Well, I guess I should close this out before the next chapter entitled "Home, new experiences" takes hold. Truly this has been a great experience both from a learning curve standpoint and from an attitude and awareness concern. Its been all about me, for the first time in an incredibly long time. I truly appreciate all the emails, comments, notes, semaphore signals, and telepathy sentiments that you all have given forth. It has really been overwhelming and was never expected, but oh so supportive and energizing. I'm probably going to close this chapter of the blog to compartmentalize it a bit for my future auto-biography on what not to do for yourself, but I may pick it up in a weekly form to keep those interested apprised of my progress. I can't believe some of you want this to continue, so I will find a happy medium! I've had well over 2000 page views during the month and I am staggered by this.
Today I had my last 3 egg white omelet with cheddar and spinach from the men and women behind the counter. As much as I've made fun of the nursing home cafeteria, I think I will miss having 3, very square meals, prepared for me seven days a week. There is something a little bit luxurious about this...black triangle trays and all. The way they have you plan your menus a week ahead of time, and in calorie counting scrutiny, meal by meal, has been incredibly helpful to illustrate some of the freedoms that I allowed myself in the past, and where I need to be now that I'm back out in the jungle.
As few of us as there were left today, we all sat at the same big, long table...you can picture mealtime at Hogwarts in Harry Potter. Very similar. But it does help to bind the group together.
The water volleyball has grown in popularity while I've been here too. We've had 10-14 people playing both days this last weekend, which is a decent chunk of the remaining inmates and a little unusual. I'm confident that the teams will stay strong and enthusiastic without me...sniff. We played five games and I think we all passed pruney after game number two. It was a perfect day, we opened the roof, and it was just nice to have fun with no pressure to be anywhere. I got out of the pool, went to the hot tub for a while, then had a steam before my shower. I think I was trying to hang on as long as I could. I was bored by then...so the sauna will have to wait until next time. The inevitable came, and once I was re-formatted, I had to empty my locker, which felt kind of cold.
12 of us ate lunch around someones iPhone watching the big man comic (name I can't remember) give his routine. It was a funny routine and it was great to laugh together. I could not help myself in noticing the irony of the big people watching the big comic making fun of big people. I'm sure you know whom I am speaking of...does a lot of self deprecating humor...funny and sad at the same time. He got us going though, and it was a great way to say goodbye, laughing. Not too much fanfare in departing otherwise, but still sad to go.
Thanks again to all for your support. I'm packing as I type, which is a trick for sure...on the road home in the morning.
Cheers.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Day 27. Almost
It's been a month. Truly, you would think that I would have the schedule down pat. Yes, reasonable people would have a clue. I am apparently, un-normal as I strolled into the DFC with the confidence of someone who has been here long enough to know better. Realizing, with my breakfast tray in hand, that my last synchronized water ballet class was beginning in mere moments.... I'll call it a sprint breakfast. It was the fastest meal I've had in a month. Virtually every skill at mindful eating, consuming in a timely fashion, slowing down, putting my fork down between bites, smelling the roses during a meal - out the window. I gobbled (timely word) down my food and made a bee line for the locker room...coffee in hand. I think I was the only person with a hot, fresh cup of java locked in my locker. I got to the pool in time, but I was barely awake and sans coffee...so close, it was there for moral support this time.
Brian was the guru du-jour and he seemed to be in a challenging mood. When I see the buoys of doom come out, I know we're going to hurt, and so early in the day. Brian takes great pleasure at distributing the buoys to each of us as if it is a projectile of sorts. He's quite accurate, which is impressive. I've seen no one with a buoy mark on their forehead. Today, I got the long-snap version, and my teeth are still intact. He led us through a good workout...I know it's good because I was winded for most of it. Today had new twists to it as well which as I've stated makes it interesting. If nothing else, I have been consistently challenged by these folks. Today we did some work with intervals and intensity levels. He worked us pretty much through 1,2,3, and 4, (4 means omfg, I can't breath much faster.) Once we were introduced to 1 and 3, we discarded them for the rest of the session. I'm really unclear as to when I actually woke up. I can't tell if it was during the exercise, or upon its cessation, the result was the same. I felt whupped, in a good way.
I stayed in the pool for two more hours of water volley ball.....I know....again. Today was the largest group we've had. We kept a 5 member team on the deep side against 8-9 on the shallow side. The deep side (my side) crushed the shallow people (we're mean like that). But overall, the games have gotten better as the group has become more comfortable and have some practice behind them. It is inspiring to see the progress within a lot of these folks, including myself at some level. I inhale a lot of pool. I never thought about this much until one girl said she thought she was ingesting the sweat of everyone in the pool.... Mmmm, thanks for that... don't think about this too long...it can get gross. Thank you chlorine. You are my friend.
We sadly said goodbye to others in the group who were driving home after lunch. It is sad when good, fun, happy, nice people leave. You build a bond with them while here much in the same way trench warfare binds people, although on a much less dire scale. My time for dismissal is tomorrow afternoon. I guess I have to face the jungle at some point. My challenge will be getting an hour in on Monday on driving day. I may go find a state park on my way home and take in a good long walk. Maybe Mt. Pilot? Or maybe West Virginia somewhere. I'll have to google that tomorrow and formulate a plan. I have a lot to put in place upon my return home, and I'm glad I gave myself a few days to get re-settled. Remind me to have the landlord turn on my furnace!
I had the opportunity to head back to Raleigh this afternoon to spend some time at Jeff Gordon's home. Jeff is a friend from Valparaiso, IN whom I met at school. FB has really been our re-connection vehicle, but it was great that we could sit and chat for a while today. I met his lovey wife and very fun son, who is just 21 mos. It was great to see them all!
Cheers!
Brian was the guru du-jour and he seemed to be in a challenging mood. When I see the buoys of doom come out, I know we're going to hurt, and so early in the day. Brian takes great pleasure at distributing the buoys to each of us as if it is a projectile of sorts. He's quite accurate, which is impressive. I've seen no one with a buoy mark on their forehead. Today, I got the long-snap version, and my teeth are still intact. He led us through a good workout...I know it's good because I was winded for most of it. Today had new twists to it as well which as I've stated makes it interesting. If nothing else, I have been consistently challenged by these folks. Today we did some work with intervals and intensity levels. He worked us pretty much through 1,2,3, and 4, (4 means omfg, I can't breath much faster.) Once we were introduced to 1 and 3, we discarded them for the rest of the session. I'm really unclear as to when I actually woke up. I can't tell if it was during the exercise, or upon its cessation, the result was the same. I felt whupped, in a good way.
I stayed in the pool for two more hours of water volley ball.....I know....again. Today was the largest group we've had. We kept a 5 member team on the deep side against 8-9 on the shallow side. The deep side (my side) crushed the shallow people (we're mean like that). But overall, the games have gotten better as the group has become more comfortable and have some practice behind them. It is inspiring to see the progress within a lot of these folks, including myself at some level. I inhale a lot of pool. I never thought about this much until one girl said she thought she was ingesting the sweat of everyone in the pool.... Mmmm, thanks for that... don't think about this too long...it can get gross. Thank you chlorine. You are my friend.
We sadly said goodbye to others in the group who were driving home after lunch. It is sad when good, fun, happy, nice people leave. You build a bond with them while here much in the same way trench warfare binds people, although on a much less dire scale. My time for dismissal is tomorrow afternoon. I guess I have to face the jungle at some point. My challenge will be getting an hour in on Monday on driving day. I may go find a state park on my way home and take in a good long walk. Maybe Mt. Pilot? Or maybe West Virginia somewhere. I'll have to google that tomorrow and formulate a plan. I have a lot to put in place upon my return home, and I'm glad I gave myself a few days to get re-settled. Remind me to have the landlord turn on my furnace!
I had the opportunity to head back to Raleigh this afternoon to spend some time at Jeff Gordon's home. Jeff is a friend from Valparaiso, IN whom I met at school. FB has really been our re-connection vehicle, but it was great that we could sit and chat for a while today. I met his lovey wife and very fun son, who is just 21 mos. It was great to see them all!
Cheers!
Friday, November 25, 2011
Day 26, last classes
The dumb ass in me came out again this morning as I walked in and realized I was forty minutes late for my last fitness class on cardiovascular fitness. I really wanted to go to this one as I've been to the other set of three and I always learn something. I guess it will have to wait until the next time...whoops. The rest of the day was all about getting things wrapped up. I had an appointment with my doc folks, Sandy, who checked me in. Basically, this was a review of my second set of labs. I was actually excited for the weigh in...even though I have three more days before I am released back in to the jungle, My weigh in showed that I've shed better than 20lbs. I'm kind of stoked about this. It is the head start I was hoping to have while here. I may have shed an entire 'X' off of my wardrobe too! This is exciting for me too as I am very used to the number of X's rising and not lowering. My labs came back in much better shape than when I was first here four weeks ago, no diabetes, HDL/LDL ratio improved, Triglycerides was strangely up, and doc thought they would have fallen, so we may re-test for that one at home next month to see what that says. But overall, they seem pretty happy with my medical experience here. I'm still on the half dose of the BP meds, but the BP has been rock solid since the world came in around me that first Saturday. So that is good news too. I'm actually excited to go see my own doc in a few weeks at home to show him my progress. I can honestly say, I have never uttered those words before.
On to my Nutrition close out. I met with Lisa, who yes, at one point over the last month, scared me more than anyone here. I told her this on our second meeting and I think she was a little concerned how I had interpreted her information, but it was real. She laid down a ton of stuff I never paid any attention to, and now that it was in my face...she had become the dark lord. Thankfully, things improved once I caught on, and she is still one of the people I revere the most here. She, I feel, has me on a very sustainable plan for home. We reviewed some local restaurant menus near work and I was able to formulate several lunch options that will work within the guidelines. This is do-able, and I don't have to feel like I am deprived at all. Things will be different in terms of choices and volume, but after being here on 1500cals, I have 2500ca' to work with at this point in my weight level. I'm going to aim for 2000cal in a day and allow myself 500 to 'play' with...if I happen to go out on occasion and need to tip a couple back.
Back in the water. I missed the Water Ballet class due to my appointment, but I was early for Volley ball.
After lunch, I had a Fitness exit meeting with Brian. Gerald had been my primary guy on check in, but he is gone on vacation, so Brian stepped in to work on a plan for me to continue my efforts. He went so far as to jump online right then and there to research what was available in my area, which actually saved me time doing it myself when I got home. So I already have a short list of places to check out...very cool. I did purchase a pedometer too (another new toy). This will help me monitor my daily activity in terms of Activity of Daily Life. I am on my feet a ton at work, so I think this will contribute to my daily need of 10,000 steps. (It's still a goal for me....I don't think I've achieved that yet) But we discussed Optimal plans, Realistic goals and Minimal goals. I think the coaching experience that I've signed up for as well as a research study will help me be motivated to continue. Right now, my motivation is really high, and as much as I know that life will get in the way at times, it is truly my expectation to rock Illinois a bit with some tonnage moving around.
I will need to rely on my vast network of friends and family to assist me in this. You asked for it, you got it! I'm calling each of you! I will be active damn it! If it's active, I will be willing. I will also be taking on dog walking requests. I may ask to borrow a dog from some of you...they need it and I need it...we can help each other. Seriously, we'll talk.
Second water volley ball time this afternoon and afterwards, because I missed my water dance session, I did my own water workout. I just did a lot of the things they've shown us. I was different because they weren't calling the shots, and I probably didn't push the same way that they did, but I was breathing pretty similar to the way I do in class, so I had to be doing something right. It was kind of weird doing it alone, but it can be done, and it felt good, so there....
Cheers.
On to my Nutrition close out. I met with Lisa, who yes, at one point over the last month, scared me more than anyone here. I told her this on our second meeting and I think she was a little concerned how I had interpreted her information, but it was real. She laid down a ton of stuff I never paid any attention to, and now that it was in my face...she had become the dark lord. Thankfully, things improved once I caught on, and she is still one of the people I revere the most here. She, I feel, has me on a very sustainable plan for home. We reviewed some local restaurant menus near work and I was able to formulate several lunch options that will work within the guidelines. This is do-able, and I don't have to feel like I am deprived at all. Things will be different in terms of choices and volume, but after being here on 1500cals, I have 2500ca' to work with at this point in my weight level. I'm going to aim for 2000cal in a day and allow myself 500 to 'play' with...if I happen to go out on occasion and need to tip a couple back.
Back in the water. I missed the Water Ballet class due to my appointment, but I was early for Volley ball.
After lunch, I had a Fitness exit meeting with Brian. Gerald had been my primary guy on check in, but he is gone on vacation, so Brian stepped in to work on a plan for me to continue my efforts. He went so far as to jump online right then and there to research what was available in my area, which actually saved me time doing it myself when I got home. So I already have a short list of places to check out...very cool. I did purchase a pedometer too (another new toy). This will help me monitor my daily activity in terms of Activity of Daily Life. I am on my feet a ton at work, so I think this will contribute to my daily need of 10,000 steps. (It's still a goal for me....I don't think I've achieved that yet) But we discussed Optimal plans, Realistic goals and Minimal goals. I think the coaching experience that I've signed up for as well as a research study will help me be motivated to continue. Right now, my motivation is really high, and as much as I know that life will get in the way at times, it is truly my expectation to rock Illinois a bit with some tonnage moving around.
I will need to rely on my vast network of friends and family to assist me in this. You asked for it, you got it! I'm calling each of you! I will be active damn it! If it's active, I will be willing. I will also be taking on dog walking requests. I may ask to borrow a dog from some of you...they need it and I need it...we can help each other. Seriously, we'll talk.
Second water volley ball time this afternoon and afterwards, because I missed my water dance session, I did my own water workout. I just did a lot of the things they've shown us. I was different because they weren't calling the shots, and I probably didn't push the same way that they did, but I was breathing pretty similar to the way I do in class, so I had to be doing something right. It was kind of weird doing it alone, but it can be done, and it felt good, so there....
Cheers.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Day 25, Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving was a little different this year. I just posted on FB that this is the first Thanksgiving where I needed to tighten my belt...and I'm out of holes. I thought that sort of summed up my holiday. It did start out like all the rest, early to rise (crap) in order to get to breakfast before they closed. But it seemed that I was rerouted to the suck-tel office. I was greeted with a pleasant "Happy Thanksgiving" and I responded in kind, and then asked to borrow the Thanksgiving Plunger. Mmmm, that's a day starter. But I did make to breakfast, and the desk clerk got a good laugh at the celebratory plunger line.
The food staff is probably the nicest bunch of people here. Of course, I have been extremely nice to them while here....they give me my food. Just the other day, an extra shrimp made it onto my plate...it pays to be nice. I do feel bad that they were here on Thanksgiving to serve as if just another day. I thanked them and brought up their plans for the day and it was a nice bonding moment for all of us. I think they could have left us a couple of boxes of Cheerios and a half gallon of skim and we'd be done. Nope, they pulled out all the stops as usual. I've dialed in on Breakfast...just in time to leave, but for my refresher...I will know. A 3 egg white omelet, with one whole egg, with cheddar and spinach, a cup of oatmeal, some fruit (I chose pineapple) and the smallest glass of milk that really, I think Barbi would use in her dream house. It's almost not worth pouring. Oh, and of course, coffee. Black.
I adjourned to the gym and got a little step machine in before our Championship Level Water Volleyball Championship. It was especially fun today because everyone was able to play as no one had classes getting in the way. I was further able to twist, turn, jump and drown, mostly all at the same time...it has been more of a light cardio activity than I ever would have thought. But I am a master. They will miss me when I'm gone. There is one woman here who suffered a tragic brain injury in a car accident. Really smart lady, but with a lot of neurologic re-training to do. She's been with us 3-4 days in the last two weeks and it has been amazing at the progress she has made. Today she was able to serve the ball like anyone else, two weeks ago, we were holding the ball for her. Really amazing to see that progress.
My folks showed up again so that we could share the holiday, even though I was in lock down. They enjoyed the Turkey dinner they dished up for us, and really, other than cranberry sauce, I had sweet potatoes, stuffing and turkey, a salad, and the worlds smallest pumpkin pie I've ever seen...but it was there...all 280 calories of it. Total meal was only 860, which was a treat...I've been at 650-700 for dinner usually. The dining staff did dress up the place with linen table clothes and napkins, which was a nice touch to the nursing home look. It was nice to introduce the folks to a couple of the other inmates. (The staff also gave us take home meals for dinner, basically, a roast beef wrap) Most folks vanished after Turkey. I found it funny that even with the limited offering in terms of volume....many people didn't finish because they filled up before they could finish. I don't have that problem, but I did take notice.
I took Mom and Pop to one of the many walking trails available here. I think we took a mile or so walk in the woods and made our way back to the cars...It was an absolutely stunning day in the woods, bright sunshine, kind of warm, very relaxing. It was still early, so we headed to the movie theatre. Roulette brought us to the Muppets. I will not spoil and I was really kind of looking forward to it. I was wrong. Good to see the 'gang', but that was two hours spend without a refund available. Good for the kids.. I said good bye to the folks whom I will see next month too when they make the journey to Wisconsin with their token stop in Chicago.
I sit here in my suck-tel eating my extremely thin wrap sandwich, apple, salad, and a bag of what I will describe as chex mix alternative. Air popped popcorn (no oil, that's important), a generic Cheerios, shredded wheat and two pretzels. It all had some sort of non-salt laden powdered seasoning. Nice to have for the last quarter of the last game...
Happy Thanksgiving to all!! Safe Travels, and "Hi" to everyone I know!! Cheers.
The food staff is probably the nicest bunch of people here. Of course, I have been extremely nice to them while here....they give me my food. Just the other day, an extra shrimp made it onto my plate...it pays to be nice. I do feel bad that they were here on Thanksgiving to serve as if just another day. I thanked them and brought up their plans for the day and it was a nice bonding moment for all of us. I think they could have left us a couple of boxes of Cheerios and a half gallon of skim and we'd be done. Nope, they pulled out all the stops as usual. I've dialed in on Breakfast...just in time to leave, but for my refresher...I will know. A 3 egg white omelet, with one whole egg, with cheddar and spinach, a cup of oatmeal, some fruit (I chose pineapple) and the smallest glass of milk that really, I think Barbi would use in her dream house. It's almost not worth pouring. Oh, and of course, coffee. Black.
I adjourned to the gym and got a little step machine in before our Championship Level Water Volleyball Championship. It was especially fun today because everyone was able to play as no one had classes getting in the way. I was further able to twist, turn, jump and drown, mostly all at the same time...it has been more of a light cardio activity than I ever would have thought. But I am a master. They will miss me when I'm gone. There is one woman here who suffered a tragic brain injury in a car accident. Really smart lady, but with a lot of neurologic re-training to do. She's been with us 3-4 days in the last two weeks and it has been amazing at the progress she has made. Today she was able to serve the ball like anyone else, two weeks ago, we were holding the ball for her. Really amazing to see that progress.
My folks showed up again so that we could share the holiday, even though I was in lock down. They enjoyed the Turkey dinner they dished up for us, and really, other than cranberry sauce, I had sweet potatoes, stuffing and turkey, a salad, and the worlds smallest pumpkin pie I've ever seen...but it was there...all 280 calories of it. Total meal was only 860, which was a treat...I've been at 650-700 for dinner usually. The dining staff did dress up the place with linen table clothes and napkins, which was a nice touch to the nursing home look. It was nice to introduce the folks to a couple of the other inmates. (The staff also gave us take home meals for dinner, basically, a roast beef wrap) Most folks vanished after Turkey. I found it funny that even with the limited offering in terms of volume....many people didn't finish because they filled up before they could finish. I don't have that problem, but I did take notice.
I took Mom and Pop to one of the many walking trails available here. I think we took a mile or so walk in the woods and made our way back to the cars...It was an absolutely stunning day in the woods, bright sunshine, kind of warm, very relaxing. It was still early, so we headed to the movie theatre. Roulette brought us to the Muppets. I will not spoil and I was really kind of looking forward to it. I was wrong. Good to see the 'gang', but that was two hours spend without a refund available. Good for the kids.. I said good bye to the folks whom I will see next month too when they make the journey to Wisconsin with their token stop in Chicago.
I sit here in my suck-tel eating my extremely thin wrap sandwich, apple, salad, and a bag of what I will describe as chex mix alternative. Air popped popcorn (no oil, that's important), a generic Cheerios, shredded wheat and two pretzels. It all had some sort of non-salt laden powdered seasoning. Nice to have for the last quarter of the last game...
Happy Thanksgiving to all!! Safe Travels, and "Hi" to everyone I know!! Cheers.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Day 24, The end of the beginning
Apparently, it is possible to eat at fast food joints and casual dining places without crushing my efforts. Not that it is recommended in any way shape or form, but there are ways to make healthier choices if that happens to be where you end up for chow. This was the theme of my morning class today. And true. There is so much more bad out there than good with restaurants, but they can and do offer options. We discussed many situations in class, but what they suggested doing for times where you may find yourself with little other option, is to take a proactive approach and do a little homework ahead of time. Even to go so far as to pre-plan a future meal plan if you do cross the thresholds of some of these restaurants. Go on their websites take a look at their nutritional info and make choices for five of your go to joints. This way if you do happen to walk into a McDonalds (heaven forbid) that you can survive by knowing ahead of time what you can do nutritionally. That being said, and my own harder challenge is to keep the sodium intake low. This is almost impossible with commercial food distributors. There is so much salt in freakin everything, it is a little frightening. I've sang this song already, but it was an interesting class and to me, a bit more on the practical side as I try to implement this stuff into my life back in the jungle.
Another water day, I plan on being in the pool for the next four days as much as I can...I can get on a tread mill or step machine anywhere. I wish there were more umbrella drinks here though.
We had another "ask the expert", the fourth in the series, and this one was from the Medical department. Basically, the doc sits down and fields questions from the audience about anything...most of all about what we have been learning here. Many of the questions are more clarifying opportunities to dive into classroom answers a little deeper. It has been helpful. There are new devices that will be in my house beginning next week. First, I'm bringing in two scales....one for me, one for my food. The one for me, well that's obvious. I need to monitor my weight. Duh. Who knew? I really don't wish to back slide on the weight loss head start I've given myself at all. I'm prepared for it as I adjust to my new routines, but I need to know when it is happening so that I can react and plan accordingly. It seems so simple, but this is huge. The food scale, which I already purchased, is pretty cool as it calculates calories based off of what you are weighing. It's pretty slick and it will help me to monitor portion sizes. We all get pretty good at knowing the calories of things because of the way they have you plan your menus here. But what tend to happen to folks is what they call portion creep. This is basically the way your eye perceives what a portion size is for a particular item. We've been tested in this skill, but after about eight weeks or so, our brains start to accept larger portions as correct, when in fact, it is more than what the goal is. So monitoring portion sizes just reinforces the guidelines that I will be following. Lastly, I will be monitoring my own BP. This has been such an eye opening experience to me in this regard, that I just feel more comfortable knowing what my body is doing much more often than my annual trip to the doc. (nearly passing out will do this to you...as fun as it was...I much prefer to make my world spin with booze and not bodily function and blood supply to my melon.
Then began the beginning of the end of my beginning. I'm here for four or five more days, but some staff, courses ect need to wrap up with me now because of the holiday. Some of the wrap-up classes on how I am supposed to take this binder and CD's worth of information and somehow make it work for my lifestyle at home. There is a crap load of goal setting to do! (I do like goals...not. But I do understand their import at this point) It's probably best that I'm setting my own. It's all about reasonableness. I think what I like most about this place is their mantra of "Progress, not Perfection". It allows for lee way, slippage, and recovery. It's not about being perfect at it all the time, but putting what I've learned in place most of the time. If I do that, then I am so much further ahead of where I was before. I don't really want to go back there. I've elected to enroll in their coaching program for three months for now. Basically, this will be an exchange of emails and phone calls of follow up, addressing issues and concerns and helping me to stay on the tracks. I have the option to extend that if I need to later on. The other thing is that they are offering a decent discount for a refresher visit. I can't say today if I will, but I am strongly considering it to keep this momentum up...6-9 months from now when I tend to fall off the wagon with these things. It could become a twice a year thing for me in the future...we'll see how it goes.
The remaining of the ranks here for the holiday weekend have a Monster water volleyball match planned for tomorrow at 10am. Mom and Dad, if you arrive and I'm not around, I'll be up in a few minutes...
Cheers.
Another water day, I plan on being in the pool for the next four days as much as I can...I can get on a tread mill or step machine anywhere. I wish there were more umbrella drinks here though.
We had another "ask the expert", the fourth in the series, and this one was from the Medical department. Basically, the doc sits down and fields questions from the audience about anything...most of all about what we have been learning here. Many of the questions are more clarifying opportunities to dive into classroom answers a little deeper. It has been helpful. There are new devices that will be in my house beginning next week. First, I'm bringing in two scales....one for me, one for my food. The one for me, well that's obvious. I need to monitor my weight. Duh. Who knew? I really don't wish to back slide on the weight loss head start I've given myself at all. I'm prepared for it as I adjust to my new routines, but I need to know when it is happening so that I can react and plan accordingly. It seems so simple, but this is huge. The food scale, which I already purchased, is pretty cool as it calculates calories based off of what you are weighing. It's pretty slick and it will help me to monitor portion sizes. We all get pretty good at knowing the calories of things because of the way they have you plan your menus here. But what tend to happen to folks is what they call portion creep. This is basically the way your eye perceives what a portion size is for a particular item. We've been tested in this skill, but after about eight weeks or so, our brains start to accept larger portions as correct, when in fact, it is more than what the goal is. So monitoring portion sizes just reinforces the guidelines that I will be following. Lastly, I will be monitoring my own BP. This has been such an eye opening experience to me in this regard, that I just feel more comfortable knowing what my body is doing much more often than my annual trip to the doc. (nearly passing out will do this to you...as fun as it was...I much prefer to make my world spin with booze and not bodily function and blood supply to my melon.
Then began the beginning of the end of my beginning. I'm here for four or five more days, but some staff, courses ect need to wrap up with me now because of the holiday. Some of the wrap-up classes on how I am supposed to take this binder and CD's worth of information and somehow make it work for my lifestyle at home. There is a crap load of goal setting to do! (I do like goals...not. But I do understand their import at this point) It's probably best that I'm setting my own. It's all about reasonableness. I think what I like most about this place is their mantra of "Progress, not Perfection". It allows for lee way, slippage, and recovery. It's not about being perfect at it all the time, but putting what I've learned in place most of the time. If I do that, then I am so much further ahead of where I was before. I don't really want to go back there. I've elected to enroll in their coaching program for three months for now. Basically, this will be an exchange of emails and phone calls of follow up, addressing issues and concerns and helping me to stay on the tracks. I have the option to extend that if I need to later on. The other thing is that they are offering a decent discount for a refresher visit. I can't say today if I will, but I am strongly considering it to keep this momentum up...6-9 months from now when I tend to fall off the wagon with these things. It could become a twice a year thing for me in the future...we'll see how it goes.
The remaining of the ranks here for the holiday weekend have a Monster water volleyball match planned for tomorrow at 10am. Mom and Dad, if you arrive and I'm not around, I'll be up in a few minutes...
Cheers.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Day 23
Soreness tells my tale today. I've really put in some effort these last few days, and I may have over done it a bit. That would explain the strained shoulder. I have my first sports injury!! I feel like I've arrived. I still have full range of motion and all, but it's sore at the core, and it was recommended that I cut back on the strength stuff, which is fine at this point because I really just need the cardio and aerobic stuff anyhow. I've been trying to fill my days because my rubber legs can only carry me so far, there is still a lot to move around, but I am so far ahead of where I would have been trying to get this ball rolling on my own.
Today was also a looonnnnggg day. I had to fast last night for some blood work being done this morning. (This is an "after" work-up that follows the "before" version after I arrived. They send us home with a comparison in labs to show how your numbers drop while here.) I laugh because basically, they feed us at night and again in the morning.....you can't help but fast. But I guess it is necessary to remind us that we are unfed for 10-12 hours. So I arrived at the DFC, seeming at the same time the birds were thinking about waking up, I have a hard time telling, as I'm sure my eyes were still closed. I had to get that blood draw nice and early so I wouldn't contaminate the data. I just don't like early. I think I've proved it this trip. My day is skewed, up late in the morning and up late at night. I can do the occasional early, but this chronic stuff is, well, for the birds! After seeing vampira, (she's actually a great 'stick') I was on my way out of the medical office when I was called back....She extended towards me a Ziploc bag with a plastic jar in it. Yup, they wanted that too. Well, I was not told about this ahead of time, and, well, I was un-prepared at that particular moment. Thankfully, they told me it could wait until later. I stuffed it in my gym bag and left for the pool.
There were still a couple of un-tapped classes that I had not attended in the pool and today, they were back to back on the schedule. The first was a water bourne cardio circuit, which I actually handled really well. I came out of it really energized, so I kept doing light laps until the next class started. I was actually very thankful at the end of my laps that the next class was a Flex and Stretch class, with the very energetic woman who is too nice. This girl is just a smile. The title of the class says what it does, and it is utilized by a lot of the folks who have limited mobility, or just don't have the range of motion that they need to acquire. It was fun for me too, though, and not for the reason above. I'm leaning about myself, and my body. For a long time, from the neck down really was just "down there" to me. So any new info I can squeeze out of these folks while here, is mostly news to me, and I've learned a lot. I was able to feel parts of me that I have not tended to for quite some time, and other parts have recently seen a lot of activity, well it was great to stretch those areas properly in a more concentrated way. I still love some of the moves they ask me to make in the deep end of the pool that are, I think, physically impossible, but they describe them to us as if everyone should be able to do them. The ruse is further played out by them saying things like "that's it" or "yeah, you got it" into their microphoned headset. Apparently, on some of these, we all just assume everyone else is actually doing it correctly, when in reality, we're all messing it up, and the Sweet yet evil smiling lady is just laughing. I swear this is the case....
That water class ended finally, I guess as much as I did learn stuff, it didn't really grab my attention as Water Volleyball was due to start. And this is where it gets funny. After two hours in the pool, and the thought of that bottle in my locker....I had the urge. I knew I wouldn't make it through volley ball. As I may have explained prior, a big man has a certain luxury of being 12 times less affected by the pull of gravity while in the pool. It is like you are in space; the weight is carried by the water. When you get out, however, that pull of gravity re-asserts itself on your body and it takes a minute for your structure to realize it has to carry itself again. So you move slowly in the beginning...you really don't have a choice. So I decide that this would be a good time to fill the container, as I'm very often camel like, who knows when the next opportunity may present itself. I slop over to my locker and retrieve my gym bag only to camouflage my real purpose and headed to the small room with a door. At this point, pressure has built and I'm feeling anxious. I am hurriedly pulling at the drawstrings...to no avail. Okay, the beginning of panic shows itself. The dance with no music begins. My structure reacts well to my demand for dance as the adrenaline injected into my blood stream seems epic. My panic builds as I realize I'm trapped in my suit and I begin talking out loud to god and whoever is within earshot. I could care less in this moment, I focus and go for the strings again, finally, I feel the relief around my middle...part two....have you ever tried to get a big man out of a soaking wet bathing suit? Let's just say the surface tension of water, fabric and skin is tremendous, not to mention trying to wield said container in an appropriate manner. I am so very thankful that my new found fitness allowed me to be the contortionist that I was required to be in that moment. Success, but barely, my god, I didn't see that coming at all. Part three was just pure inconvenience. After volleyball, I headed to Medical to drop off my 'prize', oh yeah, they're closed. At this point it's Noon and they are closed till 2pm. So I was forced to put my zip locked biohazard bag back in the gym bag and haul it around with me...I've never treated my gym bag with such reverence before, guarding it from any possible infraction.
Now, I did have a second and apparently final massage here as the staff will vanish because of the long weekend. My masseuse was even better than the last. She really worked on my shoulder a ton, but she did things to my feet that just released stress from my whole body. I literally yelped at one point. (Yes, I yelped...it is the only way I can describe it) It was electric. I can't help but wonder what they think about when they've got their hands on places I usually ignore, but there they are 'digging in'. I found myself laughing more this time. Not from ticklishness, but more from a good place while they were doing their work and I was just amazed at the way I was feeling. This massage involved some reflexology too, which was interactive, but hands went in places that are normally not on the tour, (nothing weird) but just not usually public spaces. Just wow. How I have avoided this for all these years...I could become addicted. She, of course, was lauding all the health benefits of massage...circulation, yada yada yada...I could care less...truly it just feels great.
Wow, I'm long winded today. Lastly on today's docket was a cooking demonstration that was called modifying your recipes to be lower fat, lower sodium and lower calorie. It was interesting. I think the biggest thing I learned here was that modifying recipes is hard. Really hard. The result is mostly trial and error, and very rarely will you end up with something that tastes like the original version. The chef suggested the biggest tip. "If you are trying to re-create grandma's brownies, you will never do that. Rename the recipe so that you don't have the expectation that these modified versions will be just like grandma used to make." I thought it sounded like a good psychological distraction from reality.
There you have it, cheers!
Monday, November 21, 2011
Day 21 and 22, 22nd is better.
So, I'm sure I didn't ruin any one's day by skipping a day with the blog. I was really getting in to the football games on yesterday and really didn't have the want to give you a day of nothingness in written form.
But to recap my Sunday, for consistency's sake. After a Saturday water class and two hours of volley ball (I did say I was bored right?), yes, three hours in the pool. I traveled to the Raleigh Flea Market at the suggestion of an old college friend from Valparaiso who lives here. He was right. This is a really nice flea market. And yes, the obligatory sock sales table was there, but this Flea Market had another level of interest to me as it was just that much more "southern" than I normally would expect. This is not to think that I attend Flea Markets with any kind of regularity, and I am certainly no expert, but this was a nice twist. It was a gorgeous day...75, bright sunshine, with a good breeze. I was really not there to purchase, although, I was able to find some stuff for others. I was there first, to give me something to do, but second to find something a little more interesting to snap a photo of for a photo challenge. I took my phone and not my camera, which I've learned is not always reliable for picture taking. I salvaged a couple of shots that were somewhat more acceptable for the challenge, but no where near what I was hoping for from my phone on the creativity scale. It has some sort of double exposure issue that I will have to resolve somehow.... Came back for dinner, and then I found football with some folks at the DFC. It was actually nice to watch a couple of games with people from around the country. As I am now partial to the Bears, it was fun to have someone from California to trade rebukes with during the game. Thankfully, they squashed San Diego, so I think that means that I win too, right? All other jabs and retorts are then nullified. I think that's how that works.
Thankfully, Monday arrived of my final week. This is sort of an odd week by having Thanksgiving plop itself down in the middle of my time here. There is a re-organized schedule to allow all classes to be held. Many staff here will take the four day weekend, so for some, I will be saying my good byes on Wednesday, which seems weird be it for days before I am scheduled to be done.
I have turned back into a water rat. I am now concerned about depression and despair setting in as I mourn the pool after I depart. Not really, as I think I will be able to find pool access nearby at home, which I'm kind of excited to find. I say all this because, I was in the pool by 9am for a 10 o'clock class. I put in some random lap time, just to see how sore I can actually make my shoulders before they become useless. I'm not used to doing anything like laps. My history of swimming is usually destination minded. Destinations like, I think I'm going to swim to that island in the lake, or, the boat just sank, I think I'll swim to shore, or, I have fallen overboard, and need to notify someone to pull me out. Laps, not so much. But I tried it. I just kept Michael Phelps in mind after the second time I cracked my melon on the railing just below the surface (handicapped ADA railing, it helps complete the nursing home effect they are going for here.) It doesn't stick out more than four inches from the wall, but apparently, these are four very critical inches to a dumb ass who doesn't look out where he is swimming. Between the two walls though, I did pretty well, but I tuckered myself out waaaaay before my aerobics session and subsequent, and now obligatory, water volleyball game.
The great thing for me today was when the instructor, Brian came over to me after class and lowered his hand down to the water as if he were trying to rescue me and pull me back "on board". He was leaning down so that he could "high five" me (actually 'low five'). He wanted to tell me how much improvement he has seen in my fitness level and was really impressed by how much effort I had been putting in while here. He made my day! Totally re-energized me for the day and I hope for longer too. I was 'the crusher' in Volley ball after that! I took apart a group of 65 year olds like no body else. Kidding, well, sort of...they weren't all 65. I did my strength circuit with a lot more energy too this afternoon, and kicked in a trip on Mr. NuStep too. It was a full workout day for sure.
I think that I can finally claim a work out injury as my right shoulder joint is not so happy. It has been making it hard to sleep, I see the doc tomorrow, so I will mention it, but it doesn't feel tragic, just really sore. I see the doc first thing actually. 7:30am. You can tell how thrilled I am with this. Really? 7:30...you mean AM? Ugg. I'm not a morning person. I groan because with the re-organized schedule this week, I will be there 13 hours tomorrow to attend all the classes I want to attend. There is a class rescheduled for tomorrow night that is a cooking demo with the head chef again about modifying recipes, which, I think will be helpful as I begin to cook for myself with more regularity again. And just to make sure my shoulder is properly addressed, I scheduled another massage.
Be Jealous.
But to recap my Sunday, for consistency's sake. After a Saturday water class and two hours of volley ball (I did say I was bored right?), yes, three hours in the pool. I traveled to the Raleigh Flea Market at the suggestion of an old college friend from Valparaiso who lives here. He was right. This is a really nice flea market. And yes, the obligatory sock sales table was there, but this Flea Market had another level of interest to me as it was just that much more "southern" than I normally would expect. This is not to think that I attend Flea Markets with any kind of regularity, and I am certainly no expert, but this was a nice twist. It was a gorgeous day...75, bright sunshine, with a good breeze. I was really not there to purchase, although, I was able to find some stuff for others. I was there first, to give me something to do, but second to find something a little more interesting to snap a photo of for a photo challenge. I took my phone and not my camera, which I've learned is not always reliable for picture taking. I salvaged a couple of shots that were somewhat more acceptable for the challenge, but no where near what I was hoping for from my phone on the creativity scale. It has some sort of double exposure issue that I will have to resolve somehow.... Came back for dinner, and then I found football with some folks at the DFC. It was actually nice to watch a couple of games with people from around the country. As I am now partial to the Bears, it was fun to have someone from California to trade rebukes with during the game. Thankfully, they squashed San Diego, so I think that means that I win too, right? All other jabs and retorts are then nullified. I think that's how that works.
Thankfully, Monday arrived of my final week. This is sort of an odd week by having Thanksgiving plop itself down in the middle of my time here. There is a re-organized schedule to allow all classes to be held. Many staff here will take the four day weekend, so for some, I will be saying my good byes on Wednesday, which seems weird be it for days before I am scheduled to be done.
I have turned back into a water rat. I am now concerned about depression and despair setting in as I mourn the pool after I depart. Not really, as I think I will be able to find pool access nearby at home, which I'm kind of excited to find. I say all this because, I was in the pool by 9am for a 10 o'clock class. I put in some random lap time, just to see how sore I can actually make my shoulders before they become useless. I'm not used to doing anything like laps. My history of swimming is usually destination minded. Destinations like, I think I'm going to swim to that island in the lake, or, the boat just sank, I think I'll swim to shore, or, I have fallen overboard, and need to notify someone to pull me out. Laps, not so much. But I tried it. I just kept Michael Phelps in mind after the second time I cracked my melon on the railing just below the surface (handicapped ADA railing, it helps complete the nursing home effect they are going for here.) It doesn't stick out more than four inches from the wall, but apparently, these are four very critical inches to a dumb ass who doesn't look out where he is swimming. Between the two walls though, I did pretty well, but I tuckered myself out waaaaay before my aerobics session and subsequent, and now obligatory, water volleyball game.
The great thing for me today was when the instructor, Brian came over to me after class and lowered his hand down to the water as if he were trying to rescue me and pull me back "on board". He was leaning down so that he could "high five" me (actually 'low five'). He wanted to tell me how much improvement he has seen in my fitness level and was really impressed by how much effort I had been putting in while here. He made my day! Totally re-energized me for the day and I hope for longer too. I was 'the crusher' in Volley ball after that! I took apart a group of 65 year olds like no body else. Kidding, well, sort of...they weren't all 65. I did my strength circuit with a lot more energy too this afternoon, and kicked in a trip on Mr. NuStep too. It was a full workout day for sure.
I think that I can finally claim a work out injury as my right shoulder joint is not so happy. It has been making it hard to sleep, I see the doc tomorrow, so I will mention it, but it doesn't feel tragic, just really sore. I see the doc first thing actually. 7:30am. You can tell how thrilled I am with this. Really? 7:30...you mean AM? Ugg. I'm not a morning person. I groan because with the re-organized schedule this week, I will be there 13 hours tomorrow to attend all the classes I want to attend. There is a class rescheduled for tomorrow night that is a cooking demo with the head chef again about modifying recipes, which, I think will be helpful as I begin to cook for myself with more regularity again. And just to make sure my shoulder is properly addressed, I scheduled another massage.
Be Jealous.
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