Buckfever's General Progress Log

11/8/2024

1.75"X9" straight tube

5 minutes @ 1.25 hg
2 minute rest
5 minutes @ 1.25 hg

1.25 hg = 2 notches

Tube down length position: 6-1/2"
Pack: 3-1/4"

There was less expansion today, maybe entered the tube less full. The petechiae resolved by this morning and the post session discoloration was decidedly less, could this lead to eventual conditioning? Not sure. Anyone successful with an approach like this?

Weight: 178.6 @ 18.5%

Yesterday activity level: Walk 1 X 1.3 Was blown out from work so no second walk.

Doing better with the hydration, in a habit of 2 X 14 ounce water bottles at the office instead of one.

Backing off a little on the sugar/carb intake, there was a time when I had no deserts but on a rare occasion, need to get back there. Sugar = crack. Get off the crack. AM anxious to get back in the gym and rebuild the physique.

A colleague called me for advice on how to handle a mutual client, stating that he seemed so fragile, I agreed and advised him that he has to feel that you like him. And then my colleague proceeded in his usual domineering way and completely turned him off. WTF?

A little blow up with the girl, she’s taking off today but says she’ll be back Monday. No fun for me this weekend. That’s okay she has to move, I’m not budging.

Not doing anything about it yet, BUT as I am handling other shit, I am thinking about sex more recently. Good sign IMO. I think that the time I am spending outdoors away from things is helping clear my head. 4 consecutive days off next week will be nice and lots of blocks of time marked off the next few months feel the strain come off a bit.

Hi Buck, have you tried pumping up slower. One of the causes of Petechiae is pumping up to the pressure too fast. You could try pump once wait 1 to 2 seconds then pump again, and repeat till desired pressure. You could also try l citrulline as its meant to help.

I’ll pay attention to the rate of pumping next time. Thanks for the suggestion.

11/9/2024

1.75"X9" straight tube

5 minutes @ 1.25 hg
2 minute rest
5 minutes @ 1.25 hg

1.25 hg = 2 notches

Tube down length position: 6-5/8+"
Pack: 3-1/8" ?

I’m not sure about the packing measure, due to the position of the tube it was hard to see the markings. So far the 2 notches of pressure are resolving quickly in terms of the red dots so we will see how this goes. Not sure when I will use the instrument again to assess EQ but we’ll see if this low pressure has any impact.

Weight: 176.8 @ 18.1%

Yesterday activity level: 3.5+ miles of hiking over vigorous terrain. I think just being outdoors for that many hours burns calories.

After today I only work 2 of the next 8 days, looking forward to the break. I need more sleep still need work on the hydration. And I need more food if I am not going to be relying on desert to bump up the calories. More veggies and maybe cheese. I’ll have to adjust. I don’t remember exactly how I used to do it but I remember it was a lot of food

11/11/2024

1.75"X9" straight tube

5 minutes @ 1.25 hg
2 minute rest
5 minutes @ 1.25 hg

1.25 hg = 2 notches

Tube down length position: 6-5/8+"
Pack: 2-5/8"

There is post session redness that seems to resolve. Where as previously it looked dark. We will see over time. This seems to me more of a maintenance protocol if anything. I’m waffling between sticking with this and maybe increasing the pressure increments over time or just waiting till next June when I have 2 months and then just push the pressure and expansion to get to packing and just dealing with the discoloration.

Weight: 176.8 @ 18%

Yesterday activity level: 3.5+ miles of vigorous hiking over challenging terrain.

I can’t eat enough for this activity level to maintain my weight. Still frustrated that I’m not in the weight room, but the social aspect of these outdoor activities is very important to me to maintain.

Not sure when I’m getting laid again, things are good with the girl at the moment but she has family shit she’s dealing with.

I need more sleep. I was given a monetary modeling project yesterday and hammered it out last night but that took till 11:30. Took way longer than I figured and my clock is set, I don’t seem able to sleep in. Hopefully tonight turn in early.

You see the gym bros talking trash, "yeah, I broke both legs, but I was doing my squats the next day with the casts on. WIN!" And the rest of them standing around nodding and high-fiving.

Riiiight.

Sometimes the snaggly green teeth of Reality bite you in the ass. Lifting has to get sidelined for a while in favor of Taking Care of Business. That doesn’t make you a quitter. What makes you a quitter is when you look back on it a year from now and think, "Yeah, I need to get back to the gym someday" while opening a fresh box of Twinkies.

11/12/2024

1.75"X9" straight tube

5 minutes @ 1.25 hg
2 minute rest
5 minutes @ 1.25 hg

1.25 hg = 2 notches

Tube down length position: 6-5/8+"
Pack: 2-5/8"

Seems stable. Not noticing discoloration developing. Wondering if this will lead to conditioning. Am ramping up the pressure slowly.

Weight: 178.2 @ 18.2%

Added peanut butter to grab more calories. I used to like it, not so much anymore. My tastes have changed. I need to increase the veggies.

Working for 2 days and then off for 4. Will get some good hiking in. Only getting out in the field 6 more times and then a couple days of cleanup and we will shift full throttle to the weights. Thinking I’ll be tighter here with the intake and take advantage of the calorie burn. And am tired of pushing the food.

A buddy of mine is closing up shop, he’s a good bit older. He seems pretty sad about it. The clock keeps ticking.

Peanut butter used to be the most calorie-dense food on the charts. The charts change often, but it should still be up there.

The base stock of peanut butter is simply puree’d peanuts. You can make your own in a blender.

Store-bought peanut butter may have sugar, artificial sweeteners, almond or what flour, various seed oils, salt, and various preservatives. Any of which can substantially affect the taste. You might try changing brands.

Peanuts are legumes. You can also make (or sometimes buy) almond, cashew, or other nut butters.

11/13/2024

1.75"X9" straight tube

5 minutes @ 1.875 hg
2 minute rest
5 minutes @ 1.875 hg

1.875 hg = 3 notches

Tube down length position: 6-7/8"
Pack: 2-5/8"

Increased pressure 1 notch, good bit more length, same packing. Will see if the tissues tolerate the increase in pressure.

Weight: 178.4 @ 18.4%

Added a cheese sandwich yesterday instead of the peanut butter. I need to get to the grocery store and start thinking about different food choices, but mostly I need to up the protein. Really want to reduce the sugar intake.

A far left staff member got into it with a client regarding Trump. The customer is highly intelligent and educated where as the staff member is a high school grad. The customer annihilated her. I have a strict policy of do not discuss politics. I stepped in and in the presence of the customer told the staff member 3 times, let’s not discuss politics. She could not stop, pure derangement.

I’ve known the client for a long time and have her cell phone number in my contacts so texted her an apology. She said none was needed.

I don’t care about her politics but my God do not argue with a client, what the fuck is wrong with you. That was a huge mistake because she lost a lot of equity with me. Anywhere else she would make a third less. So fucking stupid.

11/14/2024

1.75"X9" straight tube

5 minutes @ 1.875 hg
2 minute rest
5 minutes @ 1.875 hg

1.875 hg = 3 notches

Tube down length position: 6-5/8+"
Pack: 2-5/8+"

A little less length and a hair more packing. Ramping up the pressure within the session very slowly. So far I do not see a progression of discoloration. The big difference I am noticing is that previously at the end of a session the unpacked tissues came out of the tube very dark, not so now. Right now I am inclined to carry on giving some time maybe 10 days at a pressure level to see if the tissues develop conditioning and then moving up a notch.

Weight: 179 @ 18.4%

When I spent time in the field my weight was falling off precipitously and while I do want to get leaner, I felt my muscles deflating. So I upped the intake especially the protein and the muscles feel full again so I’ll back off on pushing food. I have 6 more days in the field and 2 days of clean up over the next 2 and a half weeks. We should come out of it in good position. The hiking has been good for my legs and on some of the days carrying in a heavy pack has been good for my core, so we are getting some work in.

I have 4 days off in a row which feels crazy as I have not taken a proper vacation in over a year. It will be a good mental break.

Got into a spat with the girl yesterday but she came around anyway. Maybe get some soon see what is happening with the EQ.

11/15/2024

1.75"X9" straight tube

5 minutes @ 1.875 hg
2 minute rest
5 minutes @ 1.875 hg

1.875 hg = 3 notches

Tube down length position: 6-5/8+"
Pack: 2-5/8+"

About the same. So far not developing discoloration. That said IMO this is not a therapeutic level of pressure. Baby steps.

I wound up getting taken care of a few hours after using the pump yesterday and I would say that it took a little bit longer to get full but then once over the hump it was full blown and then the intensity of the climax was hostile. Mornings are not usually my thing but it just went that way.

Weight: 178.2 @ 18.2%

Yesterday activity level ~ 3.5 miles hiking over challenging terrain.

I find myself having a hard time enjoying the outdoor activities for the first time ever. I think that working too much and too hard is destructive to the psyche. I’m pushing myself to get out there, because I know I’m not in a healthy place mentally and I have to reestablish balance.

Fortunately the staff member in charge of scheduling has a granddaughter now and wants to be travelling to NYC to visit every 6 weeks or so. I have directed her to take what ever time off she wants but that she is to close my schedule when she’s gone. I need to work less and this will make it happen. We already have 4 blocks of time crossed off.

I’ve marked 12/4 as the starting point of rebuilding the psyche as described in my signature.

11/16/2024

1.75"X9" straight tube

5 minutes @ 1.875 hg
2 minute rest
5 minutes @ 1.875 hg

1.875 hg = 3 notches

Tube down length position: 6-3/4"
Pack: 2-3/4+"

A little more length but definitely more packing. Not sure why maybe hydration levels? I’m thinking at least 10 days at a particular level to allow some time for conditioning before moving up the pressure. But I’m just guessing.

Weight: 179.8 @ 18.7% bodyfat

Yesterday activity level: 3.5 mile hike over challenging terrain. I ate too much yesterday I’ll back off today don’t want to go over 180. I’m sorting out weaning off of desert.

Yesterday I slept 9.5 hours and I have to say I really felt the tension from work start to dissipate. Looking forward to having consistent short blocks of time off.

I was talking to a hunting buddy yesterday and he was telling me that he is acutely aware of his headspace and work related anxiety levels. He says that he’ll wake at 3:30 in the morning and just stay in bed till his alarm because he can’t shut it off. He was telling me that if he’s in the wrong mindset he won’t go hunting because he doesn’t want negative associations with recreation and he feels the isolation in the field and it amplifies it. It’s an interesting perspective. I do think though that changing your venue removes cues and triggers that keep you in that mindset so I’m not sure. I guess it just depends on how fucked up you’re feeling.

He does agree with me that not getting the workouts in really gets to him so he puts that at a higher priority. He’s alternating the workout days with the recreation days so it doesn’t weigh on him.

I can’t pull that off because I have to drive much further to meet out there. I’ll stick with my plan at least I’m getting some hiking in.

Yesterday I informed my primary business partner that I will be working less as it will impact his business some. I told him that I feel that the amount of time I am working is affecting my health and I have to make changes. He wanted particulars and I explained that I will be taking short blocks of time off that will be predicated by the travel requirements of our associate that will be travelling to NYC on a regular basis and that I have instructed her to clear my schedule when she is travelling. He knew about this block of time, I let him know about 3 more blocks of time already scheduled. I also informed him about my doctor’s concerns about the long haul Covid muscle loss. That she is concerned about long run insulin resistance issues related to the muscle loss amongst other things and while she is happy with the positive cardiovascular impact of the aerobic effort she was wanting to know when I will get to that. I told her 12/4, and I told him that earmarks the starting point for the change. He gave me no push back, I think people don’t fuck with you when it’s related to health.

Now I did try to do this earlier in the year but as she’s in charge of scheduling I could not intervene often enough and was always outflanked because she wanted the hours. This solution is not a problem, because it doesn’t cost her hours. Although she seemed resistant to the idea initially because she didn’t like the idea of things being shut down because of her wanted to take off. I told her I don’t care take all the time you want, I want the time off.

I’m pretty happy about this solution although I can hardly take credit for it except for taking advantage of it. I’m not that full of shit to pretend I actually pulled anything off here, but I’ll take it.

11/17/2024

1.75"X9" straight tube

5 minutes @ 1.875 hg
2 minute rest
5 minutes @ 1.875 hg

1.875 hg = 3 notches

Tube down length position: 6-3/4+"
Pack: 2-5/8+"

I hair more length, a little less packing. So far the tissues are tolerating the pressure with no post session darkening.

Weight: 180.4 @ 18.7% bodyfat

That weight reading is not correct. I woke up thirsty and pounded 2 glasses of water not realizing that it was already 5 and I had slept through the night

Yesterday activity level 3.5 miles of hiking over challenging terrain. Thursdays forecast is for high winds and gusts so we are calling it on Tuesday and I’ll get cleanup done on Thursday and next Sunday and will move the start date on the lifting to 12/1..

11/18/2024

1.75"X9" straight tube

5 minutes @ 1.875 hg
2 minute rest
5 minutes @ 1.875 hg

1.875 hg = 3 notches

Tube down length position: 6-7/8"
Pack: 2-5/8"

I hair more length, a little less packing. So far the tissues are tolerating the pressure with no post session darkening.

Weight: 180.6 @ 18.7% bodyfat

Yesterday activity level: 3.5 miles of hiking over challenging terrain. Feeling a bit wore out from the outdoor activities. Going out one more time tomorrow and then 2 days of clean up and possibly a scout which is yet to be determined. On the weights soon.

11/19/2024

1.75"X9" straight tube

5 minutes @ 2.5 hg
2 minute rest
5 minutes @ 2.5 hg

2.5 hg = 4 notches

Tube down length position: 6-3/4+"
Pack: 2-3/4"

Increased the pressure 1 notch, A little less length a little more packing. Am increasing the pressure slowly maybe that is helping?

Weight: 182.6 @ 18.9%

Yesterday activity level walking 1 X 1.3 miles

Not happy about the weight jump I’m going to do the outdoor recreation cleanup today and Sunday and get back in the gym this Thursday. Getting on the meal plan today.