I keep forgetting to mention that my labs came back over the weekend. The doctor's note that came with them said I have a Vitamin D deficiency and need 50,000 units once per week. I'll follow through on that, because chemistry is chemistry, but the fact is the exhaustion that so hindered me for more than a month was driven out by prayer and was long gone a week before the lab results got here. In fact, I haven't yet gotten the Vitamin D. So I'm on something like day 10 or 11 of normal energy, with not a single thing medically changed. Sometimes the answer really is a spiritual one!
My abs are still complaining about that bike ride. I'm taking an Aleve every 12 hours for pain relief, cuz when I don't, my abs ache to the point of distracting me from life. I guess an entire day of unintentional "ab workout" (shifting my pelvis on a bike seat) really has lasting effect! My arms and neck are still griping a bit too. If this sounds like ME complaining, please let me clarify...it's more a victory chant. Like....whatta workout!!!
Tonight I am back to kickboxing. I'm torn between looking forward to the fun of the class, and wanting to hibernate after work (cuz it's already dark and chilly outside by then). Lack of momentum really is an enemy that just keeps dragging it's damned heels, eh?
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
cranking up the running another notch, and enjoying fressssssh milk!
This morning it was time to advance my running routine again. After 5ish minutes of warmup walking, I did 3 rounds of:
2 minutes slower jogging
8 minutes faster running
Followed by 5ish minutes of cool down walking. Man...that first 2 minutes of jogging I was going sooooo slow, just dreading the very prospect of 8 minutes faster! But it was absolutely do-able and didn't even make me feel like I was gonna puke. AWESOME.
I spent yesterday recovering from the great bike ride. I didn't want to get out of bed AT ALL. While my legs (and even my knees!) were basically fine, everything else hurt. Arms, back, chest, neck. My abs feel like I did 1000 sit-ups, probably because I was constantly shifting my pelvis, trying to alleviate bike seat pain. And ooooooohhhhh bike seat pain recovery...golly...I'll spare ya the details, 'k? Let's just say thank God for Aleve for pain relief, and coffee for enough stimulation to keep me up and mobile through church, and no need to sit a-straddle of anything at all anytime soon. I'm still maintaining...it was totally worth it. Even as my arms and neck and abs continue to complain a bit this morning. Totally. Worth it.
Yesterday I got my first of what will be a biweekly delivery of one gallon of raw, farm-fresh milk from pastured, grass/organic fed cows. OH MAN. I remembered from when I was a kid and the neighbor provided us milk from their cow that it is soooo good. Beautiful layer of yellow cream on top, most of which I carefully skimmed off into a separate container. It was good in my tea this morning and will be even better on fruit tonight. Can't go overboard on it cuz that's plenty of fat...but the important thing here is it's not full of chemicals/steroids/etc. Good clean food. YUMMY good clean food. Color me happy. The milk was awfully good on my oatmeal, too.
Happy Monday, all.
2 minutes slower jogging
8 minutes faster running
Followed by 5ish minutes of cool down walking. Man...that first 2 minutes of jogging I was going sooooo slow, just dreading the very prospect of 8 minutes faster! But it was absolutely do-able and didn't even make me feel like I was gonna puke. AWESOME.
I spent yesterday recovering from the great bike ride. I didn't want to get out of bed AT ALL. While my legs (and even my knees!) were basically fine, everything else hurt. Arms, back, chest, neck. My abs feel like I did 1000 sit-ups, probably because I was constantly shifting my pelvis, trying to alleviate bike seat pain. And ooooooohhhhh bike seat pain recovery...golly...I'll spare ya the details, 'k? Let's just say thank God for Aleve for pain relief, and coffee for enough stimulation to keep me up and mobile through church, and no need to sit a-straddle of anything at all anytime soon. I'm still maintaining...it was totally worth it. Even as my arms and neck and abs continue to complain a bit this morning. Totally. Worth it.
Yesterday I got my first of what will be a biweekly delivery of one gallon of raw, farm-fresh milk from pastured, grass/organic fed cows. OH MAN. I remembered from when I was a kid and the neighbor provided us milk from their cow that it is soooo good. Beautiful layer of yellow cream on top, most of which I carefully skimmed off into a separate container. It was good in my tea this morning and will be even better on fruit tonight. Can't go overboard on it cuz that's plenty of fat...but the important thing here is it's not full of chemicals/steroids/etc. Good clean food. YUMMY good clean food. Color me happy. The milk was awfully good on my oatmeal, too.
Happy Monday, all.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
50 MILES, BABY!!!
Today I achieved a goal: broke the 50-mile barrier on Wilma!
I had picked up a speedometer for her, hoping it would help me identify the correct turnaround spot. When I bought it last night, the guy in the bike shop told me they would install it for me if I couldn't. At first I thought maybe I could do it...but...DUDE...I couldn't even open its battery compartment. So this morning I rode back over to the bike shop, where the owner took the time to install it for me. We chatted while he worked; he told me where the turnaround spot is for a 50 mile ride.
Turned out to be a good thing he did. I wondered as I rode down the bike path...the speedometer showed I was cruising at an average between 25 and 30 MPH, with occasional peaks at 44 MPH when going downtown. REALLY? That didn't seem right.
Further down the road, it seemed apparent that too many miles were piling on as I rode. So I made a decision not to base the turnaround on what it said. Good thing: when I got to the actual turnaround, it said I already had done 45 miles (which, added to the 4 miles unrecorded before the bike shop, meant in theory I had ridden 50 miles ONE WAY). Holy cow.
Made several stops along the way to alleviate bike seat pain. Lunch was at the gazebo just beyond Rapids City. Beautiful view, yummy lunch. (Sorry, my picture doesn't show the river view that I enjoyed!)
Apple quarters, cashew butter, farm fresh egg, and the even the cookies are decently good...dark chocolate, made from organic ingredients, 2 g fiber/serving. Rode on through Cordova and a little over a mile further before turning around (at that point, the 20 MPH winds that had been predicted arrived just on time...to be HEADWINDS...oyyyy!) Had another apple with the rest of the cashew butter a little further down the road, on the way home in Port Byron.
Stopped by the bike shop when I rolled back into Moline. Here was the problem: the speedometer measures speed by how many times a little magnet on one of the spokes goes by. I had on my front wheel the new magnet that came with the speedometer AND the old magnet from the previous system (which was lost before I got Wilma). Soooo...it was recording as basically twice as fast/twice as many miles as I was going LOL
Now I'm all showered and changed, doing my laundry, not sleepy at all but feel like I gave every bit I had to give, muscle-wise, in that ride. Where is my full-body massage?! Oh well, Aleve will have to be sufficient.
I had picked up a speedometer for her, hoping it would help me identify the correct turnaround spot. When I bought it last night, the guy in the bike shop told me they would install it for me if I couldn't. At first I thought maybe I could do it...but...DUDE...I couldn't even open its battery compartment. So this morning I rode back over to the bike shop, where the owner took the time to install it for me. We chatted while he worked; he told me where the turnaround spot is for a 50 mile ride.
Turned out to be a good thing he did. I wondered as I rode down the bike path...the speedometer showed I was cruising at an average between 25 and 30 MPH, with occasional peaks at 44 MPH when going downtown. REALLY? That didn't seem right.
Further down the road, it seemed apparent that too many miles were piling on as I rode. So I made a decision not to base the turnaround on what it said. Good thing: when I got to the actual turnaround, it said I already had done 45 miles (which, added to the 4 miles unrecorded before the bike shop, meant in theory I had ridden 50 miles ONE WAY). Holy cow.
Made several stops along the way to alleviate bike seat pain. Lunch was at the gazebo just beyond Rapids City. Beautiful view, yummy lunch. (Sorry, my picture doesn't show the river view that I enjoyed!)
Stopped by the bike shop when I rolled back into Moline. Here was the problem: the speedometer measures speed by how many times a little magnet on one of the spokes goes by. I had on my front wheel the new magnet that came with the speedometer AND the old magnet from the previous system (which was lost before I got Wilma). Soooo...it was recording as basically twice as fast/twice as many miles as I was going LOL
Now I'm all showered and changed, doing my laundry, not sleepy at all but feel like I gave every bit I had to give, muscle-wise, in that ride. Where is my full-body massage?! Oh well, Aleve will have to be sufficient.
Friday, November 11, 2011
the mercury drops and the layers pile on
I really like running outside early in the morning. It's dark. It's quiet. There are fewer reasons for me to have to acknowledge that others have the right to live, move, and make noise on my planet. I really NEED my planet to basically be all mine for the first hour...or two...or three...of my day. It takes me awhile to wake up enough to allow that others should be able to live and intrude upon my quiet zone. What can I say...I'm a selfish jerk in the morning, okay?
So I'm really hoping I can transition into being a winter outdoor runner (and for that matter, cyclist as well). I don't want to give it up for the season. And I REALLY don't want to move indoors, where people will turn on lights and speak and turn on television programs that make me want to blow up planet earth (can you say Fox News?!) It's not nice to want to blow up planet earth before 7 AM, after all.
As the year advances, I've started checking the weather while I'm getting ready to run. This morning it said 29 degrees. What I know, from our Fantastic Prayer Walking Project a few years ago, in which we walked in all the best and worst weather: 29 degrees is a nice temperature to be out moving around...provided that you're dressed right. So I piled on layers. First my high-priced high tech sweat wicking underarmour shirt (long-sleeved). Then the workout shirt a friend gave me...some kind of spandexy thing made in Vietnam (also long-sleeved). Then a mesh-lined workout jacket I picked up at Goodwill last weekend for $4. My regular running pants (gonna look into something warmer to wear under them right away...if you don't have "extra padding" on your butt and legs, you might not realize how much that layer of fat grabs the cold and holds onto it for hours and hours after exposure to it) and warm socks instead of the mesh-topped ones I've been wearing for running since I started this past spring. Gloves...those little 99 cent wonders. And of course my reflective vest and that extra-wide headband that keeps my ears warm and has little reflective stuffies on the back. That's a lotta clothes! Happily, it was enough for the day. I have a big heavy hoodie I can throw on over it all, for the next step in warmth when the mercury drops. Let's see how soon I need it.
I also peeked at tomorrow's weather. Looks like I'll probably get my first-ever 50 mile bike ride in tomorrow. WOO HOO!!!
And if you're wondering whether that spiritual answer to my physical exhaustion worked out...well...today is day 8 of it looking like has! Color me happy. Speaking of which...
Happy Friday, all.
So I'm really hoping I can transition into being a winter outdoor runner (and for that matter, cyclist as well). I don't want to give it up for the season. And I REALLY don't want to move indoors, where people will turn on lights and speak and turn on television programs that make me want to blow up planet earth (can you say Fox News?!) It's not nice to want to blow up planet earth before 7 AM, after all.
As the year advances, I've started checking the weather while I'm getting ready to run. This morning it said 29 degrees. What I know, from our Fantastic Prayer Walking Project a few years ago, in which we walked in all the best and worst weather: 29 degrees is a nice temperature to be out moving around...provided that you're dressed right. So I piled on layers. First my high-priced high tech sweat wicking underarmour shirt (long-sleeved). Then the workout shirt a friend gave me...some kind of spandexy thing made in Vietnam (also long-sleeved). Then a mesh-lined workout jacket I picked up at Goodwill last weekend for $4. My regular running pants (gonna look into something warmer to wear under them right away...if you don't have "extra padding" on your butt and legs, you might not realize how much that layer of fat grabs the cold and holds onto it for hours and hours after exposure to it) and warm socks instead of the mesh-topped ones I've been wearing for running since I started this past spring. Gloves...those little 99 cent wonders. And of course my reflective vest and that extra-wide headband that keeps my ears warm and has little reflective stuffies on the back. That's a lotta clothes! Happily, it was enough for the day. I have a big heavy hoodie I can throw on over it all, for the next step in warmth when the mercury drops. Let's see how soon I need it.
I also peeked at tomorrow's weather. Looks like I'll probably get my first-ever 50 mile bike ride in tomorrow. WOO HOO!!!
And if you're wondering whether that spiritual answer to my physical exhaustion worked out...well...today is day 8 of it looking like has! Color me happy. Speaking of which...
Happy Friday, all.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
maybe zumba's not for me?
I made it back to Zumba class tonight, after missing last week due to a combination of exhaustion and an appointment I needed not to miss. Though I had wanted to take a Zumba class for...I dunno...a year...maybe two?...and just started 2 weeks ago, at this point I'm very undecided about how long I'll stick with it.
It's not my ineptness that's discouraging me. I knew I'd start out with no rhythm, no moves, no skills. I knew I'd be the slow one in the back of the room, getting most of it wrong, and that idea hasn't bothered me overly much. After all, once upon a time, I was a pom-pom girl, and I know all about starting out awful and becoming wicked awesome after consistent practice. At 45, I don't need the class to think I'm awesome on day 1, or even on day 101. Heck, I don't even care (though I do notice) that I'm the 2nd largest member of the class. Gotta start somewhere. This is not some need to be a rock star or go home.
Part of it is the issue of the way it makes me feel like I'm Amish or something, which I'm only discussing over there and not here, cuz I'm a freaky blogger with a compartmentalized writing approach and I'm not above trying to cross-link you from one to the other.
The other part of it, quite simply: I'm concerned that I might do damage to myself that could interfere with my running.
Here's the thing: in 2011 I have discovered that plain, simple, old-fashioned running is an exercise that conditions me shockingly faster and better than all the things I've tried in the past. It works better for me than an elliptical machine or a treadmill, better than a cardio class, better than walking. So despite that fact that most wouldn't consider me, at 2.2 miles per 30 minutes, anything like a REAL runner, it works for me and I don't want to do anything that might endanger my ability to run.
The Zumba class moves are lightning fast, and I'm a slow learner when it comes to the physical. So the class is hustling along to the next higher, faster, harder level as I struggle to figure out the beginner steps. Result: 3 times tonight in class I stepped down or turned in a way that made my right knee scream for mercy.
Every time I felt a little panicked. If this messes up my run, I am gonna be so mad! And every time I panicked, I asked myself if this class is where I belong right now.
So I'll be pondering and praying about it this week, and we'll see if I try it again next Tuesday night. Ehhh. I just don't know.
It's not my ineptness that's discouraging me. I knew I'd start out with no rhythm, no moves, no skills. I knew I'd be the slow one in the back of the room, getting most of it wrong, and that idea hasn't bothered me overly much. After all, once upon a time, I was a pom-pom girl, and I know all about starting out awful and becoming wicked awesome after consistent practice. At 45, I don't need the class to think I'm awesome on day 1, or even on day 101. Heck, I don't even care (though I do notice) that I'm the 2nd largest member of the class. Gotta start somewhere. This is not some need to be a rock star or go home.
Part of it is the issue of the way it makes me feel like I'm Amish or something, which I'm only discussing over there and not here, cuz I'm a freaky blogger with a compartmentalized writing approach and I'm not above trying to cross-link you from one to the other.
The other part of it, quite simply: I'm concerned that I might do damage to myself that could interfere with my running.
Here's the thing: in 2011 I have discovered that plain, simple, old-fashioned running is an exercise that conditions me shockingly faster and better than all the things I've tried in the past. It works better for me than an elliptical machine or a treadmill, better than a cardio class, better than walking. So despite that fact that most wouldn't consider me, at 2.2 miles per 30 minutes, anything like a REAL runner, it works for me and I don't want to do anything that might endanger my ability to run.
The Zumba class moves are lightning fast, and I'm a slow learner when it comes to the physical. So the class is hustling along to the next higher, faster, harder level as I struggle to figure out the beginner steps. Result: 3 times tonight in class I stepped down or turned in a way that made my right knee scream for mercy.
Every time I felt a little panicked. If this messes up my run, I am gonna be so mad! And every time I panicked, I asked myself if this class is where I belong right now.
So I'll be pondering and praying about it this week, and we'll see if I try it again next Tuesday night. Ehhh. I just don't know.
Monday, November 7, 2011
a ray of hope, and back to running
The good news is that after hearing in my study and prayer late last week that this exhaustion problem may have a spiritual root, I'm experiencing marked improvement. That improvement started directly AFTER I stopped resisting the idea that it might be a spiritual problem. I took some steps of faith this weekend toward that end; I'm happy to say that I had a 100% NORMAL weekend, where my energy reserves are concerned. I'm feeling cautiously optimistic. I'm not really in the mood to spell it all out here on the blog, as experience has shown me that few things divide and irritate people as much as the subject of supernatural/spiritual healing of a physical issue. So I'll say simply that I'm handling it with prayer, and watching and waiting to see what God does next. End of story, for now.
This morning I made it out for my run, which was a huge relief after having taken another week off from running in an effort to combat that debilitating exhaustion. It felt SO GOOD to be out there. I am once again repeating the 3/7 intervals, which my body was happy to do this morning. At this rate I am supposing next week I'll move on to the next harder intervals (will have to look them up to see what they are.)
Feeling good on a Monday morning. I hope you are too.
This morning I made it out for my run, which was a huge relief after having taken another week off from running in an effort to combat that debilitating exhaustion. It felt SO GOOD to be out there. I am once again repeating the 3/7 intervals, which my body was happy to do this morning. At this rate I am supposing next week I'll move on to the next harder intervals (will have to look them up to see what they are.)
Feeling good on a Monday morning. I hope you are too.
Friday, November 4, 2011
report after dr. visit, and the scale is a meanie as usual
Guess I left y'all with kind of a cliff-hanger, what with me saying I was going to the doctor and then not coming back on to say what the doctor said. Today's entry won't be much more satisfying than no news at all, but here it is:
The doctor didn't have any instant answers (which is how I knew this would have to go.) I really like him - he listened very intently to everything I said, didn't hurry me, didn't shush me when I interrupted to add more information and further questions. He took me very seriously, which I appreciated (if you've ever felt "dismissed" by a doctor, you understand perhaps how much I appreciate this guy.)
Because heart health issues run rampant in my family, he did an EKG immediately. Good news: my heart's in good shape (which I guessed was the case)! He also checked me over thoroughly, and had my blood drawn for a full array of screenings. Next week I have appointments for a mammogram and a pelvic (oh joy). We discussed a few possibilities, but he's not putting answers out there until he has test results in hand (which I appreciate). If all the tests listed here don't bring conclusive results, we may follow up with a sleep study (I don't anticipate that happening...I'm 99% sure I don't have sleep apnea issues...but who knows.)
Meanwhile I've come across an insight to a spiritual approach on this one, which I won't go into great detail on here. Basically a prayer approach. Gonna work on that this weekend.
Told ya it wouldn't be a satisfying report.
In other news, I got weighed at the doctor's office...which, as you know, is something I've avoided like the plague because I KNOW how my mind works on that topic. I don't want this "letting God teach me to love my body" project slide off into a diet and weight obsession. But now I have a number.
I have lost 50 pounds in the last year or year and a half. Sounds like an encouraging number, eh? Only I thought I had probably lost 70. I weigh 225. I thought I probably was in the 200 range. (I HATE reporting numbers, but after all, this is the naked blog...) So, as predicted, stepping on the scale was a frustrating and disappointing experience. Bleh. Ever since I weighed, I have had to go back to continually reminding myself and praying through getting my focus back where it goes: loving my body, not counting stupid numbers.
Gonna keep pushing and praying, and trusting that God will bring me back to that much better focus.
The doctor didn't have any instant answers (which is how I knew this would have to go.) I really like him - he listened very intently to everything I said, didn't hurry me, didn't shush me when I interrupted to add more information and further questions. He took me very seriously, which I appreciated (if you've ever felt "dismissed" by a doctor, you understand perhaps how much I appreciate this guy.)
Because heart health issues run rampant in my family, he did an EKG immediately. Good news: my heart's in good shape (which I guessed was the case)! He also checked me over thoroughly, and had my blood drawn for a full array of screenings. Next week I have appointments for a mammogram and a pelvic (oh joy). We discussed a few possibilities, but he's not putting answers out there until he has test results in hand (which I appreciate). If all the tests listed here don't bring conclusive results, we may follow up with a sleep study (I don't anticipate that happening...I'm 99% sure I don't have sleep apnea issues...but who knows.)
Meanwhile I've come across an insight to a spiritual approach on this one, which I won't go into great detail on here. Basically a prayer approach. Gonna work on that this weekend.
Told ya it wouldn't be a satisfying report.
In other news, I got weighed at the doctor's office...which, as you know, is something I've avoided like the plague because I KNOW how my mind works on that topic. I don't want this "letting God teach me to love my body" project slide off into a diet and weight obsession. But now I have a number.
I have lost 50 pounds in the last year or year and a half. Sounds like an encouraging number, eh? Only I thought I had probably lost 70. I weigh 225. I thought I probably was in the 200 range. (I HATE reporting numbers, but after all, this is the naked blog...) So, as predicted, stepping on the scale was a frustrating and disappointing experience. Bleh. Ever since I weighed, I have had to go back to continually reminding myself and praying through getting my focus back where it goes: loving my body, not counting stupid numbers.
Gonna keep pushing and praying, and trusting that God will bring me back to that much better focus.
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