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NEVERENDING ♾️ The Neverending Health Thread

How well can you balance?


Because the gym at our amenity center is very limited, I had to adapt my squats to accommodate a 60 lb max dumbbells to this:

and then I also do these, starting without weights and adding in light dumbbells for the final sets.

It not only helps with strength but it also helps with balance.
 
Some TV show lady said standing on one leg while brushing teeth is a good core exercise - I'll take good as relative. I pet my cat with my foot while I brush my teeth. Does that count?
 
Ever since I had COVID this January, my wife has commented on how much louder my breathing sounds. However over the past two months, I have been dealing with sinus infections. Last weekend was especially difficult. Dr. Appt this morning and they put me on an antibiotic and if that does not work, I go back to the ENT. I have already had two sinus surgeries, so I am not looking forward to this.
Same. I was not officially diagnosed but had all the symptoms January 2020 before much was known but was told while on vacation in Hawaii that I had the strange virus/symptoms that was showing up in abnormal amounts. Convinced I had C19. Also had polyps removed from my sinuses several years ago which has helped my breathing.

Current health issues:
1. Sleep apnea - bipap machine takes care of this
2. Nasal polyps removed - not returned for now but will likely come back
3. Bilateral occipital neuralgia - no cure and not debilitating at this time (caused by the next item)
4. Treated twice (5 blood patches total) for leaking cerebral spinal fluid - limits activity and with no heavy lifting, skydiving, roller coasters, or use of a jack hammer. This came not long after my bout with C19 and the two weeks of coughing. Doctor think all the coughing caused the leaking of my CSF. Very painful headaches as my brain was not floating on CSF.
5. Two lumbar discs starting to slip
6. Arthritis staring to form in right shoulder and right knee.

Getting old sucks.
 
Same. I was not officially diagnosed but had all the symptoms January 2020 before much was known but was told while on vacation in Hawaii that I had the strange virus/symptoms that was showing up in abnormal amounts. Convinced I had C19. Also had polyps removed from my sinuses several years ago which has helped my breathing.

Current health issues:
1. Sleep apnea - bipap machine takes care of this
2. Nasal polyps removed - not returned for now but will likely come back
3. Bilateral occipital neuralgia - no cure and not debilitating at this time (caused by the next item)
4. Treated twice (5 blood patches total) for leaking cerebral spinal fluid - limits activity and with no heavy lifting, skydiving, roller coasters, or use of a jack hammer. This came not long after my bout with C19 and the two weeks of coughing. Doctor think all the coughing caused the leaking of my CSF. Very painful headaches as my brain was not floating on CSF.
5. Two lumbar discs starting to slip
6. Arthritis staring to form in right shoulder and right knee.

Getting old sucks.

Shortly after my post about going to the Doc, I started digging and found this:


So I decided to give to give it a shot and reduce beer consumption to extremely limited occasions. When possible, I will replace beer with a mixed drink. It has only been a week and I was on an antibiotic during that time, but I notice that the pressure is not nearly as intense as it was before.


I think one of the biggest challenges right now is we have a distorted reality when it comes to health care. Don't get me wrong, there is phenominal good in what our doctors and nurses do. Drug companies are making amazing discoveries and technology is just advancing that even more. But we have been raised to believe that our healthcare system is a one-size-fits-all type of approach, and that it is absolute. Unfortunately, neither is even close to the truth. Most Doctors are trained to mostly treat symptoms by prescribing drugs. More so, they don't have the time available to really get into the details necessary to fully treat patients by finding the cause of the issue.

I am a big fan of personalized healthcare, but that option isn't really available to me because of cost, so I spend way too much time reading medical journals, asking my wife detailed questions about chemical effects on the body (She has a degree in biopsychology in addition to her nursing degree), and seeking out a very wide range of information from those who have really shown success. I also have my doctor do the regular labs for my physical that my insurance pays for, and a separate order for labs that I pay out of pocket because that information is important to help me find direction. The more I know about my body and how it reacts to different stimuli, the better empowered I am to make good choices. I do think that this will change now that technology is making medical records and lab tests more available to doctors and patients.

 
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You're allergic to hops.
Could be.

I 'discovered' the same about myself in my early 20s by running use trails on myself and 'listening' to my body. But I have never been officially diagnosed.

Oh well...I guess I just have to drink hard liquor. o_O
 
With it being really hot out recently, I have been watching my hydration levels and using things such as Nuun tablets. However I started digging more into the science behind it as I noticed a performance decline with my long-format workouts since it has been hotter out. I discovered I might not be getting enough salt, which not only reduces water, but it also causes a reduction on total blood volume.

I picked up the book WIN: Achieve Peak Athletic Performance... by Dr. James DiNicolantonio and it included quite a bit of the science behind how important Salt is for our system and that many Doctors get it wrong when the prescribe low sodium diets.

Additionally, there was a paper published back in March that really provides further clarification for endurance performance and the relationship with salt. I have noticed a couple of times I would get leg or foot cramps when I was running Tough Mudder obstacle course races, and am wondering if I am salt deficient. I have one in October than I am going to run and I am going to see about preloading.

What are your experiences with salt and athletic performance? Have your doctors told you to cut the salt out of your diet? What are your thoughts on these new studies that show that we might actually need more salt if we have particular athletic goals?
 
If I drink a gatorade before I ride my bike I find that I have better stamina. When I get back I usually drink two. During the ride I just use water.
 
Some TV show lady said standing on one leg while brushing teeth is a good core exercise - I'll take good as relative. I pet my cat with my foot while I brush my teeth. Does that count?
I recently heard that a person that can put their shoes on while standing -- by lifting one foot at a time and adding socks, shoes, and tying -- can be considered in decent shape. I honestly haven't tried it yet but it may take a little practice.
 
With it being really hot out recently, I have been watching my hydration levels and using things such as Nuun tablets. However I started digging more into the science behind it as I noticed a performance decline with my long-format workouts since it has been hotter out. I discovered I might not be getting enough salt, which not only reduces water, but it also causes a reduction on total blood volume.

I picked up the book WIN: Achieve Peak Athletic Performance... by Dr. James DiNicolantonio and it included quite a bit of the science behind how important Salt is for our system and that many Doctors get it wrong when the prescribe low sodium diets.

Additionally, there was a paper published back in March that really provides further clarification for endurance performance and the relationship with salt. I have noticed a couple of times I would get leg or foot cramps when I was running Tough Mudder obstacle course races, and am wondering if I am salt deficient. I have one in October than I am going to run and I am going to see about preloading.

What are your experiences with salt and athletic performance? Have your doctors told you to cut the salt out of your diet? What are your thoughts on these new studies that show that we might actually need more salt if we have particular athletic goals?
Most people ingest more sodium than they need to on a regular basis. It's literally in everything. Generally the culprit of muscle cramps is dehydration and too little potassium, magnesium, or calcium.
 
As some of you know I am interested on biohacking and maximizing health and fitness. (note I said interested as I still have an extremely long way to go).


An element of that is longevity. Not just being able to be really old when I die, but being able to have a good active life through out that time. Over the past few months there has been more and more research to suggest that life and the quality of life can be extended. Some are even saying that within the next couple of decades it might even be able to be extended indefinitely.

One of the leading scientists on this is Harvard Scientist Dr. David Sinclair. A few months ago, CNN did a story on his work:

What are your thoughts on this idea of extending or even potentially reversing ageing? I admit that I have been into this stuff or a while and have been following some of the protocols from Dr. Sinclair for a year or so, and my Dr. noted that all by lab work and tests were better than they had ever been. Some people such as Sergey Young, Author of "The Science and Technology of Growing Young" are confident enough even to suggest that immortality will become a real possibility for the younger generations today.

But I am curious what your thoughts are if Sinclair is correct and the ability to extend life to 130, 150, or even 200 becomes reality? What would the future be like if we know that we might be around to see it. Do you think we would find a way to take better care of our planet or would it result in conflict that would result in our extinction?
 
Evidently I'm considered thin now. That is something I never thought would happen. It's also odd how your own body self image affects how you view yourself.
 
Would you say that the state of health in the US is getting better or getting worse? While I think that we are able to successfully treat more health problems today than at any point in history, I wonder if more people are getting sick than ever before.

There are articles like this saying that people are healthier. It states that cancer treatments are more effective today, but does not talk about how many people are getting cancer in the first place.
https://www.axios.com/2024/10/09/us-health-obesity-life-expectancy

Then articles like this show that the US is behind compared to other countries.

But that is nothing new. This similar report by the NIH said something similar in 2011.

How is it that we are so freaking advanced and wealthy in so many ways, yet we are not even close to being the healthiest?

What do you think can and should be done to improve the outlook for Americans? We have talked a bit in the past about our role in it. Do you think things like more vegetation, access to quality housing and food, creating interactive walkable communities, and expanding opportunities for recreation are enough?
 
Affordable access to healthcare would do wonders for lots of people. If you aren't worried about how you're going to pay the medical bills then going to the Dr. Isn't an issue.

Today I went to the German walk-in for neck/shoulder pain. We have private US insurance (don't pay German taxes so don't get German medical insurance) and it cost me 24€ for the appointment and 30€ for the meds. This was not co-pays. You can get out of a veterinarian's office for under $30 in the US.
 
Affordable access to healthcare would do wonders for lots of people. If you aren't worried about how you're going to pay the medical bills then going to the Dr. Isn't an issue.

Today I went to the German walk-in for neck/shoulder pain. We have private US insurance (don't pay German taxes so don't get German medical insurance) and it cost me 24€ for the appointment and 30€ for the meds. This was not co-pays. You can get out of a veterinarian's office for under $30 in the US.
 
We simply eat too much processed food. It's not natural and I'm convinced it's changing our DNA.
 
Building on my post from few years ago, I should have added tinnitus as this is a symptom of some with CSF leaks. Not terrible but annoying if no background sounds. Music is always on while in the car or sitting at the computer. Also, after my blood patches in 2020 and 2021, I was in a car accident early summer 2021. Concussion and no memory of the accident, ambulance ride, imagery, stitches, etc. A block of time from 30 minutes prior to several hours after is wiped from my memory. Since that time, I've noticed memory issues. Both the CSF leaks and concussion are TBI. Forgetting very simple things such as names which I've known for years. Typing, such as now, I will go back and re-read and see a word that played out in my head but did not get typed...just found three instances.
 
Affordable access to healthcare would do wonders for lots of people. If you aren't worried about how you're going to pay the medical bills then going to the Dr. Isn't an issue.
You are 100% on point. I think it is ridiculous that we need to be diagnosed and sick even for some insurances to cover things. I have said it before and I will say it again, Preventative Health Care should be 'free' to the citizens! If there is a way to get ahead of many of these issues, we all would be better off.

We simply eat too much processed food. It's not natural and I'm convinced it's changing our DNA.
I agree what we east too much processed food. I had not heard of the changing our DNA, but that would not surprise me. I have heard of it changing our hormone profiles and causing all sorts of issues. Not just for folks who eat meat either.
 
Yep - I had a very routine procedure this summer. Total bill was around $30k, once insurance got done with it, I was left with out-of-pocket $4000 to cover it - & I have good health insurance from the city.
 
We have great healthcare if you can pay for it, but need better free preventative health care. Two of the cities I've worked for opened free clinics to encourage doctors appointments with free generic for non-controlled meds. Both saw better management of chronic issues, better work attendance, and cheaper costs. Plus I get to talk to a doctor for up to 30 minutes about whatever I need to, instead of a PA coming in for 5 minutes writing a prescription and sending me off.

We (myself especially) eat high calorie, high fat, high sodium, ultra processed food. It keeps you moving, but it's part of the reason for obesity epidemic.

(Putting on planner hat) - Suburban/rural lifestyle and over-reliance on cars leads us to be sedentary and fatter on the whole. Throw in the US work culture and add a bit of greater violent crime and you get why we typically have lower life expectancy as a nation.

BTW - I wish I could get out of the vets office for 30 dollars. My pets are costing me more in medication than my family right now. Three senior dogs all on some type of meds.
 
BTW - I wish I could get out of the vets office for 30 dollars. My pets are costing me more in medication than my family right now. Three senior dogs all on some type of meds.
I feel ya. We're all relatively healthy (knocks on wood). Outside of braces for the girls when they were younger we've probably spent more on vet visits and surgeries for my two dogs. One of mine had TPLO surgeries in both knees three years apart and that probably put me back $7,500. Thankfully we can afford it and not have to worry about going in debt.
 
Affordable access to healthcare would do wonders for lots of people. If you aren't worried about how you're going to pay the medical bills then going to the Dr. Isn't an issue.

Today I went to the German walk-in for neck/shoulder pain. We have private US insurance (don't pay German taxes so don't get German medical insurance) and it cost me 24€ for the appointment and 30€ for the meds. This was not co-pays. You can get out of a veterinarian's office for under $30 in the US.

On our 2017 ten day walking tour in Ireland our 25 yr old daughter fell ill. Our tour guide booked daughter a visit with the guide's personal GP, drop of the hat. No strep, but just a virus. Office visit plus meds cost $45 E.
 
On our 2017 ten day walking tour in Ireland our 25 yr old daughter fell ill. Our tour guide booked daughter a visit with the guide's personal GP, drop of the hat. No strep, but just a virus. Office visit plus meds cost $45 E.
From what I've heard, the European model is cheaper but takes longer to see a doctor. I know I'm broad brushing it. Each country is probably different is a subtle way.
 
From what I've heard, the European model is cheaper but takes longer to see a doctor. I know I'm broad brushing it. Each country is probably different is a subtle way.
Most people I know are waiting months for specialist appointments in the US. I have to book the dentist months in advance. If you’re sick you just go to urgent care because the primary care doctor is booked out.
 
I had a routine colonoscopy done end of January. Easy peasy, couple of tiny polyps removed, but otherwise fine.

Anesthesia and the facilities bills were processed and paid out already. Got a bill from the doctor today, for some reasons they didn’t bill the insurance. Had to call the billing office and they were like do you still have insurance, verified it on their end, they couldn’t figure out why it wasn’t billed since they had the info. Told to wait for it to be reprocessed and check back.

I have excellent (and expensive) coverage so it will be $0.
 
Most people I know are waiting months for specialist appointments in the US. I have to book the dentist months in advance. If you’re sick you just go to urgent care because the primary care doctor is booked out.
So there is no advantage in our system as opposed the European model, except that certain people can make money off of it.
 
Most people I know are waiting months for specialist appointments in the US. I have to book the dentist months in advance. If you’re sick you just go to urgent care because the primary care doctor is booked out.
I probably need to get in to a dermatologist this year. I don't like my current one, I basically got transferred to them after my previous one retired a couple of years ago. If i want a 10 minute appointment with him it will be in May. Most of the other here locally aren't accepting new patients. The one that I've found that does accept patients has an appointment in September.
 
II think I mentioned it before, but I firmly believe everyone needs to read this book:


Its not about living a longer live in terms of years, but living fully in the years that we have. He is an MD, and goes deep into the issues with the medical industry and what needs to be done to change it. He also goes into detail about what we can do in our personal lives to prevent needing to rely so much on the medical industry.
 
I'm down in the back today. This happens once or twice a year and reminds me how lucky I am not to have ongoing back issues. I am very sympathetic to those that do, because this little bit is miserable. :(
 
Went to the dentist for scheduled cleaning & x-rays - x-rays showed a cavity under / at the edge of a crown, so the crown failing needing to be replaced - to have the work done would be the equivalent of my monthly pension. Talk about being a big $uck.
 
Went to the dentist for scheduled cleaning & x-rays - x-rays showed a cavity under / at the edge of a crown, so the crown failing needing to be replaced - to have the work done would be the equivalent of my monthly pension. Talk about being a big $uck.
Just had my first crown a month ago. Insurance paid some but I still have a hefty remainder.
 
II think I mentioned it before, but I firmly believe everyone needs to read this book:


Its not about living a longer live in terms of years, but living fully in the years that we have. He is an MD, and goes deep into the issues with the medical industry and what needs to be done to change it. He also goes into detail about what we can do in our personal lives to prevent needing to rely so much on the medical industry.
I have read some good stories about Attia, and I think the more people like him ( people that reach a certain level of notoriety) boost themselves and their ideas, the further back we should stand from the glow of their campfire ring. Just sayin'.
 
Confession - I don't think I've ever seen this thread.

I'm finally getting serious about my health after ballooning to my heaviest ever weight. One thing I've recognized is how difficult it is to find time to take care of myself as a parent. Not that it is my kid's fault--it is that I naturally would rather do something with her than go work out. Well, that has officially ended because the narrative I'm giving myself now is "I'm no good to her dead."

I'm down 12 pounds since January 1st. Pretty simple equation for me... no special diet. Just portion control, being a little more intentional about balanced meals, and getting really hardcore about chewing gum to help with some of my instincts to "eat my feelings."

The driver is that while I had a lot of knee injuries when I was younger (and thus just some latent pain), I picked up some new pain over the last six months that felt different and I could tell was likely strain prompted by weight. Just dropping these 12 pounds has made a difference. My target weight loss is 55 pounds, getting me down to 220. This is still technically heavy for 6'3", but that is the weight that I felt my best in terms of good shape but also happy/fun after destroying my knees. My low "adult" weight was 190 at my peak waterskiing/soccer.
 
It is super sad that being healthier has become so political.

There are several things that Kennedy has said that I don't agree with (Vaccines, HHS consolidation...). However, I do support his decision to focus on improving nutrition in the U.S. by tightening rules on food additives, criticizing ultra-processed foods, and calling for a revamp of the FDA's nutrition labeling office. But of course there are people who have come out against this idea because of Kennedy's current political affiliations.
 
In a nice update, I'm down about 30 pounds now since January. I'm feeling significantly better and expect that to continue.

---------

The problem with Robert Kennedy is that he has zero credibility. He is a conspiracy theorist nutter, and I don't blame people one bit for viewing every single action or idea from him with heavy skepticism. It doesn't matter how right someone might be if their credibility is in the toilet, and that's his own doing.
 
My fun update is that I'm now down 50 pounds since January, averaging 1-2 pounds a week (which I think is considered "sustainable weight loss"). The simple formula for me as been "stop eating when I'm full." I had a bad relationship with food--continuing to eat just because it tasted good, "eating my feelings" in terms of emotional eating, late night snacking when I should probably just go to bed, etc. No real change to what I eat--just focusing on quantity. I like food too much to deprive myself and it be sustainable.

I've certainly increased activity, but now I'm to the point where I think I'll enjoy purposeful exercise more like going to the gym now that my latent joint pain is pretty much gone.
 
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My fun update is that I'm now down 50 pounds since January, averaging 1-2 pounds a week (which I think is considered "sustainable weight loss"). The simple formula for me as been "stop eating when I'm full." I had a bad relationship with food--continuing to eat just because it tasted good, "eating my feelings" in terms of emotional eating, late night snacking when I should probably just go to bed, etc. No real change to what I eat--just focusing on quantity. I like food too much to deprive myself and it be sustainable.

I've certainly increased activity, but now I'm to the point where I think I'll enjoy purposeful exercise more like going to the gym now that my latent joint pain is pretty much gone.
A few years ago, I lost my taste for bread. I then noticed that I didn't feel so well after I ate bread, so I (mostly) stopped eating bread. That means I stopped eating as much butter, cheese, peanut butter and other fatty things people eat with bread. I also only eat when I'm hungry, and I eat what my body wants at the moment. For this reason, I, too, am down about 50 lb. It feels good, doesn't it?
 
My pancreas’ beta cells have finally given up the ghost. What was diagnosed many years ago as Type 2 diabetes has now been reclassified as Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA/Type 1.5). It doesn’t change the management of diabetes for me: Dexcom G7 continuous glucose monitor paired with a Tandem tslim:X2 insulin pump running a continuous infusion of Humalog. I have the best PCP and we quickly figured out 7 years ago my diabetes wasn’t responding to the usual T2 meds and lifestyle changes. We were both persistent though with a lot of research and some trial and error plus fighting with insurance. Been solidly below 6.5 AIC for years, no measurable complications at all. I am to keep it that way.

My insurance with the state is pretty much the same coverage as the feds but with cheaper premiums 🙌
 
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My fun update is that I'm now down 50 pounds since January, averaging 1-2 pounds a week (which I think is considered "sustainable weight loss"). The simple formula for me as been "stop eating when I'm full." I had a bad relationship with food--continuing to eat just because it tasted good, "eating my feelings" in terms of emotional eating, late night snacking when I should probably just go to bed, etc. No real change to what I eat--just focusing on quantity. I like food too much to deprive myself and it be sustainable.

I've certainly increased activity, but now I'm to the point where I think I'll enjoy purposeful exercise more like going to the gym now that my latent joint pain is pretty much gone.
That is awesome!

An easy and pro-planning element that might help even more is going for walks after meals. Even a 2 minute walk can help to regulate blood sugar.
 
I have a question for all of you. What percentage of the food do you eat is "real food". What I mean by that is food that is not ultra-processed. Ultra-processed food can range from a poptart to a protein bar.

Reason for the question is I am doing awesome with my health with one MASSIVE exception. My inflammation levels continue to be through the roof. Doctor number 4 is now suggesting that I cut out anything ulta-processed. That would eliminate protein shakes, protein bars, deli lunch meats, several types of cheese, pasta, bread, pizza, beer, and and several other things that I really enjoy. He also mentioned cutting out cereal and soda, but I don't consume those anyways.

He tells me that I could still eat eggs from free range chickens, grass fed & finished beef, free range chicken, some pork (depending on source), organic fruits & veggies, unprocessed nuts most are cooked in oil and similar foods. He also recommended I cut out any seed or vegetable oils and cook with olive oil or coconut oil.

What I would like to know is does anyone actually eat this way anymore. Sure it was normal 80 years ago because processed foods were not around. But with my schedule, I am trying to figure out how I am going to do this.
 
I would say a good amount of what I eat isn't processed. We don't keep a lot of frozen foods or ready to eat meals in the house. I am bad with soda and eat other junk, but it's more of just not having ready access to it for me.
 
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