Non-political something to ponder

[BA Deere]

I got news that a old friend of mine "Pup" had a heart attack at 54 yrs old, he`s one of the luckiest guys I know and he is currently  doing well.  He went to the doctor a while back, with complaints in his chest, the doc wasn`t concerned a few days later at home he had severe chest pains. His wife was going to call the ambulance, he told her "no time" so she drove him the 1/2 mile to the small hospital.  While there  they had to stabilize him to fly to a larger hospital and he died 3 times on the table, had to be shocked back to life.  He describes dying as floating in water on an incline and you sink and as the paddles bring you back to life you rise to the surface.

Pup in his younger days always drove at least 10 mph faster than the speed limit and a beer can in his hand and just invisible to the cops.  We call him Pup because he has the world`s tiniest bladder and always headed for the restroom to "pee like a pup".  He`s still one of the luckiest men alive. 

Then last night my Son is visiting us and his future wife called with news her dad passed away.  I really liked the man, healthiest guy I knew, probably ran at least 10 miles every day rain or snow.  He passed away yesterday while running.  Last year, he and our kids went camping in Yosemite and hit Half Dome a 8 mile hike of boulders and switchbacks all just to get to Half Dome and of course 8 miles back.  You leave in the dark and return in the dark..my big toe nails are finally growing in new after that.  But it was a walk in the park for him, saying "we`re just walking and to a runner, if you`re walking, you`re resting"...oh shut up!  🙂   But Rest in Peace my friend

[sdholloway56]

Dr. told me that something will kill me but it won’t be my heart.

I discount that based on a friend who had a similar report and dropped dead playing basketball a couple months later.

But Anyway, in regards to your surviving friend, cardiac care is conspicuous in actually having advanced tremendously in the past few decades. We all know people who have had events and go on to excellent quality of life for many years.

As compared to when I was a kid- a friend’s Dad had a bad one in his early forties and just sat around for a couple years waiting to die.

[BA Deere]

I meant to say half Dome is a 8 hour hike each way, not 8 miles.  My Dad passed away from heart disease in his late 70`s.  What i recall was towards the end he got winded very easily and that`s what I`ve developed, had a stress test which, couple of `em actually, my doctor didn`t see anything crazy wrong.  But she says for men their 50s are a tough survivable decade, if you can get through those years, you can generally get into your 70s and 80s.  With me I`ve added a few extra pounds and that`s most likely my problem more than anything.  I`ve got a elliptical machine, but i`m too worn out to use it like I should.  Funny thing i could go a half hour on there, burn 700 calories, take a shower, feel good but run out of breath going up our stairway.

[RJG640v8]

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@BA Deere wrote:

I meant to say half Dome is a 8 hour hike each way, not 8 miles.  My Dad passed away from heart disease in his late 70`s.  What i recall was towards the end he got winded very easily and that`s what I`ve developed, had a stress test which, couple of `em actually, my doctor didn`t see anything crazy wrong.  But she says for men their 50s are a tough survivable decade, if you can get through those years, you can generally get into your 70s and 80s.  With me I`ve added a few extra pounds and that`s most likely my problem more than anything.  I`ve got a elliptical machine, but i`m too worn out to use it like I should.  Funny thing i could go a half hour on there, burn 700 calories, take a shower, feel good but run out of breath going up our stairway.

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Best to make exercise a habit / routine. Do it no matter what according to the schedule you set for yourself. If possible find a workout buddy that you push and they push you.  Wives are good workout buddies.  Look at a membership at a Fitness Center. Paying for it and then having to get there(I'm here I might as well workout since I took the time to get here)  seem to help people dedicate themselves to regularly exercising. Try getting a Fit Bit or an Apple Watch or any of the other watches and heath tracking devices out there.  Those can help motivate and gives you an instant way to track fitness goals you set for yourself. As well as other health indicators such as heart rate , sleep , calories burnt ... Plus they have notifications that pop up that goad you.  Change up your workouts. Don't just do one thing. Go for a brisk walk for a light day , do a cardio session a few times per week , hit the weights a couple times per week , no weights ? Use your body weight ; push ups , pull ups , sit ups. Take a rest day or two... Evan a couple or a few times per week will make a difference. Now your limitations also. 

A lot of it is also figuring out when works best for you.  I like evening workouts , helps me burn the accumulated stress of the day.

as to some of the other things you said , doc visit wise ........ I'd get a second opinion, from a specialist.

[BA Deere]

All good suggestions RJ.  My biggest challenge is my diet, portion sizes (too many good cooks in my life).  When i was a kid we`d sell hogs and stop McDonalds right at 10:30 when they started cooking "lunch" I would get 2 Big Macs, Dad would get one.  We`d see a older neighbor there who would always order one small burger and a coffee and that was his lunch and that`s what I need to transition towards, eat no more than the size of my hand. 

I drink Bubbly and Coke Zero, it helps getting rid of the empty calories of regular pop.  I`ve been in tile ditches the last couple weeks and my knees and arms are killing me, Glucosamine-Chondroitin isn`t cutting it, have to been popping Aleve pills.