I Still Don't Like Beets

Early on in this journey, Abby suggested I try beets. I did. I didn't like them. But... I attempted them again. I still don't like them. I rubbed them with olive oil, salted and peppered them, wrapped them in foil and baked them... just like so many people and recipes said to do. Then I unwrapped them and saw the most gorgeous color!! However, they tasted like dirt. I still don't like beets.

Fall Flavors

Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie. ~ Jim Davis 

It's interesting... I'm learning to like more vegetables. Recently, I've been roasting sweet potatoes, carrots, parsnips, various squashes... I'm really enjoying "Fall" foods!

On November 15th, First Presbyterian Church ("my" church) was in charge of the meal for Loaves and Fishes, our community soup kitchen and I was the Team Leader (the "ramrod" as my friend Charolyn likes to say). Some kind soul had donated what I think must have literally been TONS of different types of squash to Loaves and Fishes for the folks to take home. Members of our church had also gleaned sweet potatoes from a family farm and had brought those to give away as well, so I lucked out with quite a haul of squash and sweet potatoes. I had so much fun trying new flavors and new recipes!

This particular day, November 23, 2013, I had a great day cooking healthy foods.

I roasted sweet potatoes, parsnips, carrots, butternut squash and turnips with a little olive oil, salt and pepper. It looked and smelled fabulous. I was surprised at how much I liked it, because those are veggies I have pretty much refused to eat in the past. As much as my brother loves carrots, I thought I hated them. But, I'd shred them finely to put in potato soup to give it a brighter color and add some "healthy"; when I made my Sesame Street Soup, I'd slice them thick enough that they'd be able to fish out easily so I didn't have to eat them (even though I wanted my kids to).

The carrots may have been my favorite; their sweetness came out and it was almost like candy. OK, really, not so much like candy, but sweeter than what you would think vegetables should be, for sure. The sweet potatoes were really good (again, I had always tried to avoid them before... I liked WHITE potatoes). The squash was good. The parsnips surprised me; I had never used parsnips before, but, being a root vegetable that I'd heard a lot about, I was curious to try it. I liked it pretty well. I'm still not a fan of turnips (God knows my Grandpa sure was, though!!), but if I HAVE to eat them, this is good way to do it.

The Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Soup was a new recipe I tried. I wasn't sure what I'd think of the taste. I like meat and potatoes... WHITE potatoes... in my soups. This had ginger and curry in it, so it smelled fabulous and the color was beautiful. And you know what, I liked it!

You can't have a great meal without dessert, right? Well, I'm diabetic so I ... well, OK, I had "dessert". Actually, they were sweet potato muffins, so they weren't as bad for me as a sweet potato cheesecake (maybe). And, they were very tasty and satisfied my sweet tooth!

Abby's Blog Post of 10-22-13... Where Things Began to Go Downhill for Me

I am human. I take things personally. Throughout this journey, there have been highs and there have been lows... for both Abby and me. 

On October 22, 2013, Abby blogged One Proud Moment, Two Not-So-Proud Moments. I was glad she started off the post on a positive note. She mentioned "finding the right fit", referring to yoga. "Finding the right fit" was a bit of foreshadowing. I'll explain more about that in future posts. For now, we're talking about this particular post of Abby's. 

So, we have a proud moment (and photographic evidence) of me doing yoga with Abby. She's absolutely right about my enjoying yoga with Lindsay. She's an awesome teacher... she just flows from movement to movement, not so pose-y, just more fluid, relaxed, "let your body hang out here" kind of teacher. She's patient and encouraging. So yes, I absolutely agree with Abby.

Now, on to the Not-So-Proud moments...

#1: Abby got on her soap box (her words) about my missing a SGPT class. She had every right to be honest about and share her feelings (I was allowed the same). She did offer the program to me at no charge. I was asked to please keep that information to myself, so I was surprised to see her blog about that aspect of it, but I understand she was trying to make a point. And I think she was trying to make sure everyone knew what all she was giving me in order to make me look bad for not taking complete, full advantage of every moment possible with Abby.

I don't remember the exact details of why I didn't go to SGPT, but I do remember telling my friend Lynn, who was also in the class, that I wasn't going. I know it's not up to Lynn to relay my message to Abby, but I did think it might come up about me not being there. I was going to text Abby after I hung up with Lynn, but my phone died. By the time it had charged enough for me to text or call her, class was already over, and, obviously, too late to tell her I wouldn't be there. 

Something I don't understand and I think this is where the rub started; Abby said that she's the type of trainer who plans sessions and classes based on who will be there. To a certain extent, I can completely understand that. I've been to 25+ SGPT classes and not once has there ever been a workout that was the same as one we'd done before. She's great like that; always changing things up. But really, I messed up the ENTIRE workout that night because I was absent? Since that class, there have been several other classes that people missed, but I certainly didn't feel like my training was ruined for the evening because of their absence.

She felt like I had taken advantage of her because I missed a workout. Really? That just hit me wrong and I felt like she was being very dramatic about the whole thing. I can't help how she felt about it, but there are times in our lives that people disappoint us. It just happens. Get over it.

OK, so, as Abby said in her blog post, sometimes she doesn't feel like going to a workout, but she pulls herself up, puts on a smile and goes to work out. Well, Abby, that's you, it's not me. Fitness is your LIFE. Fitness is your JOB. Fitness is your PASSION. It's NOT mine. I've been "forced" into these changes by my health (brought on, in part, by my own careless decisions, but some from plain ole heredity). I'm 43 years old and I am resistant to the changes I'm having to make. I don't LOVE my new nutrition choices. I don't LOVE drinking water. I don't LOVE working out. I don't LOVE running.

My LIFE (my children), my JOB (my church) and my PASSION (people) are things I DO pull up my bootstraps for. I really needed Abby to understand then, and now, that we are different people on different paths who have different focuses. I was doing the best I could at that time. I was looking for excuses to be mad, to be angry, to be resistant. And, in this blog post, she gave them to me.

#2: So Abby was "pissed off" that I wasn't at a workout that she had not scheduled or organized? I had told Brandy on FB that I was going to try to join her (and others) at the Riverwalk, but, honestly, after work, I just wasn't up to it. Technically, that empty place wasn't where I was "supposed" to be, but where I "could have" been. I just wasn't. I felt like Abby was using my peers to bully me into feeling like a failure. 

The Month of Thankfulness Begins

My November 1, 2013 Facebook Status Update: "The month of thankfulness begins... Day 1--today I am thankful for Abby Solomon Malmstrom. Without her awesome gift, I'd still be a fat, lazy, butter-eating, Coke-drinking diabetic. I get frustrated at myself (and her) sometimes, but I so appreciate this journey we are on! Thank you Abby! Check us out: Change for It All

A Visit with the Doc

My medical doctor wanted to see me today to go over the latest lab results. I fretted... but, all in all, the visit wasn't near as bad as I had expected!

In regard to my A1C and glucose, I am still diabetic and always will be. She said she was "very, very proud" of me for controlling my diabetes with diet and exercise as I have so far. If my A1C gets to 7.0 or higher, we will be looking at trying medication (Metformin), but for now, she's satisfied that I have my diabetes under control.

I guess I must be doing something right because my Triglycerides and Hdl ("Good Cholesterol") are improved and both in the normal range.

However, my Total Cholesterol and Ldl ("Bad Cholesterol") are cause for concern. My mother has taken at least two different Rx for high cholesterol at any given time for the last several years (possibly 20-25+). My dad also has high cholesterol issues which he is treating currently with fish oil. High cholesterol many times is hereditary; that's what Stephanie thinks is my issue, so we are going to try treating it with simvastatin (Zocor) for 3 months. Then, we'll have to have more lab work, of course.

My mother had quadruple by-pass surgery at the age of 47. I'll be 44 in less than two weeks. She had 99% blockage in 1 artery, 98% blockage in 1 artery and 95% blockage in 3 arteries. They were only able to by-pass 4 at that time, and the following year, she had balloon surgery on 3 arteries. Obviously, plaque build-up is a concern of mine, hence the simvastatin trial. I'm only going to be on 10 mg once a day, which is a very small dose.

Hopefully, I'll get my ass in gear and do better with both diet and exercise, the new Rx will help and in three months I'll be med-free again.

I'm just really conflicted about taking the medicine; I want to be whole, clean and healthy and do it without chemicals. I feel like a failure, and I'm trying not to beat myself up. I have a really strong will, but I guess, as Abby has said, food/sugar is my addiction and it plays a pivotal role in my well-being.

6 Month Lab Results

I got my lab work results post-Abby journey. 

I'm disappointed, frustrated, anxious, and a little worried. 

I'm waiting to hear from my doctor this morning; I tried the whole diet/exercise thing for 6 months, so now I need to know what to do now.

The first three months of my journey I was pretty strict with changes in nutrition and exercise. I eliminated Cokes, cut way back on the butter, added lots more veggies and fruit and did most everything I was supposed to do.

The second three months included Thanksgiving and Christmas, so it was already more difficult eating-wise. Couple that with the busy-ness of the season (and my becoming resistant to the changes... and Abby) and my exercise tapered off. In all honesty, this is a more realistic view of how I can live my daily life; not the first three months. 

I knew my results weren't going to be what I had hoped; I expected my sugar levels to be higher than the 3 month evaluation. I knew my measurements would have gone up, but as you'll read in mine and Abby's blog posts later, my fitness level has gone up overall. When I started the journey, I could do 7 modified push-ups (and they were pitiful); at 3 months, I did 18 and at my 6 month assessment, I did 35... and they were GOOD! 

I had someone ask me last week in my Small Group Personal Training Class how much I had lost. I told her 7 pounds. SEVEN POUNDS, that's it. I had lost 11, but gained 4 back, so I've had a cumulative 7 pound weight loss. She looked surprised and seemed not to believe me. She said I looked like I had lost 30 pounds. Now, I don't think that's a realistic thing for someone to think, but I do feel like I look like I've lost more than 7 pounds, but it has more to do with losing that bloaty, swelled look and becoming more toned, I think.

Sad to say, though, that my lab results weren't as kind as my fitness assessment. My A1C and glucose are up (but not as high as when we started), my Total Cholesterol and LDL are higher than both 3 month and beginning numbers, but both my Triglycerides and HDL are better than before (and NORMAL!).

June 2013-Beginning

A1C: 8.1 (High)

Glucose: 192 (High)

Total Cholesterol: 204 (High)

Triglycerides: 157 (High)

Hdl ("Good Cholesterol"): 31 (Low)

Ldl ("Bad Cholesterol"): 142 (High)

October 2013-3 months

A1C: 6.0 (High)

Glucose: 122 (High)

Total Cholesterol: 202 (High)

Triglycerides: 136 (Normal)

Hdl ("Good Cholesterol"): 31 (Low)

Ldl ("Bad Cholesterol"): 144 (High)

January 2014-6 months

A1C: 6.5 (High)

Glucose:  152 (High)

Total Cholesterol: 221 (High)

Triglycerides: 94 (Normal)

Hdl ("Good Cholesterol"): 42 (Normal)

Ldl ("Bad Cholesterol"): 160 (High)

I'm a Hooker

I have a LOT of catching up to do! These next few posts will be very random and somewhat out of order, but that's pretty much the way my life has been, so I'll just jump in and start blogging the best I can. I just know there's a whole gob of you out there who have been waiting with bated breath for me to share my thoughts and views. 

Friday, November 1, 2013--my first boxing lesson.

Let me start out by saying I'm not coordinated. REALLY not coordinated. 

I met Abby at her house that morning and we went for "a little run" to warm up. When we were back to her house, she wrapped my hands and put the gloves on me. I admit it... I felt pretty tough just wearing the gloves. The theme from "Rocky" started going through my head. I'm not lying.

First, I had to learn "the stance". Sounds pretty easy, right? Not for me. Most everything I do with Abby, whether it be wall-sits, lunges, or a number of other things, she reminds me to stay on my heels. Dig them in. Seems as if being light on your toes is necessary in boxing, so I realize I have to reprogram my brain, right then and there. My brain doesn't listen. I get frustrated. 

Now I have to remember to guard and protect my face. So, I'm standing, more on my toes than my heels and I've got my gloves up on each side of my face.

Now comes the first punch. The Jab. Apparently, it's the common, fundamental, basic punch. We practice it for a while, me just jabbing away at Abby (she's wearing those round pad things to protect herself from my brute strength). I have to get the angle of my hands right. I try. Then I have to remember to guard my face after each punch. Oh boy, it was going to be a long morning!

The Cross was next. I think I was better at The Jab. Break time. Yay!

Some break... I just got to switch to sit-ups and jumping rope. I kept the gloves on... so I felt like I was REALLY training. I honestly felt pretty tough. But I know I looked stupid.

Break time was over, back to boxing.

And it was my time to shine. Apparently I'm a hooker. Abby said The Hook was my best punch. I felt good doing it, too. It almost felt like I knew what I was doing. And I've never been in a physical altercation in my life. Well, where I hit back anyway.

The Uppercut was the last punch Abby taught me. In my head, I knew this would require a little more skill than I have. To me, it's a very rhythmic motion. Rhythm eludes me. This didn't feel natural at all. I could get into The Hook. I managed The Jab and The Cross. But, The Uppercut, well... I wasn't so good at it.

Break time again. Oh, no, I meant time for more sit-ups and jumping rope.

By the end of the workout, I was drenched in sweat. Boxing was a completely new type of exercise for me and I really didn't think it would be such a big deal, but wow, were my arms tired. I knew I didn't walk out of Abby's garage ready to fight anyone, but I did feel a small sense of empowerment by learning those punches. I was almost giddy with pride at what I had done.

Later, Abby posted this on Facebook: 

"Today, we learned that Paige is a "hook"er. It happened to be her best of the 4 punches she learned today while boxing with me! I also made her run, jump rope, and sit up many times. She was not too happy with me while it happened."

Watch out Laila Ali!