Movin' it!

I'm still moving it- it as in myself. Swimming for an hour twice a week, and 4 days a week spending 60 minutes on the ellipticals/serious cardio. My system right now is 30 minutes on the old school elliptical and then 30 minutes on the total body crossfit elliptical (arms and legs).

The first 20 minutes of cardio and swimming is the hardest, mostly mentally. Physically, I can totally do an hour of hardcore sweating my ass off workouts (especially now that they've redesigned the ellipticals so my feet and tootsies don't fall asleep anymore- that used to be the worst part about using the elliptical).

Mentally, I have to dissociate a little in order to stick it out in the pool and on the machines. I try to just stop thinking and when I can get to that space, no thinking, only focusing on my body and breathing, I can stick it out without issue. I also use narratives with myself, in my head, while working out, to remind myself why I'm doing this. For health. For life. For ME.

I tweaked my knee in the pool on Tuesday, it's finally starting to feel better and only gave me some weird twinges at the very end of my workout today. I took Wednesday off of working out to try and give my knee a little breathing room. Back to working out on Thursday and I've been very consistent. I'm proud of my self. Slightly irritated that my weight isn't falling off like on the Biggest Loser, I have to work my ass off for every ounce. But it's really not about weight, my weight is the lowest it's been in 10 years. It's about blood sugar and overall health.

Blood sugar-wise, things are very confusing. I just can't predict where my blood sugar is going to be at any given time. The good news is that it's low and even the highs aren't too highly concerning (highs currently are around 135 in the mornings, still over 330 points lower than the day of my diagnosis- 471- yikes). My evening levels are starting to get too low (as low as 72-82) and that is good news for getting off some of this medicine soon. Next doctor's appointment is on Wednesday morning.

Eating is going really well. The Lose it! program on my phone is a life-saver in keeping track of my carbs and nutrients. Plus, my mom sent me a George Foreman grill and a new toaster oven. Haven't used the toaster oven. Friends that know me well already know that I am afraid of appliances and electricity. And I haven't had a microwave in 13 years. I think they are scary. And yes, I am afraid of the new toaster oven.

I am afraid of the GF grill, too, but I conquered my fear today and used it. As a vegetarian, I am super excited about using the new grill for grilling vegetables! Today I grilled fresh asparagus, fresh green beans, and fresh red and green peppers. I added them to my high protein, low-carb after workout lunch of egg whites and mushrooms and fresh avocado. It was an awesome lunch! Really yummy, with less than 40 carbs (who knew that asparagus and green beans have so many damn carbs?! But those are good carbs, right?!).

Overall, I'm doing well! Really kicking ass, still totally motivated, and getting healthier and stronger every day. It's easier on the weekends, both working out and eating, but I've been working hard to keep things consistent during the work week, too. My goal is to kick diabetes' ass right out of my body.

Gym Nut

I've been faithfully following my low carb diet AND my workout plan. My blood sugar has been higher in the mornings for the last couple of days (140 this morning). I'm working on that. Tonight, after my workout and before dinner, it was 91 (!) which is the best it's been. If I can keep it below 100 for the next two weeks, my doctor is going to start taking me off these crazy diabetes pills. That's a big goal for me.

I'm very lucky, it seems we've caught the diabetes before any serious damage to my system. My cholesterol is normal (although my good cholesterol is too low which my doctor says will improve as I exercise). My kidneys are normal, the blood flow to my feet is good. I'll be retested in 3 months and I'm excited to see the improvement at that time after all my hard work!

As for the gym, it's a different world in that place. And by different I mean...different! Interesting people in that place. If I wasn't so busy fighting to keep myself moving, there would be some serious people watching going on in there.

I don't want to bash other women so this next comment is as non-judgmental as possible: What is with all the make up at the gym? I can't figure it out- some of the women are actually fully made up with everything, even FOUNDATION and EYE SHADOW.

I can't comprehend the make up. Of course, after just 10 minutes my face is purple and dripping sweat, so make up at the gym would not work for me. But that can't be good for the skin. Anyways, I really don't want to be all judgmental or anything, I'm just so thrown by all the make up at the gym. And it's not just the females. I've seen some men with seriously styled hair and I've wondered about that, too. I would sweat all that gel and hairspray out in 10 minutes!

Despite these little observations, it's a nice gym. All kinds of people there, working hard. And I'm one of them.