SITREP - Sep 26 2009

Quick update on what's happened in the last few days.

1. Today is my first cheat day back since my 10-day Eurotrip. Weight went from 215 down to 204.6. I've already started off the day with a couple bagels (one is a pizza bagel, the other is onion, egg & cheese).
2. The GoWear Fit is working now -- I think the firmware update fixed whatever issue it was having, so now it's recording happily. I've uploaded my morning stats and don't intend to take this thing off again until tomorrow sometime.
3. I saw my orthopedic surgeon yesterday and he confirmed on x-ray that my big right toe is, in fact, broken. Unfortunately there's nothing I can do about this except wait it out and avoid putting heavy loads on it. Thankfully my upcoming surgery mandates I do nothing strenuous for at least two weeks afterward, but more realistically 3-4 weeks. Fortunately I can stay on diet easily.
4. I am pretty sure in the short term I can still dead lift and do some forms of dumbbell presses. Hopefully I can still sit up. I think I should spend some time figuring out what I can and cannot do at the gym tomorrow. Party time!

Onward we go...

GoWear Fit: Four Days In

I'm a few days into wearing my GoWear Fit life tracker, and here are some points:

1. For those with Snow Leopard, I found out quickly you're out of luck -- at first, it seems you can't upload data to the web site. This is in fact false; you can do it, but you need to set Safari to run in 32-bit mode (vice its default 64-bit mode). Just go to Finder / Applications, right-click Safari / Get Info, and check the box that says 32-bit mode. Close Safari and relaunch; you should be good to go.
2. Although I've been wearing the GoWear Fit for approximately 23.5 hours over each 24 hour window, the online measurement for percent time I've worn the device is 0. Additionally, I've taken 0 steps in the last few days. My exercise time is showing 0, which is fine, but it seems I've also been awake 100% of that time as my hours sleep time is showing 0. Perhaps this is something wrong with Mac, or I am wearing the device incorrectly? I've tweaked its position, so let's see how things go.
3. The one measurement that seems to have any number is calories burned, which is fluctuating between the large window of 2303 and 2304 calories per day. I have a feeling this number is based solely on my age, gender, height, and body weight. The good news is that I'm operating at a solid calorie deficit now, if these numbers are right. I consume approximately 1,800 calories/day now (except on the 7th day, where I consume probably in the ballpark of 3,000-4,000), while burning 2,300 calories at rest. A solid 500 calorie per day deficit should result in a weight loss of approximately 1 pound per week. The good news is that initially this will be even higher, i.e. 8-10 pounds, until I reach a weight of around 190-195 where it levels off. I will weigh myself tomorrow morning first thing, to establish a base point for my weight loss over the previous 9 days since my return from Europe.
4. The device feels very comfortable -- I usually forget I'm wearing it during the day.

I've sent another message to BodyMedia support and they usually get back within 24 hours, so we'll play it by ear.

Life Hacking: GoWear Fit

I wanted to update everyone on my latest toy: the GoWear Fit. I'm all about numbers, analysis, and tweaking of my body (hence all my research into nutrition). While my 6/7 nutrition plan, which may once take a big part in the MS Health Program, is working well in the sense that it lets me easily understand my calorie intake, I've long been missing the flip side of the equation: my calories burned. What's my standing, basal metabolic rate? How many calories do I burn in a day when I don't exercise? When I do? When I do "slow cardio" or when I do high intensity interval training?

I've never known the answers to this question, but recently I purchased a GoWear Fit, which straps onto my arm and measures how many steps I take, how well I sleep, and most importantly, how many calories I burn during a day. Then every week or so, I will download everything to my computer, which then uploads to the web site, and I can visually see my progress.

This is completely amazing! I'm all about it. I think this will be great for my own education, but I also think it's a part of an ongoing trend in computing to provide biocentric feedback. Apple has been pushing its Nike+ solution for athletes to track their foot steps and calorie burn, their most recent iPod nano has a built-in pedometer, and the GoWear Fit measures not only calories but also sleep quality. What will we see in the future? Maybe we will be able to measure cortisol levels and warn people when they are heavily stressed. Maybe better non-intrusive sensors will be able to detect cholesterol levels or dangerous substances. Who knows! The possibilities are endless and I think it's going to lead to an amazing, health-conscious future.

I've only had the GoWear Fit for a day so I'll need to hook it up to myself for a few days before I post back anything. I intend to post something next week so I can show how many calories I burn each day (I'm injured right now so I can't even run, so no exercise for now, and when I'm better I'll see how my levels spike).

Onward, life hackers!

Battle Plan: Third Sinusian War

I've seen several ENTs in the last few weeks about my sinuses. This morning, I met with the doctor who will hopefully become my savior. She seemed most knowledgeable and competent of all the other doctors I met, and we've agreed upon a solid battle plan to proceed.

First, she was amazed I had any form of smile on my face. Looking inside my nose with her endoscope, and gazing over my CT scan, she postulated that I've been in complete misery for years (she would be correct). I felt so good knowing that someone finally understood my pain! For years I thought it was potentially all psychological, but now I know that it's real and, more importantly, it can be fought.

Here's the plan forward:

1. She took a culture sample, we shall see how it returns. It was completely green so it would be surprising if it returned negative.
2. I'm starting to take anti-inflammatory medication today so I can reduce the swelling.
3. On October 15, I will have surgery to, hopefully once and for all, destroy the invaders that have taken up residence in my sinuses for so many years now (the better part of a decade).
4. If we are successful, I am going to throw the biggest party this side of the Mississippi and start enjoying life again.

I am going to get my CT scan pictures and throw them up here, and I am also going to record myself reading a passage so I can see how my voice changes before/after (she thinks I have a slightly nasal voice because of my sinus blockages).

Onward! The clock is running: 21 days until the final battle is fought.

Third Sinusian War

As feared, the second round of antibiotics have failed. Now we are considering full-fledged surgical strike in the form of Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS). It looks pretty safe and if it helps clear up my headaches, well, the risks are better than life with with constant headache. I'm overseas for the next few weeks but I hope to line up a surgery by the end of September. Here's hoping!

Oh, in other news, I must have dropped a weight on my toe or something horrible -- it has turned purple and I can barely walk. No running for the next week or two. It seems every time I get into a solid workout program, I get injured -- independent of the workout itself! This was due to some drunken incident that I can't recall, and my rotator cuff was injured while water skiing. I guess the good news is that I'm doing the actual exercises right.