Kuru's to the Rescue

Howdy from the land of August northers and pesky mosquitoes!

This morning it was noticeably cooler at the house before daylight. But the datgum mosquitoes didn't care one bit.

I went to the track at lunch and walked 2 miles, no vest, just me. The Kuru Shoes are working I do believe. My left arch was a little painful from mile 1 1/4 to 1 3/4 then it eased up. After a couple of hours they feel very good. Not perfect mind you but one hell of a lot better than a week ago. If this keeps up I guess I will write a review on the Kuru web site.

On another note, over at the Calorielab, Dr.J had a great post yesterday on Tomorrowland, Excuses, and Power. Check it out. It was very timely for me. I really have no GOOD excuses, only POOR one I have is I tend to slip into Tomorrowland and turn it into Yesterday.

Pearl of Wisdom form the Mind of WEL
1970 was don't drink and drive

2012 is don't text and drive, after all ,all that separates you from the truck coming at you at a collective speed of 140 mph. is a 9 inch wide stripe of yellow paint.

They ain't boots

Howdy from the land of high pressure and hot days!

Well, I got a pair of queer shoes. Yep I am test driving some odd looking devils.

I have two (one on each leg) REALLY , no REALLY flat feet! And they hurt.Since I got both knees replaced they have really been giving me fits. I guess everything that was crooked is know straight OR maybe their just did not like the pain pills I got for the knees and think they are next.

 Anyway, my feet have gotten to the point of driving me to drinking.I have gotten custom made arch supports and new shoes.These help for a while then seem to get worse.

I have been reading everything I can find on flat feet and arch supports and shoes and reading every review and blog. My feet are still flat and did I say they HURT?

So, I find a shoe online named KURU. I read all about them and what folks say about their own foot problems. I debate for weeks over #1 ordering online #2 believing what folks say online #3 trying something new online. I finally said to myself "myself , what the hell let's try".

I got the queer looking shoes in yesterday---they ain't boots! In reality, I have not been able to wear boots in 2-3 years. But the shoes are not what I would normally buy or wear.

While it has only been a day, so far so good. They feel a little odd but my feet are not hurting.I did not walk or ride at lunch, that can wait until tomorrow. I will update ya on my queer shoes in a couple of days.

Pearl of Wisdom from the Mind of WEL
Do nothing just ain't a good option. 

A month?

Howdy from the land of worn out cowboys and crazy schedules!

Has it been a month since I updated my blog? Damned if it hasn't!

It has been rather busy around my plot for several weeks and I have gone completely crazy, using very little reason and a whole lot of excuses for my schedule. My daughter got hired as a high school assistant principle ( the next step in her career) in a town about 25 miles from where she lived. She put her house on the market,sold it and we moved her furniture ( with a whole lot of help from brother Mac and friend Josh ).Moved her two dogs, both damn cats and Pepper the rabbit---where you ask? our house for now.

Between moving, doing my work and getting older --I am worn out.
But all is not lost, tomorrow is Saturday and I will sleep until 6 or so. I will also get in some good exercise and plan on sitting in the shade of a live oak tree in the afternoon and watch Kolt play.

I bet I will ask myself what the poor folks are doing today?

Pearl of Wisdom from the Mind of WEL
All will be OK, just have more starts than stops. 

Stretch

Howdy from the land of combining corn and spraying cotton!

Yes sir, the farmers are in high gear! All they needs is a little time and a few kind words and the harvest will be in full swing.

My feet are sure feeling better. I have been riding my bike and have gotten up to 8 miles a day at lunch.Some days the head winds really kick my ass but in the end that is good. I get a real good sweat going on that bike.With it being hot as a nanny goat in a pepper patch and dry as a popcorn fart, it ain't hard to work up a sweat.A big reason my feet are doing better I think is from the stretching I have been doing.

I try and do some joint mobility stretches that Muata got me into several years ago. Now I have added some feet ,ankle and calf stretches just before bed time. It is working because my feet are not nearly as tight and painful first thing in the morning. Also,I can touch my toes earlier in the day and my ham strings and calves are not as tight and sore--yippee!

Another, thing that is a plus for my feet is my weight is coming down each week and that sure feels better on them dogs. All in all, I am blasting into summer and moving on down the road. The road gets rocky at times but I will complete my journey or die kicking and screaming!

See ya down the road, honk when you go by.

Pearl of Wisdom from the mind of WEL
The voices in my head may not be real, but they have some damn good ideas.

Ever adjustable

Howdy from the land of projects and never enough hours!

Success is based on my ability to adjust. When the challenges arise I have to adjust or stop---stopping ain't good. Sometimes it seems the adjustments take some time to work out and this delays the journey. Other times an adjustment will work on the excuse list and after a while that pisses me off. But adjust I can.

It is no secret I got some bad flat feet, flat like a garbage can lid. Well, they have been hurting like a scuba diver in the middle of a Jaws movie for months. I have tried new shoes, tried custom orthopedics,tried this and that and for a day or two I can bear it, then not so much.

Between blisters and cramps and just general pain in the ankles I decided to make one more adjustment.I went to riding my bike this week instead of walking the track. I guess it uses a different set of muscles because my thighs are sore this morning. Like the man said , there is more than one way to skin a cat!

Yesterday I was only able to ride 5 miles at lunch and I am gonna try to increase a mile a day this week---watch out Lance Armstrong!

Now I have read about folks that are driven to one method, one workout, one eating plan---they never seem to slip or stumble.They never seem to have to adjust? I wonder if they are superhuman or just full of crap. I wonder if they just tell the truth when they want to?

This trip is not easy but I think it would be impossible if not for adjustments.

Pearl of Wisdom from the Mind of WEL
Try being nice to someone you don't like, it will worry the crap out of them.

It's here

Howdy from the land of bright sunny skies!

Well, it is here, yes sir summer has arrived! The thermometer has hit 96 and the sweat is rolling from the top of my bald head right down my back bone to my socks.

I sure enjoy the last lap on the track at lunch. Today my pack will be full again and by the last lap everything is warmed up and lose. The sweat is got a real even coat on yours truly and my mind knows the day has been good.

I have been reading about all the methods folks have for burning calories---weights---running---swimming---dancing---walking---hell even some promote having sex for calorie consumption. The best method I think there is ---that is the one I will do. What ever I will do on any given day is the best. If I don't like it , chances are I won't do it. If I hate to start the task, I just naturally won't do it for very long or very often.

One of the group on the track at lunch told me she HATES jogging! She told me that while she was jogging. I asked her why she was there and she said she was trying to lose weight. NO I did not ask her if she ever tried having sex to lose weight! I did ask if she ever tried walking, she said It did not burn enough calories. I told her to come out tomorrow and she could wear my 40 pound vest and see if that would help. I hope she tries it---it might make her like jogging a little more!

Pearl of Wisdom from the Mind of WEL
Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

Beautiful rain

Howdy from the land of spring showers and croaking frogs!

We have been blessed this month with three nice rains that total 4 inches.Man, I am here to tell ya we are blessed. The grass is green and the cows are happy.

My journey is easing right along. I continue to add weight to my vest and the only problem I have is these old flat feet. I have been getting arch supports and different shoes and someday it is not so bad. All in all, it is "Get the hell out of the way, I am coming thru"!

It never ceases to amaze me how much information comes across my brain everyday about weight loss and nutrition. You would think that with all the really smart people out there and Michelle and Barrack to guide us toward utopia we would not have an Obesity problem in this country. Take it from me, most of this advice is useless as a mud sandwich! Most of this advice is geared in the end to selling me something. Most of this advice is really an infomercial.

Like I said in my last post , it ain't the Twinkie's fault.

I picked up a Snickers candy bar yesterday---nope I did not eat it. But it said on the label it was 330 calories. So, if I eat one for breakfast, lunch and supper I consume 990 calories plus what ever I drink. that might not be "healthy" but I bet ya I lose weight.

I guess what I'm getting at is ,don't spend too much time with the mud sandwich, use some common sense. Eat real food---real food---food that is not processed and pressed out. Eat food that you could harvest with a stick ---be it meat, nut or plant. If you don't have time to cook, eat it raw. Eat real food. And NO BIG BOY a Twinkie ain't REAL FOOD.

Pearl of Wisdom form the Mind of WEL
Try not to grocery shop where you fill up your car.  

Don't blame the Twinkie

Howdy from the land of burning brush piles and copperhead snakes!

 We could use a little rain but we are green enough to be able to burn brush piles. We have not been able to do that for 2+ years.

My practice sessions are going good and the weekends not bad at all.But I have one issue to talk about today. It is the blame game.

I can open a bunch of news clips and blogs and health articles and most are blaming McDonald's or Pizza Hut or cheap grocery stores for the obesity rate in the land of milk and honey. They blame sugar and carbs and trans fat,hell they even blame milk.About the only thing I haven't seen blamed is ME!

Well, I am hear to tell ya it ain't the cost of "healthy" food that made me Obese. It wasn't the lack of time preparing a meal that made my ass look like a blimp. It was ME!

How do I know---one little example---lunch today cost less than $2. It took 3 minutes to prepare. It was 2 hand fulls of carrots, one bag of tuna, 2 spoons each of pickle relish,mayo,celery. Bam lunch--healthy---quick ---cheap.

We have got to quit blaming someone or something else for our actions---least we start to sound like a damn politician. Like Earl Pitts would say-------WAKE UP AMERICA!!

Pearl of Wisdom from the mind of WEL
 Quit blaming the damn Twinkie, it wasn't the first one that did it ---it was the ninth one---and I am to blame for that one, too.

Evolution

Howdy from the land of To Do Lists and Never Enough Hours!

I read several Blogs, maybe not everyday but I try to keep up with a few folks out there. Some I find very informative and some really funny. Once in a while one will piss me off, and I will write a bad ass to the point comment and most times delete it. It is after all their blog so who am I to argue.

It is obvious to me how folks evolve over the months and years with their Blog. Some folks stop blogging, some start posting about different stuff than weight loss and some move to an Excuse Blog. All in all, each one goes thru an evolution. Each one of us , that have a unique sick relationship with food drags our on cross and must try to find a way to stand the cross up or be crushed by it's weight.

I think most want someone, anyone really, to say ATTA BOY! That is because most of us really want to be able to tell ourselves ATTA BOY! but we don't think deep down we can. We don't see our own evolution taking place.

I guess there is a big difference between fat loss and being healthy. To me I guess fat loss is tied to a number on a scale. Some say that is not good. I say horse shit, my evolution has to start somewhere. Yours has to start somewhere too.

So many things effect my list of excuses, so many things effect my successes but only two things effect my desire to evolve in this endeavor---#1 my burning desire to keep trying and #2 King Calorie.

Now this post may sound as if I have taken a wrong turn again--no sir, things are going OK.I am moving in the right direction again. It is just an observation that crept into my mind while reading.

Another observation I have made is success and money don't like fat.I am not talking about inner happiness or self esteem, but purely good old fashion cash on the barrel head , moving up the ladder, show me the money success.It does not like fat. Take a good hard look at the place you make your beans at and see if there are more fat folks higher up the ladder than you OR thin ones?? But I think right now , this subject might be for another post.

For now, I will keep evolving.

OH YEA, legs are coming right around. Went back to wearing my vest on the track---24 pounds , 3 miles feeling stronger by the week.

Pearl of Wisdom form the Mind of WEL
I got this one from Steven Tyler (that freaky rocker judge on IDOL)
The crows may crow ( I think he meant roosters) but the hens deliver the goods!

Magic fruit

Howdy from the land of snapping turtles and fish cranes!

Man oh man! have I got a plan!

Today on the news , I saw an article---well really an advertisement ---for a magic fruit that some brain child has found and all you have to do is (buy some oh course) eat the stuff and WHAM BAM you lose weight! Where the hell has this fruit been all my life?? I never finished the add, I got to laughing too much. Then I thought , hells bells,there ought to be a way for me to cash in on this deal.

So, today while I'm walking on the track at lunch, I am gonna really look around for me a MAGIC FRUIT or HERB or SOMETHING that I can market and WHAM BAM--I'll be rich and skinny?? Well, maybe my plan is not too well thought out.

Even if I came up with a MAGIC FRUIT, by the time I got it thru the SharkTank and into production the bottom would fall out of the Lose Weight Business and then I just be fat and fruit rich and dollar poor.

Oh well, at least part of my plan is sound----the part about walking at lunch.

See ya down the road.

Pearl of Wisdom from the Mind of WEL
Ya want to win the war on drugs??Set me up in the cocaine business, the bottom will fall out and everyone will get clean.

Finally

Howdy from the land of scattered cow turds and sprouting seennie beans!

I finally had a good weekend! It seems like a long time since I meshed good calorie burning and good eating habits together over the weekend. This one I did, FINALLY!We stayed busy with yard work Saturday and I worked pretty steady on Sunday dragging down the cow turds to keep the horn fly population down. All in all, , a mighty fine weekend.I ate well both days and woke up Monday morning hungry and not bloated.

I knew if I just kept putting one foot in front of the other, I would find the right path again and continue my journey.I believe I found it.

Pearl of Wisdom from the Mind of WEL
Everyone in this country should thank a cowman---no one ever says "Honey let's go out and celebrate with a big ol chicken breast"---nope--- It's , "let's go get a steak!"

Alarm clock mind

Howdy from the land of big ass thunder storms and blowing rain!

Yes sir, what a difference one year makes.This time last year it was DRY,DRY,DRY , cattle prices were LOW,LOW,LOW and Obama was in office. This year we have gotten a 100% improvement on two out of three disasters!

For the past couple of months, I have been going to the Healthplex three times a week before work. It is a pain because I have to get up 1 1/2 hours early drive thru Victoria, take a different route to work and watch my time so I won't be late (I hate being late).Going to the Healthplex in the evening I don't like as it is crowded and I have things to do at home while it is light enough to see.

Now my normal day starts at 5:30. I get up make breakfast for me and my squeeze and leave the house by 6:30---no problem. When I go to the Healthplex I get up at 4:15 and leave the house (Janet fends for herself) and I eat some yogurt for breakfast at work--no problem.

The problem lies in my alarm clock head. Ya see I have never had to set an alarm clock.I look at the clock when I lay down at night and say to myself "myself it is 9:30 and I need to get up at 5:30---bam I wake up around 5:20-30 no problem?right? wrong

Ever since I have been doing this extra practice session for my legs I wake up from 2-3 am. and watch the damn clock until 4:15. It is driving me crazy and wearing my ass out!This morning I said to hell with this. I don't need the aggravation, at 4:10 I said just quit this nonsense and get up at 5:30 and go back to a normal day.Next week I had planned on going back to my regular practice sessions so I am moving that schedule up a week and turning off the malfunctioning alarm clock.

Sleep is important too!

Besides all that, the folks at the Healthplex are about to give me a complex----they look at me like I'm weird when I am riding the bike and singing a cowboy song along with my IPOD---I can not help it if I sound like a cat caught in a dryer! They need to get a grip, I bet they are constipated most of the time.

Pearl of Wisdom form the Mind of WEL
I only hurt myself if I go thru life with a worried mind.

drug company

Howdy from the land of blooming live oak trees and plenty of air borne pollen!

Man oh man, I have had a double bad round of sinus crud. For three weeks I have been running,coughing,sneezing and hacking.The drug companies are in good shape because I have brought and swallowed everything that said "sinus" on it.Today, it feels like I got it beat back some. I guess I better wait for tomorrow to tell for sure.

The legs are getting stronger and my walks getting faster. All in all, I am moving in the right direction again. I feel better than I have in months.I can even do squats without knee pain! How about them apples?

Got to go, it is practice time at the track.

See ya down the road.Wave when you see me, maybe I won't be coughing.

Pearl of Wisdom from the Mind of WEL
Happiness is born a twin I think.

Color book

Howdy from the land of fleas and fire ants!

Man all of God's creatures love the rain! These spring showers we have been getting are really doing wonders for the flea and fire ant crops. I guess Grandpa was right when he said it rains on the deserving and the un-deserving alike.

In reading the other night , a character in the book said school can just give one so much education. The rest we have to go get ourselves.He said life only gives us the color book, we have to find the right colors and try in stay within the lines.

The final product in our color book comes from our experimentation.I suppose a lot of things in this old world are like that color book.I know I have experimented quite a good bit with my journey and have found somethings that worked well and some, well, not so well.I have even gotten out of the lines a few times.

My practice sessions at the Healthplex are going great.My thighs stay a little sore and that is good. About the time they feel comfortable I increase they weight and times so they get a little uncomfortable again.This is the fifth week and I have increased the weights 40%.

I'll turn another page in the color book this month and see if I can keep the colors inside the lines.

See ya down the road.

Pearl of Wisdom from the Mind of WEL
Speak yer mind but not while yur drinking.

Mind games

Howdy from the land of cloudy skies and hunting hawks!

Damn co-workers brought cookies and cheese cake to work today.The cheese cake is sitting right out in the open on a table I got to walk by when I leave my office. Good thing it does not smell because just looking at it makes me drool like a 12 week old pup looking at a chicken leg!

But alas, it is all in my mind! I guess it is better to have it on my mind than in my belly.

Pearl of Wisdom form the Mind of WEL
One good choice a day is great.Having to make a good choice every time I get up sucks!

Taking a dunk

Howdy from the land of new tastes and new practices!

The last couple of weeks has been a little adventuresome for the Old Cowboy. To say I don't relish change is an understatement.

But I am trying a FEW new things. Now my squeeze Janet eats yogurt, but I have never tired it.Nope, I just rather not eat anything if I can't eat ice cream. I decided I would try it after reading a little about it on Fatfightertv.com. Guess what? It ain't bad. In fact it was a good supper Friday night. I took the Greek Yogurt,mixed in 2 scoops of protein powder, couple scoops of coconut and pecans and BAM ! that was supper and I felt pretty satisfied.I was however, ready for my bacon and eggs in the morning.

I also added swimming for about 20 minutes Friday morning along with my regular practice session.I like to swim but I am not in real good shape to swim alot. I did manage to get in 5 laps at the Healthplex pool. It felt good and I think I will try to add that each time I go this month.

All in all, I am moving in the right direction and feel I will increase my calorie consumption as my leg strength increases.

Come join me , eat less, move more , never forget---A MER I CAN

Pearl of Wisdom form the Mind of WEL
Speak up, folks have a hard time looking at your ass and reading your mind.

Full speed ahead

Howdy from the land of green clover and blue bonnets!

From the looks of things we will have a bumper crop of weeds and blue bonnets this year. We generally have lots of blue bonnets ( and wild flowers in general) when you have a extremely dry fall and a few showers during the winter.

The Doctor says go get em! Yep, he said I am OK to do what ever I want. He also said if I do TOO MUCH then I should not have wanted to do that much!Yes sir, the man just cracks me up.

He told me my program ,the PT set up,looked fine and I could walk the track and ride my bike whenever I feel strong enough. Yippee, here I go!

I am looking at doing my program at the Healthplex 3 mornings and walking at lunch across the street. I may try riding a couple laps next week as I rode my bike a little yesterday and it was a little painful on the outside of my knee.

All in all, I think I am ready to get on with my journey and see what is beyond the next hill.Honk, when you see me and I'll give ya a wave.

Although, 2011 was a challenge for my journey I have kept the journey in mind. Now I could have done better since last June but I guess I could have done worse.By far the most important thing I have done was not just flat ass given up. No sir, set back maybe, give up nope.

Pearl of Wisdom form the Mind of WEL
Don't sweat the petty things and really don't pet the sweaty things!

Graduation

Howdy from the land of household projects and sore muscles!

I graduated from Physical Therapy and have moved upstairs to some weight machines. I am gonna be using these machine and the program the PT set up for me to get both quads back in good shape.Today was the first day and I can tell I will be a little sore tonight.

Hopefully,I will be cleared to ride my bike next week.If so,I'll ride at lunch and do my little program three mornings before work.

There has been much discussion in the news about Paula Dean and her health issues.Surely, it comes as no surprise that she would develop Diabetes.I guess everyone is upset that she did not tell the "public" about her issues earlier and change her menus that same day.Does not surprise me she did neither.To me, it doesn't matter.I can't save Paula and she can't save me.I would not ride to where she lives to eat at her joint, I just can't seeing needing 23 recipes for Sweet Potatoes!

Call me a cynic but I don't trust most folks in the news, on radio or on TV.I find most all of them are promoting themselves to make a buck regardless of good common sense. Paula is like Charles Barkley, rich? yes,driven? yes,a role model? NO

Pearl of Wisdom from the Mind of WEL
Want a role model, ya should have known my Grandpa

Sad day?Not really

Howdy from the land of hiding out cows and baby calves!

Man, it never ceases to amaze me how a 1000 pound cow can hide so well in the brush at calving time. Best thing about this hide and seek session is the exercise I'm getting!

Well, last week I read a post from the Guru--Muata. He posted his first and his LAST post for 2012!Damn, I did not want to see that one coming. I have gained so much from his site and his writing.The bottom line on his journey is (my opinion)he started his journey and spent countless hours working toward his goal and writing about his journey. Some of these hours spent have cost a hefty price.But allas his goals were mostly met.Or at least the important goals were met and others were deemed not as important.

Now Muata is in CONTROL,he is a MAINTAINER, he is living life free of a huge burden.He has been there and done that. I am thrilled he has shared his trip. I am sad he is moving on.I am proud I found his site.I long to reach his level--a MAINTAINER!

One of my long term goals is to shake his hand someday for his ripples have spread a long way.

Now he is on to new goals and adventures.One I just can't understand ---growing vegetables hydroponically---they must not have dirt where he lives---LOL.

For my Buddy--I tip my hat!

Pearl of Wisdom form the Mind of WEL
You don't want to know, ya better not ask.

Rain and work

Howdy from the land of RAIN and going back to work!

Damn I sure get bored easy.So I decided to return to work. The knee retrofit went well. This one is 2 weeks ahead of my first one, more swelling but not near as much pain.My range of motion is really good for this stage.

Anyway, I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a safe New Year turn over. We had a swell time at Ezzell in spite of my limping around and folks having to wait on me.

I have some PT to do the rest of the month but I hope to turn to riding my bike around the month's end.

See ya down the road!

Pearl of Wisdom from the Mind of WEL
When ya have a nerve block in place , go ahead and get them to hook up the morphine drip because that damn nerve block wears off faster than shit going through a goose.