During the course of taking care of many COPD and Asthma patients here at Shoreline Medical today a thought occurred to me: I have never taken care of a patient who'se had nebulizers at home longer than I have.
I took my first breathing treatment probably sometime around 1980 in a hospital up close to here, yet I was given a nebulizer for home use in 1985 after I was released from the Asthma Hospital.
The funny thing is, I still have that old beast. I can't find a picture of it on the web, so I'll have to take a picture of it so you can see. I've had two new ones since then, and both of them have since broke down.
Yet that old 1985 beast is brown with the residue of old Albuterol, Atropine, Alupent and whatever other stuff I inhaled by it over the years. And the handle on top is busted off.
In fact, the thing is so old the filter had to be taken out and now I have to use it without a filter because they no longer make filters to fit it. Yet it still works like a charm. It's loud, perhaps as loud as a deisel truck. Yet it works.
I really don't use it often anymore, because I have a new one that serves that purpose. My classic 1985 beast is stored in the basement where it collects dust. Although I do still use it from time to time. Actually, when I went camping a few years ago I used it to blow up the air mattress. It takes a while, but it's better than mouthing it.
I have a new nebulzier, yet I don't even use that very often. Yet I do still have a nebulizer at home, and way longer than any of my COPD and asthmatic friends, coworkers and patients. I ask all the time.
I have patients I take care of that are 80 and 90 years old. Yet while they may have me whipped in the age department, and wisdom department, they don't come even close in the nebulizer department. I win hands down.
Other than my asthmatic friends from National Jewish back in the 1980s (perhaps they no need or even have their old nebulizer friend) the only person I can think of who might have had a nebulizer at home longer than me is Breathin Stephen. I don't remember if I ever asked him.
So if you think you've had nebs longer than your humble RT, feel free to let me know in the comments below and I'll give you credit.
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Asthma history: 1981 (asthma and exercise)
So we know now that exercise is good for asthma. In fact, we knew it way back in the 19th century. The problem with exercise and asthma is it's hard to do when you are having asthma trouble, and if you have exercise induced asthma (which 75% of asthmatics do), that's an extra incentive NOT to exercise.
Yet asthma should not be avoided. This we knew way back in 1981, and was part of a lecture we received asthma patients at national Jewish Health back in 1985:
I. Exercise -- Should not be avoided, even if there is an exercise component
Now we would add that the more you exercise, the more tolerant you become to exercise. The more you exercise, the less fatigued you will get, and the less dyspnea you will experience with normal movement.
Exercise is good all the way around. I think in my Asthma Central Shareposts I write about this more often than any other subject regarding asthma, because I find it to be so true. The more I exercise, the better my asthma becomes.
Yet when I go months without exercise, when my life becomes sedentary, I find I get dyspneic even while sitting. I think this is worse for asthmatics than those who do not have asthma. Exercise! Do it! I wrote about this in more detail here.
Yet asthma should not be avoided. This we knew way back in 1981, and was part of a lecture we received asthma patients at national Jewish Health back in 1985:
I. Exercise -- Should not be avoided, even if there is an exercise component
1. Use pretreat when necessary.
A. Why is it important?
- Improved strength in musculature increases the body's ability to fight off attacks -- particularly in muscles associated with breathing
- Child will have a healthier appetite and sleep better if he/she is exercising regularly
- Aids in weight control
- Can possibly effectively increase lung capacity
- Any exercise is beneficial, providing you know your limits, attend to your early signs of distress, and take pretreats if prescribed
- Swimming is particularly excellent because it exercises most muscles and teaches breathing control
Now we would add that the more you exercise, the more tolerant you become to exercise. The more you exercise, the less fatigued you will get, and the less dyspnea you will experience with normal movement.
Exercise is good all the way around. I think in my Asthma Central Shareposts I write about this more often than any other subject regarding asthma, because I find it to be so true. The more I exercise, the better my asthma becomes.
Yet when I go months without exercise, when my life becomes sedentary, I find I get dyspneic even while sitting. I think this is worse for asthmatics than those who do not have asthma. Exercise! Do it! I wrote about this in more detail here.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Asthma history: 1981 (stomach)
I will get to this in more detail in a later post, but the asthma experts of the 19th century noticed that asthma was often worse after eating large meals. Therefore one of the leading asthma remedies was epicac, which induced vomiting.
Yes it is true eating large meals may cause asthma. Even back in 1981, as noted in my handout, "Learning about asthma," I was given upon my NJH visit in 1985. The following was the wisdom provided about nutrition. Of course prior to this was the lecture about exercise, and much of the wisdom is the same as is taught today.
Anyway, here it is:
II. Nutrition
A. Importance of eating three well-ballanced meals for all people
B. Breakfast should not be skipped -- may be most important meal for all children, especially if child takes morning medications. (helps to coat stomach so meds won't irritate stomach lining)
C. Be aware of food allergies and learn to avoid contact with food allergens. (Sometimes allergic foods are hidden in food recipes, so know what goes into what you eat. For example, many cookies and cakes can contain things like peanut derivitives or peanus oil no readily obvious -- ALWAYS ASK!
Yes it is true eating large meals may cause asthma. Even back in 1981, as noted in my handout, "Learning about asthma," I was given upon my NJH visit in 1985. The following was the wisdom provided about nutrition. Of course prior to this was the lecture about exercise, and much of the wisdom is the same as is taught today.
Anyway, here it is:
II. Nutrition
A. Importance of eating three well-ballanced meals for all people
B. Breakfast should not be skipped -- may be most important meal for all children, especially if child takes morning medications. (helps to coat stomach so meds won't irritate stomach lining)
C. Be aware of food allergies and learn to avoid contact with food allergens. (Sometimes allergic foods are hidden in food recipes, so know what goes into what you eat. For example, many cookies and cakes can contain things like peanut derivitives or peanus oil no readily obvious -- ALWAYS ASK!
D. Avoid becomeing overweight*
- Carrying extra weight is an extra burned for all organs, especially lungs and heart. Asthma meds like adrenalin already put a strain on the heart.
- Overeating can make breathing mroe difficult due to stomach pressure on diaphragm. Should be avoided.
Monday, October 04, 2010
History of asthma: 1981 (alcohol and asthma)
I recently wrote a post on the effects of alcohol and asthma as you can see here. I spent hours trying to find proof that alcohol dries out the lungs and has mold in it, when all I had to do was look in the handout I was given when I was a patient of National Jewish way back in 1985.
In the pamphlet I was given titled, "Learning about asthma," the following was written about asthmatics drinking alcohol. I think this was emphasized in the book because in the 19th century asthma was believed to be physiological (all in your head), and alcohol was sometimes recommended to calm the mind and soothe the effects.
Yet while recent studies do show alcohol has some bronchodilating effects, I would imagine the negative consequences of drinking it negate any good results.
So I know some of my teenage friends at National Jewish did some drinking on the side, and this was a warning to them. So since alcohol was perceived to be an issue with teenagers, and many of us were, this was a warning to us:
C. Alcohol -- becoming the biggest problem with teenagers in the U.S.
1. A habit-forming drug which can cause severe damage to all bodily functions when used in excess, especially stomach, liver and brain cells. In a 14-year-old, cirrhosis of the liver can occur in 20 months of excessive alcohol consumption.
2. Problems for asthmatics
So you can see that the negative consequences of alcohol on asthma were known way back in 1985. Yet in 1988 when I started college and was pressured into my first few drinks, I had completely forgotten what I had learned just a few years earlier.
Yes, I have noticed that when I do drink my asthma is worse the next day. Coincidence? I think not. Anything in moderation is a good thing. Anything abused, especially alcohol, can lead to poor asthma control for us asthmatics.
In the pamphlet I was given titled, "Learning about asthma," the following was written about asthmatics drinking alcohol. I think this was emphasized in the book because in the 19th century asthma was believed to be physiological (all in your head), and alcohol was sometimes recommended to calm the mind and soothe the effects.
Yet while recent studies do show alcohol has some bronchodilating effects, I would imagine the negative consequences of drinking it negate any good results.
So I know some of my teenage friends at National Jewish did some drinking on the side, and this was a warning to them. So since alcohol was perceived to be an issue with teenagers, and many of us were, this was a warning to us:
C. Alcohol -- becoming the biggest problem with teenagers in the U.S.
1. A habit-forming drug which can cause severe damage to all bodily functions when used in excess, especially stomach, liver and brain cells. In a 14-year-old, cirrhosis of the liver can occur in 20 months of excessive alcohol consumption.
2. Problems for asthmatics
- a. interaction with asthma medications can cause serious problems
- alcohol is made from molds and can cause allergic reaction to those with mold allergies
- dehydration, leading to thickening of mucus in the bronchial tubes, causing more difficulty getting the mucus out
- depresses bodies ability to cough out mucus and fight off attacks
- 3 million alcoholics between 10 and 19 years old
- 1/2 of all automobile deaths
- 1/2 of all murders
- 1/4 of all suicides
- also child abuse, crime, job absenteeism, shoddy workmanship, job loss are all traced in large part to alcohol abuse
So you can see that the negative consequences of alcohol on asthma were known way back in 1985. Yet in 1988 when I started college and was pressured into my first few drinks, I had completely forgotten what I had learned just a few years earlier.
Yes, I have noticed that when I do drink my asthma is worse the next day. Coincidence? I think not. Anything in moderation is a good thing. Anything abused, especially alcohol, can lead to poor asthma control for us asthmatics.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
History of Asthma: 1981 (Marijuana warning)
Until the 1980s cannabis (marijuana) was a viable option for asthma, and it still is in some third world nations. Studies proved it improved lung function by as much as 25 percent, plus it helped relieve the feeling of air hunger.
Yet by 1980 it was learned that smoking the drug came with the risk of damaging lungs and turning asthma into chronic bronchitis. So the risks of smoking it far outweighed the advantages.
I was a patient of National Jewish Health in 1985 and one of my fellow asthmatics had a problem with smoking the weed. In fact, it was such a problem at the time that the hospital made an effort to mention recent studies that mentioned that smoking cannabis can harm a young asthmatics lungs.
I received the packet in 1985 and it's dated 1981. I still have it in my collection. It was titled: "Learning about asthma."
Marijuana
1. Again, all smoking is harmful to the lungs, including marijuana to smoke.
Yet by 1980 it was learned that smoking the drug came with the risk of damaging lungs and turning asthma into chronic bronchitis. So the risks of smoking it far outweighed the advantages.
I was a patient of National Jewish Health in 1985 and one of my fellow asthmatics had a problem with smoking the weed. In fact, it was such a problem at the time that the hospital made an effort to mention recent studies that mentioned that smoking cannabis can harm a young asthmatics lungs.
I received the packet in 1985 and it's dated 1981. I still have it in my collection. It was titled: "Learning about asthma."
Marijuana
1. Again, all smoking is harmful to the lungs, including marijuana to smoke.
- a. rumors persist that marijuana acts like a bronchodilator: while THC, the active compound in marijuana, may have mild dilating effect, the effect is short-lived and would only occur if ingested orally. Smoking nullifies any bronchodilating effect and, in fact, will cause bronchoconstriction.
- b. use of marijuana can lead to unstable peak flows due to changes in theophylline metabolism
- c. studies show that marijuana usage can lead to adverse effects on short-and long-term memory function.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
History of Asthma: 1981 (Asthma medicines)
To start our history of asthma, let's travel back to 1981. This information is from a package I received when I was a patient in 1985 at National Jewish Health (NJH). Back then the hospital was called National Jewish Hospital and Research Center/ National Asthma Center (NJH/NAC), and the package was titled, "Learning about asthma."
In the last section of the packet is a list of all the medicines used to treat asthma at that time. Most of these medicines I was on, and if you had asthma in the 1980s, chances are you were on one or more of these too.
So, without further adieu, here is the list of the top line asthma medicines for 1981. Or rather, here is the medicine and the facts about them as per 1981 wisdom. I'm going to reproduce it here as it was actually written in lecture format:
I. Facts about medicine for the child with asthma
A. No curative medicine
B. Control asthma when taken as prescribed
C. Medicine must be evaluated for effectiveness
D. Take only the medicine prescribed for you
II. educations
A. Theophylline
1. Most effective and used medicine
2. Action on the bronchial muscles and known as a "bronchodilator"
3. Prescribed under many brand names:
B. Beta2 Adrenergics and related medicines
1. Medicines similar to epinephrine and are bronchodilators
1. Acts by lessening response of lungs to triggers
2. Needs to be taken regularly
3. No effect after wheezing starts
4. Inhaled as a dry powder and may stimulate coughing
D. Steroids
1. Related to cortisone, a hormone naturally secreted by the adrenal glands
2. Inhibit inflammatory reaction
3. Most effective medicine for a flare-up of asthma symptoms
4. Side effects
a. Prednisone (Deltasone, Paracort, Meticorten)
b. Prednisolone (Sterane, Delta-Cortef)
c. Methylprednisolone (Medrol)
d. Beclomethasone (Vanceril, Beclovent)
1. Decongestants and Antihistamines
a. Given for relief of congestion and/ or allergic rhinitis
b. Many brand names
a. Atropine
A. Take as prescribed by physician
B. Learn all about the medicine
C. Devise a system of taking medicine to help with compliance
So you can see there have been a lot of changes as far as medicine is concerned when it comes to treating asthma since the 1980s. I was actually surprised to see Theophylline as the #1 asthma medicine, but I shouldn't have been. It was a top line medicine from the 1950s until about 2000.
This era was right at the peak of trying to prevent asthma attacks as opposed to just treating acute asthma symptoms. Yet it was known back then that airway swelling (inflammation) was involved in the acute asthma attack, it was not known asthma was a disease of chronic (always there) inflammation.
Theophylline is now rarely used, and Intal is off the market. Epinepherine is rarely used, replaced by Ventolin (continuous if necessary) in emergency rooms. All the other beta adrenergics listed above are no longer available due to side effects.
I was surprised to see that Ventolin, Azmacort and Atrovent weren't on the above list, as they were all on the market. One reason may be (I'm guessing here) was that they were all under patent and more expensive than other options on this list. Of course this list was made in 1981 and I was a patient in 1985, and was prescribed a ventolin inhaler and azmacort.
Some pretty good opitons were available back then. We asthmatics were pretty fortunate compared to... well, we were just fortunate.
In the last section of the packet is a list of all the medicines used to treat asthma at that time. Most of these medicines I was on, and if you had asthma in the 1980s, chances are you were on one or more of these too.
So, without further adieu, here is the list of the top line asthma medicines for 1981. Or rather, here is the medicine and the facts about them as per 1981 wisdom. I'm going to reproduce it here as it was actually written in lecture format:
I. Facts about medicine for the child with asthma
A. No curative medicine
B. Control asthma when taken as prescribed
C. Medicine must be evaluated for effectiveness
D. Take only the medicine prescribed for you
II. educations
A. Theophylline
1. Most effective and used medicine
2. Action on the bronchial muscles and known as a "bronchodilator"
3. Prescribed under many brand names:
- Aminophylline
- Somophyllin
- Choledyl
- Elixophyllin
- Theolair
- Slophyllin
- Theodur
- Theospan and many others
- Gastro-intestinal system
- Central nervous system
B. Beta2 Adrenergics and related medicines
1. Medicines similar to epinephrine and are bronchodilators
- Metaproterenol (Alupent and Metraprel)
- Terbutaline (Bricanyl and Brethine)
- Isoetharine (Bronkosol)
- Isopreterenol (Isuprel)
- Epinephrine (Adrenalin)
- Gastro-intestinal system
- Central Nervous system
1. Acts by lessening response of lungs to triggers
2. Needs to be taken regularly
3. No effect after wheezing starts
4. Inhaled as a dry powder and may stimulate coughing
D. Steroids
1. Related to cortisone, a hormone naturally secreted by the adrenal glands
2. Inhibit inflammatory reaction
3. Most effective medicine for a flare-up of asthma symptoms
4. Side effects
- Change in body shape: (1) Increase appetite, (2) Weight gain, (3) Round-faced look
- Change in growth: (1) Growth interfered with during long term use, (2) Severe asthma my interfere with growth
- Adrenal suppression: (1) Adrenal glands become "lazy", (2) Gradual reduction of steroids to stimulate production of glands again
a. Prednisone (Deltasone, Paracort, Meticorten)
b. Prednisolone (Sterane, Delta-Cortef)
c. Methylprednisolone (Medrol)
d. Beclomethasone (Vanceril, Beclovent)
- Inhaled into lungs
- Avoid side effects of steroids taken by mouth
- Disadvantages: (a) Difficult for small children to use, (b) Not effective for acute attacks of asthma, (3) May irritate the throat, (4) May allow thrush to develop in mouth
1. Decongestants and Antihistamines
a. Given for relief of congestion and/ or allergic rhinitis
b. Many brand names
- Antihistamines: (a) Chlortrimeton, (b) Teldrin, (c) Atarax, (d) Benadryl
- Decongestants: (a) Sudafed
- Combination (Antihistamines and Decongestants): (a) Drixoral, (b) Actifed, (c) Dimetapp
- Drowsiness
- Hyperactivity
a. Atropine
- Inhaled
A. Take as prescribed by physician
B. Learn all about the medicine
C. Devise a system of taking medicine to help with compliance
- Self-care model
So you can see there have been a lot of changes as far as medicine is concerned when it comes to treating asthma since the 1980s. I was actually surprised to see Theophylline as the #1 asthma medicine, but I shouldn't have been. It was a top line medicine from the 1950s until about 2000.
This era was right at the peak of trying to prevent asthma attacks as opposed to just treating acute asthma symptoms. Yet it was known back then that airway swelling (inflammation) was involved in the acute asthma attack, it was not known asthma was a disease of chronic (always there) inflammation.
Theophylline is now rarely used, and Intal is off the market. Epinepherine is rarely used, replaced by Ventolin (continuous if necessary) in emergency rooms. All the other beta adrenergics listed above are no longer available due to side effects.
I was surprised to see that Ventolin, Azmacort and Atrovent weren't on the above list, as they were all on the market. One reason may be (I'm guessing here) was that they were all under patent and more expensive than other options on this list. Of course this list was made in 1981 and I was a patient in 1985, and was prescribed a ventolin inhaler and azmacort.
Some pretty good opitons were available back then. We asthmatics were pretty fortunate compared to... well, we were just fortunate.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Your pessimism is my motivation this time
As most of you guys are well aware, it's hard to exercise and stay in shape even if you don't have asthma. Yet when you have this disease it's even harder, yet all the more important that you do so.
It often seems that every time you get on the exercise horse and start making some headway, something in life happens that provides you the excuse to quit and to take a week off. Of course taking a week off usually leads to taking a months off and then two.
Then all of a sudden you realize you're winded walking up steps again. You're upset with yourself that you fell off the horse. Now you are looking for some sort of motivation to help you get back on.
Sometimes the best motivation comes from pessimism. Seriously. Sometimes the best motivation to becoming a better person comes from people who tell you you can't or shouldn't do something. When I'm ready to get back on the wagon, often I look for something to motivate me.
I have asthma. I have a very good friend who has asthma. We met about 15 years ago in RT school, and we became best friends because we had something in common -- we both have asthma.
Two weeks ago the topic of losing weight was brought up. My friend is constantly dieting (as am I), and she's actually showing. I said her diet must be working because she's "looking good."
So we started talking about see-saw dieting. How we both have decided it's simply the norm.
And I said something like, "You hear a lot about how see-saw dieting is bad. But I think it's good. It means that you're smart and aware of the importance of exercising. See-saw dieting is proof of how hard it is to get into, and how much harder it is to stay in shape. Yet it's also proof that you have the strength to keep getting back on the horse every time you fall off. In that way, see-saw dieting is good."
"Good point," she said.
Yet then the conversation took a turn. I said, "Back in July I was doing so well on my exercise routine I was up to 4 miles a day -- running. After taking the last 2 months off, when I started up again last week I could only run 1 mile. Yet I got back out there and ran."
"YOU RUN!!!" she said. "You run with your asthma."
"Yeah," I said. "Why would that be surprising?"
"You have asthma."
"I find so long as I take my Advair every day I don't have a problem. I even have a bad cold right now and I don't let that stop me."
"Wow!" she said, "I don't think you should be running."
Instead of trying to find excuses, I wanted to say, I keep trying NOT to find excuses. Yet I held my tongue. I held my tongue because I respected her, my good friend.
Yet I took what she said to heart. It was motivation. It was motivation for me to get back on the wagon -- back on the horse that knocked me off two months ago.
You see, I was knocked off the horse because I had eye surgery, and that provided me an excuse not to work out for a couple weeks. And then my 4th child was born, and that provided me an excuse not to work out another month.
Before I knew it, I was back up to 202 pounds. I was staring in the face, as I looked at the scale, that I had gained 15 pounds since my low of 186 on July 8, 2010. I had to stare into the face that I was on my way back to 210 pounds, and it was creeping up on me fast.
I was facing a choice we all face from time to time. I could either keep on with the sedentary and eat everything I feel like eating attitude, or I could get back on the horse. The wise man gets back on and keeps on going, so long as his body is willing and capable.
Yet is asthma an excuse to quit? I think not. I know not. So, for the 30th time in the past 10 years, this asthmatic got back on the horse. And he did so with pessimism breathing down his back. He used that as motivation.
So it's been two weeks and five pounds lost. Ten more and I'll be back to the 186 I was at 2 months ago. Sure it's frustrating, yet it's life. Life happens. Yet you can't let life stop you from
doing what you know is right.
"YOU CAN'T RUN BECAUSE YOU HAVE ASTHMA!"
I might just highlight that and paste it to my word processor and make it as large as I can, cut it out, and put it right on the wall next to my bed.
Thanks my friend. You were wrong, and I won't tell you you were wrong. Yet I will use your comments as motivation to get back on the horse I keep falling off of yet know I need to somehow stay on to live the good life we all seek.
So I can't run Hey? Take that!
Since you made that comment I've lost 5 pounds with more loss coming. Yet I won't tell her she motivated me. I won't because we feed off each other in a way. When one of us is succeeding, that too acts as a motivator.
In that way, success breeds success. The more I get into shape the greater incentive to get into better shape, and when I see others succeeding, I find that I want to do the same. It's kind of a human nature thing.
And usually we all fall off the horse at the same time. Yet the wise among us know when it's time to get back on the horse and come up with incentives to stay on.
"You can't run because you have asthma!" That's my motivation this time.
It often seems that every time you get on the exercise horse and start making some headway, something in life happens that provides you the excuse to quit and to take a week off. Of course taking a week off usually leads to taking a months off and then two.
Then all of a sudden you realize you're winded walking up steps again. You're upset with yourself that you fell off the horse. Now you are looking for some sort of motivation to help you get back on.
Sometimes the best motivation comes from pessimism. Seriously. Sometimes the best motivation to becoming a better person comes from people who tell you you can't or shouldn't do something. When I'm ready to get back on the wagon, often I look for something to motivate me.
I have asthma. I have a very good friend who has asthma. We met about 15 years ago in RT school, and we became best friends because we had something in common -- we both have asthma.
Two weeks ago the topic of losing weight was brought up. My friend is constantly dieting (as am I), and she's actually showing. I said her diet must be working because she's "looking good."
So we started talking about see-saw dieting. How we both have decided it's simply the norm.
And I said something like, "You hear a lot about how see-saw dieting is bad. But I think it's good. It means that you're smart and aware of the importance of exercising. See-saw dieting is proof of how hard it is to get into, and how much harder it is to stay in shape. Yet it's also proof that you have the strength to keep getting back on the horse every time you fall off. In that way, see-saw dieting is good."
"Good point," she said.
Yet then the conversation took a turn. I said, "Back in July I was doing so well on my exercise routine I was up to 4 miles a day -- running. After taking the last 2 months off, when I started up again last week I could only run 1 mile. Yet I got back out there and ran."
"YOU RUN!!!" she said. "You run with your asthma."
"Yeah," I said. "Why would that be surprising?"
"You have asthma."
"I find so long as I take my Advair every day I don't have a problem. I even have a bad cold right now and I don't let that stop me."
"Wow!" she said, "I don't think you should be running."
Instead of trying to find excuses, I wanted to say, I keep trying NOT to find excuses. Yet I held my tongue. I held my tongue because I respected her, my good friend.
Yet I took what she said to heart. It was motivation. It was motivation for me to get back on the wagon -- back on the horse that knocked me off two months ago.
You see, I was knocked off the horse because I had eye surgery, and that provided me an excuse not to work out for a couple weeks. And then my 4th child was born, and that provided me an excuse not to work out another month.
Before I knew it, I was back up to 202 pounds. I was staring in the face, as I looked at the scale, that I had gained 15 pounds since my low of 186 on July 8, 2010. I had to stare into the face that I was on my way back to 210 pounds, and it was creeping up on me fast.
I was facing a choice we all face from time to time. I could either keep on with the sedentary and eat everything I feel like eating attitude, or I could get back on the horse. The wise man gets back on and keeps on going, so long as his body is willing and capable.
Yet is asthma an excuse to quit? I think not. I know not. So, for the 30th time in the past 10 years, this asthmatic got back on the horse. And he did so with pessimism breathing down his back. He used that as motivation.
So it's been two weeks and five pounds lost. Ten more and I'll be back to the 186 I was at 2 months ago. Sure it's frustrating, yet it's life. Life happens. Yet you can't let life stop you from
doing what you know is right.
"YOU CAN'T RUN BECAUSE YOU HAVE ASTHMA!"
I might just highlight that and paste it to my word processor and make it as large as I can, cut it out, and put it right on the wall next to my bed.
Thanks my friend. You were wrong, and I won't tell you you were wrong. Yet I will use your comments as motivation to get back on the horse I keep falling off of yet know I need to somehow stay on to live the good life we all seek.
So I can't run Hey? Take that!
Since you made that comment I've lost 5 pounds with more loss coming. Yet I won't tell her she motivated me. I won't because we feed off each other in a way. When one of us is succeeding, that too acts as a motivator.
In that way, success breeds success. The more I get into shape the greater incentive to get into better shape, and when I see others succeeding, I find that I want to do the same. It's kind of a human nature thing.
And usually we all fall off the horse at the same time. Yet the wise among us know when it's time to get back on the horse and come up with incentives to stay on.
"You can't run because you have asthma!" That's my motivation this time.
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