I've had some trouble with my feet over the winter. Possibly diabetes related, don't know, haven't gone to a doctor. So what does a surveyor do if you can't hike and walk so well. I decided it was really time to change my diet. So I swore off soda pop basically trying to avoid sugar. I even drink coffee black now. I've ate a lot of beans and much more greens than ever before. I haven't really staved and still eat some meat and even go to a fast food joint about once a week or so (no soft drink with the meal). Basically the most drastic change was eliminating sugar loaded drinks (I've had three in three months). So far I've lost 25 pounds without really trying that hard. I need to lose about 30 more and that will probably take a lot more effort. If you really look at it we are immersed in a gigantic sea of sugar or high fructose corn sirup. It's about killed me and it's in just about everything you eat. The drug companies are just salivating over all the money they will make over our dead, sugar puffed bodies.
Anyway, if I want to keep working I must do something to change this so I've begun. Sort of sad I had to face such dire circumstances to make some changes. If you haven't hit the wall yet better think about it because you probably will.
Welcome to the "old surveyor's home". I think we all have to face our demons as we age. That is what getting old is all about.
Although I never got into the soda pop thing, I have your basic "type II" sugar problems also. A few years ago ol' sawbones wanted to put me on Metformin to regulate my blood sugar. Being the rebel I am, I told him I wanted to do it my way. If I watch what I eat and get regular activity I can keep my fasting blood sugar down under 125 and for sure under 150. I try like hell to keep it at 100, but that's not always possible. It is definitely better than some over 200 (or 400!) readings I've had in the past. One piece of pecan pie and it takes me three days to get the glucose level back down. Getting old sucks because I like pecan pie.
Sugar is in everything...EVERYTHING. And if some foods don't have enough in it naturally, the food companies add a bunch, just to make it tasty. You're right, they are killing us. My battle cry is "if it's white, don't bite". Meaning I stay away from foods that are high in starches like bread and potatoes. I definitely have to eat differently now that my mileage is starting to show.
To take care of my feet I changed the socks and boots I wear. Sometimes I get neuropathy (tingling and pain), but I usually just walk it off. And thankfully I can still walk. I do a couple of miles on the treadmill every morning and get out in the field as much as I can. Activity helps burn the glucose out of the blood. I guess being surveyors and walking all our lives is one good thing about it.
Take care. We will all make it until we don't....
I'm working on upping my physical activity and working on the diet... nearly paleo , but not perfect.... I tease Mrs. File and say "If a caveman would have found this, he'd have eaten it." and " Oh, I remember, if it tastes good, spit it out." She take it in pretty good stride- She's still the same 120# gal I married 34 years ago - me not so much... anyway, I've dropped 15 pounds since May 1. Slow and steady gets the job done.
Another thing I've started doing is buying better quality socks- That's pretty amazing the difference they make at the end of the day.
LRDay, post: 330080, member: 571 wrote: If you really look at it we are immersed in a gigantic sea of sugar or high fructose corn sirup. It's about killed me and it's in just about everything you eat.
We were only discussing this last night. My daughter wanted to make a pecan pie (yum) and wanted a recipe free of corn syrup.
When we visited Hawaii we struggled with food and its sweetness.
It took the shine off eating to be honest.
My poor daughter who lived there had trouble finding just basic ingredients to actually cook with.
When we came home we bought some bread that was a new line.
First bite and I knew all was not well.
Wife and I looked at each other and both exclaimed its like the stuff they make in Hawaii.
It was so sweet.
Blow me if it wasn't "Made in USA". What an insult.
It didn't last long and suspect Aussie consumers voted with their wallets.
Hope your wait reduction continues.
When I was 18 I moved up to 16 stone. Had a clicking hip and doctor said if I didn't lose wait I'd be in trouble later in life.
I lost 6 stone in process but it was worth it.
Richard,
all it takes is one little stone in your shoe to make you limp.o.O
I sit in the same pew as the other old timers reflecting above. A diagnosis of Type II diabetes (runs in the family) confirmed upon me what I knew would happen eventually. The diet is better. The weight is down about 60 pounds (that's more than a couple of stone). Spending more time in the field doing silly stuff like trying to set two-foot bars into 10 inches of dirt as the thermometer reads 90-something. Actually pretty tough considering the mileage on this chassis.
Little things help a lot. Stop doing without. Most of us grew up in households where the theme was to do without so that someday we would have something. Skip the cheap shoes and socks, for example. Get the best protection you can buy. Do not over do, except in limited moderation. That's what other people who want to get chunks of your money are for. There's not much benefit to having a solid gold casket.
LRDay, post: 330080, member: 571 wrote: .... I decided it was really time to change my diet. ..... Basically the most drastic change was eliminating sugar loaded drinks .....
Anyway, if I want to keep working I must do something to change this so I've begun. Sort of sad I had to face such dire circumstances to make some changes. If you haven't hit the wall yet better think about it because you probably will.
Congrats! I too hit the wall a while back, some radical lifestyle changes were in order. The best part: I was rather easy!
I want to be as old as I look! It will take some time but I will get there
I, in old age, now with the wisdom of the passing of time, often wonder IF I'd known about this or that whether it would have affected my approach to life?
Yes, I heeded the doctors advice, but I had a problem.
If someone had just casually remarked or in a rammed home approach, informed me if consequences of continuous carrying heavy loads, pounding pegs, jumping off high places and jarring the body on impact whether I'd have taken any notice.
Probably not.
With regards to illnesses etc carried through families, that is an unpleasant side of life.
I can relate to that too and it doesn't make it any easier.
Probably growing old gracefully with whatever life tosses my way, rather than becoming a crabby old git. Is my desire for life.
gschrock, post: 330107, member: 556 wrote: I was trying to climb out of a construction trench last night and sore knees had me try to step on a trench brace and knocked that down and I slipped. The construction crew (buncha kids) was amused. They went and got me a ladder. Yep welcome to the junior-senior club replete with creaks-squeaks-and-leaks....
Ouch, pride.
