Good-bye, for now, to favorite food

This is a photo of me and one of my most favorite foods, a hot dog.

Not just any hot dog. A Texas Weiner. There is a rich history behind this tasty treat.

My good friend Charlotte Fiorito shot this photo on July 27, my birthday. I turned 44. That day, I also said good-bye to to hot dogs in an effort to save my life.

Hot dogs are loaded with fat and sodium. I am taking prednisone to reduce symptoms of heart and lung sarcoidosis. A major side effect of prednisone is weight gain through the retention of water and sodium. It is difficult to say good-bye to the foods you love when you are on prednisone because another prednisone side effect is insatiable hunger. Prednisone patients are ravenous 24-7.

The last time I had hot dogs was July 27. I ate a Texas Weiner with Charlotte while we were on a remember-back-when tour of Plainfield, N.J. That Weiner touched off a craving. I had to have more hot dogs. Later that night (or early morning July 28?) while my folks were asleep, I raided the basement freezer for more.

“This is crazy. I really should not be eating this,” I thought to myself as I nuked the dogs, pulled the relish out the fridge and got the rolls ready. “This is crazy,” I said as I slathered the buns with mustard and relish, put the dogs on and “This is crazy…”

Can’t think full mouth…

After eating those dogs, my lower legs swelled so badly I had to lie down and prop up my feet to reduce the swelling. I was actually afraid to check my blood pressure. It would have been too depressing. If I stand a chance of beating this disease and controlling the prednisone side effects, I thought to myself, I have to rein in this appetite no matter what.

Diet and exercise became the goal. I’ve been walking with my dad and lifting weights every day at least five days a week. I walk a few miles every day and lift weights five days a week.

I won’t weigh myself just yet. I have an important doctor’s appointment on Sept. 8. They can weigh me then. Last time I was weighed was three weeks ago and I was 306. I am now trying to gauge success by how my clothes fit. They are getting loose, which is a good sign. I also gauge success by blood pressure reading results. When I moved home, my readings were in the 150s/90s range, with a new in the 170s/110 (that was at wake up…sleep apnea)…Now the readings are in the low 130s/80s, with a couple in the 120s/70s range. The readings are much closer to the 125/85 my doctors want me to maintain.

(This photo shot on Aug. 20, 3-1/2 weeks into working out. Shirt, pants are no longer tight!) I’m feeling better. I am moving better. I assume I am losing weight. We will see on Sept. 8.

It’s tough to say no to hot dogs. We as a nation consume billions of them. They will be front and center at the majority of cookouts this Labor Day weekend. How can one resist. The key, for me, is moderation. I have not had one in more than a month now. I can do one. It will not kill me. After that, the only dog in my life is Tobie, my parent's beloved golden Labrador.

Cutting oneself some slack

(I shot this today while following my dad along a trail in Lakewood, N.J.)

Thursday, I had a blood pressure reading of 120/80 – the lowest my blood pressure has been in more than a year. My doctors’ goal was to get it to 125/85. I beat that.

Good for the heart and good for the mind. I was worrying a lot about the heart. This development is especially exciting because I am still on prednisone for my pulmonary and cardiac sarcoidosis. I am walking three miles a day and lifting light weights. I am sure that, combined with a reduction in the amount of prednisone I am taking – helped lower the blood pressure.

I’m trying to lose weight because I have obstructive sleep apnea, too, which makes blood pressure soar. I sleep with a CPAC - short for continuous positive airway pressure device (a mask attached to a tube attached to a small, quiet motor - but I want off of it. I am trying to lose weight even though prednisone is working hard against the goal.

Oh, I should give you an update: The pull-ups thing was a miserable failure. I gave it my best shot, but my body was too weak to make good on that promise. I sulked for a while about that and then accepted the fact that I would have to start from scratch to rebuild myself.

My goal is still there. The method is now more practical. Crawl before walking. Walk before running. In New Jersey, I started with a 1-1/2 mile walk. Now I am up to three miles. Every day. I walk with my dad and/or Tobie most of the time. I walk an additional 1-1/2 miles at night with my mom. Tobie’s in tow, too.

My dad caught me obsessing about my weight the other day – prednisone rage. My frustration was off-the-hook. I knew it and could not help myself. I was obsessed with the feeling of failure and futility. “From where I sit, this is a good day,” he said. “Your blood pressure is normal for the first time in a year and your clothes are fitting differently, and you know it.”

He was right. My clothes were looser. I was standing taller. My ample belly…was finally starting to shrink. The water retention, the back fat (prednisone really stinks)....it will go as I continue reducing the prednisone...

Dramatic change will not occur in a weeks or two months. I have to be patient and diligent.

And I have to cut myself some slack.