State of the Blossom
I've started walking Jack most mornings. We're not going far yet, just under a mile, which takes about 15 minutes. I'm trying to beat into my head just how important it is that I do this EVERY day. There is NO downside to skipping a day. I need to get out and move. Jack needs to get out and move. If Jack does not get out and move, he's an absolute bastard most of the day. Laziness in this instance is a self-punishing sin. I think an afternoon walk would benefit him as well, but it's just too hot out there for both of us.
I plan to add some weight training to help. My dad's going to be gone all summer and he's got a perfectly good weight set and bench on his patio. The only thing stopping me is a lack of familiarity with what I'm supposed to be doing as yet. I'm kind of half-assing some wall push-ups, enough to feel the muscle working, but not enough to make it hurt later, and this morning I also kind of half assed some squats, not in a poor form kind of way, but in a not working hard kind of way. I've really lost a lot of strength and flexibility in my hips and thighs and after a long day walking around (like at Disneyland) I have a really hard time lifting my leg up to climb steps or get in the truck. I can't sit on the floor crosslegged anymore either. I'm really sick of grunting, groaning and huffing to get up out of a chair, so I really need to work on that.
I'm trying really hard to get more veggies and protein into my diet and cut out carbs, starch and processed crap. This is not easy for me. I really don't like veggies that much and I really only want to eat them when they're cooked all the way through, carmelized on the edges, and seasoned. I like green smoothies too, but have to be careful with the fruit, since too much of that spikes my blood sugar and defeats the purpose. Despite the fact that I've been out of two of my three diabetes medications, my numbers aren't that bad when I'm careful. The longer I'm careful, the better they'll be. I don't want to take the Byetta anymore. It's expensive, and although it's effective, I'd rather just do the work than spend the money. Same with the actos, although I'm less convinced of it's effectiveness. I was taking it at night to keep my blood sugar down in the morning, but it hasn't been that bad first thing the last few days. I've also been drinking a LOT of green tea. I cut the diet Coke back to one most days and drink iced green tea or water the rest of the time. It's cheaper than soda, anyway, and I'm starting to like the taste more and more. I still refuse to drink the bottled, sweetened version that Varr is so fond of. The sweeteners just make it yucky.
My tastes seem to be changing. I've actually been eating onions on purpose, which is new for me. I still chop them up pretty fine and I will probably never like them raw or like big pieces in my food, but I'm getting used to them. The green smoothies, with milk, 1/2 a banana, 1/4 cup of blueberries, a shot of plain old no extra sweetener protein powder and at least a cup of kale or collards taste sweet to me. Varr made an awful face when I let him try one, but despite having to chew bits of greens, it tastes like sweet banana. Thank you body for figuring out I need to eat this stuff and not giving me a hard time with it. Now if we can just progress to raw tomatoes, life would be grand.
Daily naps are still happening. I hope that as I get more active and the weight and blood sugar come down, they won't be as necessary. Until then, I'm taking them and enjoying them. I've had a lot of issues with my shoulder, my lower back, and my hips and that pain keeps me from sleeping well, which is why I need to catch up during the day. Tired Blossom is cranky Blossom and no one likes that, so naps it is. It also helps me get up earlier to trot Jack up and down the sidewalk if I know I can get some more rest later.
And now? I am spent. And I'm off to take one of those naps I just waxed rhapsodic about.
I plan to add some weight training to help. My dad's going to be gone all summer and he's got a perfectly good weight set and bench on his patio. The only thing stopping me is a lack of familiarity with what I'm supposed to be doing as yet. I'm kind of half-assing some wall push-ups, enough to feel the muscle working, but not enough to make it hurt later, and this morning I also kind of half assed some squats, not in a poor form kind of way, but in a not working hard kind of way. I've really lost a lot of strength and flexibility in my hips and thighs and after a long day walking around (like at Disneyland) I have a really hard time lifting my leg up to climb steps or get in the truck. I can't sit on the floor crosslegged anymore either. I'm really sick of grunting, groaning and huffing to get up out of a chair, so I really need to work on that.
I'm trying really hard to get more veggies and protein into my diet and cut out carbs, starch and processed crap. This is not easy for me. I really don't like veggies that much and I really only want to eat them when they're cooked all the way through, carmelized on the edges, and seasoned. I like green smoothies too, but have to be careful with the fruit, since too much of that spikes my blood sugar and defeats the purpose. Despite the fact that I've been out of two of my three diabetes medications, my numbers aren't that bad when I'm careful. The longer I'm careful, the better they'll be. I don't want to take the Byetta anymore. It's expensive, and although it's effective, I'd rather just do the work than spend the money. Same with the actos, although I'm less convinced of it's effectiveness. I was taking it at night to keep my blood sugar down in the morning, but it hasn't been that bad first thing the last few days. I've also been drinking a LOT of green tea. I cut the diet Coke back to one most days and drink iced green tea or water the rest of the time. It's cheaper than soda, anyway, and I'm starting to like the taste more and more. I still refuse to drink the bottled, sweetened version that Varr is so fond of. The sweeteners just make it yucky.
My tastes seem to be changing. I've actually been eating onions on purpose, which is new for me. I still chop them up pretty fine and I will probably never like them raw or like big pieces in my food, but I'm getting used to them. The green smoothies, with milk, 1/2 a banana, 1/4 cup of blueberries, a shot of plain old no extra sweetener protein powder and at least a cup of kale or collards taste sweet to me. Varr made an awful face when I let him try one, but despite having to chew bits of greens, it tastes like sweet banana. Thank you body for figuring out I need to eat this stuff and not giving me a hard time with it. Now if we can just progress to raw tomatoes, life would be grand.
Daily naps are still happening. I hope that as I get more active and the weight and blood sugar come down, they won't be as necessary. Until then, I'm taking them and enjoying them. I've had a lot of issues with my shoulder, my lower back, and my hips and that pain keeps me from sleeping well, which is why I need to catch up during the day. Tired Blossom is cranky Blossom and no one likes that, so naps it is. It also helps me get up earlier to trot Jack up and down the sidewalk if I know I can get some more rest later.
And now? I am spent. And I'm off to take one of those naps I just waxed rhapsodic about.