Hour-long workout and snacking opportunities

This morning I got back to an hour on the elliptical machine! It felt good, and I was surprised, since I had a Junior League meeting last night and didn't get to bed til nearly midnight (so I was tired!).

Okay, okay, so it wasn't totally the meeting's fault that I was up late. The Duke-UNC basketball game didn't start until 9:00, and the game was on TV, so I stayed up watching it. Duke was ahead for most of the game, so I was psyched to watch a Duke win, but they let it slip away, and Carolina stayed the course. Bummer.

By the way, survived the eating table at the Junior League meeting, and I even took one of my favorite things, homemade pimento cheese (and crackers to put it on). I did have three pieces of celery (no pimento cheese on them, either!), but no harm done when I got on the scales this morning. (Big surprise!) I did more socializing with a glass of water in my hand. I couldn't compliment anyone on how good their dish tasted, but I was able to find other things to talk about! :-)

I felt like snacking during the basketball game on TV (old habit) and after the loss (to feel better), but passed. This morning I felt better for skipping the late night snacking.

Early morning at the gym

This morning I did 45 intense minutes on the elliptical, was a great workout. I was inspired by a regular there at the gym who commented that she noticed I'd lost some weight. I told her about the Rice Diet, and she said she actually used to work security there years ago! Small world.

I made it out to the Quad for a 15 minute walk this afternoon to round out an hour of exercise for the day. What a beautiful afternoon! It's still nippy, but a big improvement temperature-wise over the past couple of days!

Short workout

This morning, I only spent 30 minutes on the elliptical machine. George and I had a covenant group meeting last night, so I ended up getting to bed later. :-( I hate using lack of sleep as an excuse, but I'm trying to listen to my body, and still find it hard to get to bed at a decent hour when I have meetings after work. Add to the mix the fact that I'm no longer depending on caffeine to keep me awake at work. *sigh*

My fasting blood sugar was 110 this morning, even with the exercise (would more have helped?) and being down on the scales this morning. I may have to go back on metformin. We'll see how my blood sugar readings go for the rest of the day.

Morning workouts

George and I worked out together yesterday morning at the gym, though I did all cardio on the elliptical and he got on the weight machines after a short cardio session. This morning I did a hard 45 minutes on the elliptical, so I decided to make it a little shorter in time.

This will be my first full day off metformin! Dr. Neelon stopped by my breakfast table at the Rice House yesterday and told me not to take any more metformin and we'll see how it goes. I'm excited about the prospect of being off the diabetes medication! I certainly weigh less than I did when I was diagnosed with diabetes.

Morning walk

I decided to walk outside on this cold morning, so I headed over to the cross country trail about a quarter to 8. Since it was so cold, I picked up the pace and finished in just under an hour, so I walked around in the parking lot to get an hour of exercise in. ;-)

Good night's sleep

I went to bed early last night, and it's amazing how much better I feel today! Wow! I got back up to 65 minutes on the elliptical machine this morning, and that felt good too!

I was excited to find out yesterday that my hemaglobin A1c is down to 5.6! It's down from 10.9 last July.

Last night I finished reading The Eyre Affair, by Jasper Fforde, and started reading The New Psycho-Cybernetics, a book my sis gave me for Christmas. I remember the tennis coach at my high school having her team members read the original, and the team was quite good. I had the same coach for a PE class, and thought she was a neat lady. Anyway, I think the book will be a really good one for me to read, with the diet and exercise program I'm on. Bet I'll be writing more about it soon!

Brrr! Cold pool!

This morning I did 50 minutes on the elliptical machine.

George and I had fun working out together at the gym last night. We did some strength training first, then tried getting into the pool to do some water walking, laps, or something. Well, it's an outdoor pool with a bubble over it, but it was really too cold for my tastes. After a few minutes of shivering, we got out. Ah well, it was worth a try.

Gym date

This morning I did 35 minutes on the elliptical. It was another morning where I felt tired and was just going to do 10-15 minutes, but did longer after all.

Tonight, George and I are going to the gym together in what's becoming a weekly gym date! We hope to get outside when the weather gets warmer and the daylight lasts longer.

Last night, Dr. Neelon did a presentation for Grand Rounds at the Endocrinology Clinic, and has asked me a couple weeks ago if he could present my case. Of course I agreed! He invited me to come and sit in for the presentation, and I went for it last night. It was very interested! I always enjoy hearing Dr. Neelon talk. He's very wise and insightful.

Motivation

Saturday afternoon, I went to Barnes & Noble to distract myself from some hunger pangs before supper. I found a couple of diet books with stories and tips to help with motivation, The Biggest Loser (based on the show), and Chicken Soup for the Dieter's Soul. I've been flipping through and reading stories ever since. I've enjoyed them so far, and think I'll enjoy picking them up again and again. I enjoy hearing about others' weight loss journeys. In addition to stories, the Biggest Loser book talks about the eating and exercising regimes from the show. The Chicken Soup book also has some dieting resources.

Extra workout

Yesterday morning I slept in a bit, so I didn't get to the gym until after lunch. I did 60 minutes of cardio on the elliptical, then later George and I went to the gym for some strength training. This morning, I did another hour on the elliptical. I must admit, I'm a little tired today....but it's a good tired.

Outside

I finally got back outside this morning to exercise! It was a beautiful morning, a little brisk but not as bad as it's been lately. I walked the Duke cross country trail, which is 5K, in 65 minutes, and it felt great!

More on the elliptical

Last night I got another 35 minute workout on the elliptical at the gym. I got to sleep a little earlier last night, but still just did a 30 minute workout on the elliptical this morning.

I think part of the time crunch is that I'm finding it hard to get out of the apartment on these bitterly cold mornings! Brrr! I want to cocoon and stay warm, but I need to stay with the exercise routine! It will pay off!

Morning workout

This morning I did 35 minutes on the elliptical. Still doing shorter workouts, but feel okay about keeping the habit going. I'm feeling a bit of a sleep deficit, and need to make getting to bed a priority, I know. With so many other things going on, that's been a challenge lately.

Meanwhile, I had an interesting conversation with a co-worker earlier this week. She's Japanese, and I was telling her about the rice cooker I got for Christmas and how I can't wait to start using it after I finish at the Rice Diet. (Last time I was at her home I noticed she has a rice cooker.) She wasn't aware that I was involved in the RD, so I told her about it and shared with her my total weight loss (both before and since the RD). It turns out I was within 4 lbs of losing as much as she weighs, total! That was encouraging!

This morning at the gym

I got to the gym extra tired this morning, thinking I'd just do 10-15 minutes of exercise to stay in the routine of things, but once I got on the elliptical, I was able to do 30 minutes, and wished I'd had more time to round out an hour on the machine. I'm sure I'll get more exercise today, whether it's walking on breaks at work or another trip to the gym tonight.

Early morning at the gym

I got back on the elliptical this morning and did 55 minutes. The scales were good to me this morning, a nice reward. :) As I left the gym to return home for my get-ready-for-work-and-the-Rice-House routine, I noticed that the morning sky showed just an itsy-bitsy tad of color, a welcome sight!

Shaking things up

This morning I had a short workout on the treadmill, 35 minutes. Needed something different from the elliptical today, but was still feeling a little less than 100% this morning from a GI episode late last night. No fever or anything, so I'm sure it was just a passing thing.

It was nice to spend more time on the treadmill, actually kinda refreshing. It had bored me in the past, but this will probably be a good way to start shaking things up. Only drawback is that I don't burn as many calories on the treadmill.

Back to normal

This morning, I made it back up to an hour on the elliptical machine, felt good to get back to normal. Glad to have the gym to go to, as I'm not much of a cold weather person, and bet I wouldn't be exercising as much during these cold spells if I had to exercise outside on a regular basis.

Balancing act

The past couple of mornings, I've had shorter workouts (25 and 35 minutes on the elliptical) due to time constraints. I see a pattern developing, where most workouts are an hour or so, but every few days I have shorter workouts. Then I return to an hour of exercise again. In the big scheme of things, I think that's okay for now. A short workout is better for me than not exercising at all. Momentum is important, but so are balance and rest.

In Rice Diet news, last night at supper they were out of one of my usual dishes, Mandarin orange slices, so I was "forced" to try something else! I had spaghetti squash with dill instead, and it was yummy! My fasting blood sugar was up a little bit this morning, 107 vs. my usual number in the 90s. Not sure if there's a correlation, but I enjoyed the change of pace. :) We'll see.

Another workout

I did another 60 minutes on the elliptical this morning. I was a little tired heading into the gym, but had a strong workout, burning 611 calories in 60 minutes. (I usually burn 500+ calories in the same timeframe.)

Tomorrow's weather report is calling for a cold rain, possibly with a wintery mix in the morning. Thinking about getting another workout in tonight just in case it's hard to get out from under the warm covers in the morning! Brrr!

Still going strong

I had yesterday off for Martin Luther King Day, but continued my exercise routine all weekend. Yesterday I even got a second workout in, some upper body strength training, in addition to my morning elliptical routine.

I've signed up for Discovery Health's National Body Challenge again. I'm always on the lookout for new tips and tricks, though I hope I don't get burned out over places to record my workouts and weigh-ins. I'll just do what I can in terms of recording. The most important thing is to keep exercising!

I got another 2001 Accord last Friday night! It's navy blue, and in great shape. It does have a few more miles on it than my last one, a little over 77 K, but it should last a long time, just the same. It drives well, and it certainly feels like home to me. :)

Tired this morning

When I got to the gym this morning, I was feeling the effects of a busy week (including car shopping the past couple of nights), so I did a 35 minute workout on the elliptical. Perhaps I'll be able to get back to the gym this evening for another short workout to round out the hour.

Morning workout and car issues

This morning I got to the gym about 5:20 for my 60-minute elliptical workout, since I had to go by the collision center after getting ready for work but before breakfast and work. At the collision center, I finished cleaning out my belongings and got my tag. Here's what my car looks like now (picture taken with cell phone):

A white trash bag is covering the window that broke away.

Last night I looked at a couple of cars at Carmax, a Civic and an Acura.

Latest workouts

Last night I got another workout in, spending 25 minutes on the elliptical. It gave me 65 minutes total on the elliptical for yesterday. Yay! This morning I did another 65 minutes on the elliptical. I got to the gym earlier this morning, around 5:30, so that helped.

With this morning workout, I hit the Presidential Champions Silver award level, and and now 56% of the way to the gold award. That takes a total of 80,ooo points, with points being awarded for exercising.

A little longer

This morning I spent 40 minutes on the elliptical machine at the gym. I felt stronger and a little more awake than yesterday, but am trying to get to work a little earlier. I don't much like my workouts suffering, so I need to find a balance somehow.

Up and down

Had a pretty busy exercise weekend, including a strength training session Friday evening with George at the gym, and a full hour on the elliptical on Saturday. This morning I only lasted 20 minutes on the elliptical, though. Was tired this morning (still am), so I took it a little easy. Tomorrow I'll be back on track, I bet. I did enjoy getting an earlier start on getting ready for work, out the door to the Rice House, and on to work.

The crowd at the gym is a little different, seeing some new faces. I guess those New Year's Resolutions are kicking in.

On a humorous note, I got a chuckle when I received my daily tips email from HungryGirl.com. They were talking about a new tea-drinking mug out that has a little pocket for the tea bag. One can have the mug personalized with your name. There was a picture of the mug in the email, with MY name on it! Since mine is not the usual spelling, this caught me by surprise.

Shorter workout today

I spent 45 minutes on the elliptical machine this morning, a little shorter than usual. I'm still feeling some residual tiredness that I felt yesterday after getting some extra exercise on Wednesday. I need to remember balance!

Meanwhile, I should find another 5K to shoot for soon. I need some fresh motivation! In the mean time, I'm 95% of the way to the President's Challenge Silver Medal! Every little bit helps.

Steppin' it up a bit

Last night I returned to the gym and did 15 minutes of strength training (upper body this time) and 15 minutes on the elliptical machine. My arms a little sore this morning, but not bad. This morning I returned for my early morning workout and did 60 minutes on the elliptical.

Christina Aguilera hits my favorites list on the iPod playlist again today. It surprises me, partly because I don't keep up with the "latest hits." Anyway, I've heard this one song in Spanish several times that the iPod screen said was an Aguilera song. No idea what it was about, but I've liked the beat a lot each time I've heard it. Well, this morning the English version came up, "Come On Over." You know, I think I like the Spanish version better, eventhough I know very little Spanish. :o)

More on the elliptical

This morning I was back up to 65 minutes on the elliptical machine at the gym. I wasn't sure I'd hold out, but was glad I did after it was all over. I've started craving some strength training, so I might start mixing things up soon.

Yesterday afternoon I took a 15-minute walk around the quad. It was a nice afternoon, so it was a welcome break from my desk. Things are still pretty quiet around campus.

Today's workout

Today it was back to my "normal" routine, as I returned to work today after several days off. I woke up at 5 AM, but it was a little hard to get going again! (I didn't get to bed early enough!) When I finally got to the gym, I only lasted 30 minutes. But it was a start. Perhaps I'll get back to the gym or take a walk this evening. I do plan to take a couple of short walks here at work.

I haven't set a new 5K race as a goal yet. I'll check later and see if I can get one in sometime in the next month or so.

Back to old routine

Today I did an hour on the elliptical machine at the gym. It had been about a week since I spent an hour on the elliptical, so I'm a tad sore, but not bad. Since I'm off work today, I took a Rice Diet class on cooking, which was fun.

Today and Monday are university holidays, so I'm looking forward to a nice, long weekend.

A Different Route

This morning I set out for the gym, but I had a gut feeling that I wouldn't last an hour on the elliptical today, so I turned the other way and headed for the cross-country trail at Duke. It's a 5 km (3.1 mi) trail near Duke Forest, and walking it would take me a little over an hour. Once commited, I knew I'd want to finish the thing, and I did. It was COLD (about 35 degrees), so I walked fast. :-) It felt good to complete the trail. Although most of it is wooded, it also goes around part of the Duke Golf Course. Here is one of the views:

I took my iPod with me, but opted not to suit up today, so I could listen to the sounds of nature and other joggers/walkers.

In other news, there's no news on my car today. I hope to get an estimate on the damage tomorrow.

Off normal routine

I've gotten a little off track with the exercise routine this holiday season, but I've still gotten some in every day except Saturday and Monday (Christmas Day). I was on my way to workout on Saturday when I was in a car accident, and while I wasn't really hurt physically (just a little sore), my car is pretty bad. I had it towed to the body shop today, and hope to know the damage by the end of the week. I hope it's not totaled.

Meanwhile, today I've done 20 minutes on the elliptical and 15 minutes of walking. George wants to go work out tonight, so maybe I'll go with him and get some more exercise.

Today's workout

This morning, I did an hour and 20 minutes on the elliptical. Felt good, but I've been a little tired for the rest of the day. I'll probably take a nap when I get home. :)

Morning at the gym

I spent 75 minutes on the elliptical machine at the gym this morning. Favorites tunes on the iPod this morning included Natalie Cole's "This Will Be (an Everlasting Love)" and Elton John's "Honky Cat."

Morning at the gym

I did 65 minutes on the elliptical this morning, and played a little bit with the resistance and the crossramp to jazz up the workout a little bit. I've come to enjoy my early morning workouts a lot, though sometimes I enjoy the end of the workout most! Love the way I feel when I'm done! I often enjoy the workout itself, especially when I'm feeling strong....or stressed.

I'm thankful to be on the Rice Diet during this holiday season. It's been challenging, as there have been numerous tempations. I've learned a lot about myself, including the fact that I have more willpower than I thought.

Past two days

Yesterday, I spent 65 minutes on the elliptical, this morning I did another 60 minutes. I'm still a little sore from Saturday's 5K, but my leg muscles are feeling a little better.

I just found the official results to Saturday's race, and I finished in 52 minutes, 12 seconds, the last of time officially timed people. (The race also had a recreational division, with no chip timing). *sigh* I need to remember that I did have fun running with Steph and being out on a beautiful morning around all the people (many in reindeer antlers and one person in a Santa suit!)!

Yesterday I started reading the book, No Need for Speed: A Beginner's Guide to the Joy of Running, by John Bingham. Although I bought the book last week while Christmas shopping, yesterday was a good one to start reading it. Although I had a fun time overall running the Reindeer Romp on Saturday, I'm still a little discouraged about running slower than the last 5K. The book has been encouraging so far, though, and has some helpful tips as well.

John Bingham is a columnist for Runner's World magazine who started running at 43 as an overweight couch potato, and he shares his journey and insights now. Through his writing, he tries to encourage people to take it one step at a time, to have fun with it, and not worry about being at the back of the pack. It's helped me a lot in keepin' on with the 5Ks, since I'm seriously in the back of the pack right now.

Sunday morning workout

This morning I did a pretty vigorous 65 minutes on the elliptical machine at the gym. Favorites on the iPod playlist this morning included Electric Light Orchestra's "A Fifth of Beethoven" and Bob Segar's "Old Time Rock & Roll."

At the Rice Diet checkin today, I asked the nurse to check my resting heart rate to see if it's gone down with all the exercise I've been doing. When I last had it checked back in August, it was 70. This morning it was 60.

Reindeer Romp 5K Report

I participated in the Reindeer Romp 5K this morning, and had a great time! My buddy Steph went with me, and was sweet enough to run along with me, eventhough she probably could've run faster. Since proceeds from the race were going to Girls on the Run of the Triangle, a lot of girls were out to run/walk to 5K (3.1 mi) course, and that was fun to see.

We finished the race in about 52 minutes, slower than I'd hoped, but it was still a good feeling. We "jogged" all but 8 minutes of it, which was an accomplishment. I put joggged in quotes because it was different from walking for me, but some people walk faster than I jog at times. One day I want to jog the whole 5K, at whatever pace!

Oh, by the way!

I forgot to mention that I did the treadmill "Fit Test" at the gym a few days ago, and scored a 34, "above average" for this particular rest. Making progress!

Morning workout

I did 65 minutes on the elliptical this morning, with the resistance up a notch. I'm a little sore right now.

When I got home, I realized I was without the new iPod! I rushed back to the gym, and it wasn't there. A lady came over and said she'd turned it in at the front desk. I was thankful and relieved! Favorites on the playlist this morning included "Mockingbird" sung by Carly Simon and James Taylor, and the Pointer Sisters' "Boogie Oogie Oogie," a fun workout song! :-)

Today's workout

This morning I did an hour on the elliptical. Glad to report that theh iPod is working normally again! Yay! Plugged it up to my computer yesterday to recharge, and after I unplugged it, it was working normally again. Go figure!

The weather here is lovely this week, highs in the 60s! I'll be getting some walks around the Quad in during the workday, which will help.

The Reindeer Romp is coming up on Saturday! I've been looking forward to this next 5K!

Back to normal exercise routine

I was back to 65 minutes on the elliptical this morning, felt good to get back on track.

Eventhough I'm doing something important for my health in exercising an hour every day, lately I've been thinking about other things I could be doing with the hour, like cleaning, writing Christmas cards, reading, things that I feel like I'm not having enough time for. It's all about setting priorities though, I guess. The important things will get done, the rest I need to try not to worry about.

Unfortunately, my new iPod is on the blink. It just spans through the songs now without stopping to play, and nothing I push or poke seems to help. Hmmm, any iPod gurus out there with suggestions?

Short workout

I did 15 minutes on the treadmill this morning, and that was it. Feeling tired this morning, so I decided to take it a little easier. I still plan to do some walking on my breaks here at work today.

Weekend workouts

Saturday, Sunday, and today, I did 65 minutes on the elliptical. Favorite workout tunes on the iPod included Carole King's "I Feel the Earth Move," and Chicago's "Alive Again."

I had a wonderful manicure and pedicure on Saturday! Only downside was that the lady who worked on my nails asked me when my due date was. No, I'm not expecting a baby. :-/

Morning workout

I did 65 minutes on the elliptical this morning. Favorite songs heard on the new iPod this morning included Chicago's "Make Me Smile," Carole King's "I Feel the Earth Move," and the Beach Boy's "Catch a Wave."

Each day this workweek, I've taken two 15 minute walk breaks around the Quad, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Today, I may break the trend. It's COLD outside today! Brrr! The high is supposed to be in the high 30's to maybe 40 degrees. Have I said brrrr yet?! I wish I had some gloves with me. That would help.

Next 5K-the Reindeer Romp!

I'm signed up for my next 5K! Yay! It's the Reindeer Romp in Cary, NC, on December 16. Proceeds will go to Girls on the Run of the Triangle. The description on Active.com says the course is relatively flat, so I've signed up for the competive division. I'll get a timing chip for my shoe. This being said, I know I'll be near the back of the pack finishing, but am hoping to beat 50 minutes.

Putting the elliptical to music

It's been a treat to have my own music to listen to while on the elliptical machine at the gym. The music on the gym's stereo system is rarely what I like, and it's hard to block it out. (I'd often wish they'd turn the music off altogether!) Today's favorites on the new iPod playlist included Cat Stevens' (aka Yusuf Islam) "Morning Has Broken," Paul Simon's "Kodachrome," and Christina Aguilera's "Fighter." I know, I know, I'm as surprised as anyone about the the Christina Aguilera song, but it sounded great on the elliptical machine! :)

I did another 75 minutes on the elliptical this morning. I feel a little less sore, but more tired. I may need to get to bed earlier, or cut down on the minutes temporarily to let my body rest and get used to the increased exercise.

In Rice Diet news, they have a new set of scales at the Rice House today. We have to type in an access code, and the scales send our weight to the computer. Going high tech.

More elliptical

Spent another 75 minutes on the elliptical this morning. I'm still a little sore, but am sure that will change in time. I'd like to work up to 90 minutes of exercise in the mornng before breakfast. It's almost too cold for me to walk outside during work these days.

Favorites on the new iPod playlist this morning included "Disco Inferno," the Beatles' "Here Comes the Sun," and "Surfin' Safari" by the Beach Boys.

The morning after

I survived my birthday rather well! I don't feel 43, whatever that's supposed to feel like. I certainly feel stronger and more healthy than I did a year ago!

Thanks to my sister and her family, I'm a proud owner of a new iPod since last night! It's very cute! Thanks for my uncle and brother-in-law, I have a long list of 1700+ tunes already on it, and have had a fun time exploring the list! It's a pretty eclectic roundup, but it's brought me several smiles already!

This morning I spent 75 minutes on the elliptical, and my body is feeling it now. Having the music to listen to really helped keep me going for a little extra! Fun songs of the morning workout included Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" and Sheryl Crow's "All I Want to Do."

I'm still learning about the iPod, and look forward to learning more about playlists and such. If you have any advice, I'd love to hear it! (Wondering if there's an iPods for Dummies book out there! :-) )

I've taken a 30 minute walk at work this morning, to help me get on a roll of doing an hour and a half of exercise during the work week. This is something I've just started trying to do in the past week.

Monday morning workout

Did 65 minutes on the elliptical this morning, and 5 minutes on the treadmill. Felt strong this morning, so I put a little extra push on my elliptical workout.

Today is my birthday, and since Mom and Dad are still in town, they're meeting me at the Rice House for dinner. I'm missing going out to dinner, but it's not about the food, right?

Still going

This morning I did another 60 minutes on the elliptical at the gym. Today was the first time I've beat the gym opening employee there in the AM, so it was kinda interesting to see the lights coming on.

Weight Milestone

I've lost 50.2 lbs on the Rice Diet! I'm psyched to have made this mini-goal before my birthday on Monday. :)

I did the cross-country trail before breakfast this morning. I jogged a little more of it then last time, including a half mile stretch without stopping, and a couple of hills. I finished about 3 minutes faster than the last time I did the trail and watched the clock. I've come to appreciate every little bit of progress!

More exercise

I got to the gym a little earlier than usual this morning, and much to my surprise, all 6 of the elliptical machines I like were taken. (The nerve!) I did the treadmill for 5 minutes, then hopped on the elliptical for an hour when one in my line of view opened up.

I'll try my best to walk during my work breaks today. It promises to be rainy at times as the cold front works its way through, but it should still be pretty moderate for part of today, so I'll give it a shot.

More elliptical, and shopping

I did anther 60 minutes on the elliptical this morning. Plan to do some walking today on breaks from work. The temperatures are supposed to be moderate here for one more day, then a cold front starts coming through overnight. Brrr! I've been getting spoiled!

Mom took me shopping at Talbot's last night, and I got two new pairs of pants, both size 22! Woohoo! The jeans that are being replaced were size 28! :-D

Gym

Did 60 minutes on the elliptical this morning.

The early morning crowd at the gym seems to be changing. I miss some of the regulars from before Thanksgiving, and there are some new faces. I guess the holidays do different things to different people.

My A1c is down to 6.1, and my total cholesterol is down to 147. Glad for the improving numbers. :)

Today's workout

I worked out 45 minutes on the eliptical this morning at the gym, and then walked 20 minutes around the West Campus Quad. (Beautiful morning here in Durham, especially for late November!)

Back to my normal schedule

It's back to work today after my Thanksgiving break, so I was back to the gym this morning for a 65 minute workout on the elliptical. George and I decided not to do the Turkey Trot on Saturday, expecially with trying to make the mid-day footbal game between Duke and UNC. (Duke lost by one!)

Morning walk

This morning I needed to shake things up a little, so I walked the trails at Croasdaile Farm area for the first time. It was a great change of paces, and pretty scenic! I did 50 minutes before heading to the Rice House for breakfast. I enjoyed the pond, which included several geese. The only drawback was dodging a landmine field of goose poop in one section! But other than that, it was a lovely walk, and a great way to start the day. The pictures here were taken with my cell phone.


Yesterday, I didn't get to the gym until late afternoon, and only made it for 15 minutes. Late day workouts just don't do it for me anymore. I love being able to get my workout in first thing in the day!

Today's Workout

This morning, I walked once around Duke's East Campus Wall (35 minutes), then did 15 minutes on the elliptical at MetroSport with George. (Afterward, we got in the pool for a while until I had to go to the Rice Diet for lunch.) Not the hour I usually do, but I enjoyed the change of pace and scenery. Tomorrow, George and I are thinking about doing a Turkey Trot 5K over at the Duke cross country trail.

Morning walk

This morning, since the gyms are closed for Thanksgiving, I walked the cross country trail (5K long) near the golf course at Duke. The ground was still wet, and it was cloudy and cool, but it was still a nice morning to be out. The course is fairly hilly, so it was a great workout for me this morning. ( I finished the course in 65 minutes.) There were a few others out and about on the trail too, so it was nice not to be doing it all alone. There was a tree down in the trail from the recent storms, so it lent a woodsy atmosphere to my walk. The mile and kilometer marker signs are also a wonderful touch and helped keep me going. Since I have the rest of the week off, I may go back to the trail again before the week's out.

I missed being able to watch "The Biggest Loser" last night. It was prempted by a Madonna show. I passed on that, as I'm not really a Madonna fan.

Today I'll be eating lunch at the Rice House. George will be eating with me, which is very nice of him! Afterward, we'll be going to visit his family in Cary for a bit. His parents are hosting Thanksgiving dinner at their home this year.


Happy Thanksgiving, all!

More treadmill

Yesterday I did 8 minutes on the treadmill, this morning I did 10 minutes on the treadmill. Feel good about mixing things up a bit, adding more treadmill time. Still did an hour on the elliptical this morning.

Different schedule

Yesterday I didn't work out until the afternoon (an hour on the elliptical), because I had to take my car in yesterday morning, and didn't get done with that until 10:00. I'm at the Rice House for breakfast now, and haven't worked out yet, but will be going to the gym before I get home. It's cold, windy, and cloudy today, and rain is expected. Once I get home, that may well be it. Nice day to read and nap. Ahhh, vacaion!

I'm 50% of the way toward the silver medal now for the President's Challenge. Bit by bit.

Next week I'll have blood work at the Rice House. Good motivation for an extra push!

The Wall

Yesterday I finally met Denise, and she, Tayler, and I went around the East Campus Wall twice! It was a great workout for me, and it took us just under an hour. The two of them were heading around for a third time (wow!) when I left for lunch at the Rice House.

Haven't been to work out yet today, was up late last night with company. I'm tired, but the party was fun!

More elliptical

I did another hour an the elliptical this morning, felt good. Yesterday I walked during both my work breaks, fun to walk around the quad and enjoy the season. I really enjoy fall in North Carolina!

Big exercise day yesterday!

Between my 1-hour cardio, 2 15-minute walks at work, and a run/walk session with Tayler last night, I got in 2 hours of exercise yesterday! Holy Cow! I was a little stiff and sore this morning, so I cut my AM workout to 30 minutes on the elliptical to give my body a rest. I'll continue to walk on my breaks at work today to fill out the hour of exercise I like to get.

Today's workouts

Did an hour on the elliptical this morning. Hoping to run/walk with Tayler this evening, if the rain holds until after we're done. We're talking about doing the Turket Trot 5K in Apex on Saturday. She seems like she'll be a good race buddy, whether or not we run the same pace.

I finished up the President's Challenge Bronze Medal with the morning workout, and with that am 45% of the way toward the Silver Medal. Going to keep on going!

Another hour on the elliptical

Another hour on the elliptical, and it felt pretty strong too. Ended up chatting a little with a "new" lady next to me named Teresa. Not sure if I've seen her there before. Anyway, she works at Duke too, on the medical side of things. She was encouraging about how long I'd been on the elliptical this morning. That was sweet. :) It helped having someone to chat with this morning, as I was a little tired and appreciated the distraction of chatting . I feel more energized now, even without caffeine.

I'm 99% of the way toward the bronze medal for the President's Challenge! Only 129 points to go. If I do my normal thing tomorrow, that should nail the bronze and send me toward the silver.

I ordered the sountrack CD from "The Biggest Loser" from Amazon this afternoon. I'm pretty excited about getting some new "Pump it up!" music to listen to!

Weekend workouts

Saturday morning, I merely did 30 minutes on the elliptical. I was just plain tired, but I felt like I needed to do something in the exercise realm. I'd hoped to get some more exercise after I'd gotten some rest, but it didn't happen. Ah, well, some days are like that!

Yesterday, I felt a little stronger and more determined, and got in a full hour of cardio on the elliptical. This morning, I lasted 65 minutes.

I'm thinking about doing a 5K in Apex this weekend, one of a number of "Turkey Trots" in the area. Hoping Tayler, Denise, and I can do it together.

Friday workouts

I got to the gym a little earlier than usual this morning, and it felt good to get a jump on my workout! There weren't as many people there this morning...a pattern I've noticed on Fridays. Did 65 minutes on the elliptical.

Got my lab results back at the Rice House this morning, and my A1c (a 3-month average of blood sugars) is down to 6.4! (When I was in the hospital, it was 10.9.) My blood pressure has been lower than usual the past couple of days, 88/58.

I walked for 20 minutes around campus today, what a beautiful day to get outside! I love fall weather!

Afternoon Walk

I just got back from a 20-minute walk around the quad here on campus. It's a lovely afternoon here in Durham, a little warmer than usual, and oh, so nice! On my walk, I noticed a HUGE spider and its acompanying web on a bush. Here's a picture of it, using my camera phone!

New happenings

Last night I met with a lady named Tayler, who I met through Craigslist.org for Raleigh/Durham. She'd posted that she was looking to get back into running, and was looking for other women to train with for 5Ks. I responded and we met last evening. She was very nice, and we had a good workout, walking and running in the East Campus area. It was fun to talk with her, since we seem to be on the same page.

Yesterday at work I took a 15-minute walk break, which felt great! Then Tayler and I walked/jogged for about 30 minutes last night. With my 30-minute early morning workout too, I was a little sore this morning. Even so, I was back to 60 minutes on the elliptical this morning. It was good for getting the muscles going, but I'm definitely tired now. It's a good tired, though.

Luckily, the scales were good to me this morning, after all that exercise. :)

I'm 86% of the way towards the Bronze Medal for the President's Challenge. If all goes well, I should complete that within the coming week! Then on to the Silver Medal!

Today's game plan

This morning, I only did 30 minutes on the elliptical, partly because I'm a little tired this morning, and partly because I'm meeting two new running buddies this evening over near East Campus. Nice to shake things up a bit, and meet new people in the process!

Rice Diet Progress

As of this morning, I've lost 42.4 lbs since I've started the Rice Diet. Feeling pretty good about that! I'm thankful to still be able to go to the Rice House for my meals (except for workday lunches, which they pack for me), the daily medical check-ins (weight, fasting blood sugars, blood pressure), and the bi-weekly bloodwork. It's all helping me stay on track!

More elliptical

I did the elliptical for an hour this morning, felt good to accomplish that. Things have gotten busier at the gym during my early morning workouts. Must be the weather (colder) and time change (darker earlier in the evenings).

I went to vote after working out, but before I went home to get ready for the day. Nice having that behind me too!

Tomorrow evening, I'm meeting a couple of new women who seem to be at the same place that I am in terms of running. Tayler is from Chapel Hill and Denise lives in Raleigh. We're planning to run/walk, unless the weather's still icky. Either way, it'll be fun to meet them!

Weekend workouts

Saturday morning, I worked out for a hard 70 minutes, starting with a 5-minute warmup on the treadmill, followed with a hard 65-minute workout on the elliptical. I really pushed myself, and felt it the rest of the weekend! Both yesterday and this morning, I did 30-minute workouts each. I think I'll be back to my normal workout hour in the morning.

Mom and I had a fun shopping spree Saturday afternoon at the Streets at Southpoint, which resulted in two tops and a pair of pants in the next smaller size down! That was exciting!

Saturday night, George and I went to the Duke-NC Central basketball game. Talk about a high level of fitness! Those kids on the court are in great shape! It was fun to see both teams in action.

What a difference a day makes

This morning I changed my exercise routine a bit, starting with 15 minutes on the treadmill, then 45 minutes on the elliptical. It felt good to change things up. I think I'd like to work up to a least 30 minutes on the treadmill and see how that goes. I look forward to running outside more, too!

At breakfast at the Rice House, I thought about sitting by myself this morning after yesterday's inspection of my choices, but I sat down with a group of people out of habit! Well, when my food arrived, one of the ladies nearby said, "I always enjoy seeing what you have for your meals, it gives me ideas!" She even had a good idea for me, mixing pineapple (one of our fruit choices) in with my mixture. I left the Rice House feeling better today. :-)

Last night I went to a meeting where they ordered pizza at the end. I didn't know that was going to happen, but I was strong, and we left soon after. I do miss pizza a lot!

Exercise and diet

Two mornings in a row of 65 minutes on the elliptical, and I can tell I'm getting stronger. Can also tell I need to shake things up a bit with the machines. I like the elliptical a lot, especially the calories I burn while I'm on it, but it's time for a change of pace, at least for a bit.

My meals at the Rice House are a topic of conversation, I was reminded this morning. Typically, I have rice (brown if available, or white) with my standard mix-ins of low-sodium tomato sauce, balsamic vinegar, onions, and bran. (Depending on the meal, I have my one or two servings of fruits/vegetables too.) This morning, a lady sitting near me asked what I was doing (and pointing to my rice and add-ons), and as I explained it she rolled her eyes, and the lady across from me reminded her that I was the one they were talking about. She replied, "Oh yes, you were the one we were talking about!" This isn't the first time fellow Ricers have looked at my concoction in some form of disbelief, nor is it the first time I've learned my food options have been talked about, but it still catches me off guard a bit. Everything I'm adding to my rice is ON the Rice Diet, and it's tasty and filling to me! And I try to be discreet and not make a production out of my mixings, but I do sit up tall and hold my head high....nothing to be embarassed about, and I've stuck with the Rice Diet! Okay, so maybe my concoction is a little different looking, but not gross. :) Perhaps this is just more "real world" practice for me, since there will surely be times when I have to eat differently from other people after I'm not eating at the Rice House anymore. I may get odd looks, but as long as I don't make a production out of it and stay positive, my health (present and future) is more important than others' opinions.

Time Change

It's interesting to see the changes in outside light during my morning workouts at the gym. It's nice to see more pretty morning light while I'm at the gym. :) Of course, I miss the light as I'm leaving work, and I find I'm ready for bed earlier. I'll adjust soon.

I received my first Carolina Godiva Track Club newsletter, was interesting to read through it. Learned about some area road races I didn't know about before.

I'm down a little over 41 lbs since starting the Rice Diet. I'm excited about my progress!

Happy Halloween!

A new 5K possibility

I've just found a 5K on December 16 that might be a good possibility, the Reindeer Romp 5K in Cary, NC, not far away from Durham. Perhaps this will give me a litle kick in the tail to keep training, including speed and resistance.

More exercise

This morning I did 65 minutes on the elliptical. Nothing new, really, except that the gym seemed a little more humid this morning. Wonder what was up with that.

Spoke with the doctor at the Rice House this morning, and he was encouraging, told me to keep doing what I'm doing. My blood sugar numbers continue to look good for the most part. The pre-breakfast numbers are the highest, in the 1-teens. The other numbers are in the 80-99 range. The Metformin (oral medication for diabetes) is working well.

Same song, different verse.....

This morning, I spent another hour on the elliptical. I'm trying to work a little more on speed. The "steps per minute" display helps me keep track, as I try to stay above a certain level. I've also upped the resistance a little bit.

At the Rice House, I had blood drawn for labwork this morning. Looking forward to seeing the results tomorrow.

Back on track

This weekend I had shorter workouts, partly due to time and weariness. I knew I'd get back on track today, so I didn't get stressed about it, and got some much needed rest. This morning I was back to my full hour workout. Yay! I still need to work on getting to bed earlier, would like to be in bed around 10:00. It's hard to do, but I can tell my body needs the rest.

I've earned 10,331 points toward the President's Challenge bronze medal, 51% of the way there! I've been working on this since October 3.

Another morning at the gym

It was another hour on the elliptical this morning. I took it a litte easy this morning, as I was feeling tired. I haven't been getting to sleep early enough this week, around 11:00 every night. I can't keep doing that! Sleep is pretty key.

I did "meet" someone at the gym this morning. I actually see her there often, one of the numerous skinny, really, really fit people in there nearly every morning! This morning, as she was getting on the elliptical next to me, she said, "You're doing really well in here with that! You're up to, what, 45 minutes?" I really appreciated her encouragement, and we had a nice little chat about the different machines and stuff. You never know where encouragement will come from. It reminded me to be encouraging too.

Another workout down

I spent another hour on the elliptical this morning. I'm feeling stronger during my workouts, even on the intervals program, which increases the resistance as it changes the focus of various leg muscle groups.

Last evening, I treated myself to a manicure AND a pedicure, in celebration of getting off the insulin. It felt great!

Keep on keepin' on

I'm still getting up in the AM to exercise for an hour. It's almost second nature now. When I'm on the elliptical (which is almost always), it helps me to set little mini-goals with the various numbers on the dashboard. Sometimes I set a mini-goal for time, other times number of strides, miles, or calories. Every little bit helps, especially with an hour of exercise.

I keep thinking I need to get on the treadmill, but a little voice inside me says to stay with the elliptical (for now) since it's fun for me and less jolting to the joints, especially while I still have a lot of weight to lose.

With this morning's workout added in, I'm 42% of the way to the President's Challenge Bronze Medal. Bit by bit!

Updated 5K Results

The Autism Ribbon Run results were posted sometime today. Interesting, they give a chip time, which must be when my shoe (where the timing chip is attached) crosses the start line and later crosses the finish line, and also a gun time. My chip time is 50:09, but my gun time is 50:42 (race starting time to finish line crossing). I'd positioned myself near the back of the starting pack, since I knew I'd be getting to a relatively slow start. The results tell me I had a 16 minute/19 second pace per mile overall. This is something I can work on!

I finished 346th out of 355 people. The winning time was 14 minutes, 48 seconds. The fastest female in my age group finished in 22 minutes, 50 seconds.

Another 5K Completed!

I "ran" in the Autism Ribbon Run in Raleigh on Saturday, and am psyched that I shaved 6 munutes off my time!! My unofficial time was 50:45. They provided timing chips for official timing, but the results haven't been posted on the website yet.

Today, after talking to the doctor at the Rice House, I'm trying oral medications rather than insulin! I'm hopeful that the metformin will be effective, but there's always a chance I'll have to go back on the insulin. Crossing my fingers! This is a pretty big day for me, and I feel a little like I'm on vacation, getting a break from taking the insulin injections.

What's My Pace?

I just discovered a training calculator on the Runner's World Magazine website that will do various calculations based on data you put into the blanks. It's just what I was looking for! I was able to plug in my last 5K race time and it calculated that I averaged 18 minutes and 15 seconds per mile in the Cary Road Race. For where I was in April, fitness-wise, that's good! This will help me with training, especially when I get on the treadmill (which has been hardly ever, but I need to use the treadmill to my advantage!). This may even be motivation to get on the treadmill and work on a faster pace. The elliptical doesn't let me know what my pace per mile is.

In Less Than 24 Hours!

My next 5K is in less than 24 hours! Yippee! Bless his heart, George is going to pre-register me this afternoon when he gets off work. We both have a meeting this evening at ERUUF which prevents me from getting over to Raleigh and back in time for the meeting. I could register before the race in the morning, but being registered ahead of time will help me feel less stressed.

I did another 65 minutes on the elliptical this morning, but went a little more slowly, taking it easy before tomorrow's race.

Countdown

Just 2 more days until my next 5K (the Autism Ribbon Run in Raleigh)! Wow! Part of me can't wait for the finish line, to see how I do compared to last April's Cary Road Race. Part of me is looking forward to the road race experience again, to being in better shape for this one. This will be my first time to use a timing chip.

This morning I did 60 minutes on the elliptical.

Another morning workout

This morning I spent another 65 minutes on the elliptical machine. There are some "new" people getting on the ellipticals in my normal spot, so I've had to relocate to another area of the gym. Today I worked out next to a lady, very fit and skinny, who's in the gym nearly every day that I am. She surprised me today by asking me about my new shoes, if I liked them, and where I bought them. I gave an honest, but good report. I also told her about my falling arches, and the orthotics I'm trying out. She asked if I'd seen a podiatrist, and I told her the doctor had suggested I'd try out the over-the-counter orthotics first, but that he'd refer me to a podiatrist if needed. It was a fun little conversation to have with her, and a welcome distraction from the exercise.

Back on Track

This morning's exercise session went well, back to 65 minutes on the elliptical. Between 20 and 30 minutes down I had to do a little mental coaxing to push through the wall, but my body didn't complain much, and I felt great after I finished.

At the Rice House, I had blood drawn for labwork this morning. I got good news at check-in: the doctor left a message for me in the computer to stop taking my blood pressure medicine, as well as my bedtime insulin dose! Woohoo!

I've decided to do the Autism Ribbon Run 5K on Saturday morning in Raleigh, as George and I are meeting friends at the NC State Fair on Sunday afternoon.

Progress

As I've mentioned in an earlier post, I'm working toward the bronze medal of the President's Challenge. As of this morning, I'm 18% there, with 3719 points. I need 20,000 points in all.

I did two cardio workouts (totalling 1 hour and 45 minutes) on Saturday, and I must admit I'm paying for it a little. Yesterday's workout was only 40 minutes and this morning's workout was 30 minutes. I'm sure I'll get back up to hour-long workouts soon, but feel the need to listen to my body. When I do two workouts in the future, I'll be more careful.

One of the websites I enjoy, Hungry Girl, mentioned an a potentially helpful website in their email blast this morning. The website is Healthy Dining Finder. I did a search for restaurants on their list within 20 miles of my zip code. The only one that came up was Arby's! I wouldn't really consider Arby's to be a healthy restaurant. Sure, some choices will be better than others there, but still, probably not a place I'll "spend" my calories for now. The site is still in its trial version, so I'll check back later.

Another 5K Race

There's another 5K road race I'm thinking about, this one in Durham. It's the Duke DPT (Doctor of PhysicalTherapy) 5K, run around the Duke campus on Sunday afternoon, Octover 15. I'd thought about doing one next Saturday morning, the 14th, in Raleigh. However, I have football tickets to the Duke-Florida State game for Saturday afternoon, and my ERUUF Covenant Group is planning to serve at the soup kitchen for dinner that evening. I'm thinking I might like to spread my weekend activities out a little bit!

Extra workout

Last night I did an extra workout at the Fitness Center, 15 minutes of cardio, then 20 minutes of strength training. It felt good to have the variety. I was back in the gym this morning for another hour of cardio.

It appears that I have falling arches, according to the New Balance shoe salesman, and the Rice Diet doctor tends to agree. The doctor suggests over-the-counter arch supports for now, to see if they work. I had this same problem in college, when I ran a lot.

Even with the extra workout last night, my weight was the same this morning. Three days in a row, it's been the same! I asked the doctor about it, and he said not to fret about it. My blood sugars are looking good, and the doctor even suggested taking my bedtime dose down to 4 units, as well as all three pre-meal doses. (My morning dose had been 5 units for a while, with 4 units before the other meals.) I'll have more bloodwork done next week to see how my A1c and lipids are doing.

New running shoes

Well, I had a good appointment with the dietician yesterday. We talked a lot about reading food labels, and the importance of my needing good tools when I finish going to the Rice House: food scales, measuring cups and spoons, things like that.

Last evening I went to the New Balance store and got a new pair of New Balance running shoes. Of course, they felt great this morning at the gym! I did another 65 minutes on the elliptical this morning. Talking with one of my new gym acquaintances really helped a lot at the end. Unfortunately, the scales didn't reward my efforts this morning, as I weighed the same as yesterday.

After buying the shoes last evening, I was tempted to cheat at a Mexican restaurant called Moe's, next door to the shoe place. I stood firm, though, and went to a nail salon across the parking lot instead. I have pretty, polished fingernails today. :-)

I got an email today from my Junior League committee chair, and our first committee meeting will be next week at a local restaurant called Nana's, which I hear is very good. I don't know that it's very Rice Diet-friendly. :-( I've got the number, and plan to call and inquire about the menu ahead of time, so I don't have to come across as making a fuss in front of the group.

Stretch

This morning, I stretched a little and stayed on the elliptical for 65 minutes. I had a nice loss at weigh-in at the Rice House this morning, so it was nice to get the positive reinforcement. ;-)

Today I have an appointment with a registered dietician. The appointment was made before I started the Rice Diet. I was going to cancel, but decided it could be helpful to go ahead and plug in with a dietician, and have someone to return to later for nutritional advice. I won't be eating at the Rice House for the rest of my life, and I'll need sound advice!

President's Council on Physical Fitness

Okay, I've decided to try something a little "hokey" to help me stay motivated! Remember the President's Council on Physical Fitness? I never participated in that as a kid, though at some point I remember hearing about it. Well, now they have "programs" for adults. I've decided to work on the middle-of-the-road program, Presidential Champions. I'll keep an activity log online, based on my exercise, and earn points along the way. (Of course, it depends on people being honest with their activity log.) The bronze award takes 20,000 points. I just logged this morning's 60 minute workout and earned my first 522 points. We'll see how it goes!

Another reason to keep on keepin' on

Last week, I read an article on the internet about new guideline for exercise and reducing risks of cancer. The lastest research says we shoud do "dedicated" exercise (not just the usual day-to-day activity) for at least 30 minutes, at least 5 days a week. 45-60 minutes is even better, the article says. It also mentions diet and weight. I'm certainly eating the right foods these days, but still have a long way to go with the weight. Here's the article URL.

Today starts my 3rd month on the Rice Diet. Wow. It's amazing how much better I feel!

More weekend exercise

I continue to get up every morning to exercise for an hour. Even with hard workouts, I feel like I get on with my job and other responsibilities okay. It's a great feeling to have that accomplishment under my belt every morning.

Yesterday after supper, I walked on the Duke cross country trail for 3o minutes. It's in Duke Forest, and part of it goes along the Duke golf course. It's quite beautiful, lots of trees and woodland sounds. There were a number of athletes out, mostly runners and bikers whizzing by. I felt a little too bashful to try jogging among the fit company around me, but in time, I will. There are some good hills on this trail, so it's a nice workout. The whole thing is 5K, which is a distance I'm trying to improve on. I would LOVE to be able to jog the whole thing some day. I WILL run the whole thing one day.