DEMONSTRATING
STRENGTH, BALANCE, FLEXIBILITY
MAINTAINING LIFESTYLE PRIORITIES
Updates about my yoga and walking mobility as well as current nutrition status since posting "ON TURNING 75: ... " on March 28th are presented.
***
I
ACKNOWLEDGE
ENCOURAGING
HEALTH & METABOLIC DATA
Decisions made daily emphasizing whole body mobility (walking, yoga) and nutrition (= eating real, whole foods) have led to several positive health outcomes.
I
ALSO
COMMENT
ON
RECENT
CIRCULATION & NEUROLOGICAL
SYMPTOMS
***
*
[1]
WALKING
EXCEEDING
2,000 CONSECUTIVE DAYS
[OVER FIVE YEARS]
Daily walks during the past six months have continued in all weather conditions, from below freezing into the high 70's.
NOTABLE
My 2,00th walk will occur during this week.
Walks since celebrating my mobility status at 75 have begun at 3:00 am, alternating longer (90 minutes) and shorter (80 minutes) routes.
___
DURING WINTER MONTHS
NOTICING
ALARMING
SYMPTOMS
Extreme cold morning temperatures - single digits, below O degrees F with and without wind chill - resulted in a painful cold left big toe with associated skin discoloration during January and into February and March.
*
APPROVAL
OF
NON-INVASIVE DOPPLER IMAGING
My Geriatric Specialist Dr. Jarrod Faucher approved an assessment of bilateral blood flow circulation of brachial, upper and lower legs, feet and big toes.
Values included in the report measured ABI and TBI.
*
CONSULTING WITH PODIATRIST
DR. BENJAMIN SAVIET
CONFIRMED
THE
DOPPLER IMAGING DIAGNOSIS
*
I
HAD
PERIPHERAL ARTERY DISEASE
My blood flow through lower legs was quantified and found to restricted in both feet and toes.
Extreme cold temperatures constricted my left big toe capillary blood flow changing the skin color.
NOT SURPRISING
A reduction of extremity blood flow was not unexpected since being diagnosed in mid-2021 with Coronary Artery Disease (Atherosclerosis) based on a non-invasive imaging and calcium score.
NOTE
Keeping my feet dry, to change socks as needed to prevent moisture accumulation from sweating feet was recommended.
DISTANT EARLY SYMPTOMS
Cold hands and feet throughout the year, loss of body hair, notably on legs that are attributed to decreased circulation were noted years ago but the significance was not appreciated.
***
DR. SAVIET
ALSO
CONFIRMED
ANOTHER
SYMPTOM
AS
PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY
Tingling in my feet for the first time around my 75th birthday was an another issue we discussed during our meeting.
___
The sensations were not painful, not constant and, to date, not interfering with sleep but I noticed more concentration was required doing single leg balance yoga asanas like the 'BIRD OF PARADISE" ASANA shown above.
Dr. Saviet noted reduced blood circulation would result in less available blood, oxygen and nutrients to nerve cells - resulting in a sensation of pins and needles.
TAKEAWAYS
Maintaining my yoga balance remains a priority.
*
ACTIONS TAKEN
I
HAVE
REPLACED MY WALKING SHOES
TOPO PHANTOM 4
PROVIDING MORE CUSHION & SUPPORT
AND
PURCHASED
MORENO WOOL, SYNTHETIC SOCKS
TO
WICK AWAY MOISTURE, KEEP FEET DRY
NOTE
FEET WARMERS ALSO WILL BE USED WHEN TEMPERATURES IN THE 20's AND BELOW OCCUR
ALSO
SPECIFIC FOOT, LOWER LEG MOVEMENTS
WIL
BE
ADDED
TO MY DAILY YOGA SEQUENCES
*
SPRING TO SUMMER MONTHS
My mast cells (one type of our white blood cells) were reactive to allergens during the Spring.
This led to an excessive release of histamines and nasal flow (running nose of fluids, mucous) and persistent coughing.
__
Dr. Faucher recommended use of Zyrtec to counter the allergens - likely from pollen(s).
NOTE
This was the first time since my reconstructive thoracic surgery in June, 2001 such relief was required.
***
*
[2]
YOGA
Daily morning and evening sessions in my condo yoga studio continued during the past six months - bringing me closer to completing a ninth year on December 31st.
[I began doing two daily yoga sessions in January, 2018]
NOTE
I also accepted an invitation and enjoyed a yoga session led by Ray Hoyt with two others in his studio during August.
Several partner poses demonstrated relatively good whole body mobility including the challenging GUILLOTINE ASANA.
*
AN ONGOING FOCUS
TO
ADDRESS
SARCOPENIA
[1]
I
CONTINUED
DOING
DAILY MORNING
PUSH-UPS
&
[2[
I
ADDED
DEEP SQUATS
25 consecutive squats before morning and evening yoga sessions with and without using an 8 pound dumbbell have been done to increase pelvic girdle strength.
*
[3]
I
BEGAN
EATING MORE PROTEIN EACH DAY
I have added more protein from different sources during my main morning meals at the Rose Room Cafe.
Likewise, more protein has been consumed during smaller afternoon meals and has included edamame spaghetti and tuna.
*
ALSO
RAY HOYT'S
MONTHLY MASSAGE
HAS HELPED TO MAINTAIN
WHOLE BODY
MOBILITY
**
*
[3]
NUTRITION
AT
THE
ROSE ROOM CAFE
JESS SABINE'S business in WEBSTER, MA is where I have enjoyed my morning meals during the past six months.
My yoga blogs on Nutrition (December 30, 2025) and Mobility, Aging (March 28, 2026) explain why I eat what I do.
THE
DIVERSE
MENU SELECTIONS
I
HAVE
ENJOYED
WERE
LOCALLY SOURCED
FRIENDLY,
NOTE
I have maintained records of every meal consumed at this location for over three years.
___
MY RECENT TWENTY MENU SELECTIONS CONSUMED
FROM
August 20 - September 8, 2026
ARE
DOCUMENTED
BELOW
[not to be read but simply acknowledged]
[4]
CURRENT HEALTH STATUS
FAIR TO GOOD WITH CAVEATS
MAINTAINING ADOLESCENT WEIGHT
( 117.6 POUNDS )
_
On September 14th I met with my PCP, Geriatric Specialist Dr. Jarrod Faucher.
Dr. Faucher provided the opportunity to talk about ongoing and new health issues noted above including the data obtained from the blood and urine assays on August 20th - representing a 12 month period (19 August 2025 - 19 August 2026
*
ISSUES DISCUSSED
INCLUDED
[1]
LIPID PANEL DATA
&
LIPOPROTEIN a [ LP(a) ]
It appears my daily nutrition approaches during this 12 month period have been effective to maintain lipid panel values that reduce cardiovascular risks factors.
___
MY
CURRENT
LIPID PANEL & LP(a) VALUES
REFLECTING
AUGUST 19, 2025 - AUGUST 19, 2026
ARE
PRESENTED BELOW WITH RECOMMENDED RANGES IN ( ).
*
*
TOTAL CHOLESTEROL . 148 . (< 200mg/dL)
LDL CHOLESTEROL .. 57 .. (< 70 mg)
HDL CHOLESTEROL .. 77 .. (> 40 mg/dL)
TRIGLYCERIDES .. 61 .. (<150 mg/dL)
APOLIPOPROTEIN B .. 64 .. (< 90 mg/dL)
&
NON-HDL CHOLESTEROL
71 ... (< 130 mg/dL)
CHOLESTEROL/ HDL CHOLESTEROL
1.9 ... (< 5.0 mg/dL)
ALSO
LIPOPROTEIN A ...17... (< 75 nMol/L)
[2]
I ALSO HAD
GOOD
COMPHRENSIVE METABOLIC PANEL VALUES
INCLUDING
ENZYME MARKERS
OF
LIVER & KIDNEY STATUS
[3]
DENTAL HEALTH HAS IMPROVED DURING THE PAST YEAR
CURRENTLY
HAVING
CROWN PROCEDURES
TO ADDRESS LOSS Of FILLING, CRACKED TOOTH
[4]
AMONG OTHER ISSUES
CARDIOLOGIST: ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL UPDATES
IMPROVED SLEEP, NO GASTRIC REFLUX REMOVING CAFFEINE
DUPYPTEN'S CONTRACTURE STATUS
VITAMINS B12, D2
TESTOSTERONE LEVELS
HERNIA STATUS
&
MY BLOOD TYPE
TYPE O, Rh(D) NEGATIVE - RELATIVELY RARE
[I WOULD BE A GOOD BLOOD DONER]
YET
UNFORTUNATELY
DECADES OF POOR EATING HABITS HAVE DONE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO MY CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
TAKEAWAY
APPROACHES MOVING FORWARD
[1]
EATING FOODS
TO
INCREASE
NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHISIS
NITRIC OXIDE CAN INCREASE BLOOD FLOW.
NOTE
I HAVE BEEN CONSUMING MORE FOODS CONTAINING
NITRATES
and
AMINO ACIDS: L- arginine and L-citrulline
TO
PROMOTE
NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHESIS
FOODS I EAT AMONG OTHERS
INCLUDE
CABBAGE
BEETS
CELERY
SPLIT GREE PEAS
CHICKPEAS
LENTILS
16 BEAN MIX
VARIOUS DAIRY
MORE FOODS
WITH
FIBER
(SOLUBLE, INSOLUBLE)
AND
RESISTENT STARCH
***
**
SHARE YOUR COMMENTS
bobcrowther66@gmail.com
BOB CROWTHER - NUTRITION - YOGA
