Alligatorob's Diary

Ate well, exercised, and I feel good tonight. I spent about an hour and a half helping move thrift store things outside for a big yard sale (volunteer work) and then did an hour and 25 minutes at the gym. Probably won't go to the gym tomorrow, we'll see.

My uncle did die during the night. His three kids were with him, so it was not as bad as I feared. My aunt, who is 94 did not get to see him, but she had just a few days before. He is my last surviving blood aunt or uncle, his wife is my last surviving aunt by marriage. A generation passing.

He was a good man, and unusual in many ways. I always saw him as a kind of role model. He taught High School English in a small town in south Louisiana. He was unusual for his age in that he was a strong supporter of civil rights all his life. When he was young that was a brave and unusual thing in such a place. When his neighborhood started to integrate many of his neighbors organized to harass any black folks who tried to move in. My uncle decided to make an effort to offset that and when the first black family started to move in he quickly and in a very noticeable way went over and helped them move in and get settled, he continued to do it until the harassers went away. It made him a bit of a pariah in much the local white community, I am surprised he was not physically assaulted and managed to keep his job. I did not fully understand the bravery that took, it would have been much easier to just be quiet. Now a days it is much easier to be liberal and pro-civil rights. I would like to think I could have done what he did, but I am not sure. Rising to the occasion is hard when faced with the personal consequences. He lived 96 years and until about 3 days ago was in good health, he did squats every morning. In his later years he had many friends, most younger, a lot of them his former students. He also had a lot of black friends, mostly people who knew what he had done. Even today black/white social relationships are rare in that area.

A good man and a good life. Sad to see it end, but easy to celibate his life.
Going over 1500 cals with blueberries sounds like maintenance done well.
Thanks Cate, and I guess i know that, still it felt odd, today was fine.
His wife not being able to visit him is really hard.
It was, but at least his kids got in. When I spoke with her today she seemed as good as could be. She was very happy that his kids could be with him at the end.
Good thing you did go see them.
Yes it was, here is a picture taken in February, they took me out for crawfish that night.
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I agree with the others--some extra blueberries sounds perfect!
I know it did not hurt a bit. I suspect I will soon be increasing my calories a bit anyway. But not until I see more weight loss, holding pretty steady right now.
It's amazing you put in 1.5 to 2 hours a day working out. It's the same with sticking with your diet. How do you have that kind of self-discipline?
I know it must look that way, but I don't feel like I have any more "self-discipline" than anyone else. I just do it one day at a time. I do worry about being able to keep it up, but I will keep trying, as always one day at a time. Now I find it almost embarrassing that I did not do this earlier in life...
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Your uncle does indeed sound like a good man :)
Glad he had his kids with them when he died.
 
My uncle did die during the night. His three kids were with him, so it was not as bad as I feared. My aunt, who is 94 did not get to see him, but she had just a few days before. He is my last surviving blood aunt or uncle, his wife is my last surviving aunt by marriage. A generation passing.

You have my condolences for your Uncle, no matter the age it is always hard, and even harder if you cannot say goodbye.
 
I ate well today, exercised and feel pretty good tonight. Had a bit of a surprise, I went to donate blood today and was turned down because of low hemoglobin. A first for me. I did some looking and I may have not been getting a lot of iron in my diet so I have changed things a bit and am following iron now. I also made a doctor's appointment to see if its anything to worry about. Apparently low hemoglobin is a sign of anemia, and I don't think I am feeling anemic, but who knows, we all get tired... I did do 2 hours and 25 minutes in the gym before I found out about the hemoglobin. Plan to go to the gym again tomorrow.
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Good thing to find out about the hemoglobin! Do you watch general nutrient/vitamin intake in general? Cronometer tracks all that and i find it interesting to see what I tend to be low in. I have had my iron tested a few times but it's always been good--good idea to talk to your doctor about it.
 
My iron levels always used to be low - until I switched to eating mostly vegan for a while. Suddenly I had plenty of iron even though I was technically eating less of it! My gut was doing much better though so it was probably an absorption issue. In your case the simple fact that you ate so little for so long is probably to blame. It's hard to get every single thing you need at 1200 kcal/day, especially when you're working out as well.
 
I ate well, lots of iron, and exercised 2 hours in the gym. However I am pretty tired tonight. Maybe this thinking about low hemoglobin and anemia has me feeling that way... I ate a lot of red meat today, according to the MFP app enough. I have also found an iron suplement so I should be getting plenty of iron now. Will see what the doctor says on Thursday. Thinking about it to be honest I think my energy levels are lower than they were a few months ago. I was blaming it on the increased exercise, but now I am not sure.
Good thing to find out about the hemoglobin! Do you watch general nutrient/vitamin intake in general? Cronometer tracks all that and i find it interesting to see what I tend to be low in. I have had my iron tested a few times but it's always been good--good idea to talk to your doctor about it.
No, until yesterday I did not pay any attention to the vitamins, just protein and fat. I looked back and my diet has been low on iron, and the multivitamin I take does not have iron in it. We will see what the doctor says.
In your case the simple fact that you ate so little for so long is probably to blame. It's hard to get every single thing you need at 1200 kcal/day, especially when you're working out as well.
I think maybe you are right, it has been a long time now. I did read that women tend to have more problems with low iron and hemoglobin than men, guess I am the exception.
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It will be interesting to go over it with the doctor and see what he/she says. Hopefully not a big deal, but yes good to be on top of it.
I take vitamins sometimes but like to know if I'm getting enough good food variety in to cover various nutrients.

Anyways hope the doctor has some insights for you.
 
Condolences from me too Rob about your uncle . He led a long happy life . Good you are working on your iron levels . My husband has too much iron weirdly . I think some veggies are high in iron . Dark leafy greens , raspberries, mushrooms . I say you need to mix your diet up a bit maybe . Don’t think you will need to start eating lots of beef. Glad you are going to the doctor to get it checked
 
Beetroot is a classic too, although I don't actually know how much it has. I'm sure your levels will catch up quickly.
 
Sorry to hear about your uncle Rob, but what a fantastic legacy he left. Such a great example to the local community. It's not easy to take an unpopular stance, he was amazing really.

Disappointing for you about giving blood. I think my iron levels were over 14 when I gave blood the last few times, they were 13.6 this time, which I feel is low for me, and I actually suffered a lot more physical tiredness this time. I'm going to give myself an extra month before I donate the next time. I'm just telling you that to show you how quickly they can deplete.

I will say that you have been eating so little for so long that there had to be some sort of fallout from it. I think average calories for a man are around 2,000 per day. I know you don't want to gain weight again, but I honestly think if you ate 2,000 or in or around per day, but with really healthy meals - lots of fish, eggs, veggies, etc., you'd feel your energy levels go back up and I think your haemoglobin would shoot right up in no time.

I feel since you have been so dedicated in not eating junk food for so long, you can easily adapt your diet again. This can be your next challenge, by the way! You were looking for one. ;) And it's easily measurable.
 
Just noticed this got typed, but not posted last night:

I ate well, but no real exercise today, a rest day. Back to the gym tomorrow.
Anyways hope the doctor has some insights for you.
Will post his words here, I am guessing its nothing more than the result of so long dieting but we'll see. I have been getting more iron since.
Condolences from me too Rob about your uncle . He led a long happy life . Good you are working on your iron levels . My husband has too much iron weirdly . I think some veggies are high in iron . Dark leafy greens , raspberries, mushrooms . I say you need to mix your diet up a bit maybe . Don’t think you will need to start eating lots of beef. Glad you are going to the doctor to get it checked
I have been eating more red meat, but only one meal today. You are right some veggies are good sources of iron, I am doing some of them, okra and tomatoes today. Most of my iron is coming from things like the protein shake and cereal I am eating. I will try to find more. Thanks for your condolences.
Beetroot is a classic too
I like beets, will try and get some.
 

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It was a good day, I ate well, exercised and feel good tonight. Did 2 hours at the gym and came very close to my elusive protein and fat goals, and me the new iron goal. I feel good about it.

Went to the doctor today for the hemoglobin thing, no news on that until we get the blood tests back. However he did ask me about my weight loss and said pretty emphatically that I did not need to lose any more weight. Another confirmation that I belong in maintenance. I had kind of hoped to lose at least 1 more pound to put me at 160, which would be exactly half the weight I began at. It was also the somewhat arbitrary goal weight I choose on day 1. Seems a shame to get within a pound, but not quite there. And maybe 2 more pounds to get into the 150s and be at a "normal BMI". But I know those are just numbers and kind of silly "goals". 161 is really not different from 159. I am happy where I am, and who knows I may still lose another pound or two, according to MFP and others here I am still in a calorie deficit. But I have not lost any weight in the past 2 weeks, so I am not sure. My trainer at the gym wants me to start eating more so I can gain muscle weight, and gain some of the lost weight back in the process. I don't think I am ready to do that yet, if ever. Mostly I want to find a successful maintenance strategy, one that will keep me from regaining the weight. Been to that rodeo, don't want to go back there. I really do appreciate the support given me here, I know I could not have done it without y'all.

Peach season has arrived, and it is challenging my new diet goals. We don't have anywhere near the peaches we did last year, but we do have some. A late freeze took most of the blossoms, my guess is this year's crop will be less than 5% of last years. I did have a huge peach today, 9.5 ounces (270 grams). Ate it 5 minutes after picking. It was over ripe juice ran down my shirt, the best! Nothing better than an over ripe peach right off the tree.

Due to my belated post from yesterday I see I only have Emily to catch up with.
Sorry to hear about your uncle Rob, but what a fantastic legacy he left. Such a great example to the local community. It's not easy to take an unpopular stance, he was amazing really.
Thanks Emily, he was a very understated great man. Most people just knew him as a slightly eccentric school teacher, but some remembered what he did. Still today not something appreciated by most of the white folk in his town.
Disappointing for you about giving blood. I think my iron levels were over 14 when I gave blood the last few times, they were 13.6 this time, which I feel is low for me, and I actually suffered a lot more physical tiredness this time. I'm going to give myself an extra month before I donate the next time. I'm just telling you that to show you how quickly they can deplete.
They tested me twice, I was 12.5 and 12.7, the cut off for men donating blood is 13. Its 12 for women, so I was close. I have never paid any attention to the numbers before, so all I know is that its always been above 13.
I think average calories for a man are around 2,000 per day.
Maybe, but right now I am maintaining, or have been for 2 or 3 weeks at 1,500. I will go up if the loss restarts. I know it might.
I feel since you have been so dedicated in not eating junk food for so long, you can easily adapt your diet again. This can be your next challenge, by the way! You were looking for one. ;) And it's easily measurable.
Thanks and that makes sense, I guess it is the new challenge! I only disagree with the "easily adapt your diet again" changes have not been easy for me.
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Hi Rob,
That peach sounds delicious :)
Did your doctor order overall blood work or just a test for the hemoglobin? I like to get an overall check once in a while and it might be good after being so low cal for so long.
Good to get confirmation all round that you definitely don't need to lose any more--good to focus on overall health instead--healthy, varied diet, good exercise and having fun :)
 
I think it's clever to stop trying to lose weight now Rob . I have a feeling you will indeed see a dip to maybe 150s at some point soon but as you tell me sometimes they are just numbers. But I think it can become an obsession or an addiction.
Your in a good place now and are living in maintenance. I think zen makes some good points now about varying the diet with healthy additions and a peach sounds good to me.
 
A properly ripe peach is heaven! Haven't had one in 20 years and now I'm allergic. Talking about maintenance: might it be a good idea to up your daily allowance by 50 kcal every week unless you gain weight? Or get a bodyfat scale and disregard the total number completely, just focusing on the fat percentage and upping your calories every time unless that number goes up? Those things may have horrible accuracy overall but they're good at measuring changes within an individual.
 
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