Walking Challenge Day 24

 I didn’t get my walk in until late in the day. I grudgingly trudge out at 5:10PM and fully intended to only do the short course around the park. That would be .8 miles.

I even considered saying here that I did a mile, even though it wasn’t quite accurate.

But I really want to maintain the integrity of these posts and so, I walked the mile. I did it in about 25 minutes. I did not take my Oximeter with me so I have no data to report.

One other item. I again need to remind myself that when I feel the urging of my body that it is time to go to the bathroom, I should heed it.

That’s all I have to say about that!

April BP

 

Walking Challenge Day 23

I had what I think was a really good walk today.

I did the mile around the park. I was walking at a pretty brisk pace. I thought I could finish below 20 minutes. It took me 21 minutes.

But check out my Oximeter Chart.

I spent most of the walk below 90% oxygen and some it below 80%. I never felt dizzy or terribly out of breath.

It’s really weird the way some days are slogs and others are a breeze.

Walking Challenge Day 22

 Well, I blew another day. I didn’t get out and walk yesterday. No excuse…just didn’t do it.

I set out to do two miles today but I cut it short after a strong mile because I was having trouble with one of my socks. It kept falling down into my shoe. That was annoying and uncomfortable.

So, out of twenty-two days I have two fails. But, I have twenty successes.

Walking Challenge Day 20

Today’s walk was not up to the caliber of walking for which I have set the standard. Today was the annual Hub Tavern Run. The course is four blocks long. South from the Hub to the Mosey Inn Tavern and back. A total of .08 miles.

Not very impressive but at least I got my walk in. Also, I mowed the lawn and Susan and I won best costume for the third straight year.

Walking Challenge Day 19

Another beautiful day for a walk. 

After yesterday’s decision to not give me a transplant, I decided I needed to go hard on my walk today. I walked the two mile route and I made it.

For some reason, my Oximeter reset during the walk so I have two different data sheets.

I was out for about an hour and I rested for about 11 minutes during the walk.

The odd thing was that my oxygen generator stopped working. It locked up. It wasn’t delivering oxygen but I didn’t notice until I was coming down Waverly on the last leg of my walk.

I ended up removing the battery to get it to reset. It seems to be running fine now but I’ll be keeping an eye on it.

Walking Challenge Day 18

I got out this morning and walked a mile.

Not that it’s going to make much of a difference because I finally heard from the Transplant Team and I do not qualify for a transplant. My lungs are too badly deteriorated to the point that they don’t think I can survive the surgery.

The next step I was hoping for, a Left Ventricle Assistance Device, (LVAD) is also off the table for the same reason.

So, the next step is to talk to Stanford University and the more aggressive program they have there. Because of the travel involved, I’m not terribly excited to get involved down there.

The one question I didn’t ask is what is my life expectancy. I would like to know what the doctor thinks is ahead for me. Do I have a year? Two? Clearly I’m going to get weaker as this goes on.

Right now I can pretty much get out there and enjoy life. I’ve been able to ski, I can still get around okay. The only bummer is I can’t swim.

The numbers from yesterday’s Right Heart Cath indicate I’m declining. The drug that is presently attached to me and pumping into my heart, Milrinone, is probably helping me but not improving me.

So, today I walked one mile in 25 minutes with a two minute rest a little beyond half way.

I am maintaining a positive outlook and fully expect to complete the 30 day Walking Challenge.

Walking Challenge Day 17

Another great day for walking. I headed west on my two mile route and I wanted to do the whole two miles. I have a Right Heart Cath Procedure later today and I wanted to tell my Doctor I walked two miles.

No such luck. I pussied out at around a mile and a half. I don’t think I actually made a mile and a half, but that’s what I’m going to tell my Doc.

Here’s the data from my Oximeter.

The fact that I was out for nearly 40 minutes is what makes me think I made the 1 1/2 miles. But then, I remembered my rest breaks and those probably amounted to almost ten minutes.

In any event, I walked today.

Walking Challenge Day 16

 I haven’t done this before so forgive all the wasted space I’m taking up on the InterWeb.

I walked the one mile course on the bright sunny Tuesday. It was a nice walk and nothing of note happened. What’s different today is I’m showing all the data on the Oximeter App. I can’t fit the whole thing into one screen shot. Here’s the part you usually see.

Below is the lower part of the screen.

I like that it clearly delineates the total time of my walk and breaks down the categories of my oxygen levels during the walk.

Maybe this information will be helpful for a future autopsy.

Walking Challenge Day 15

 Well, I blew it. I didn’t walk on Easter and ruined my streak. To make matters worse, I gained another 2 pounds, putting me back up to 229.

To make up for it, I walked the 2 mile course today. My oxygen generator ran out of battery power on the last couple blocks of my walk. But it felt like a good walk.

Here’s the data from today’s walk.

I’m not going to beat myself up too much over missing my walk on Sunday. After all, poop occurs.

Walking Challenge Day 13

The great weather we have been experiencing had to end at some point and that point was today.

I woke up to a steady stream of light rain that lasted until about 11:00. 

I had a few things to do around the house. Chief among them was to mop the front porch. I was able to complete that task by about 1:30. 

Next, I had to fit a walk in.  But that was proving difficult.

Just as on Thanksgiving I must listen to “Alice’s Restaurant”, the day before Easter, I have another listening tradition that must be played. So while Susan was working on our Easter dinner for tomorrow, I sat down in the kitchen and put on “Jesus Christ Superstar”.

So I finally got to my walk about 3. The rain had let up and the sun broke out enough to enjoy a nice walk.

I did about a mile and a quarter and got back just in time to talk to a guy selling pest control, which we already have from another company. But it didn’t work on him.

Walking Challenge Day 12

I got my walk in today, a little over a mile. But it wasn’t a walk in the traditional aerobic sense.

One of our neighbors puts out crosses every Easter in yards around the park that represent the Stations of the Cross.

Susan and I walked around the park and checked out the crosses. So you walk a little until you come to a cross, then you stop, read it and reflect. 

Because it starts half way across the park on Park Place, we walked a little further than the .8 miles of just walking the park.

Therefore, I’m calling it a mile. And the streak continues.

Walking Challenge Day Eleben

Since I missed walking yesterday, I thought I needed to make a good effort on today’s walk. I pulled off the two mile course. Here is the data from my oximeter.

The important details are that the walk took me about 54 minutes. I had some precipitous drops in my oxygen level but I never felt dizzy or in danger of passing out.

I did stop several times for a brief rest. But in general, I tried really hard to slog on through.

Walking Challenge Day Ten

Today’s weight was 227 pounds. That is as low as I’ve been in quite a while.

Rob and I drove to Lookout Pass today and skied. It was sunny when we left but kind of cloudy when we got to Lookout. It turned out to be a great day. The overcast sky kept the snow from getting too mushy.

We skied from 10 to 1 and we managed to knocked out 11 runs. We were joined by Don, a former co-worker of mine. All in all, a great day and a great way to end the season.

I did not walk today. I wanted to when I got home from skiing but it was kind of windy out. That’s the type of excuse that the Walking Challenge is supposed to quell. But, because I skied today, I’m going to allow it.

Walking Challenge Day Niner

Yet another beautiful day and another great walk. I considered doing the two mile walk again but decided to do a strong mile instead.

I went out with my oximeter today but it died shortly after I put it on. So no breathing data today. I can tell you that I felt pretty good throughout the walk. Today’s weight was 229.4.

Ski day tomorrow.    

Walking Challenge Day Eight

It was another bright sunny day with the temperatures into the 60’s. I took advantage by walking my two mile route. 

I walk east on Waverly Place to Atlantic, turn left and head north for two blocks to Euclid. From there I head west down Euclid, past Post, past Monroe, all the way to Adams. At that point I head south two blocks to Fairview and then start the final leg for home.

The problem with this route is that it takes me right by the Hub Tavern and it’s a perfect time for a rest and a cool refreshing glass o water. Next week, when Lent is over, I’ll have a beer.

I ran into a problem today with putting my oxygen generator in my backpack. It over heated. I was a good half way through my walk when it suddenly started beeping and shut down. The display said it was too hot. So I pulled it out and continued the walk with it draped on my shoulder. 

I guess I’ll just have to be tough and suck it up.

I did not take the oximeter with me today so I have to breathing data to share. I am however happy to report that I started the day at 228.8 poundage’s.

I have a potential conflict with the Walking Challenge on Wednesday. My friend Rob and I are going skiing at Lookout Pass. I may not get a walk in that day. I will try to take a walk when I get home but I think skiing in lieu of walking is an acceptable trade off.

Walking Challenge Day Se7en

A great day for a walk! My backyard thermometer says it’s 60 out. The sun is shining and there is lots of activity in the park.

I helped a friend move today and when I got home, I immediately went for a walk. I did a good solid mile, maybe as much as a mile and a half and it felt pretty good. I was winded when I got back to the house.

He’s the data downloaded from my oximeter.

I’m surprised by the big drops. I certainly never feel it when I’m walking. All in all, a good day for a walk and I’m keeping the string alive.

Walking Challenge Day Sex

The challenge continues although I only seem to be able to walk a mile every day. I know today is a busy day so I’m not expecting to walk much more.

The larger backpack worked better but I still feel the strain of carrying it. My back and shoulders get sore but that is just a matter of ignoring the discomfort and stop being a puss.

Today was a good walk and I did the mile in about 21 minutes. I was good and winded at the end.

Here is the breathing data for today.

I only stopped a couple of brief times to catch my breath and then continued the walk.

Today’s weight is 230.

Walking Challenge Day Fi5e

I have just returned from my one mile morning walk. It was a tough one today. I again went out without my oximeter. I stopped to rest a couple times and I was really winded when I got back to the front porch.

I tried one new thing today. I have found that carrying the oxygen generator with the strap across one shoulder became uncomfortable during the walk. So today, I put the unit in a backpack and carried it evenly distributed on my back.

I think it worked better but it became uncomfortable because the backpack was too small for me. 

I’ll go out again today and use my good backpack that is larger. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Later: I wasn’t able to walk more but I did visit the Spokane Falls while out doing some errands and I walked around that area quite a bit. 

We also walked over to the Hub and back which I figure is a strong half mile to add to my total. The two glasses of wine I drank while at the Hub might remove a quarter mile from my total distance.

Todays weight is 231 pounds.

Walking Challenge Day Four

I got in another walk today but it was only one mile around the park.

It turned out to be a good walk and I have a theory about why. I did not  wear my oximeter today which means I had no indication when my oxygen level dropped, so I never felt compelled to stop and get catch my breath. I pretty much managed to make the trip around the park without resting.

Another theory is that there are good days and bad days.

Walking Challenge Day Three

I managed to walk today but only a mile. I’m afraid it won't be long until I find a reason not to walk. My resolve sucks.

It doesn’t help that the walk was difficult. I stopped three times to rest. My oximeter was vibrating pretty violently about two thirds of the way back. I figured it’s probably not a great idea to keep walking when my oxygen is below 90%…even if I don’t feel dizzy.

Here’s a screen shot of the data from my walk.

You can see that my oxygen levels fluctuate rather dramatically during my walk.

Walking Challenge Day Two

I have now completed my goal for two days in a row. 

Today was nice enough that I walked the park. I did one mile this morning and felt quite spent at the end. I only stopped once to catch my breath.

My second walk happened a little after three and I again walked the park. This time was harder and I stopped several times to rest. The rest periods were not much more than a minute or two. I was definitely feeling it when I got home.

Today’s weight was 231.6.   

Start of New Walking Challenge

 I am challenging myself to walk every day for the next 30 days. I’m going to try to walk three miles each day. I may walk less but no less than a mile.

Today I weigh in at 232 pounds. My goal is 200 pounds. I am weak, I do not have good resolve and when it comes to pushing myself, I am a Pussy!

I thought by writing it down here, and committing to posting about it every day, it will keep me in line and on track.

I did my three miles today at Northtown Mall. It took me one hour and nine minutes and my Oxygen Generator died on the last lap, so I stop and caught my breath a few times. It did pretty well on my first two laps, equal to 1 1/2 miles. 

It’s a rainy day in Spokane which is why I went to the Mall.