A swim, my bike and then I run

This past Saturday I completed a 5K (3.1 miles) open water swim. I love to swim, it is actually my favorite exercise, but this past weekend's event was tough.The water was rough and choppy and I had a lot of trouble with leg cramps. It was a great event and I will definitely sign up again ... I need to beat my time.

I have always struggled with the same thing my whole life, my weight. At times it has held me back and at other times I try to prove I am better than my weight. I have never disliked physical activities. I have run, biked and swam for 100s and 100s of miles and yet my weight is still and issue. To reiterate what I stated in my last post I have six months to get my weight under control. Exercise will not be enough. I have to watch not only my carbohydrate intake but also the amount of fat I intake too. Is it more important to weigh myself at home and use the same scale I have always been using or do I use a different scale during these 6 months. I have been thinking about using the scale at the gym and weigh in once a week. With tomorrow being the first of September, I will make a decision in the AM and post my weight.

I have another goal as we start September. My sister, who is a teacher, often says that September is her "new year" so she sets her resolutions in September rather than January. I thought I would do that too this year. My resolutions in January were surrounded around my health and this September it is a continuation. I need to get my weight under control and I would also like to move my bike now. My bike taunts me. It is setup in my living room and every day it looks at me and laughs. I always have great intentions of riding my bike outside or on my trainer but every time I make the plan I find an excuse. Of the three disciplines of triathlon the bike is my weakest. Knowing the fact that it is my weakest or should I put it bluntly, I stink at it, I should want to get on the bike more, but I don't. There is something holding me back. Is it fear? I know what you are thinking, get on my bike because it is the only way to get better. Oh I know, but the bike taunts me instead! So this September I am going to ride my bike. I will overcome this fear and quiet the bully known as my bike! Other resolutions are to knit more this fall & winter and to do something new every month!

So what is next? A run. I have a half marathon scheduled for October in Brooklyn, NY. Training is going ok but now that the swim is over, my training will totally be focused on my run. I have also decided to sign up for the Ithaca 5 & 10 in September. I was excited when I realized I wasn't working that weekend so I can actually sign up for a race!! And what will come up next ... stay tuned!

What's next?

Of course it's hard. It's supposed to be hard. If it were easy, everybody would do it.

Hard is what makes it great ---- A League of Their Own

It's been 3 months since I have met with my diabetes coach and on Tuesday, August 25th I returned. I have been working very hard at controlling my daily blood sugar levels. There is so much I can do to produce low numbers but sometimes one meal can throw you off. It happens sometimes when you go out to dinner or When traveling, you think you have made the best choices and then that evening or the next morning's read is up high. I am happy to report that my coach was pleased with my numbers. The majority of the time they were great but there were a few times when they were high. However, we could look back on my daily food intake and were able to pinpoint what I had eaten that made the levels high.

During our appointment we discussed some side affects and issues I have been having with one of my medication. I have been feeling the affects of some of the medication to the extreme and these side affects wreak havoc on my daily routines. So we decided to change up some of my medications to see how I do. I have to try the new medication for a month and then report back in with her via email to see how I am feeling.

The good news is I don't have to go back to my coach for another 6 months. However, I have my work cut out for me during these next six months. I have to break the weight plateau I have been on and continue to bring it down. I lost the 41 pounds and during this summer I hit a stand still. The weight is going to be key. So my blood sugar numbers need to stay low and my weight numbers need to come down. I feel like my body has changed, clothes fit differently in the areas that I lose the weight first (my hips, legs and upper body) but my mid section is still an issue. I need to increase my vegetable intake (not easy for me) and decrease my daily fat grams. Doing all of this while keeping my blood sugar levels low too ... this won't be easy but as the quote up top states...if it were easy everyone would be doing it.

In 6 months the weight needs to drop. No more plateaus ... No more sliding by ... this is more than just my blood sugar numbers, this affects my blood sugar levels. The scale is important too. I need to follow a low fat/low carb diet. I need to be strict and I need to make sacrifices. I need to say no, not just in public but when I am home alone too. Most importantly I need to plan. Exercise is not enough, my diet is keeping me from succeeding. This will not be easy, this will be hard. I have to stop finding excuses and start making a change.

Sometimes a run is all you need...

This month is going to be crazy! It is only August 4th and I am already saying this. I have seven work events that are planned along with multiple trips scheduled each week. The last two evenings I left work at 7:15 pm ... not because my work was done but because I was hungry and wanted dinner. The past two days I had planned to swim after work, but by the time I left the office the pool was closed so my gym bag was dragged back home. Last night I got home and it was thundering and pouring rain so I just made dinner and sat on the couch. Tonight it was a beautiful evening and I couldn't miss another workout.

This morning I saw the above post and I couldn't agree more. Tonight I was tired and hungry but I knew I needed to move. I put dinner in the oven and went out for a quick run. The oven timer was set for 45 minutes and I was back in 44 minutes, happy that I completed the workout.

When I was out for the run I passed a couple that was walking. They cheered for me when I passed and said that I was doing better than them. I in-turn cheered for them and said as long as you are moving forward that is all that counts. As much as my job takes up so much of my life, I can't let it affect my health, I must keep moving forward. My workouts are too important. My workouts challenge me, relax me and empower me! My workouts make me a better person, my workouts help me move forward.

After my run tonight I felt great. Happy that I completed it and happy that I didn't find an excuse not to do it. I told myself while I was on the run that if I kept moving I would reward myself with a treat...

There is my treat ... a nice cold glass of chocolate milk. Sometimes all you need is a run and maybe some chocolate milk to make you happy!!