A lot of thoughts as I being this joruney…
I’m not sure how many people will be interested in this journey, but my reasons for making it public are largely personal. I need the accountability, and if I truly have ADHD, keeping this journey interesting is key to my long-term success.
After my interview with Shane Thrapp, I realized that I might have ADHD. My research suggests that people with ADHD can be more successful in weight loss if they make the process novel and engaging. Individuals with ADHD often need higher levels of stimulation and novelty to stay motivated and committed. What I’m doing in this part of my website certainly seems to fit the bill.
If you find this blog helpful or interesting, please let me know what types of information you'd like to see me share. At this point, this part of my life is pretty much an open book, and I’m eager to connect with others who may benefit from or contribute to this journey. Your feedback and engagement will help keep me accountable and motivated.
I plan on making at least one entry a day, numbered to track my progress. I might also post additional updates throughout the day, especially if I have something worth sharing or need support and encouragement. Those posts won't be numbered. In all cases, I'll try to tag each post with useful tags that others can use as a topical index for specific information.
My weigh-ins and measurements will be provided in the form of charts, tracking my progress visually. Additionally, I will monitor interesting health metrics such as my resting heart rate and blood pressure. Since I started taking Lisinopril on July 29th to treat hypertension, it will be fascinating to see how weight loss affects my blood pressure and if/when I can eventually stop taking the medication.
I am under the care of a medical professional during this process. Here are some other health facts about me that I'm comfortable sharing: I am 55 years old (born February 1969). My significant medical history includes pulmonary embolism, pulmonary infarct, CCM (right occipital lobe), restless legs syndrome, sleep apnea, multiple unprovoked DVTs, and anemia. My medications include Apixaban, Allopurinol, Symbicort, Potassium Gluconate, Wegovy, ropinirole, Lisinopril, Neupro, and furosemide. I also have physical limitations, including limited mobility due to the surgical repair of cervical, lumbar, and ankle injuries, as well as extreme pain in my lower back while standing for only a few minutes. Additionally, I have neuropathy in my feet and legs as a result of injury and defects in my spine. Although my spine is now stabilized, there was some damage that still causes significant pain, which is most likely severely exacerbated by my morbidly obese state.
To exercise, I will be relearning Tai Chi and incorporating chair exercises illustrated in books authored by Fitz Koehler. I hope to regain increasing mobility as I lose weight. Tai Chi, a martial art I practiced for many years, should help me regain balance and flexibility.
I realize that my medical history makes me sound like a wreck, but I feel like these things are all manageable and will decrease in severity as I lose weight. Again, this is about transparency and accountability. Am I ashamed? Yes, ashamed that I allowed myself to get in this position. But sharing these facts with others is no more embarrassing than being in public. Frankly, I'm tired of being the fat guy in the room. I'm tired of my size limiting my mobility and my life. So, sharing these facts really doesn't make my shame worse; it just lays it all out so I can honestly deal with it. After all, this is a serious situation that requires a very unique approach. Isn't that part of what I'm doing?
Thank you for joining me on this journey. Together, we can achieve great things!
