Approaching 60 days of almost consecutive daily exercise, I'm still looking at a mostly inflated abdomen and wondering if I have some sort of metabolic problem. This month I bounced back up to 140 on most days, with an occasional drops to as low as 136lbs. The waist line was similar in that it bounced between 36-37 inches. The lowest measurement a couple days ago brought me all the way down to 35.5", but today we're back to 36.5".
Summarizing the experience, I feel a lot of soreness and a bit of increased strength, but little overall change in appearance. Endurance has been difficult to really measure, as I've had a few sick days (me or a kid) and sometimes have had to back off the work out intensity some just to get through it... or skip a day due to hectic days and priorities which dictated other time allocations.
My BMI is normal, but my waist circumference is still classified as high risk. To get to normal I need to drop to below 80cm (or about 31").
As for diet... I've been looking into how the hormone leptin affects weight loss and it seems that it's not a very good indicator, and definitely not something I want to supplement with, as too much leptin doesn't provide a long term solution... from what I'm reading. Desensitization of leptin might explain why folks suffer rebounding of previous fat loss. I always wondered about that sort of thing when I see folks who are starving themselves and still don't have a weight loss to equal their efforts. It's not necessarily their fault, but their body trying extra hard to over correct. The metabolism seems like it can get rather screwy sometimes.
Right... so I'm going to keep working out and hope that over time... slow and steady will win the race.
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Breaking free
We spend a lot of time devoted to trying to stick to a school work regimen. Of course I have goals, and the drive to accomplish more and more can infringe upon just getting out of the house. Aside form therapy appointments and prescheduled extracurricular classes there's not enough time for anything else. There's just no room in the finite allotment of time. With a special needs child... teenager... they ALWAYS need more time. No matter how much restraint I've used to avoid assigning an unmanageable amount of work, it's always too much work. So we push and push to get everything finished... and we're never.... almost never finished.
And the social life suffers. Not just because of the aforementioned work load, but inhibitions that build up from previous catastrophic socializing failures. Nobody likes to crash and burn repeatedly.
But it gets lonely, and a little maddening.
And this weekend I experienced a disappointment when an incomplete invitation to see friends didn't pan out, followed up by an overwhelming feeling of unworthiness and rejection when the undisclosed event went off without a hitch and without us.
Being a beautiful day, this deep desire to bask in fellowship and the outdoors took hold and controlled the entire day. No formalized lessoned were given, and the kids played vigorously almost all day long. It was recess, homeschooler style, at two intervals for an hour and a half each, two different age groups at different parks; park hopping.
Then one child went to dance class, as split ops facilitated a second child's simultaneous swim class attendance.
Tomorrow we'll return to our regularly scheduled lessons, exactly where we left off... and we'll keep pushing for progress. But next Wednesday we'll make time for play, because it's just as important, if not more important...
And the social life suffers. Not just because of the aforementioned work load, but inhibitions that build up from previous catastrophic socializing failures. Nobody likes to crash and burn repeatedly.
But it gets lonely, and a little maddening.
And this weekend I experienced a disappointment when an incomplete invitation to see friends didn't pan out, followed up by an overwhelming feeling of unworthiness and rejection when the undisclosed event went off without a hitch and without us.
Being a beautiful day, this deep desire to bask in fellowship and the outdoors took hold and controlled the entire day. No formalized lessoned were given, and the kids played vigorously almost all day long. It was recess, homeschooler style, at two intervals for an hour and a half each, two different age groups at different parks; park hopping.
Then one child went to dance class, as split ops facilitated a second child's simultaneous swim class attendance.
Tomorrow we'll return to our regularly scheduled lessons, exactly where we left off... and we'll keep pushing for progress. But next Wednesday we'll make time for play, because it's just as important, if not more important...
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
No weight loss
Nothing gained... nothing lost...
I feel a little weird... self conscious about this post, but here goes.
Having completed 28 days of nearly consecutive workouts, at least 30 minutes a day, the scale isn't lying, and I've lost nothing. While the tape measurer suggest I "might" have lost an inch in the waist...maybe... it depends upon what time of day I tape at.
When I'm working out I sometimes feel like the toned fitness buff on the videos... like I can feel muscles somewhere deep inside, they're just hidden under a layer of fluff. Well, in some places that layer is a little more fluffy than I'm used to... for me. Yes, I know I look pretty good for having seven kids... yada, yada... I'm fine with my weight, as it's still considered healthy and normal. What concerns me is the waist line and belly fat which can be associated with things like diabetes and overall poor health, even in "skinny" folks. If I never lost a pound, because I gained muscled and decreased the waistline I'd feel in much better shape health wise. My waist is the same number as my hip measurement, and that's not usually considered healthy.
My feet feel stronger... if that makes any sense. Planks and upward dogs really work those feet muscles.
Yesterday, during the last day of summer (Labor day is always the last day the pools are open) I got in 24 laps in the pool. While knocking out my swim I managed to lap the gentleman in the next lane over within four laps, which made me feel like a rock star. I realized that my ability to perform long distances relies heavily upon a competitive drive, to slowly, but steadily catch up to and surpass my opponent. I'm sure most folks would rather not be the target I'm silently chasing, but nothing else but a steady stream of adrenalin could keep me going. I'm certainly no sprinter, as my ability to generate quick burst of energy has never been forthcoming. I can't sprint, and never have been able to. Swimming 20 laps in a continuous stretch lends time for reflection and it seems I can't help but employ this strategy to a lot of difficult task I'm faced with. Get in for the long haul, and try and build up speed in a slow and steady pace. However, if not properly fueled or nourished I will crash and burnout.
Tomorrow is the last day of the first block; a rest day, kind of sort of... not really, because P90X3 Dynamix is kind of a work out... anything with planks (even the easier side planks) is a workout as far as I'm concerned.
The program calls for a diet component, however, since I'm nursing I'm not skipping meals. It seems to me that since I often feel like crashing by the middle of the day that quality is paramount for energy generation (B complex vitamin rich sources) and now is not the time to cut caloric intake, but to push for better nutrition and hydration. Recently, I read that if you're exercising, and still not loosing fat, you might not be eating enough! It's easier for your body to break down proteins than fat for energy, said the article, thus if you don't fuel enough, you'll loose muscle and not fat. That gave me something to think over. So I've started adding a supplemental protein to my drinks... and we'll see how it goes over the second block.
I feel a little weird... self conscious about this post, but here goes.
Having completed 28 days of nearly consecutive workouts, at least 30 minutes a day, the scale isn't lying, and I've lost nothing. While the tape measurer suggest I "might" have lost an inch in the waist...maybe... it depends upon what time of day I tape at.
When I'm working out I sometimes feel like the toned fitness buff on the videos... like I can feel muscles somewhere deep inside, they're just hidden under a layer of fluff. Well, in some places that layer is a little more fluffy than I'm used to... for me. Yes, I know I look pretty good for having seven kids... yada, yada... I'm fine with my weight, as it's still considered healthy and normal. What concerns me is the waist line and belly fat which can be associated with things like diabetes and overall poor health, even in "skinny" folks. If I never lost a pound, because I gained muscled and decreased the waistline I'd feel in much better shape health wise. My waist is the same number as my hip measurement, and that's not usually considered healthy.
My feet feel stronger... if that makes any sense. Planks and upward dogs really work those feet muscles.
Yesterday, during the last day of summer (Labor day is always the last day the pools are open) I got in 24 laps in the pool. While knocking out my swim I managed to lap the gentleman in the next lane over within four laps, which made me feel like a rock star. I realized that my ability to perform long distances relies heavily upon a competitive drive, to slowly, but steadily catch up to and surpass my opponent. I'm sure most folks would rather not be the target I'm silently chasing, but nothing else but a steady stream of adrenalin could keep me going. I'm certainly no sprinter, as my ability to generate quick burst of energy has never been forthcoming. I can't sprint, and never have been able to. Swimming 20 laps in a continuous stretch lends time for reflection and it seems I can't help but employ this strategy to a lot of difficult task I'm faced with. Get in for the long haul, and try and build up speed in a slow and steady pace. However, if not properly fueled or nourished I will crash and burnout.
Tomorrow is the last day of the first block; a rest day, kind of sort of... not really, because P90X3 Dynamix is kind of a work out... anything with planks (even the easier side planks) is a workout as far as I'm concerned.
The program calls for a diet component, however, since I'm nursing I'm not skipping meals. It seems to me that since I often feel like crashing by the middle of the day that quality is paramount for energy generation (B complex vitamin rich sources) and now is not the time to cut caloric intake, but to push for better nutrition and hydration. Recently, I read that if you're exercising, and still not loosing fat, you might not be eating enough! It's easier for your body to break down proteins than fat for energy, said the article, thus if you don't fuel enough, you'll loose muscle and not fat. That gave me something to think over. So I've started adding a supplemental protein to my drinks... and we'll see how it goes over the second block.
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
To renew, endorse, or go inactive
It's time to think about the nursing license again. Every two years I have to get on the horn, knock out continuing education credits, and fork over a fist full of money to the Board of Nursing in a state so very far away. This year finds me in serious doubt that I'll ever actually need that license, not in that state ever again.
Perhaps I'll request an endorsement and obtain a license in the state I actually reside in. It seems kind of silly that I would make such a commitment like buying a home, but not feel committed to the region enough to seek licensure. Though, it's mostly since I don't foresee working outside the home for another.... I can't even fathom when I'll be free to leave all the kids at home and not be minding them constantly. Often I do imagine all sorts of enterprises I'd like to get involved in. Given the many changes that have taken place in health care, and my personal disappointing experiences as a patient (or patient's mom) I'm not sure it's a good fit for me anymore.
Or I can just let the thing laps and throw away the investment... go inactive.
Perhaps I'll request an endorsement and obtain a license in the state I actually reside in. It seems kind of silly that I would make such a commitment like buying a home, but not feel committed to the region enough to seek licensure. Though, it's mostly since I don't foresee working outside the home for another.... I can't even fathom when I'll be free to leave all the kids at home and not be minding them constantly. Often I do imagine all sorts of enterprises I'd like to get involved in. Given the many changes that have taken place in health care, and my personal disappointing experiences as a patient (or patient's mom) I'm not sure it's a good fit for me anymore.
Or I can just let the thing laps and throw away the investment... go inactive.
Sunday, August 30, 2015
Someone turned ten
And one very enthusiastic volunteer cake maker (the 12 year old) who takes orders from her Pony loving little sisters.
In my e-mail box was a note calling for volunteers to organize my 20th High School reunion. NO, I don't think so! I knew I shouldn't have, but I opened the invite to the newly formed class of 1996 FaceBook page, to see a good number of folks from my youth. Nope, don't really want to go there. Thankfully, we're a little far away and it's unlikely we'll be attending.
Presumptions
As any Catholic ought to know, the Pope is making a visit to our country next month. After reading his published itinerary I thought "maybe" we could see his plane come or go, but had no illusions that we might somehow get in to attend the Papal Mass. Nope, no way that was going to happen. My husband didn't think it was as impossible as I did. Then someone I knew posted that they are getting to go, I was pretty shocked.
Today I saw this in our bulletin:
However, it turns out our Parish might receive 4 tickets after all; two seated and two standing room slots are going up for a drawing.
When I think about it, there are so many other parishioners who I feel are so much more deserving and I do not indent to submit my name for those precious few slots. Besides, I couldn't find the child care and I'm not sure my baby would make it through a 2+ hour Mass in Spanish. I'm hoping it will be broadcast on the web at least.
Today I saw this in our bulletin:
However, it turns out our Parish might receive 4 tickets after all; two seated and two standing room slots are going up for a drawing.
When I think about it, there are so many other parishioners who I feel are so much more deserving and I do not indent to submit my name for those precious few slots. Besides, I couldn't find the child care and I'm not sure my baby would make it through a 2+ hour Mass in Spanish. I'm hoping it will be broadcast on the web at least.
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
No travel tour
After leaving California I realized I might have missed an opportunity to find the grave of two relatives in the Monterrey area. By chance a few years ago I stumbled upon a picture listed on Findagrave.com and had left a request to get a picture of the graves, as the listing picture was the cemetery marker, and not the specific graves. Then I forgot all about it as the request went unfulfilled.
Out of the blue, a month ago I heard from a gal who had taken a trip to the San Lucas Cemetery and regretfully couldn't find the grave sites I'd inquired about. Being a very small cemetery in a very sparsely populated town, there wasn't much left from the graves planted over 100 years ago. I asked if I might be able to see the pictures she had so that I might capture the "feel" of the place and get a sense of what it might have been like to visit. She generously offered to send me a disc copy of all the pictures. 
Shortly after the tragic deaths the family left California for the territory of Oklahoma. Many years ago my grandparents took me on a road trip from CO to OK, which squelched any notions of romanticism I might have held for the Okey state. While I was glad to have seen the small cottage home built for my Great Grandmother, I didn't get the sense that was were I belonged. I've often pondered where we might finally settle for good. Perhaps I've allowed myself to plant our roots a little too deeply, as our current domicile feels quite comfy. However, there's little assurance that we'll be able to stay forever. So I continue to wonder, where home will be. Of course I wonder about places that from which my ancestors came.
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