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~ Diabetes, Cancer Fighter, Photographer, Exercise, Twins, Boy Scout Leader, Kayak Fishing, Lover of Life

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Tag Archives: Cycling

Today’s Thoughts 4/10/2018

10 Tuesday Apr 2018

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Cycling, Leukemia, Weight Loss

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Cancer, carbs, Compitition, Cycling, diet, Life, Medication, Side Effects

It’s been seven days since I started my new medication.  At this time there hasn’t been any noticeable side effects.  I’ve had the pharmacist from the drug company call me twice to check on me.  Like I said in my last post, this is a fairly new drug so they’re just concerned about me I guess.

On April 21st, there is a city-wide competition with some of the business in town called The Birmingham Challenge.  I have signed up with my employer to ride in a 10k bike stroll.  The bike stroll is not a competition within itself but we get points as to how many cyclists we get to ride in the event.  It’s the same way with the walking event.  We do, however, have other events that are competitions, such as the tug a war, dodgeball, corn-hole, golf, home-run hitting, and a couple more events.  Last year our company came in 2nd overall.  I’ve signed up for the cycling event.  I haven’t been on my bike for nearly a year, until this evening. I know it’s not much but I rode a whole 2.4 miles.  I could’ve ridden further but both my headlight and taillight were not charged and I didn’t want to ride without them.  I really surprised myself.  I actually dreaded getting back on my bike and tackling the hill in front of my house.  I got a little winded but I made it with no problems.

I’m back on my low carb diet.  I blew it this weekend.  Those Little Debbie cakes ought to be illegal.  I’ve finally got my wife on board with me with her cooking and she’s not giving me bread or potatoes so the failure this weekend is all on me.  I just “grazed” all weekend.  I had lost seven but on Monday, I gained five.  I hate losing the same weight that I had already lost before.  Today I did great though.  We’ll see when I check the scales in the morning.

I check in again in a couple of days.  In the meantime, enjoy your week.18157141_10154580034993946_3844449760811629204_n

From last years event.

 

A Little Slow

05 Friday May 2017

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Cancer, Cycling, Leukemia, Weight Loss

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Cold, Cycling, health, Medical, Rain, Riding, Sports, Weather

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The weather here in the deep south has been less than perfect for bike riding for me.  The last two days it’s been a rainy, dreary day.  Today the temperature hardly rose above the mid 50’s mark.  Tomorrow is forcasted to be warmer but not until mid afternoon.  My plan is to either get a twenty mile in on Saturday or wait until Sunday when I should have more time.

My last ride broke the 100 mile mark.  That’s pretty good considering that only six months ago I was considering selling my bike because of my health.  I’m looking forward to much healther days along with miles and miles of riding.

Happy Trails

Good to See Improvement

02 Tuesday May 2017

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Cycling, Photography

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Cycling, Life, Smells, Sports

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It’s hard to believe that just over a month ago I couldn’t walk to my bicyle much less ride it.  Today I completed a little under 14 miles and I’m really excited about it.  A couple of months ago I asked my cardiologist if I would be able to ride by bike again and he assured me that I would be back on it this Spring.  At that time I wan’t able to walk any distance at all without getting out of breath so no, I didn’t believe him.  Now look at me!!

I’m just now getting to the point where I’m enjoying my rides. When I first started I wan’t able to do anything but concentrate on my breathing.  I wasn’t able to look around and enjoy the beauty or take in the smells.  Today brought back a lot of memories when I used to ride all the time.  The smell of BBQ grilling on the grill, the smell of freashly cut grass and the smell of dead animals on the side of the road. (You got to take the good with the bad).  My breathing is still off but I know that will get better over time.

Untill next time, Happy Trails!!

 

Back in the Saddle Again!

23 Sunday Apr 2017

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Cancer, Cycling, Leukemia, Weight Loss

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Cycling, health, Medical, Sports

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It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything but my absence hasn’t been anything bad.  My health has steady improved so much so that I’ve tried to start riding my bike again.  I was a bit concerned when I got started because I actually thought that something was still wrong with my breathing.  I talked with cardiologist about  this and he just informed me that I was out of shape.  After all, it’s been nearly two years since I’ve been on my bike.

When I first started back I was in for a huge disappointment.  I heard about a bike ride that is held on every Sunday.  It ranges from 8 to 10 miles.  Remember those 20 mile rides I used to do every day?  Lol.  Not any more.  After about three miles I knew I was in serious trouble.  So many hills and I couldn’t remember how to clip in my peddles.  In fact, before the ride even began I fell flat on my face trying to clip in.  We stopped so many times waiting on the slower people that I think that’s what actually wore me out trying to clip in to those damn peddles.  I realized then that I needed to ride around the house for a bit and get reacquainted with my bike.  Shorted ride 1.34 miles, Longest ride thus far 13.48 miles.  I’m averaging about 10 mph.

There is a ride in June called the Hot Hundred.  You got it, it’s a 100 mile ride with smaller rides available.  The shortest is a 29 mile ride that I used to ride in.  I have my hopes of riding it this year.  After my 13 mile ride I have my doubts.  I still may get to ride it, after all it’s in June.  It’s something that I’m working toward.  If I don’t this year, there’s always next.

 

Another Visit Part 2

14 Sunday Aug 2016

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Cancer, Photography, Weight Loss

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Cooking, Cycling, Eating Healthy, Exercising, Food, Heart Healthy Meals, Hearth Cath, Weightloss

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I got to thinking on the way home from the hospital about just how serious this past visit to the hospital was.  It was just happenstance that they found the blockage and even more so the fluid in my lungs.  I was thinking just how bad I have felt the last few months and that it was the sole reason for me not exercising.  Now that I had all this stuff done I should feel well enough to start walking more and hopefully get on my bicycle soon.

Now comes the hard part.  Wife and I had a discussion about food choices and eating better.  The wife does most of the cooking in the house and she is a working girl too.  She comes home and feels like she’s got to cook something so it usually ends up with hamburger helper or chicken fingers.  Looks like I’ll be searching for heart healthy meals for us to get acquainted with.

All these changes won’t come overnight.  My wife and I have got to start eating better and exercising more if we want to live long enough to see our kids grow up and have families of their own.

 

 

To Be Healthy Again

29 Friday Jul 2016

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Cancer, Cycling, Photography

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Breathing, Cancer, Cardiologist, Cycling, Doctor Appointment, Heart

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This year has got to be the worst year so far as far as my health is concerned.  I’ve already been hospitalized twice this year and another visit is just around the corner.  This month alone I’ve been to a doctor five times for tests and other examinations.

Since my bout with pneumonia back in May, my breathing has gotten worse.  So much so that I can’t walk any distance or do any type of work without gasping for a breath.  Even sitting here typing this my breathing is labored.  I had a nuclear stress test last week as well as an ultrasound of my heart and both tests have come back without any abnormalities.  My regular doctor is supposed to be setting up an appointment with a cardiologist hopefully one day next week for a follow up.

I long for the day I’m able to walk down the hallways at work or hop on my bicycle for a twenty mile ride without feeling like crap.

365 Day Photo Challenge 356/365 “To Be Pain Free For a Day”

21 Monday Dec 2015

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Photography

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

365 Day Photo Challenge, Cancer, Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, Chronic Pain, CML, Cycling, Diabetic Nerve Pain, Pain Relief

https://tchphotography.smugmug.com/2015-Cheaha-Challenge/i-p3mcRJb/A

I was thinking earlier this afternoon when the last time I had a day that I went pain free.  Yesterday.  I would have to say yesterday I was relatively pain free for a day.  Lately it’s been my feet giving me problems and now my kidneys.  But yesterday I was pain free because I didn’t have any pain in my feet and my kidney didn’t hurt.  Today, however, my feet were barking toward the end of the day but my kidney remained calm and pain free.

As I sit here whining about my pain, I’m reminded that there are a lot of people that are worse off than I am.  There are days that I hurt, a lot.  But, like yesterday, I didn’t have any pain whatsoever.   Some people can’t say that.  They have to live with chronic on a day to day basis.  There is no pain medication that can give them any relief whatsoever.  Knowing this makes me feel like a heel complaining of my insignificant pain when on most cases I can take a pain pill and for the most part feel better within thirty minutes or so.  There are those that medications can’t do anything for them.  I can’t image that.

I’ll say a prayer for all those in need of pain relief and I’ll include myself in this prayer.

“Life Goes On!”

 

365 Day Photo Challenge 355/365 “Another Good Day, Sort of”

20 Sunday Dec 2015

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Photography

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

365 Day Photo Challenge, Alabama, Cabin Fever, College, Cycling, Kidney Stones, Kids, Pain, Pain Free, Pain Meds

https://tchphotography.smugmug.com/2015-Cheaha-Challenge/i-Mh4RqHf/A

I have had all my kids here for the past few days.  My son left earlier this afternoon to go back to school to play at a basketball playoff game but he’ll be back tomorrow night.  Anyway, I got up early and cooked breakfast for everyone and spent the remainder of the day relaxing and spending time with the family.

All in all a pretty good day without much pain.  I did get out for a little while with the wife when cabin fever kicked in and I couldn’t stand being inside any longer. You got to remember I’ve been cooped up in this house since Tuesday of last week with the exception of the half an hour I spent attempting to go to work.  It felt good just being outside if only for a little while.

I share a lot on here and maybe a little too much.  That is why I won’t go into detail as to what I’m going to say next.  I stayed in the bathroom for nearly two hours tonight.  Everything finally passed and I felt like I gave birth to twins.  I’ll find it hard to walk in the morning.  I guess all the meds are making me dry up.  Even with that I think I’ve shared too much.  Oh well.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 325/365 “Day 20”

20 Friday Nov 2015

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Photography

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

365 Day Photo Challenge, Calories, Cycling, Exercise, treadmill, Weight loss, workout

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My ugly mug.  Left picture was taken 2012, right picture taken today.  I am 60 pounds lighter today than in 2012.  It’s been a long, hard, painful road. As of this morning I weighed in at 284. This is not a new number for me because I’ve seen it before.  I saw it on my way down to 269 two years ago and I saw it again on my way back up to 305 back in March of this year.

I have come to realize that it’s a mental thing with me.  I started cycling just about the time I reached the 269 mark.  According to the app I was using, it stated that I was burning over 2,000 calories a trip. In my mind if I’m burning 2,000 calories I can eat more and not worry about it. I stopped using the treadmill and just rode my bike and with me burning more calories I ate more and with that I started gaining my weight back.  Like I said, it’s a mental thing with me.

I’m staying within my diet this time and I’m staying on the treadmill, at least for now.  It’s too dark for me to ride when I get home and right now I don’t have the time to ride on the weekends.

Today had another 4 miles on the treadmill.  My plans are tomorrow morning to get another 4 miles before I leave to go to the football game.  I’m not sure if I’ll have time to walk after I get home.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 251/365 “Memorial Ride”

07 Monday Sep 2015

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Photography

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

365 Day Photo Challenge, Bike Riding, Cycling, Photography, William Robertson Memorial Ride

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Over 500 cyclists joined in today’s ride. It was awesome.  To see this many people join a cause is simply amazing.  Now whether or not it does any good remains to be seen.

It started off very slow.  So slow that for over 100 yards or so I just pushed myself along.  William Robertson’s wife and the rest of his club lead the ride along with some of Birmingham’s finest police officers.  The ride was only less than seven miles but because of the slow speed it took well over an hour to complete.  There were times when I reached the speed of about 20 but that was short lived.  My average for this morning was a little over ten mph.  We did have a collision which involved about three bikes.  I’m not sure of the outcome but everyone looked to be standing when I rode past.

I got home and rested a bid, didn’t even change out of my riding gear.  I left out and rode another 23 miles before supper.  I would have rode further but my rear light went dead and I didn’t fee right not having a light to warn off drivers.

All in all I had a good three day weekend.  Wished it was longer but I guess everyone does.  My next holiday will be Thanksgiving weekend.  It looks like I’ll have a four day weekend.  Can’t wait for that.

“Life Goes On!”

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