work. I kinda have to too. 

Anyway, i love a day of sleep recovery.  Pretty awesome.  

Laterzzzzzzzzz.    :)

xoxo.       :)

xxoo.         :)

Byeeeeeeeeeee.         :)))

I Know, I know, It Is Saturday

One thing I rarely, and actually probably never do is not drink on a Friday. I didn't drink last night, so I guess I have time to blog. You may think I might get a high from being sober on a Saturday morning, but I am not. I am happy my resting heart rate is down another notch,  and my BP reading is good. Not a feeling of oneupsmanship over my previous self. I would love to have that. It would be awesome.   :)

You may wonder how I know my addiction to drinking is over. I can't really explain it. I just know. It's not like I have  recovered from addictions before, but I just know. I am not even sure how major of an addiction it was, since I was fully functional. if my BP wasn't my low point I probably would have no reason to quit. It is though,  and I quit,  and its fine with me. 

I did quit smoking cigarettes once. I smoked for about a year a million years ago. I never ever could quite get up to 20 ciggarettes in a day. After a while it is just too nasty. The semi addiction I walked away from like that,  and never looked back. You kinda get a distaste for it after you quit. Same with alcohol. I don't crave alcohol, and actually the opposite. I have a distaste for brandy, and the less than stellar buzz I'd get. When you are done with addiction you just know. Before that it's a battle I guess. I cannot explain. 

Life goes on. I will probably be around 76 miles this week, so activity is definitely up to previous norms, and will only continue to grow. Today will be day 7 of not drinking, and I have to run after work for day 7. Running every day would be fine if I didn't already have a lot of miles on my legs. We will see what it can turn into though. I kept thinking what was my other 30 day thing?  It was smoking. Since I don't smoke I assume ciggarettes to be ~$7/pack so I put $7 each day into a savings account. I just have an automatic transfer set up for $49/week, so I don't have to do it. I think I'll set up a Brandy account to do the same. $49/month for all the Brandy I don't drink. Before covid-19 I was putting $100 each week into my Discover anyway, and $100 into my investment account, so it ain't no thing. I have yet to add to my investment account. I don't trust the market really. Yesterday's job news doesn't scream huge day for WS to me. Maybe cuz I know firsthand manufacturing jobs took a hit. We have a lot of manufacturing jobs in West MI, and I know there were real layoffs. Not furloughs if you will. 

I don't think it was all of the virus doing it either.  I can always have them go more conservative from now on too. I am more interested in capital preservation with a small rate of return, than the big bang, big bust plan. I have my job you know?  Paychecks every week from both my jobs, so that adds money to my pot each week. We don't really have much we need to spend money on either besides the basics. I do like getting my accounts bigger though. I'll probably add to my investment account again soon. 

What else?  Not too much. I am older,  and more and more disinterested it seems. I do realize you cannot do all the things. Being a Jack of all trades takes a ton of time. My routine is pretty busy. Plus I have to run, and do my resistance training during the week. Gardens, and grass need to be cared for. Summer is busy. I go to bed tired. I wanna read my book more. but man my eyes are just ready for sleep at the end of my day. I guess that is a good thing. 

Oh, one thing I learned from not drinking is I have to get up and pee a couple times each night. I still drink a ton of water even when I don't drink. I think I just like the taste. Maybe it's just cuz in the past I always was sipping some type of beverage.  I don't know, but I do love water. 

I spose. Better get ready for work.  

Laterzzzzzzzzz.      :)

xoxo.         :)

xxoo.        :)

Byeeeeeee.       :)))

That Is Good

My first BP read was a false one I believe. 119/79, or something ridiculous like that. 2nd one was 133/83. That is definitely pretty good. Going in the right direction for sure. As I expected drinking  *could* be my miracle cure, or not drinking really, and it appears to be the case. The trick though is to beat the addiction. Turns out that you need persistence and luck I spose. Persistence to keep trying after you for sure will fail many times. Luck that eventually the addiction just leaves. Somehow the mental part of the addiction is no longer. 

Drinking definitely is a young man's game. Once you turn 50 it is probably time to let it go. At least if you have BP problems like me. My next addiction may be a health addiction. I hate those weenies too.  :)

I'll take the good BP, and the good blood work that goes with not drinking. My triglycerides were my only bad part of my blood work. High from alcohol consumption I am sure. That should drop. 

So anyway yesterday was a busy day. Approaching 13 miles busy. Plus my little run, and pushups, and pullups. Actually got shit done around the house too. Dishes put away, fill the dishwasher, put those away later. I made my 2 salads, and made dinner too. Only had enough rest time to read like a chapter of my book. 

Florida left us in the dust in covid-19 numbers. Texas, Florida, and Georgia all opened up their states due to political reasons instead of scientific reasons, so I was interested to see how they would do. Not good these days. That being said California has been in lock down very early, and they still suck. Illinois too, but they may be recovering. A weird little virus right?   So for our State of MI it seems things were handled okay. Nearby governors got together and worked out a plan. Our plan seemed to work for us. 

Death to covid-19 seems unlikely if you are healthy. Let's look at me. When this first started I stopped working. We did some shit around the house, but my sleep was fucked. I was drinking every day too. Blood pressure was high probably, and that cough I've had for 6 months or so. I feel so much better about myself now, and the direction I am headed. 

Covid-19 compared to the flu. I am not going to expose myself to any flu. Getting sick sucks.  I'd still go see a movie, and people go to hockey games etc... with just a flu scare. This virus is pretty brutal though.  It won't kill most of us, but how sick would we get?  A small business gets a pocket, and that business is in trouble. If say 5 people got sick at the bakery, we'd be in a World of hurt. A flu lasts a day or two. Covid-19 is much worse. So you see the dilemma. 

Funny thing about the food industry too is from what I've seen, the percentage of people who smoke in this industry is probably several percentage points higher than the country as a whole, for whatever reason. Covid-19 may affect smokers harder I guess if their respiratory system is already at a little higher risk. 

Anyway as to the shut down it was brutal. We have no idea how brutal. Covid-19 was an unknown. We didn't know the death rate we'd be looking at. Turns out it was small, but as a percentage. A lot of people still died as a total number. With Florida spiking,  and all the old people there it is surely going to go higher. Monday morning quarterbacking is easy. Real time decisions are different. Add in a Presidential election year, and much was at stake. Those who made decisions based on politics will likely get their walking papers next time around. 

Politics and health don't really mix so great. Politics makes us blind with hate and fury, and every other emotion. Health decisions based on science are just small talking truth bombs. Things like "we will have to take a biopsy of that lump sir or madam" is just scary words. There is no view of politics when one confronts their mortality with a health issue. 

You see?  Politics had the potential to turn us all into screw balls, cuz we lead by emotion based on our side got it right. No side gives one flying fuck if you die of cancer. That's your shit to deal with. Maybe you have a couple friends, and some family who may give a shit, but that's about it. 

I'd say a lot of people invested way too much of their time in politics. During my life I invested way too much time in alcohol. I wouldn't change a thing about it either. When it was time for me to give it up, as an objective health decision I did.  After several start and fails that is. 

Anyway, I spose.  

Laterzzzzzzzz,        :)

xoxo.           :)

xxoo.           :)

Byeeeeeeeee.       :)))

Four Is Better Than Three

So day 4 running went better than day 3. My legs were fine. Running is still hard'ish due to not being in running shape,  and one could argue not in any kind of cardio shape. My legs weren't sore though. Being tired after work,  and then running is hard. Just hard to get out there. You can always run when you are tired, you just have to get out there. I would say by next Monday my cardio will be vastly improved. 

My blood pressure was 143/85 this morning. On my first try, so 2nd probably would have been lower. I will be very interested to see what it does next week. If I was drinking it would read much higher. Now you see the fear. When I took my original miracle medication my BP was fine. After a couple years it was great, but a cough developed. Uncontrollable. A side effect. So I am using different stuff that works differently. Really though it is the not drinking that will be the miracle cure. Plus a little more cardio, and continue with resistance training, which I have to do again today. 

Florida made a huge jump yesterday and overtook us. Whitner did good by us. We were one of the worst States. She had armed militia come to protest at our Government buildings even. We were bad, we locked down, and now we are much better. There is no doubt we were hit hard, and today retail stores open up fully,  and Monday bars and restaurants open at 50% capacity. The timing for stuff in Michigan is spot on. No doubt a success story for our new Governor in her 1st year.  :)

Still plenty of shit to worry about though. For me, I guess I continue to do my thing. I still am busy. I added running to my repertoire again. That will ultimately potentially take away some after work productivity. Maybe not, but my guess is it will. 

At 40 I learned i could run marathons. Running marathons meant i could do whatever i want. Eating and drinking wise anyway. 50, and I am unhealthy. BP high, and cholesterol high. I wasn't worried. I drank too much though. Pretty much a pint of Brandy each day. I turned that into less than a pint each day. After a while in my 40s I could not stay healthy running. 40s there isn't anything to worry about. 50s you actually do pay attention to your health. 

It is a new day for me finally. The most important thing missing now is the mental side of addiction. The desire that comes from falsely imagining the euphoric feeling I would have if I drank. The power of that is gone. Really it is fine being in my mind without alcohol. For me it was more a lesson in persistence rather than a lesson in perfection,  or strength. 

I failed time and again with alcohol. Just this past year too when I really wanted it. Life is fine without it. Not to mention running is back in. Health too. All positives really. 

Anyway, I spose.  

I really like this new me. I wanted to start another show yesterday. Not sure which one. Was gonna search, but I picked up my book. It is so good. My 3rd Dean Koontz book, and I loved them all so far. I hate sleeping, and having to put it down,  but when I am ready for bed, I am ready. These eyes have no way to stay open. 

Laterzzzzzzzz.        :)

xoxo.           :)

xxoo.         :)

Byeeeeeeeeee.        :)))

I Spose

I just took my blood pressure. It was a little high. I didn't take it a 2nd time, which usually reads lower yet. It was an acceptable level, plus it is working it's way down I believe anyway. My previous medication was magic I guess. I could have my cake and eat it too. I would cough like a hyena though, especially in the morning. It is better not having my cake though. Better for me, I just had to battle I guess to get that addiction out of me. I think it is mostly beaten into submission. After numerous tries and fails. The weekend hasn't popped up yet. After all my tries though,  I definitely started liking alcohol less and less. 

Maybe addiction is a keep trying til you get it type of thing. You fall down, just try and get back up. It helped I did live in fear of my escalating heart rate, and bad BP readings. Your body still has to overcome the addiction. Much of it dopamine that gets triggered in your mind that makes you feel good while doing the addiction. Then there is your mind lying to you just imagining the euphoria you get from doing so called addiction. 

One thing surprised me yesterday. I was watering the lawn with my tractor sprinkler. Sitting outside watching it go. No drink in hand, just sitting in the sun watching it go. I wasn't bored. I didn't need a drink for this to be an okay time. I had no idea that was possible. That type of thing was always a drinking activity. That surprised the heck out of me. 

My heart rate acted a little funny last night. I don't fell it got down as low as the night before. My resting heart rate still went down. What I think happened is I ran for a 3rd straight day. On legs not used to running. I think my body was busy repairing,  so maybe the whacky heart rate. My body was busy while I was sleeping. Also I do worry about my legs running 30 days in a row, when the legs are breaking down at 3.   :)    I have just the beginning running problem. Legs not used to the pounding. I do bet I recover better without alcohol. 

My State and county look to be doing good with covid-19. I don't think my area code has had a positive in a while,  and the county is way down along with the State. As it would have it we are opening up at the perfect time for our state. Other states are different. We got hit pretty hard due to direct flights to China I think. New York I believe had Italy flights too. We shut down. Took our lumps,  and it is time for us to open up. 

Lisa starts work either Tuesday or next Tuesday. She is not excited.   :)  she likes the time off, but she will like going back too. The kids go back tentatively July 1.  I will miss that little income kick we got with Lisa's extra $600 + unemployment. We are fine though. We've grown our little nest egg more. Plus I feel no pressure like I should travel. You know?  Like I should take a vacation somewhere. Maybe I will next year somewhere,  as long as there are no pandemics, and race riots and stuff. 

Yesterday was a good day. No desire to drink. Got a good amount done. Enjoying sitting outside doing nothing, without drinking. I watched the rest of my run series on HBO. The actress was pretty perfect. Attractive sometimes,  but not always. You know that girl who doesn't have the perfect body, but the face is pretty sometimes?  Not hot really,  but as things go you find her kinda hot?  That's her to me, while I watched the show. 

You never know with us guys.   :)

Laterzzzzzzzzz.       :)

xoxo.            :)

xxoo.            :)

Byeeeeeeeeeee.          :)))

It Is A Different Kind Of Sleep

I slept for like 7 hours and 10 minutes last night. My sleep score was 84, which is unheard of for me. I feel different. My heart rate starts the day 20-30 BPM lower than if I was drinking the night befire. That is crazy in itself. With my heartrate down I don't start right away fully awake. Coffee is pretty much awesome in this state. With alcohol, it isn't needed. The difference of life between drinking and not drinking is pretty big. The health benefits for me at 53 is kinda a big deal. 

Yesterday I did my Sunday shopping, cuz my Sunday was too busy. We got out at noon yesterday, so it worked out good. I took Hope out for our run when we got home. My heart rate was in cardio for most of the  run. It was even at peak for 3 minutes. It is why running is good for the heart. Nothing else gets your heart rate up so easily. I have no  idea if my knee will let me run 30 days in a row, but so far so good. I'd say it felt better yesterday than the first day. 

I am excited about my run today,  and pushups,  and pullups too. Michigan opens up this week. Retail on Thursday, and restaurants and bars on Monday. Smart to do the bars on Monday. Personally, I am happy with how our Governor did things. She stepped with caution in the great unknown. it looked really bad for Detroit, and MI in general. Remember we were #3 for a long while. 

The financial strain all will deal with we will see. It's going to be brutal. Financial strain with tensions already high due to another race thing is not good. You can see the potential for bad. Add in a President who is so not the voice of reason, but actually the voice of escalation, and November 3rd cannot come fast enough. If that is the right date. It potentially can get really bad out there. 

I have my 30 days. I know I know I can potentially become one of those Health freaks. I had one vice. Not necessarily bad, but for my biology eventually a death sentence. I watched my HBO show last night, and started one called RUN. It was good. I watched 3 episodes. I watered my gardens, and made dinner too. 

It was an okay day. I am really pretty blown away about my heart rate. I can feel the difference in me. 

Anyway, I guess that's about it. Today should be okay. Work,  eat, sleep. Plus I don't have to make a salad today, so that's like a half hour of not having to prep a ton of veggies. 

Laterzzzzzzzzz.        :)

xoxo.            :)

xxoo.          :)

Byeeeeeeeeeee.          :)))

Just Another Sunday

Good morning. How's it going?  Me, I am fine. I really got a lot done yesterday. Yard mowed, ALL the mulch is done, gardens watered,  laundry cleaned folded put away, pushups,  pullups,  and run. Add on no drinking. It was a good day. Of course overnight my heart rate was way lower than if I drank. Easily a 20 BPM difference at any one point. 

I know the World is all screwy. How racist are we?  I know our President is a bad one. I know he's not viewed bad by those on the right, and maybe because he hated Obama so much. This weekend I finally got rid of my last right wing poster. I just cannot do it anymore. Is he racist?  I don't think so. 

I was born in the Suburbs of Chicago. My leanings as I grew older were definitely to the right. I read different books though. Ones that questioned the greatness of our past. You add in a President who was quick to go to War, although when it was his turn he was quick to hide. 

As an 18 year old,  I would have had no desire to go to war. As someone in charge later in my life, I would be hesitant to send 18 year old kids to do what I wasn't willing to do. 

Life is unfair. Reading those other History books removed the scales from my eyes. The writing exam i took to graduate College is still true today. How racist are we?  I have absolutely no idea. I have no idea how it is to be a black man born in this Country. A white guy can disappear. A black man always is showing he looks different than a lot. I know there is a good amount of dislike for brown people too. They stole the American dream from us somehow is what I gather. 

Inside us all is anger. Hate is here too. We all have that in common. Unrealistic expectations that life is supposed to be this great thing is probably the root of much of our evils. 

Life is not this great thing. Even Solomon said it would be better if you were never born,  or were aborted before birth. So the Bible argues for abortion. It's not exactly a blessing you walk in these parts, and many probably will find out too late the opposite is true. 

I don't know how racist we are?  My guess is if you are a black person born in the south side of Chicago your life will be quite different than my Northwestern Suburb upbringing. I can't even say growing up for me was easy. I did have peer pressure, and I was insecure.  I didn't have peer pressure to join a gang, or peddle drugs. my Dad was around, and actually the Mom was missing. I had a step mom though. 

In the end I found myself not happy. I wasn't happy about  the World. I wasn't happy I was in this World. No point to it. I was just going to die. What's the point?  

So I did what I did. I went my route. A route you cannot see. One you cannot understand. I saw clearer and clearer the truth of our existence. Geesh, I even went in the wilderness again too. I needed help to be able to go there again.  My heart was not willing, so it had to be changed to do such a thing. 

People are mad, and people are divided. A lot of shit to worry about these days. We are only so far from catching a nasty virus. The pain this Economy will have to endure has not been felt yet. 

I don't give money to homeless people. I did before. In doing this I found I can pretty much help no one. In living my life I found I could not help myself. I needed help to go the route I took. I need help to finish it. So the worth of me alone is basically nothing. The story I will live though I guess is what has value. The story I was willing to make at the expense of all the greatness I would have become if I didn't.  

At 53 it seems like such an easy decision. At 26 or whatever things looked different. 

Anyway, one of my failures yesterday, is I didn't make my salads.  Gotta run. 

Laterzzzzzzzzz.       :)

xoxo.         :)

xxoo.         :)

Byeeeeeeee.        :)))