263+ to 193

After my recent medical adventure, my weight is down to 193. The last time I weighed this little was in 1989? 1990? Somewhere around there. It was part of the subtle weight gain. Just three pounds each year. It never seemed like much at the time. Until I felt it.

I really felt it was time to lose weight when it felt like I’d broken a toe. “Gout,” said my doctor. He x-rayed it to reassure me. But yes, he was right. I had gout. He was also wrong, weight loss did affect gout. It got better. I also used gout reoccurrence as hints that I was gained weight again.

I cannot recommend visiting hospitals and having major surgeries as a weight loss program. But hey! it works. I had plateaued at 204-208. Now I’m close to the “normal” weight as stated by BMI charts.

Actually, I’m more interested in converted fat into muscle. When you lose weight, at least the way I have, is to lose muscles first. As I exercise – a big recommendation from all doctors – is to regain the lost muscles. That’s number one to do.

Voting Day

Yay! Another day of voting. There are so many to choose from. We grabbed this chance. I’m home from the hospital. Jennifer was going to the library. I was ready to read the Voters Guide. So I did and we did. It’s a great day.

Fourth Day

I’m obsessed. I’m breakless, mostly. Part of my lung is missing. I miss it. On the other hand, I no longer have some blood vessels bursting and flooding my airways with blood. So now, for instance, I can safely go scuba diving. Yeah, right. As soon as I gain enough lung capacity to make a dive. Note – it’s not required to be able to swim a mile. Though I imagine it does not hurt.

It is something to look forward to.

Three

Three Days without Hospitalisation.

Yes, I’m counting.

On the good side, I now weigh 197 pounds. My next mini-goal is 195.

On the surprising side, I find it very difficult to walk. No 10 mile walks on the path to a half marathon. I’m not shooting for a single mile.

Clyfford Still Museum

Big Reasons to Go:

  • Clyfford Still MuseumYou’re a fan of Still’s work
  • In-house art-making space with encouraging and helpful staffer
  • The museum shows a progression of Still’s work – this is a great help if you don’t “get” abstract expressionism but are curious
  • Quarterly rotations of the displayed works
  • Great gallery rooms with beautiful lighting
  • The most helpful museum staff I’ve ever met. The guards aren’t there just to scold you away when you get too close.
  • They’ll fetch a chair if you want to sit and contemplate when the benches aren’t where you’d like to sit.

Find out more about it on their website, Clyfford Still Museum. I went last summer and remembered the pleasures.