Tag: legs

Eating burned calories

On By Michel McDonaldIn Cycling, Diet, Exercise, Food, Health, Noom, WeightLeave a comment

july 21 calories

With Noom, my daily calorie allowance is typically 1400 calories if I don’t do any exercise, but if I do exercise, the amount of calories I’m allowed to eat goes up.  Today I had a very unhealthy breakfast at the hospital.  It was 1 cup of cold and semi petrified scrambled eggs, 1 sausage link, 1  strip of bacon, a very dry, very hard biscuit and a banana muffin.  That was 632 calories.  I didn’t think the breakfast would be that many calories, which is why I decided to eat the muffin.  Of course, those are all estimated calories.

I try to eat right, but I can’t always predict when I’m going to have to go to the hospital and visit the cafeteria.  You would think they would have healthy choices, but they didn’t have them in plain sight.  As soon as you walk in there you see donuts and muffins.  They didn’t have any egg whites which is what I would have normally gotten.  They had hard-boiled eggs, but seriously?  Who eats a hard-boiled egg for breakfast?  I might eat one of those once in a while, but not for breakfast, it’s typically around Easter or the holidays when I’m having it deviled lol.  They did have a salad bar, but I’m not going to have salad for breakfast.

I went on a bike ride yesterday and burned 807 calories, so my allotted calories went up to 1800 and I ended up eating 1715 calories.  I was so hungry that I couldn’t help myself.  I was going to rest today, but I went on a 2 hour, 18 mile bike ride because of that high calorie breakfast.  I haven’t eaten all 1910 calories, but it’s very close and very tempting.

The more energy I use to burn calories, the hungrier I get.  Yesterday was my weigh-in day and I was basically the same weight as I was last week, and today I seem to be the same yet again.  I know I can’t predict what’s going to happen day-to-day, but when I don’t lose weight, I become very discouraged.

Tomorrow I’m not going to go bike riding because I have severe sunburn on both my knees and my forearms and my neck, not to mention that I haven’t ridden my bike in a very long time and I need to rest a day in between until my legs are used to it.  I normally don’t go bike riding as late as I did today, but again, who can predict when they have to go to the hospital.  I wasn’t going there for myself, I was going with my partner to visit a friend of his.

Next time, I am going to get up at 6am and go bike riding before the sun can do any serious damage to my skin and I’m also going to wear some sunscreen because my skin is very sensitive.  I am also going to try to stick to eating my 1400 calories even if I am allowed to have 1910 or so calories, that is if the hunger doesn’t consume me.  Speaking of hunger… I would very much like to eat something right now.  I think I will have a banana.

My broken arm is on the mend

On By Michel McDonaldIn Daily BlogLeave a comment

cartoon mike healing broken arm

I am very happy to report that my arm is healing and I can finally go back to my normal routine.  I’ve had a great vacation from my chores for the last month, but it’s time to go back to work.

Well, the truth is, I’ve been doing certain chores like laundry and doing light cleaning here and there, it’s dishes that were too difficult to do.  I even mowed the lawn 2 weeks ago with just one arm lol.  I didn’t do it last week or this week because, well, I’m lazy lol.  I did the dishes today with both arms and laundry yesterday with both arms and it did hurt a tiny bit, but it didn’t hurt so much that I had to stop.

It’s funny how you think that you want to not have to do things, but after awhile you start to miss it.  I know that sounds odd, but it’s true.

I am still wearing the sling when I walk the dog or when I’m just fartin’ around the house because it feels uncomfortable to just let it hang, it even hurts if I’m not holding it up, but when I’m just laying in bed or doing dishes or laundry I can take it off.

The part of my arm that broke is still in a bit of pain, but what is causing me the most pain is the middle of my arm because my arm is bent 24/7 and I guess it just needs to stretch after awhile.  You know how when you are in the car for too long and it’s nice to get out and stretch your legs?  Well, it’s basically the same thing.

The E.R. doctor said it would take 6 to 8 weeks to heal and it’s been 4 1/2 weeks and I can tell that it won’t take a full 8 weeks.  I’m sure I still have another couple of weeks of wearing the sling, then I can probably take it off for good.  Although I can’t predict the future, but I’m sure I’ll be good soon.

I’ve never broken a bone in my body in my whole life so I’ve never experienced this and even though it was torture for me, I’m glad it happened because I finally got to know what it was like.  I know that sounds silly or strange, but it just seems like something I should have experienced at least once in my life.  I don’t have a bucket list, but I think if I did, breaking a bone would have been on it.  That’s not to say I want to experience it again lol.  I can’t imagine ever going through that again so I’m going to have to be really careful from now on.

Anyway, I can’t wait for my arm to heal completely so I can go back to normal, whatever normal is.

Getting Back In Shape

On By Michel McDonaldIn Bike, Cycling, Diet, Exercise, Health, NoomLeave a comment

bike path 2013

As part of my New Years Resolution to lose weight in 2013, I plan on adding an exercise routine that is sure to melt the fat away.  The plan is to get to the bike path here in Bakersfield from my house, then get on the bike path by turning left, and then just keep riding until the path ends which is 16.5 miles out.  At that point I will take about 5 minutes or so to rest before turning around and coming home.

I have done this in the past, but instead of turning left, I’ve always turned right.  That route was only 22 miles round trip.  I wanted to continue, but I’d have to ride in traffic, which I didn’t want to do, to get to Hart Park.  On the way back to the bike path from Hart Park, I’d have to ride uphill, which I did not want to do because I didn’t want to wreck my thigh and calf muscles with too much hard work.  I’m no spring chicken, I have to do what I can to keep my legs strong, but at the same time not ruin them by exercising too hard.

My weight loss coach app called “Noom” will help me this time.  In the past I have used a cheap bicycle computer that I bought at Target, but it didn’t have all of the functions that Noom has, the only thing it can’t do is map my progress.  I do plan on using my bicycle computer to let me know how many miles per hour I am riding and to see what time it is since my phone will be tucked away safely in my camelbak, but I won’t rely on it for anything else.  It’s still a useful tool.

I have tools for fixing my tires, but the one tool that I don’t have that I will need is a Co2 pump and cartridges.  I have a regular hand pump, but I have carpel tunnel syndrome and my hands are getting worse everyday.  I have fingerless gloves that are made for people with carpal tunnel syndrome, but they won’t help my hands when I pump the tire.  The Co2 pump will be a great asset.

I also need bicycle shorts.  They have gel in the butt of the shorts which will help keep my butt from hurting, trust me, I’ll need it lol.  Nashbar has a pair of “Gel Ride Bib Shorts” that I can actually afford.  I will buy that when I get some money later in the week along with the pump and Co2 cartridges.  I’m almost positive that those are the last things that I have always been missing in my bike rides.  I will especially need them if I plan to ride 33 miles per day.

Just like always, I won’t be riding 33 miles on the first day, I will start at 10 miles, then add 1 or 2 more miles everyday until I get to 33.  And I will ride every other day to give my body the rest that it deserves so I don’t overwork myself.

Oh boy, this is going to be a lot of fun.  I can’t wait!

EverQuest Fun

On By Michel McDonaldIn EverQuest1 Comment

I have been having a bit of fun in EverQuest over the last couple of days.  I haven’t really had much time to play since we have been so busy trying to install the new floor, so when I do get to play, I don’t really know what to do.

When I got in the game yesterday, I decided to see how many Station Credits I had (you get a specific amount of credits every month as a subscriber) so I could buy something fun and I found a few items.  First thing I bought was an illusion for myself (picture above) which is of a burning Nekhon.  As you can see, it’s a dragon like creature that walks on legs like a minotaur (or bull) but has flaming wings.  I get two icons in my spell icons box, one is the illusion and the other is the added benefits of the illusion which burns creatures that strike me and levitation.  It looks awesome, especially when I’m fighting, but he looks so funny when he runs.

I also bought a couple of other things…

The first thing was a Nightmare Skull.  That is a pet illusion; you cast it and your pet turns into that.  The only problem was I forgot that I don’t have a pet, I have a familiar, he isn’t considered a pet.  A pet fights the monsters (mobs) for and/or with you, but your familiar only gives you added benefits like clarity.  So, I wasted 200 station credits.  I would be better off buying that for my necromancer EvilXanapus.

I still wanted a new pet/familiar so I found the Steamwork Companion.  He is a little floating robot which gives me levitation and when I am fighting a mob, he steps in front of me and takes some of the damage.  He stays around for 5 hours which is the same as my regular familiar, so he keeps me floating for a long time.  I mean, he’s not that useful, but any damage mitigation is good so I don’t mind.  Plus he’s cute to have follow me lol.

The last thing I bought was Shrooms of Sight.  It’s basically drugs lol.  They have had alcohol in the game forever, but this is different.  Although it’s not what I thought it would be.  I thought that I would be seeing some strange stuff going on that nobody else could see, but all it does is it turns the screen different colors for a minute or so.  It’s really actually kinda lame lol.  It was cheap so no harm done.

So here is me in my regular gnome form with my Steamwork companion and my bloodbone protector mercenary.  He fights all of my battles for me.  He isn’t considered a pet because he is a paid mercenary and he goes in the group.  I would love it if he were a floating skull, but I like him as a bloodbone skeleton, especially when I am using the Nekhon illusion.

This picture was taken in the Western Wastes on the Velious continent at the zone to Siren’s Grotto.  I have been going there to fight for Deepwater Ink for alchemy with my Vah Shir Shaman character named Painen Dabum.

As a level 77 wizard I don’t get any exp killing the mobs there, but it’s quick money and I get the alchemy ingredients I need in a timely manner.  And believe me, there is a lot of money to be made there.  I get tons of gems that sell for a couple hundred plat each.  I can fight in there for a couple of hours and make 1000 – 2000 platinum.  I go there for the alchemy ingredients, not the money, but it helps, especially since I have to pay the mercenary 35p every 15 minutes and the potions I make in alchemy cost money to make.  I am making the potions to sell back to the merchants and to get my alchemy skill up.

Although, I would do better with the higher level alchemy potions, but those ingredients are foraged and it’s boring to sit in the Dreadlands with my druid for hours upon hours twiddling my thumbs waiting for the forage button to let me forage more.

But I digress, I am having a lot of fun playing the game again, even though I am playing by myself lol.  I can’t wait to get the burning Nekhon and the floating skull for my necromancer, I think that would be awesome to look at.  It won’t be any time soon because they don’t give me very many station credits every month.  If I really wanted those things, I’ll have to pay them real money for more credits and I just don’t want to spend any more money than I already give them every month.

Can’t wait to play again.

Stepping Up My Bike Rides

On By Michel McDonaldIn Bike, Cycling, ExerciseLeave a comment

bike trail water.jpg

I’ve been riding 15 miles every time I ride on the bike trail.  As soon as I get to my halfway point which is at Manor St., my legs are ready to give and I have to stop and rest.  Instead of going further I usually just head back home.  I think 15 miles is a good ride.  But I think it’s time to step things up and go the distance so I kept going today and rode for a total of 18 miles.

This picture above is what I see on the Bakersfield Bike trail on the other side of the bridge from Beach Park.  I thought it was too beautiful to not take a picture.

Herbie.jpg

And here’s Herbie hehe.  I saw this just as I was coming into Beach Park this morning.  I have seen this car driving throughout Bakersfield since at least 2000 when we moved here.  Every time I see it I want to take a picture and I never have a camera with me and it just so happens that now I have a cell phone that can take pictures lol.

I’ve already weighed myself and I have lost a couple lb’s so I think adding miles to my bike ride is going to help me lose more weight.  It doesn’t have to come off faster, just as long as it comes off, that’s all that matters.

My legs are jello right now and my back is in pain so that’s all I have for now.

My Dry Skin

On By Michel McDonaldIn Health3 Comments

I don’t know if it’s because I live in the desert or what but my skin has got to be the driest it has ever been since we moved to Bakersfield 11 years ago.

In my entire life I’ve never had to worry about my skin being so dry that you can see where I scratched myself on my leg.  Also my feet are so dry that they are constantly cracking.  I know it’s not a beautiful image but there you go.

My hands are especially dry probably because when I do the dishes I don’t use any gloves to protect my hands.  The reason for that is they don’t make rubber gloves for men with thick fingers and big hands.  I have bought the large gloves and they are still too tight.  As a result, the skin on my fingers bubble up and then the skin dries out or gets scratched or peeled off and the remaining skin dries up and scratches me when I touch my face.

I grew up to think that body lotion was for girls, actually any lotion is for girls.  It is acceptable to put lotion on your hands when they are dry every once in a while but the way I was taught was even then you do that in private and never EVER let anyone know you used lotion.  My family sure did screw me up didn’t they?

So screw all that noise.  I am so tired of my dry skin so I went to the store I would say about a week ago and bought some Suave body wash and it came with a little bottle of Suave body lotion.  I used it all up on my hands but then started thinking about my feet and my legs.  When that was all gone I bought a big bottle of Suave Cocoa Butter w/Shea body lotion and I use it on my whole body after every shower.

I’ve used it for the last 3 or 4 days and I gotta hand it to them, my legs don’t show scratch marks anymore, my hands are nice and soft and the skin doesn’t bubble after dishes anymore and my feet are starting to look normal again.  The cracks in my toes and my heels seem to be healing.

And to top it all off I smell really good.  I know, men don’t smell like cocoa butter w/shea, only girls do right?  Screw that, who says that men can’t smell good too?  I don’t care what anyone tells me, I like it.  I like how soft my skin is and I like how I smell now.

I think it takes a real man to take care of his skin, I don’t care what people tell me.  It’s happening!

Paranormal Court

On By Michel McDonaldIn Paranormal, TV2 Comments

It’s late at night and I’ve watched all of my shows for the evening so I do a little channel surfing and find this show on TLC called Paranormal Court.  It was halfway through so I activated the Start Over feature with my cable box and I am so glad that I did because this is such a good show.

I’m a skeptic with some of the psychic shows because occasionally they do cold readings which is where they say something hoping for a response.  The ones who are spot on with just about everything are the ones who really impress me and this guy was spot on with every reading and with everything in the readings.

This show says that it’s a court show but not in the traditional sense like Judge Judy has, instead this show have people who want to settle a dispute that only the deceased person can settle and he is a way to talk to the deceased to help settle the dispute.

This guy gave me the chills every time he would say something that was so spot on, there is no way that these were cold readings.

The last case was this teenage girl who was drugged and left in the basement and was having a seizure with boards on her legs and they were making a sound, a rhythm if you will.  Well he made that sound on the table with his fingers and my entire back was tingling from the chills that I got lol.

I went to the TLC website to find out the days and time this show airs but they don’t even have it listed and as far as I can tell this was the only episode so I feel so lucky that I got to see it because I hardly ever watch TLC.  Nothing against TLC, I just don’t watch their shows.

If this airs again I will want to know so I hope they put something up on their site soon so I can add a reminder on my TV page so I know to watch it again because it was a good show.  People say that they know what their deceased loved one would want, well they really don’t.  This guy will tell you exactly what that person wanted.

My Leg Is In Good Shape Considering

On By Michel McDonaldIn HealthLeave a comment

I am a quick healer. I don’t know what it is about me but when I get a bump or a bruise you wouldn’t know I got it by how fast it disappears. That’s one thing that is in my book is how my step-dad was able to get away with child abuse because within half an hour of giving me a bruise, it was already gone so there was no evidence of it which was very difficult to claim that I was being abused with no marks to show for.

I hurt my leg on Sunday and here it is Friday night, Saturday morning, not quite a week but we’re almost there and I’m already walking on both legs.

To recap what happened; I was running for the ice cream truck on Sunday, saw he wasn’t looking in his mirror and since he was driving at the same speed I was running I decided to pick up the pace and that’s when I heard and felt my calf pop. It feels like a constant charlie horse. Imagine having a charlie horse for a week straight.

Ok the first couple of days I was on 2 crutches but the 3rd day I nixed the 2nd crutch because I was doing fine on 1. Then day 4 I’m able to walk with a limp without the assistance of a crutch, although I take it when I go outside and when we went to the store just in case. Although I didn’t need it, I felt it necessary so I wouldn’t have to explain a limp. Although, I was asked what happened, why I was using a crutch lol.

Today I’ve been walking directly on my left foot instead of limping and even though the calf is still tight, or what’s the word, taut? Even though it’s still taut and has some pain I feel I should give it some exercise.  Anyway, occasionally I’ll get a stinging pain then I have to limp for a minute then go back to my foot flat on the ground.

The doctor gave me an estimated down time of 4-6 weeks and I overestimated that to 6-8 weeks just in case, you never know. And I guess my overestimation was a good call because I figured if I overestimate it will be way less and it’s turning out to be way less.

I can’t say it’s over because it’s still like a constant charlie horse but not as painful as one would normally be and I still have to limp when I rest my leg for too long. You can’t just start walking normal after you’ve been sitting or laying down for a few hours.

I have been getting dizzy though which is unusual. I’m very dizzy right now but that’s because I took the medicine. The muscle relaxer. I think it’s relaxing my brain which is why I’m getting dizzy. I also took an ambien so maybe that’s what’s causing the dizzy, it doesn’t usually though so I think it’s a combo. But that means I gotta cut this short.

HA you’re thinking SHORT? Yeah, too late for that pal.

No but seriously, I will continue with the updates again soon.

My Leg 3 Days Later

On By Michel McDonaldIn HealthLeave a comment

Not that anyone requested an update or anything but I’d just like to update that things are going good.

I haven’t had to use both crutches though because I have pretty much learned to walk without them as long as I walk on my toes on my left foot.  If I walk on my toes on both feet then I can walk normal but both legs bent at the knee.  It looks funny but what else can I do eh?

It still hurts like hell though.  I can straighten my left leg when I lay down but not when I walk, especially when I walk because the pain comes.  If I’m laying down and I make my foot move with toes towards me then there is pain.

I really don’t need any pain meds because there is only pain when I do what I said in the previous paragraph.  I don’t have general pain THANK GOODNESS!  I have taken the muscle relaxers at night when it says to.  I don’t know how long that will take to fix the problem if at all but I have 20 pills.

I’m still on ice and I switch to heat tomorrow.  The doctor said ice for 15-20 minutes several times per day for 3-4 days then switch to heat.  The ice isn’t so bad.  I have a thing that you put an ice pack in then wrap it around you leg that I’ve had for a couple of years.  You can freeze the ice pack for cold or heat it up for hot but I’d rather use an electric heating pad instead because it gives constant heat.  The heating pad I have is the same type that you wrap around the leg.

I walked the dog today with one crutch instead of being on my tip toes in public lol.  Walking around that way takes a lot longer but I only walked her in the front of the house.  But, for regular dog walking duties, I’d rather Darrin handle that and give me a break since I’ve done it every day since we got her.

I can do dishes as long as I keep my leg bent which I do anyway when I stand there doing dishes.  Although I usually switch bent legs but this time I can’t.  I have to keep all the stress on my right leg.  But as long as I do one sink load (we have a 1 sided sink, it doesn’t have 2 sides so I have to use a big bowl) then I can fill it up with more dishes and let them soak while I rest my right leg so I can do more.

So I guess that’s my update for now.  No pain unless I purposely cause it by moving my foot or walk directly on the leg.  And I can still do light chores lol.  yay…

Can’t you see how enthusiastic I was by not making yay in caps?  LOL

TerraTrike – The Rover – Official Site Of The World’s Most Comfortable Recumbent Trike / Recumbent Bike

On By Michel McDonaldIn Cycling, ExerciseLeave a comment

TerraTrike – The Rover – Official Site Of The World’s Most Comfortable RecumbentTrike / Recumbent Bike

Have you seen these before? I’ve seen people riding them on the Bakersfield bike trail and I’ve seen them at Snyder’s Cyclry (bike store) but I haven’t seen them this cheap. Although the 3 speed Rover is the least expensive, they go up from there.

I would be too afraid to ride one of these on the streets on the way to the bike trail because I’m too paranoid that I’m gonna get hit. We have some crazy drivers here who don’t care about my safety but instead only care about the thrill they get from turning me into a paranoid nut case. Yes, I’ve been hit by the driver of a pick-up who was looking directly at me when he hit me so I know from experience.

I wouldn’t mind riding one of these on the bike trail though because it does look a lot more comfortable than riding a regular bicycle. For one when you are ready to pull over to rest for a bit you don’t have to get up. Just stay seated. That’s another issue I have with the bike trail, there aren’t very many places to sit and rest. There are a few places but when your legs decide you need a break there is never a bench to rest on.

The downside that I see is that I wouldn’t be able to bring it to the grocery store because there doesn’t seem to be a basket in the back like most grandpa trikes have so I’d still need my regular bike for those trips.

Although, I can’t afford $800, if I were to get another bike it would probably be this. I would have to get a ride to the bike trail if I did get it, that is until I got comfortable enough riding it in the streets.  There aren’t too many cars early in the morning so that is the best time for me to go out on a regular bike or this.