Thanks for visiting my blog

I written 700 + blogs. Besides my regular fat-man blog. I have also added a blog of my mission and

concern for Liberia. There has been almost 93,000 hits. Some of my entries are good and some I think have been repetitive and less interesting. By experience I think I'm learning from my mistakes. It is my goal, that if you click on the link to my blog it will have some value for you.

I did not expect the blog having readers from different countries. The concerns of a aging, cardiovascular, cancer, diabetes, dementia are certainly global. Lifestyle prevention can happen anywhere.
In the US there has been hit from many states.
There are more people today who visit my blog.  Any where from 80 to 140 hits per blog. At the same time people choose what to read or not. There have been those who I've seen around town tell me they're reading the blog, I get a little feed back on social media.  I am pretty sure that you would like to correct my grammar.
Here are some of the blogs that people have read the most. Thanks for reading, keep walking

Adding to the fat man exercises to help build up muscles for safe walking. Our kids need exercise.

There has always been a notable difference between my stronger left leg in a weaker right one. While it seems my upper legs can gain strength comparable to anybody, my lower legs do not. My observations have been when you have physical disabilities that impair movement or strength, progress is slow. There are two reasons why I don't give up:

1. If I quit my exercises, even though I do not have a lot of gains; I will quickly lose what I have.
2. If I quit I will automatically start to increase pain. My experience and many that I talk to report that our muscles are already constantly contracting with CP. If we quit flexibility, strength movements our muscles will increase tightening up and greater pain will result. Next time you see a person with cerebral palsy, realize that person lives with pain every day. The more severe of the disability is the more severe the pain. They will probably never tell you about it. Let's build our compassion!😘

It is a simple formula movement + flexibility = less pain. Since I am a sissy and hate pain, movement + flexibility = less pain and less need of pain pills. Physical therapy like a book are my best friends. Physically handicapped children should earn school credit for their rehab. It should be factored into their P E programs. 
(Schools should offer one hour a day, 20 minutes instructing and doing different fitness ideas and 35 minutes of exercise involving play games such as soccer and basketball and, pursuits such as rock climbing, back packing. We are not for the moment going to be be getting rid of our bus programs and we are less likely to have adults outside forcing perverts back into hiding like trolls so that more kids would be safe, so we better increase recess and PE or pay a big price in health later. The growth in our brains from exercise is undeniable. This growth and health of the brain will improve learning with increased oxygen and circulation. For the most part in over 30 years of observation the last hour of school should be replaced with workouts, games, music, art and social interaction completely free from electronic devices. Mentally the kids and most teachers are spent any ways. If our kids do not move one hour day, we will pay the price. 
We cannot go back to the old days when I used to shovel 5 miles to get to school 😲. OK I'm exaggerating, it was only one mile of shoveling and it may not have been snow.)
What are the things I try to do when I am confronted new problems  is to pick up some rehab tips. Two moves I picked up to improve walking without falling.
 To strengthen my ability to pick up my legs and prevent falls I learned two exercises I can do on the bed. 

 Each of these exercises and be done with  The  Opposite leg the knee bent.

 

With opposite knee bent lift leg a few inches and move sideways. Keep walking

There is always an opportunity to help those who need it. Give a real present, you helping one in need.

“For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.” John 12:8

John 12:1-8 Context clues

Illness can be a time of loneliness
The sickness can bring dark feelings

• Act of worship, priceless
• One who managed the money of the disciples was already a thief. That person will never be able to care for the poor.
• Jesus personal time with the disciples was coming to an end.

Care of the poor is an ongoing project that changes all the time.

The lowest of the low, ones to be put on the Hitler  & Stalin list - I knew of a man mismanaged funds for personal use in a care facility of those who cannot care for themselves. Their disabilities are serious and multiple. They are poor to boot with a personal allowance of $40 a month from the state. The state provides shelter and care.  Imagine being a low life who steals from child-like minds or very difficult physical handicaps. Sorry for the curse word - “Damn”

Judas was stealing what was providing for the training of the disciples and the provisions of Jesus and the disciples as they went from village to village. Judas had the mind for admistration of funds, but he used his skills to steal for his own wants. There is no chance the poor will be cared for. No, what is usually the case is probably the opposite. Judas' objection for Mary's worship only reveals his corruption. 

The poor are always there and there will always be a need. The human condition is always changing. Once strong and self sustaining, a person can lose the ability to work, lose loved ones and be alone, sickness, lost of spouse, parent, long term poverty sets in.

The disciples had a limited budget. Isn’t that always true for most of us. Giving is always given by those closest to the poor themselves and may be the ones investing themselves. The most generous from my experience came from those who themselves were the working poor or close to being poor themselves.

“Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be heard.” Proverbs 21:13

Caring for the weak, the poor, the sick, the disabled, those facing hardship lead to the development of spiritual fruit in character, kindness, gentleness, humility, being there for those in need as matter of habit. For the believer who shares to meet the needs in real and tangible ways. This Christmas or this year adapt a handicap home to give gifts at Christmas. Give gifts on their birthdays. Give a gift of yourself and visit these disabled adults, many who have lost their parents and are rarely visited. Give gifts that fit the person in mind, not just gift cards unless that card fits their desires. 

From the tales of mysteries, Craig Johnson ’s Walt Longmire visited the one legged sheriff once a week to play Chess and share a beer. Walter also gave jobs for the old sheriff and included the old buzzard in his family.

In my hospitalization last week it hit like a ton of bricks how it feels to be lonely and sick to boot. So this year I am going to be giving gifts of love, visits, to disabled I know. The needs are beyond my ability. At my family’s gathering this year as a family we are going to look for practical ways we as a family to give to known people of disability. With in our own family we are going to strengthen our family bonds to make sure we all are involved caring for those who will need lifetime support of friendship, A child with a disabily will one day be without the parents who cared for them. Uncles, Aunts, brothers, sisters cousisns are going to need to step up.

Similar ideas can be done for the poor, adopt a poor person to visit, help with what you can to bless them with shelter, love and care, protection. You will have your limits, but first be willing to put yourself in meeting known needs, friendship. You may have to plan how to best do this. You can’t do everything, but you can do something. Adopt a vet without family. Ideas are many. Your personal investment you dicide and challenge yourself. caring this way will had to your days and God has an ear for those who care for the poor. Keep walking

 My quiet time this morning evening, I did the same reding   Radio Bible class. A big reason was this morning  I wasn't too focused. I took a more careful reading tonight.  Thanking about creation and our big world is just a small dot in the universe,

 Two steps back, three steps forward.  I find myself today at Saint Joe's hospital being treated for a lower leg infection. All of this took place in about a week. 

How do fat cells think? Losing weight is hard

Are you discouraged about losing weight? Too many failures to count? Consider the following

As we get older we tend to add weight. You may be thinking, “No **** Sherlock.” Since I have taken up the walking with the fat man blog, I have lost weight 60 lbs. and have regained the weight and have added 10 lbs. to boot. I have found weight-gain happens after weight-loss. After repeated failure, not just by me but by most people I know, drive me back to ask Why?  

My experience and observations have only underscored how difficult it is to lose weight. In the articles below, looking at the research behind them I have found some interesting facts:

• The odds are against you if you are obese to lose weight for healthy BMI
• If you lose your weight by dieting and even exercise the odds are against you to keep the weight off once you have reached a goal. You are more likely to put the weight back on.
• Fat cells basically send messages to feed them and keep them healthy. It is stressful to lose weight in our body always fight stress.
• Fat cells send chemicals that lower the metabolism (How do fat cells think?) 
• Most of our strategies lose weight don't work. Dr. Leibel said, that losing weight “is not a neutral event,” and that it is no accident that more than 90 percent of people who lose a lot of weight gain it back. “You are putting your body into a circumstance it will resist,” NYT 2011
• It is harder today to lose weight then if you were the same age you are today than 30 years ago. If someone was 65 years old 30 years ago and weighed 290 lbs. would have an easier time losing weight then someone today all things being equal. WP 2015

Having a hard time losing weight? Of course you are! These
little buggers are always sending out singles - more!

Take a minute to think about what you observed. You have seen people lose weight by surgeries to shrink the stomach and liposuction only to put the weight back on. I eat less than I used to, but my metabolism is slower. I am not alone in this experience as it turns out. The bottom line is, “It is hard to lose weight.” All of the numbers are stacked against us. 

Is this just looking for reasons to enable failure? I think that is a fair question. The reality I see the failed efforts by well intentioned people. I am one of them and it bugs the **** out me. That motivated me to look at science and reality to begin to build a more successful outcome. 

It would be easy to give up and say the hell with it. But the truth is our efforts actually to be healthcare better then not doing nothing at all. An overweight person eating the right food and exercising is less likely to die from being overweight almost as a person who has and healthy BMI and exercise habits.

Exercise helps fat to send the right messages to our brain for better metabolism and weight control. While 10% of our fat cells die every year our bodies replace them and if we follow a heart healthy diet and exercise the cells replaced will be thinner. Those thin fat cells want to become fatter. This will be never easy. Our strategies have to include what fat cells are telling us. 

Two things I know will help:

Eat a heart healthy diet.

Get 150 minutes of exercise a week.

Getting fat cells thinner may be a real pain in the butt. Keep walking

Do you know someone struggling to lose weight? Share this blog with them, it may help them understand why it is so hard. There is a lot more to it than "will power." 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/10/01/its-gotten-harder-to-lose-weight-and-not-for-the-reasons-you-think/?utm_term=.d81cd62a27f4

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/27/health/biological-changes-thwart-weight-loss-efforts-study-finds.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/06/well/move/how-exercise-can-make-for-healthier-fat.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fwell&action=click&contentCollection=well&region=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=2&pgtype=sectionfront

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/15/well/move/to-maintain-muscle-and-lose-fat-as-you-age-add-weights.html?action=click&contentCollection=Well&module=RelatedCoverage&region=Marginalia&pgtype=article

https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2017/02/17/are-fat-cells-forever/?action=click&contentCollection=Well&module=RelatedCoverage&region=Marginalia&pgtype=article

Wounded warriors and disabled give back in many ways. Thanks!

When we think of technology it pushes ahead with an idea, competition, but often in advances because of the desire to overcome the bad things that happened life. I came across good story from the Washington Post, you might have read about it. Rob Jones, marine Corps veteran who lost both legs in Afghanistan, runs 31 marathons in 31 days in 31 cities to raise money for the wounded veteran charities.

War and prosthetics have come along way from the hook and peg leg. Rob has lost both legs fighting in Afghanistan. Raising money for the wounded warriors he ran 806 miles in a month. Like Forest Gump people run with him. Making it possible are the adapted prosthetics for running. War has brought many medical advancements that help us all. 

Another unwanted conflict that inters the human experience are all kinds of handicaps. Over the years technology gets

Run Rob Run

developed to help with these handicaps. It is often costly project but what we learn and experience often can benefit us all. The vets wanting to stay active in their lives use technology that in turn benefits ready handicapped people, who do now can act more independent an active. Their experience benefits the rest of us went through some unwanted injury or aging we can use what we learn from them to help us. 

So this Thanksgiving season, give thanks to the wounded Warriors and the people with handicaps with their own struggles to stay independent and active because what they we learn from their situations well come around help us when we most needed. Keep walking. Thank you Rob for using your struggle to help fellow vets. Hurrah! Keep walking

Desk top reminders this winter - goal to help aerobic capacity by 12%

With the use of sticky notes I can record my daily progress. My winter goal is to improve my overall aerobic fitness. Somethings I am already doing.
The fatman exercises, adapted body weight movements: pushups, dips, squats, lunges, heal raises, sit-ups; Hitt recumbent biking 20-45 minutes 3x's a week resistant band workouts 2, 3 times a week.
Adding on off bike days stair work 4 minutes and 4 minute run in place; 10 minute walk - Leslie Sansone, outdoor walk w poles or without. I will be adding knee pads. I know outdoor walking has risks; but I can't give up yet.
Stair workouts and running in place I may add time as with the walking. My immediate goal of 6 to 10 weeks is to improve my aerobic capacity by 12%. These activities can be done around my time of the computer.
All of this stuff has my doctor's consent, both GP and cardiologist. Alternating days biking with walking on stairs gives my knees is a chance to recover. I may find walking in stair work may have to be twice a week and go from there.
Right now biking and strength training works for me. My 10 minute walks right now are three and four minutes at a time. During the day I think many brief walks 30 seconds to a minute. My goal of a 10 minute walk is for practical applications.
I take time to give you a little detail because there are a lot of people who are sedimentary and need to think through how to get moving again. There are also people who are recovering and there are a lot of ways to get back on your feet.
What I am doing is based on my problems with cerebral palsy and mobility problems. Being overweight doesn't help. Taking psychotropic medicine that puts on weight doesn't help either. I have recently taken steps on that front as well. While I take the initiative for these changes it is based on health plans by my doctors and not self medicating.
In the picture are the Lockhorns, like Leroy I hate the scale at the doctor's office. (reality check) DBarb in contrast does not nag. But for many of us we are heavier than we need to be. All of the stickies remind me to move and eat smarter. Keep walking

Make progress with chronic problems - waking up and they are still there

This actually what I trying to get back to

How can we be healthier when we experience the same problems over and over? As we age we are likely to run into a problem or problems that are chronic. Unlike a movie, a book, or TV show which has a resolution; in real life, life moves on with to be continued.
If we struggle with heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, diabetes, strokes, obesity more than likely we will continue to have these problems, we hope for remission or some progress. Just observation on my part but since I am the fat-man walking, how many people obese or overweight actually return to a healthy BMI. I think very few. Easy to move from one strategy to another, but harder to actually be successful. Progress might be more encouraging. For example moving from obese to over weight.
Now me, I am working on that first step after all these years. I notice as we get older we do tend to put on weight. Add to this the weight put on is more fat while muscle is being lost.
I don't want to be negative because if you are like me you want to live as we get older and do positive stuff, like enjoy God's gifts in creation, friends, family in shelter that keeps us warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Living and celebrating our days meets enough challenges with accidents or temporary illnesses. As we age we may also have to bugger on when we deal with problems that are chronic.

Not a fitness model
Ha!

I have a list of chronic problems but I won't list them here. I will bring up one problem I have but, I know I am not alone. Due to aging, falling with CP, injuries pursuing the sports and activities I have loved the joints, bones, tendons are either wearing out or hurting. The reality I have discovered is that these aches and pains do change your life. In my late teens I loved boxing, handball, basketball at the Y, softball and an occasional football game. I picked up tennis and loved to play when it was the hottest. I was a hacker but I did play on two college teams. If I played at the Y today, I hear the games are still brutal; I would take 2years-to the grave to recover.
My theme here is to live, so I bike and move around, shadowbox. To still push back a little and exercise for stamina, strength and flexibility, In so doing I include movement to help my balance which has worsened in the last few years. These activities keep the door open to move about in nature, camping, fishing, swimming, snorkeling, be out with Barb in gardening, enjoy grandkids.
How can I stay independent and do things around the home, care for self if I don't? I really believe I would go down hill pretty fast. I want to live and not be so impaired health breaks down. Life on earth is brief enough, I don't want to speed it along.
Look into the science of strength training for seniors, it is worth doing. Spending part of day exercising, doing physical activities has great benefits as we get older. Progress not perfection Keep walking

A lesson from boxing, get off the mat

Somewhere between high school and first year in college some 47 years ago Simon and Garfunkel wrote and sang a song called “The Boxer.” The winters and city of New York can be hard on anyone trying to cut out a living from the bottom up. The boxer in the clearing shows visual reminder of how hard life can be. Boxing has always had it’s roots with poor people. 

It seems my dad and all the young men from the depression who went in to the service boxed, or so it seems. Have you every put on the gloves and tried to knock out your opponent who in turn is trying to do the same? It sounds crazy, but I am glad I tried a few bouts. I learned I took more punches then I gave out. Just a few and I went into retirement. Fighting bullies or attackers on the street was easier. Most never expected a kid with CP to fight back. 

I haven’t met a fellow CPer who was anything but brave. It eats at me that there are those who would steal, bully, mistreat any who has to deal with pain, balance, falling, and a number of other issues. For me it left me with a bit of a short-fuse. Coming to faith in Christ, God over the years has helped me put down the gloves. I know that is a motivator for me to help others one way or another. 

Over the years I have enjoyed the Robert Parker character Spencer and Hawk boxers who keep getting up, helping others who basically are being bullied and knocked down. The characters stay ageless as they return to the gym to restore their health to keep at it. 

The Psalms are like a spiritual gym, a place where we can meet God and God can restore us. We have needs in our body, mind and our spirit. The world, sin, and spiritual forces are more brutal than a New York or Chicago winter. There are too many in pain today, hurt by others and warned down with care. There is a Great Physician who has balm greater than the balm of Gilead. (Check Wayne Stiles link below for back ground on the balm of Gilead)

Lately I have been biking with HITT 30 minute, 45 minute workouts. On my TV using You tube app, type "cycling workouts" and a variety of workouts come up. I’m back training in the gym with Spencer, Henry and Hawk like a boxer. Just a CP guy trying to keep walking. 

In the clearing stands a boxer

And a fighter by his trade

And he carries the reminders

Of ev'ry glove that laid him down

Or cut him till he cried out

In his anger and his shame

"I am leaving, I am leaving"

But the fighter still remains, mmm mmm

https://www.waynestiles.com/a-balm-in-gilead-your-solution-is-nearer-than-you-imagine/#more-14044

Be positive, adapt, work through challenges

One of the purposes of my blog is to record my journey for better health and fitness as I age. One of the things that I've noticed my story is not one  and done and happy forever and ever. No for me it is a series of changes, some of them unexpected. 

Part of the John Lennon quote, “Life happens” challenge my possible success story. I never anticipated falling into a depression and anxiety from a long term insomnia. Walking was also helping me sleep. Lifelong stressors then adding a few more setbacks, my brain wasn't working right. Like Humpty Dumpty I wasn't able to put my life back together. 

TRX give it a try

Returning to health I was back on the walking trail, but a serious fall in the winter two years ago and walking as I had known it changed forever. (I still have issues) While I was recovering I was able to improve my resistant training with body exercises, TRX, and resistant tubes.

Walking was replaced by my indoor recumbent bike, indoor walking with Lessie Sansone with brief periods walking that I could tolerate with my backache.

Having cerebral palsy with thousands of falls has a practical outcome of joint pain from head to toe. Pain management involves help for my GP, physical therapists; but surprisingly, the most relief comes from therapeutic movement, resistance training, aerobic training. Flexibility has

It hurts but latter you
will feel better

issues all the time in the life of someone who has cerebral palsy. What I have found it is easy to have more problems; for example, putting my socks and shoes on. I suppose many seniors experience the pain is they age into their 80s and 90s. But for me right now it is extremely painful. What do I do to relieve the pain? Two or three times a day I cross my feet on my knee and rotate the foot at the ankle joint and each day the pain is less. (I have to work through the pain and I can’t let it go) This was something I never had to do it when I was younger, but pain teaches you new things.

I want the blog to be a positive experience as I share some of my successes. The fat Man exercises, adopted push-ups, sit ups, dips, squats, heel raises, walking stairs are all just about anybody can do as we age. These moves are adapted to fit you. A push-up off the stairs from lower stair to four steps up give you a push-up from hard  to easy. Using a countertop, table top or a wall give other levels of resistance. Dips can be done at a corner on counter top in the kitchen. You use your legs to vary the resistance. The Internet can showing you how to do body resistance exercises.

Today I did I hitt program enjoying the Internet cycling workout 30 minutes. The exercise

The bike I use

includes interval training of high intensity, higher resistance cycling with periods of lower intensity and resistant cycling. The cyclists in the program are all using hi end indoor bikes. Once again I adapt the program to use my indoor recumbent bike and to keep my biking in the heart range that is good for me at 65. I am not going to compete with Younger more fit people on the screen. I follow the beat of the music and keep my pace up and increase resistance in the sprint periods. 

I stayed in my heart range and following program I've biked about a mile longer then I would have if I was biking by myself. 

I really strongly recommend an indoor recumbent bike. The comfort and adaptability to bike listening to a book, watching TV, listening to music; you will find yourself biking every day. You don't have to buy the most expensive one, but by a good one. Biking is a good way to battle diabetes and for many of us get the steps we need each day to be healthier. For me it is an activity where I have no back pain.

If you go to YouTube and typing cycling workouts you will get a lot of options. Check out the link below. Work with your doctor in this. Keep walking

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRylMkvahjM

The reality of the Bible illustrated

In Acts 16:11-40 is the story of a young slave girl controlled by evil spirits to tell fortunes and make profits for her owners. She was set free of evil infuence by Apostle Paul. No longer able to make money for her masters they sought to imprison Paul for their disruption of business.
I can remember talking to young prostitutes (ages 13 and 14) about the gospel who were beat up for talking to me. The girls were a mess the next time I talked to them. The johns who drove by to use these girls I used to yell at them in their cars, "Don't I know you? Hey I bet the misses would like to know what you're doing!" They always sped off. After a couple of memorable confrontations with the pimps I was asked to lead the discipleship program and was moved away from the red light district. (Co-workers feared retaliation) Most of the prostitutes were on the younger side of 15 and all were abused by the pimps. If you want to see evil you don't have to look far.

Philippian Jail in Paul's Day

Life has many bumps, and often for doing right by others. Paul for helping this abused slave girl used in perverted ways only to make money was thrown into prison. There he was beaten and his companion and put in prison. In the picture you can see the actual prison he was thrown into. You can see where the rocks are built up from the ruins found. You can see the Roman Street in the lower left. The prison and town was a real location. The evil in slavery we still see today. Young men and women are still enslaved all over the globe for sexual and human misuse for money. The events of the Bible are in real places effecting real people. Protecting our girls from abuse is still as vital as it was in the Roman world with 60% slavery. People still may suffer for doing the right thing. The good news of Christ still delivers people from evil. Keep walking.

Dealing with arhtritus

We don't need assault rifles. Personal defense guy weighs in

Hit the link below for the awesome graphic.

         I don't know if you can access this page from the New York Times, but it is an amazing graphic. Chicago is #1 but note it records children killed by guns in the urban setting. Loads of data, how many are gang related? How many involve 17-23? How many are domestic? How many are legal and illegal guns? How many have a racial component? Race killings go each way not just white on black, but black on white also. With the increase of Latino there is a factor as well. Ethnic violence? How many involve mental health? Most who use a gun are not mentally ill. How many deaths were involved in a legal self defense? How many self defenses were unjustified?
        We are divided about guns with people like me would like an option against possible fatal attacks (we don't need assault rifles unless we are invaded by foreign powers, unlikely in my life time) and people who want a ban on guns. Our biggest need is for people to embrace life and hate murder. Too many have a low opinion of others.
        Responsible ownership of guns looks at the intent of the gun for self defense, hunting,

Actual weapon found in hotel room in Vegas

target shooting for sport or recreation. Murder, suicide, mass murder, crime and drugs needs law and regulation. People in the cites need to be challenged on many destructive behaviors, illegal gun running needs stiffer penalties.

       The shooting in Vegas underscores assaut rifles can be modified for greater killing potential. It is clear we need to address this type of gun. We cannot ignore it. The purpose of this gun goes beyond personal defense, hunting and sport shooting. Guns like this for military or law enforcement require discipline and training with these guns. Reagan called it common sense. 

America responded on Dec. 7, 1941. They again went into action on on Sept. 11, 2001. Assault weapons have been used in semi automatic in up close mass killings and now modified for mass destruction from a 1/4 mile away. There are people who have them and use them within the law, but the potential for mass murder requires we the people have to move with a better measures to stop what may be only the beginning. It looks like this guy was also open to use the bomb power like Timothy McVey. 

A few targeted the audience in the Country music crowd, but this guy was planning an analysis of a rap concert in Chicago. These killings were not the fault of Rock fans in France, or gays in Orlando, or co-workers on California. We don't know the motive, but he had one and he forced his violence on others with planning and ability to carry it out. Everybody wants to play a psychiatrist and diagnose this evil, he is nuts but he is responsible, a year to 6 months of planning. 

Back to graphic about urban violence,  each death here with the symbols needs to be accounted for. What ever your opinion this is an awesome visual to understand the complicated problem we have. The human race demonstrates our bent towards sin.I am going to do my best to chase down information in the Chicago deaths. Deaths in other urban centers may be slower to reach the body count in Las Vegas but maybe causes are similar or maybe there will be differences. These deaths are too many and do call for a different response than the usual banter. Keep walking, but be safe.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/10/06/us/las-vegas-gun-deaths.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0

We are getting older embrace mental health p. 1

“Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:6, 7 Like Ps. 4 at the end of a stressful day we can call on the Lord in our anxiety and He can give us peace.

I have had many days where God gave me peace and a confidence to trust him concerning something I was worried about. I have read along time ago that 95% of the things we worry about never come true. That should give us confidence, but we are probably thinking about the 5%.

Due to long term insomnia, triggered by traumatic recovery my mental health broke down. As savvy as I am concerning awareness from scripture, psychology and 50+ years I could not resolve my problems. With panic attacks, sleep deprivation I slipped into a clinical depression. Inside my brain was not functioning the way it should. Insight from my son and wife told me I could not solve this. I needed help.

On one side, we are told to understand people with mental illness with compassion. There is more hope today

Will, my son intervened when I needed
it most. Will earned his masters this
summer from Kansas University this
summer, (proud dad!!!!)

to help people cope with their illnesses. After both medical and therapeutic support my depression and anxiety is in remission. These days I am actually sleeping and I feel pretty good mentally. I am going to start a treatment to boost my metabolism to counter act the weight gain that comes with the medicine. Every medicine we take has the side effect. This latest treatment I am going to double check with my GP, and there may be adjustments. 

On the other side, being open about mental illness can also have a negative affect as to how people view you. Generally I am okay with this because I want people to feel good about seeking care for a mental health as we get older. Some things I know:

• 25% of us at the age of 63 may be clinically depressed
• By the age of 85, 50% of us have some form of dementia
• My uncle from my mother side told me how many people in the family develop panic attacks around the age 55
• Wear and tear in our body also occurs in our brain. We are becoming aware of concussions that we may have had earlier now come to roost as we get older. Sad but true, I have two rocks in my head from previous injury. Those of you who know me you might be thinking "I knew it!” 
• I am just learning process of Alzheimer's developing in the brain. It is now believed it starts in about 20 years before any symptoms develop. It could be soon we learn how to be detected earlier and work on treatments to further delay development of disease. There are eight other common dementias.

Obviously mental health is personal and there are genetic factors from all sides of my family. But I am becoming aware through both experience an increasing data that as we age our brain ages with us. Every part of us ages. I believe it is imperative that we developed a friendly view concerning mental health. Rather than fear it let's embrace it.

Getting treated for depression is certainly better than trying to live with it on your own.

Mental illness is not first and foremost criminal. The vast majority of people are trying to cope with mental illness as best they can. We need to make it easier for people to get help. Right now to enter a mental hospital you have to demonstrate you are a danger to yourself or others. I think this is okay for a legal point of view to help people who are in danger to themselves or others. But the vast majority of people with mental illness may need to technology in the hospital for evaluation and emergency care. In my experience, I under went five days of evaluation in the mental hospital and then continued my care as an outpatient. In the daytime I underwent intensive therapy and medicine adjustments. I could sleep in my home bed and begin practicing the therapy I was learning with panic attacks. 

I have known hundreds of mentally ill people from my seven years of working in the mental hospital and 9 weeks of therapy that included group education and group therapy. My perspective now comes from both sides of care and being cared for. People who were severely mentally ill are not generally criminal. There are a very few who are extremely dangerous. I personally know two people that would become mass murderers. Both had informed others of their intentions before they happened.

I have known several to attack their own families. Many chronic mentally ill people there occurs a painful unofficial divorce that usually happens in their 20s. This isolation is real and you can see it in the many single room hotels and homeless peoples through out our country. There is a large gap between the poor and working poor and mental care. The cost of the mental health professional is too high for too many people. No professional in any field wants to cut their salary to care for the poor. Greed is a powerful thing.

From many I have known there is a sincere desire to get help and be for functional in their relationships, work and daily living. There are many who do just that.  Getting older,  consider adding a mental health professional on your care team. Keep walking

Do you have to walk shorter distances? It is OK

Barb walking, I just love that
smile

At the end of the day when on days I am too sedimentary it is nice to take the dog for a walk. Do you know people with a dog walk up to 20 minutes a day more that non dog owners? I don't have one but dogs can keep people more active. When I say I am taking a dog for a walk I am referring to a walk at the end of a day for about 20 minutes that can be so good for you on days where you did not get your walk or workouts in. At a steady even pace it stretches out my muscles which helps relax and fight tightness that CP brings at the end of the day. Here is where movement works better than pain killers or muscle relaxers. To confuse my metaphor even more I often like to get on my indoor recumbent bike (must for seniors) and open up a mystery to listen to. I set my bike to a very easy level and listen to the story. 

I am a big Craig Johnson fan and I've been following the Longmire series for over six years. The title of the story is The Western Star. The story takes you back to the 1970s riding a train across the state of Wyoming with all the county sheriffs and guests. It bounces back to the future where Walt has to deal with the contemporary issue of compassionate release of an inmate who committed multiple murders. While I was on the bike listening to a back flash Walt is on the train with his wife who is pregnant and having a painful conversation about whether they would stay married. From the books Martha and Walt had a loving marriage. The conflict they had here the author made very interesting and before you know it I am biked 12 minutes at an easy pace. 

Muscles we're loosened up and I felt pretty good. Originally I thought of going only 20 minutes at various speeds. But now I felt good and moved on to a 30 minute bike ride. So for the next 15 minutes I moved between levels two and three before finishing the biking to 30+ minutes and three miles. My recombinant top speed is 9.9 miles an hour. So I was moving along at 6 miles an hour.

Still listening to the story, I did my fat man push-ups, sit ups, squats and one round of resistance exercises with my blue band. I top it off with stretching while finishing chapter 9. The whole experience left me feeling pretty good. As I eased off to sleep I prayed a little bit.

Walking right now has its limits for me. Indoor walking with Leslie Sansone moves my body in many ways to help balance and use more muscle. For me right now it is a safe way to walk. I have never fallen using her program. If I was walking outside I would've fallen many times. My body can't take that anymore. One of the results of having one leg a quarter of an inch shorter than the other is my back is messed up. Right now I can only walking short bursts at a time. So I walking multiple quarter of a mile segments using various mi. walking mile programs to keep me moving. 

Something like this may help keep track & motivate

On my computer I posted a sticky where I can mark my distances around the house that I walk. My goal is to walk at least one mile with Leslie and keep track of my other steps and exercises to push my walking to 5000 or 6000 steps and then when I do my biking where I will get close to 10,000 steps and sleep like a baby. I don't always reach my goals but I'm coming closer. Other days I have fitness and resistance workouts. 

While writing this post I did two quarter mile walks. Leslie engages all muscles of the body. If you like working on the computer there are all kinds of ways to move to help heart, muscles, bones and all the needs of movement for your body.  Keep walking

We have a need for a medical advocate

Being a senior citizen may lead to being ignored by health professionals. Something changes in how we are viewed. 

Many have reported in the world of work changes happen where the older worker is treated more like one would treat a child. 

In my work the teens definitely treated me more like a grandparent than an adult in middle age. While there were times when I had to be the adult I also adapted the grandparent role to manipulate the students in more successful student behaviors and responsibilities. While they took on responsibilities for both themselves and me, this was a breakthrough to tap into their own growing up. Behavioral goals and education roles were reached as students became less dependent on me and assume greater responsibility for themselves. Underneath my façade I was still managing my role and function. The atmosphere in the classroom was less adversarial and more cooperative. 

There was an incident in which two girls were in a fight. I was the first on the scene so I was sorting out how to intervene a real physical fight, when two damsels came to my rescue. I being the gentleman that I am, gladly step aside as the two younger women competently dealt with situation. Would I have done that 20 years ago? I don't think so. As I walk back to my work area I was smiling thinking that I handled it quite well. 

But there're other times when people talk to me in a louder voice, repeated instructions several times, and I wasn't being asked to do the things I am done before. The times were changing. Some of this relates to aging. Toward the end of my career I did have significant issues with insomnia any ability to come to work everyday. While I resolve these issues it also became apparent to me that it was time for me to change. I would have to say I was given a lot of support. When I was at work I was good; but I also was missing too many days. This all happened in a time I could retire. 

Over the years I have heard many conversations that younger people have concerning older workers. It is not hard for people to pick up the vibrations that are negative.

Due to due process I can't disclosed a case ongoing. But It is possible to go into medical care and be ignored or not treated because of medicare limits or negligence. I would encourage each senior to have an advocate to speak out for your interests just in case you can't. A person who understands what is going on and will question things, look out for neglect and fight for you. Medical people may view you as an old geezer complaining with attitudes. We may say or feel things and express our selves in a bad way. We would not have done this earlier. Bottom line we may be written off. Hospitals like teachers, lawyers, can be lazy. We need a check and balance as we seek care. With so many things that can go wrong we want to communicate in such a way that we have a chance to survive. If the hospital is not really treating the problem we could be in serious trouble. Keep walking