New Blood

Rejecting fragility

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

- Hebrews 12:11

Reflecting

Self-discipline earns self-respect.  If I am soft, then I thrash around later out of a sense of incompleteness.  But if I wake up and go hard in the morning, then I’m able to literally and figuratively put my feet up in the evening with the knowledge that I gave all I had.  It’s worth it. 

Training

My last CrossFit workout of the day (WOD) was

• 20 Strict Press 135 lbs.

• 200m with two 53 lbs. kettle bells

• 30 Push Press 135 lbs.

• 200m Farmer’s Carry 53s

• 40 Push Jerks 135 lbs.

• 200m Farmer’s Carry 53s

This morning was five hill repeats on an average 14% incline and 27% max incline.  Next run:

Fueling

I’m running an experiment in May, trying to perfect my diet. Any treats or cheats get pushed off to June. Does the occasional backsliding really hurt? I will find out. My own dietary downfall isn’t meals, where I eat consistently with my priorities, but grazing mindlessly if I walk through the kitchen and some kid half finished something 1) delicious 2) that I paid for. It seems easier to just eat. But this month I’m throwing it out if it is off plan. Results TBD.

Supplementing

Went off of everything for long enough to be able to give blood. Back on supplements today.

Measuring

Recovering

Time for some new blood.  Donated/dumped a pint yesterday which helps control my blood iron and viscosity and also helps me sleep afterwards.  Definitely keeping it up every other month. 

Closing

I’ve been generally quite grouchy about my health and was a terribly disagreeable deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism patient.  I learned no lessons that needed learning and there was no silver lining.  It just sucked.  But as I get better, one reflection is that blood flow is a valid health marker and that some of my protocol in an extreme situation is good for everyone.  Drink water.  Don’t smoke.  Keep moving (my standard is 10 minutes in motion, ideally outdoors, per hour).  I’ve come to like compression which helps blood flow back to the heart (but getting out of compression tights and shirt after a long workout when you’re out of strength is comical).  I think it is good for everyone and it helps avoid both scrapes and ticks trail running.  So hopefully you’ll never have clots, but even if you’re not at risk, keeping blood flowing optimally is a worthy health goal. 

Meeting with my vascular surgeon again tomorrow, I’m elated that I might be able to go off of full time blood thinners (which essentially turn me into a hemophiliac).  Resting a barbell in a front rack position turns my arms purple and raises nasty hematomas.  Some pulmonary embolism survivors fear going off meds, but I can’t wait.  I hate feeling fragile.  Pretty much everything I like involves literal blood, sweat, and tears so shying away from trauma risk has been intolerable.  Time to get out in the world, get more durable, prove myself in some new environments, and take some risks.  LFG.