Category Archives: health & fitness

A narrative of my journeys with diet, exercise, and various healthcare professionals

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First Snow

Once again, I find myself with time to kill between appointments. Googled coffee shops between Point A and Point B… and here I am, at a new-to-me coffee shop that is so popular on the first snowy day of the season that I had to wait for a seat to open up.

Waiting for a seat at Sip Coffee

We’re supposed to get at least two inches of snow this afternoon and evening — possibly up to five inches. For the first snow event of 2019-2020. Of course I would pick today to take a half day off for a chiropractic adjustment and a thyroid ultrasound.

To be honest, I’m a little nervous about the ultrasound. I feel like my thyroid nodule has gotten bigger — in fact, I was having trouble swallowing a few months ago. I’m not sure if my voice has truly gotten more hoarse or if I’m imagining it.

The worst case scenario would be a hemithyroidectomy — removal of the left lobe of my thyroid. Then I’d have a synthroid medication to add to my current cocktail of antidepressant and ADHD stimulant.

I’d rather not.

…

The snow has been falling steadily for the last hour or so, at least. I’m not convinced that I want to drive out to karate class after the sun sets and the roads freeze up good and proper. I’ve almost made up my mind to skip… but it’s still three hours off. We’ll see.

…

Update: Doc says my thyroid is still fine — the nodule is 3.4cm or so in diameter, which is about the same as the last scan.

Also, we are so not going back out tonight. The roads are a sloppy mess, but it’s pretty to look at.

First Snow

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Another Black Stripe

Yellow belt stripe number one!

Earned the first stripe on my yellow belt last night! This is also my first stripe of Black Belt Training Club (BBTC), which is essentially my long-term commitment to Krav Maga.

I’m discovering that I’m in pretty decent shape for a middle-aged former fatty. I can get a round kick up to my opponent’s head level, and my flexibility and stamina are both improving.

Feeling pretty awesome.

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Cardio Kickboxing: Level Up

Fitbit heart rate graph I’ve decided to back down to one Krav Maga class per week, since the classes can run past my son’s regular bedtime. Since the Fitness Center at my work had a Kickboxing class on the schedule for today, I decided to do that today and Krav on Wednesday.

I didn’t expect this class to kick my ass so hard. I used it as an opportunity to practice proper form — mostly pivoting on my back foot on crosses and hooks — but I hadn’t taken into account how FAST the moves happen. The cardio sections the instructor put in between drills and combos were my chance to lower my heart rate.

I was pleased to note how many of my Krav habits are automatic now: keeping my hands up by my face, pivoting on crosses and hooks, remembering to exhale (even if I don’t kiai), turning my foot sideways on a side kick, and managing to turn on the intensity when warranted — even if I’m beat and in danger of overheating.

I spent a good amount of time in a cold shower after class, cooling down my core.

I feel good right now, on several levels.