Carl's journal

[D.Edd]

Hi all;

name is Carl, I just recently started dieting, working out again. It has been a very tough year for me but things are looking up. First of all I was always very active, hiking, biking, kayaking, etc. but I would follow all of that activity up by consuming way to much "fuel" I am 5'6" and currently weigh 220 lbs. I started dieting and working out on June 7th, I bought a book called the fat cure, which had allot of good information about hidden sugars but it also had allot of information that I don't agree with. What I would up doing was basically overhauling entire diet, breakfast, I actually measure portions to insure that I am getting one serving, I eat 3 meals with two small snacks and I work out by cycling (road and mountain), kayaking, hiking and normal walking. I have a bowflex ( I know, not real equipment but it works for simple cable exercises) that I use 3 times a week. So basically I am using portion control and a fun, relatively easy exercise program. and since June 7th I have lost 7 pounds and about an inch in the waist.

Back on January 5th I had a CT scan to locate the cause of groin pain on right side, I had the scan at 9:00am, I had a 30 min drive home and about 10 minutes after getting home I received a call saying that the doctor needed to see me NOW, now turned out to be at 3:30 pm when he was able to squeeze me in so I had to wait several hours wondering what was so bad they needed to rush results to the doctor. When I saw him he showed me the CT scan that was normal except for a retroperitoneal mass that was about 12cm (4-5") in diameter. They referred me to a specialist who told me it was cancer, he then told me he could not see me soon enough and asked me to consider seeing another doctor from the same office, this doctor told me it was cancer, and I needed it removed as soon as possible. Now, they tell you it is cancer with the caveat that 1 in 50 turn out to be benign after the surgery (they can't do a biopsy or rather it is easier to pull it, it has to come out anyway). So I had the surgery, they tested it, told me it was a low grade tumor which was very good news however still cancerous so they send me home. A month later when I went back for follow up the doctor comes in with a sheepish look on his face and tells me that the tumor was benign. He felt bad because in the process of the surgery some nerves were removed as a precaution because the tumor had been laying on them. I told him he made the right decision and the check was in the mail and we went home.

As you can imagine that was one hell of a roller coaster ride. Now that I am about 90-95% I am really trying to get all of this under control. These tumors happen to skinny people, fat people and people in between but part of me wonders if I had been in better shape would a mass the size of a large orange been more apparent earlier. The incision runs from just below sternum to just below belt line, all of those abdominal muscles are still sore at times, situps and crunches are out of the question for at least six months after the surgery (which was Feb 2nd). I feel pretty damned lucky to be the 1 in 50, I mean I never one the lottery, or a drawing or pretty much anything but I sure lucked out this time.

goal is to get down to 180, when I get there I will see how I feel, talk to doc and go from their. I feel good about losing the 7 pounds and 1" but I know it takes allot of hard work and time, I tend to hit spots where I stay at a weight for a week or two before I can drop.

I made a spread sheet to help me calculate caloric intake and exercise. It works but I have to change the multiplier on the calories burned as I lose weight to maintain accuracy. Below is the spread sheet I am using. Anyone who wants to use it can but you will have to change the multiplier for your application.

https://cid-0a326b407643403b.skydrive.l ... 43403B!146" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks

Carl

[Boss Man]

Hi there .

Out of curiosity, you say your name is Carl, but your user details say it's Mike. i'm just clarifying so people can refer to you properly.

[D.Edd]

Carl, Mike is a nickname from childhood. I typically use it when signing on to a board until I see it is legitimate.

[Boss Man]

No worries and good to have you on board .

[D.Edd]

July first, weighed in at 217, lost 3 pounds in 11 days.

[Boss Man]

Nice one .

[D.Edd]

Down to 215. Yesterday I fell of the wagon and landed on a butterfinger but other than that I have been doing OK.