Runnin' down a dream
Jul. 12th, 2011 03:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
yendiSo one of the things I've started doing is running.
Like, actual running.
I started it as a part of my gym routine. I'd go to the gym, do a bunch of weights, then spend some time on the treadmill as well as doing some light rowing, since cardio is my bigger gym priority.
Since I go to the gym every other day or so, a couple of weeks, I got one of those stupid ideas. I woke up an hour early -- yes, before dawn, even at this time of the year -- and went for a run. I made it about 3/4 of a mile, since jogging in the real world involves things like uneven paths and the like, which mean it's harder (and a better workout) than using the treadmill.
I'm now up to a little over a mile (although I haven't done an outside jog since Saturday; Sunday and today were gym days, and I took Monday off from exercise for the first time in a while, although I did walk about two miles to the CVS). I'm also obsessively using Runkeeper for both my running and walking (I'm there as Yendi, but you do NOT want to friend me there; I post every walk I do, including the 1/2 mile ones to and from the bus, and it's thus very cluttered).
Incidentally, when I used the heart-rate monitor built into the treadmill this morning after a five-minute run, I was nowhere near the 80% mark I'd been reaching in previous weeks. Sill over 65%, but I'm clearly getting more conditioned.
In more general news (also known as burying the lede), I had my two-month appointment with my doctor yesterday. I got phlebotomized, but don't know the results yet. That said, I can report that my weight is down to 190 pounds.
The last time I was at 190, I was 27 years old. That's twelve years ago, for those keeping score at home. The last time before that was when I was in high school. I was at 218 when I was diagnosed in early April, and 206 on May 5. That's 28 pounds lost since the diagnosis.
My strategy hasn't changes tremendously since I last posted about this. I'm tracking what I eat (still using the Livestrong app). I've upped my walking tremendously, too; aside from the 1.5 miles going to and from the bus each day, I've regularly been getting off the bus at Waltham Center and walking to work, another 1.5-1.9 miles (depending on what route I take), and occasionally doing the route in reverse, too. Between walking and running, I did over six miles one day last week, and break four on most days.
I've also done a good job of avoiding sweets and simple carbs. Yeah, I know that there's the mantra that "diabetics can eat anything, and portion control is what matters." If that works for you, great. Other than a forkful of dessert on three occasions, I've avoided overtly sugared things almost completely (although I did enjoy Finale's lovely sugar-free chocolate mousse). Likewise, any bread without a decent amount of fibre and whole grain flower is off limits, and I stick to brown rice (in small portions). The few noodles are eat are whole grain ones in some quick frozen meals (the Heathy Choice Cafe Steamer Grilled Chicken Marinara is one of my favorite lunches to bring in to work).
Wonderful snacks that have helped me stay sane include string cheese, Jello sugar-free pudding cups, greek yogurt, those bagged salad prep kits (without dressing, they're about 100 calories and insanely filling), caffeine-free Diet Coke, and the combo of Wasa wafers and those Kraft/Cracker Barrel 80-calorie cheese rectangles.
Enough health rambling. Back to work.
Like, actual running.
I started it as a part of my gym routine. I'd go to the gym, do a bunch of weights, then spend some time on the treadmill as well as doing some light rowing, since cardio is my bigger gym priority.
Since I go to the gym every other day or so, a couple of weeks, I got one of those stupid ideas. I woke up an hour early -- yes, before dawn, even at this time of the year -- and went for a run. I made it about 3/4 of a mile, since jogging in the real world involves things like uneven paths and the like, which mean it's harder (and a better workout) than using the treadmill.
I'm now up to a little over a mile (although I haven't done an outside jog since Saturday; Sunday and today were gym days, and I took Monday off from exercise for the first time in a while, although I did walk about two miles to the CVS). I'm also obsessively using Runkeeper for both my running and walking (I'm there as Yendi, but you do NOT want to friend me there; I post every walk I do, including the 1/2 mile ones to and from the bus, and it's thus very cluttered).
Incidentally, when I used the heart-rate monitor built into the treadmill this morning after a five-minute run, I was nowhere near the 80% mark I'd been reaching in previous weeks. Sill over 65%, but I'm clearly getting more conditioned.
In more general news (also known as burying the lede), I had my two-month appointment with my doctor yesterday. I got phlebotomized, but don't know the results yet. That said, I can report that my weight is down to 190 pounds.
The last time I was at 190, I was 27 years old. That's twelve years ago, for those keeping score at home. The last time before that was when I was in high school. I was at 218 when I was diagnosed in early April, and 206 on May 5. That's 28 pounds lost since the diagnosis.
My strategy hasn't changes tremendously since I last posted about this. I'm tracking what I eat (still using the Livestrong app). I've upped my walking tremendously, too; aside from the 1.5 miles going to and from the bus each day, I've regularly been getting off the bus at Waltham Center and walking to work, another 1.5-1.9 miles (depending on what route I take), and occasionally doing the route in reverse, too. Between walking and running, I did over six miles one day last week, and break four on most days.
I've also done a good job of avoiding sweets and simple carbs. Yeah, I know that there's the mantra that "diabetics can eat anything, and portion control is what matters." If that works for you, great. Other than a forkful of dessert on three occasions, I've avoided overtly sugared things almost completely (although I did enjoy Finale's lovely sugar-free chocolate mousse). Likewise, any bread without a decent amount of fibre and whole grain flower is off limits, and I stick to brown rice (in small portions). The few noodles are eat are whole grain ones in some quick frozen meals (the Heathy Choice Cafe Steamer Grilled Chicken Marinara is one of my favorite lunches to bring in to work).
Wonderful snacks that have helped me stay sane include string cheese, Jello sugar-free pudding cups, greek yogurt, those bagged salad prep kits (without dressing, they're about 100 calories and insanely filling), caffeine-free Diet Coke, and the combo of Wasa wafers and those Kraft/Cracker Barrel 80-calorie cheese rectangles.
Enough health rambling. Back to work.