I will give some insight into what is coming in this space now that I have had time to think about it.
A year has passed since I posted the first article. I have spent this time thinking about what is left to say, and I think I have found a path to follow.
Since I posted on March 22, a lot has transpired. I have survived two bouts of non-vaccinated COVID-19 back-to-back and another two episodes of Influenza B.
When Covid started, I weighed around 255+ pounds. Since I was not a vaccine candidate, I was told that Covid likes fat people, make a choice. So I did.
Since Covid started, I have lost 50 pounds. I have walked/hiked 3000(5.8M Steps) miles and biked 2,500 miles each of the last two years. The three-year total is ~8500 miles on my feet and another 7000 biking miles. I also tried to work in weight training twice a week.
As my weight dropped and cardio improved, my blood work and physical health numbers showed significant improvements. More on this in a later post, including an uncovered ailment/condition that shocked my primary care physician.
Because of this massive change in my activity from being a corporate fatty, always traveling/eating/drinking too much somewhere for business, to exercising 6 days a week, outside for a minimum of 2 hours a day, shit happens to old, out-of-shape bodies.
I have had one First Metatarsal Pre-Stress fracture (long bone in the middle of your foot behind your big toe) on the right foot that caused issues up my leg/knee/hip and back. I found out I also pronated, which is why the foot bone issues came about.
Outdoor exercise means everything to me. Now that I am retired, it is my job now. My job is to stay healthy.
So, three months of Physical Therapy helped a lot, but I still needed more flexibility. I added another three months of private pay ($1500), Stretch Lab Inc. work, two days a week for three months. It did wonders for this old body and my Range of Motion.
My physical therapist told me that 80%+ of the rehab-seen injuries in the elderly, like me, can be attributed to a lack of flexibility and strength.
This is from the CDC:
One out of four older adults will fall each year in the United States, making falls a public health concern, particularly among the aging population. About 36 million falls are reported among older adults each year—resulting in more than 32,000 deaths. https://www.cdc.gov/injury/features/older-adult-falls/
So, as the page’s name implies, There IS a Down Hill Slide we are on. I am trying to slow that slide down by paying attention to my mental and physical health. I am working hard at not becoming a statistic on the CDC’s list. In the time ahead, look for articles covering the things I am working through in this effort to slow the slide.
These articles will include topics like Yearly Physicals and the “Big C” health: mental and physical, Fitness Tracking Devices, New Challenges, Strength, Flexibility, Walking, Biking, Diet and Weight, Hormone Replacement Therapy, Male/Female Health, Outdoors, Keep learning something new, Learn to mitigate risks, Social Media: How NOT to react and let it ruin your day, Try to do HARD things, Listen to your body., Explore Alternative Medicine and, very important to me, Sleep.
As always, like and or comment on these articles. I will need to approve comments before they appear for obvious reasons, so there may be a slight delay in approving those comments.
#downhillslide, #markphillips, #menshealth, #dexa, #bonedensity, #hrt, #hormone, #hormonereplacementtherapy, #outdoors, #hike, #walk, #bike, #trails, #hearthealth, #activeadults, #aging, #mentalhealth, #mentor, #help
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