Daily Archives: April 20, 2010

Aging, Health

Mens sana in corpore sano

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Spring                                     Waxing Flower Moon

VO2.  I’m not even sure I know what it means though I do recall that bicycle racers have an abnormally good rate.  Still, on Monday next, I’ll know for sure that I’m not a bicycle racer.  But, I may know a bit more about my exercise physiology and what kind of things will work best for me.

Mens sana in corpore sano, a healthy mind in a healthy body. This is a Roman interpretation of the Greek ideal, one I’ve believed in since coming in contact with it many years ago.  I have, from time to time, managed a healthy body, then a healthy mind, but getting the two together has proved formidable, especially so as I get older.

So, I went over to the institute for Exercise Medicine and had them put me through my paces with a VO2 mask and heart leads.  They also had me do a stretch test, a jumping high test, measured my blood pressure and, oops, took my body fat.  The body fat was in the margin on all parts of my body except my tummy, which managed a wide divergence from a healthy norm.  This did not surprise me.

I peddled for 15 minutes on a bike with a blue mask (this guy is not me.)  At the end they then had me go two more minutes.  It was not too tough a test, but I don’t find out my results until next week.

What I want is a better handle on my workouts, a handle related to this actual body that I have rather than the statistical average I’ve worked with in calculating my workouts up to this point.  I also need a push to get going again on resistance and flexibility work.  I’m hoping this will do it.

An interesting experience.  Worth it.

Bees, Friends, Health, Memories, Woolly Mammoths

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Spring                                                  Waxing Flower Moon

The Woollies met last night at Stratford Wood where Bill and Regina live.  The topic of the evening was friendship, requiring time one said, trust another, play yet another.  We evoked our history as a group of men who have given each other time, trust and vulnerability.  We talked about the vessel, the container we have created, a place of safety and love.  We wondered about men and the trajectory of men’s lives that leads away from the easy friendships of youth and into the barren land of male competition and ambition.

One of us spoke of his wonderful physical.  His doctor commended him on lowering his blood pressure through diet alone.  All looked well.  Until the phone call.  Which said his hemoglobin numbers were well below normal.  Since then he’s been endoscoped, colonoscoped and even put on film by a small bowel camera.  No joy.  No explanation.  Only shortness of breath going upstairs and fatigue.  He sees a hematologist this week.  Kate thinks the hematologist will probably take a bone marrow biopsy.

My swollen hand and bruised middle finger got some attention.  We discussed, again, the bees.  Charlie said I should get an epi pin right away.  Kate, who sees a lot of bee stings in urgent care, has a more moderate evaluation.  A localized reaction to multiple stings.  I think she’s right.

Cybermage Bill Schmidt’s brother in Iowa still lives, though in hospice care.  Another brother, Bob, had a near deal with sepsis.  Life is fragile and wonderful, treat with gladness.