Hey folks,

Okay, so first off… yeah, I need to trim the beard. I’m starting to look like Grizzly Addams. However, that is neither here nor there. The real update is the physical effects. My weight fluctuated a bit at the morning weigh in and went up a couple of pounds. No biggie. I know it happens. According to “Men’s Health” your daily weight can fluctuate by as much as 5 pounds over the course of a single day depending on circumstances, so I’m not sweating the actual weight numbers. I’m still significantly below 270 and I haven’t been there for a long time.

What I am noticing is that my clothes are already starting to fit loosely. It’s warm outside now that it’s spring and I started wearing shorts. Well, let’s face it… I’m a Midwesterner. I’ve been wearing shorts since it got back above freezing a couple of months ago. Around here, if it’s sunny and the wind is still, I’m in a t-shirt and shorts. Even if it’s in the 40’s. My sons are the same way. However, shorts that were snug or even comfortably fit, I now need a belt with. A couple of the ones I just bought last fall are now falling off if I don’t have the belt on. I don’t know exactly how much I’ve lost off my waist, but it feels significant.

Another thing I’ve noticed is that I feel better. Yeah, I’m getting used to not eating until I’m stuffed, like I used to. Since that’s a nearly lifelong habit, that’s the thing that’s taking the longest to get used to. I have this strange feeling sometimes like I shouldn’t be finished eating, even though I’m not really hungry anymore… I’m just not “full.” If that makes any sense. I’ve been watching what I eat just as much as I am how much. I’m eating a lot more veggies and way less carbs. I cut out soda a few months back and don’t miss it. Now we’re working on removing anything with High Fructose Corn Syrup or any of it’s derivative products. That’s the insidious part. That crap is in almost everything, and it’s terrible for you. There’s a reason it’s been banned in multiple countries. Just Google High Fructose Corn Syrup and do a little reading on it’s effects. It’s toxic for our bodies. The worst part is, manufacturer’s know it and change the name on the ingredients list to about a dozen other things so you don’t know it’s in there. Just a little research pays off and will shock you.

My blood sugar is starting to trend down. I won’t go into numbers because it would also require a lot of explanation for those of you who aren’t familiar with testing your blood. It’s a little complicated but not really necessary for the point of this article. Let’s just say it was “super high” to quote my doctor. While it’s not in the normal range yet, it has trended down significantly. Today was a particularly good reading. My fasting numbers aren’t where they need to be, but they’re a hell of a lot closer than when I first started. We’re getting there. Again, it’s a journey not a destination, so I’ll likely be taking steps toward the goal for a long time… but that’s okay.

I suppose the best part of the entire process is how I feel. I go walking in the evenings with one of my sons and Harley the Wonder Dog. Harley absolutely loves walking around the neighborhood and smelling/peeing on everything. He’s such a goober, but he helps me stay motivated. He knows right where the leash is at and will give me not so subtle reminders that we haven’t gone today. He’s a good exercise buddy because he doesn’t care what the weather is. He just wants to go. Before my back went out for the last time, I was walking around 30k steps per shift on patrol. I tracked it with my Fitbit so I know pretty much how far I’d gone every shift. When I got hurt, that dropped to zero for months. Hell, for years. I went down in February of 2020 and had trouble getting up unassisted for a long time. I had to walk with a cane and had to ride in one of those electric carts whenever I went to the store. I really hated that.

Well, after the spinal ablation a couple of months ago, things started improving with my back. The Pain Management Doctor warned me though. It didn’t fix anything. It only took away the pain for a while. My back isn’t going to get better. In fact, it’ll continue to get worse until I can’t walk on my own. That’s inevitable. But I can fight it as long as humanly possible and I’m stubborn as hell. The ablation basically neutralized the nerve endings where the damage is and should last a couple of years. I haven’t taken a pain pill in over a month and I’m astounded at that. I still have to be careful and not overdo it, but I’ve gotten my mobility back and it’s incredible what suddenly being pain free will do for your mood and outlook on life. I’m slowly rebuilding my endurance and leg strength. I push a little more each time. I know when I’ve pushed too hard because the pain will come back. I can sit in my recliner with the heat pad and it goes away after a bit, but that’s acceptable. Each time, that threshold gets a bit farther away.

So, between the weight loss, blood sugar coming down and the exercise, I feel better than I have in a long time. My energy levels are up as is my desire to get back out into the woods. So, for those of you who enjoy the show, DA Ex Machina, that means more video from the woods and documentaries for the channel. Honestly, I can’t wait to get back in the swing of things. I’m building up my endurance and improving my overall health… one step at a time.

So, the journey continues. While my sights are on the horizon, I’m tracking my progress one step at a time. I am so grateful to all of you who are taking this journey with me. I get so many messages of encouragement and support and I want to say thank you to everyone for that. It’s incredible and I’m so thankful for you all. Thank you for taking this journey with me.

-DA