Discovery Channel Catch-up for the last 18 months

I haven't posted for a LONG time for a LOT of different reasons and not sure that will really change but just to document a bullet list of the high and low points of my life for the last 18 months, here goes:

• December 2017 - March 2018: Had intense lower back pain to the point of being somewhat crippled. Previously had an X-ray in Houston in August 2016 which showed severe spinal stenosis - aka - arthritic deterioration of all the lumbar joints from L2 - S1 with the worst at the L4-L5 vertebrae.  Had an MRI in February 2018 and made a special trip to the same back specialist at the Fondren Orthopedic Group in Houston and he said I needed an L4-L5 fusion procedure. Came back to Santa Fe and had another back specialist look at the MRI and he said the same thing.  Oh and I also had a quarter sized Synovial Cyst at that same L4 - L5 site which was pushing on the nerve root and spinal cord causing the pain and paralysis.  After reviewing the specifications of an L4 - L5 fusion procedure with the recovery time in a back brace for 3 months, I decided NO FUCKING WAY - I'll do this shit myself - not the surgery but figure out how to fix it the Discovery way which of course means going backpacking.  So I spent the month of February trying out my old backpacking gear and then deciding to buy and use some new, modern semi-ultralight gear. On March 23, 2018, I had an ESI - Epidural Steroid Injection - basically a cortisone injection to the spine - by Dr Shelby Bennett at X-Ray Associates. 3 days later....
• March 26, 2018 - September 29, 2018: Did the Continental Divide Trail from the Mexican border at Crazy Cook, NM through New Mexico and through Colorado to Steamboat Springs, CO. Then skipped up to Montana and did the Montana / Canadian border south to Lincoln, MT. I did it about a 400 - 500 mile section at a time coming back to my home in Santa Fe NM to work for a few days and prep / dehydrate my own food - pork loin, sweet potato, other veggies, fuji apple, pineapple, etc. and pack the next section's food and supplies and shipping it to the post office or lodging where I would come off the trail every 100 miles or so.  156 days on the trail and 1900 miles later and my back was cured.  Hardest thing I've ever done physically, mentally and emotionally. Totally alone backpacking the most beautiful scenic trail in the US and arguably the World.  To date, the greatest Discovery adventure of all time.
• September 30, 2018 - March, 2019: Came back to the Real World and tried the Bumble dating thing which was an unmitigated disaster. Also found out I had no work from my former employer so went into what I call "Income Crisis" budget mode which basically means I cut my budget to the bare minimum. Lived cheaper than I ever have in my life. During this time, started doing a LOT of research, reading, YouTube video viewing on diet, nutrition, longevity, life extension, etc. and started a "modified" clean Keto eating plan which consisted of about 50% fat, 35% protein, 15% carbs based on calories. Also started intermittent fasting / time restricted eating which means I would only eat between 2 pm - 7 pm every day so would fast anywhere from 18 -  23 hours between meals. Terms / concepts / body mechanisms like Insulin Resistance, Autophagy, Ketosis, etc. became a daily routine of pursuing my lifetime passion of good food, intense exercise and improved health and well being based on the latest and greatest research studies and practical application by people like Dr Eric Berg, Dr. Rhonda Patrick, Siim Land, Thomas DeLauer, etc.  Dropped weight from 186 lbs to 175 lbs with a corresponding decrease in bodyfat level and increase in strength and fitness.
• April 2019 - date: The whole eating plan / nutrition / exercise cycle continued with my weight dropping to a Summer 2014 previous low of 165 with a minimum bodyfat level of 5%.  Best physical shape I've ever been in. Also the work / income drought ended.  As noted in the previous post, my Dad died on 5/3/19 and I was named as Executor and have been spending a lot of time dealing with that.  Based on research on injury rate vs low bodyfat level and partly just needing a break from the strict regimen I had been on for the last 6 months, I increased my calories from 2000 - 2500 per day to 2500 to 3000 per day and brought my weight up to 170 lbs which seems to be a good compromise between low body fat level, energy and strength and endurance.  Unlike every other summer since I've been in Santa Fe which has been compromised by trips back to Texas for surgeries, work and of course, 2018, when I was on the CDT, I decided to just relax and stay in Santa Fe this summer and enjoy the Plaza Bandstand and other live music / dancing venues. My personal life and personal views of Santa Fe haven't really changed. In fact, I am more isolated than ever. I sleep, cook, eat, work out, go out and dance by myself. I've tried to make connections in Santa Fe but it just hasn't worked which is fine.  I've pretty much decided I will live the rest of my life alone and I am good with that. I have created a pretty good, simple life and lifestyle for myself and really have nothing to complain about.

So - there you go - now you know what's been happening in the.....

Discovery Zone.