Just Keep Spinning

Yes spinning, not SWIMMING.

 

Yesterday was a big day for me. My Spin Instructor Orientation! What a LONG day mentally and physically. The day ran from 8am-6pm and included 2 rides and classroom lectures where we went over different parts of the official Spinning manual. 

Taught by Master Trainer, MaryJo all twenty of us learned a lot of great tips for teaching a spinning class and MaryJo also had a great sense of humor to keep us all laughing throughout the day!

My main concern was of course making it through the day without any blood sugar problems. I have gotten through many spin classes without any issues, but when you are thrown into a different setting and different time of the day when a workout takes place, these things can all factor in and become a big hassle. I am happy to say I had no issues! Actually, my blood sugars were just where I wanted them to be the whole day. Not too high or too low and I made it through both rides.

The day started off on the low side with a reading of 68. Since I didn't know when exactly the rides would be taking place I had my usual eggs and toast breakfast without covering. I figured I can always take some insulin if I saw I was shooting up too high and would not be able to remove insulin once injected. This decision worked out perfectly! The first ride wasn't until 12pm and lasted until a little after 1pm. Beforehand I was 183 and knew since I had no short acting insulin in me I would make it through the ride. Thank God because OF COURSE just as we were about to begin, my sensor wasn't calibrating. :( I told myself "Just keep spinning."

By the time lunch rolled around I was STARVING!! We were given about 45mins break so I went right to the locker room, tested (165), recalibrated my sensor and had lunch. I usually like my apple with pb after a workout, but it was just not happening in a gym locker room so I stuck with my other staple... turkey and cheese on wrap. I loved opening up my lunch bag to find this note from Mom:

 

This is where I met Leah. She had noticed my sensor and asked if it was something for Diabetes. At first I am always a little hesitant because many misunderstand type 1 for type 2, but Leah knew about type 1. A coworker of her has a daughter with type 1 and also on the Dexcom sensor. We chatted for a little and it was really comforting speaking to someone who could understand my concerns of the day. She even said she added my blog to her reading list! (Hi Leah!!) :)

After lunch it was back to class from 2-5 to learn all about hear rate training, creating spin profiles and music. A lot of information!

**Note: No bar time which was extremely difficult, but I made up for it later. We will get to that**

Then it was time for the second ride, the last part of the day and definitely the hardest. Before I tested and was 183 so I decided to have an Extend Protein Bar. These are really good for maintaining blood sugars during strenuous workouts. So glad I had one because I would not have made it through without. This ride was about 35-40 mins and it was a sample of all of the different types of rides we learned about. Endurance, Strength, Interval and Race Day. MaryJo was a great instructor and so motivating! I was sweating like no other. After the first loop the class decided to go for another round (I had mixed feeling towards this lol), but I told myself this is it, I can do it, after I am done! It is really important to have mental toughness. Just keep spinning ... just keep spinning...

When we finished it was the greatest feeling. We all cheered and it was a great feeling not only as a group effort, but for me personally. Receiving my certificate of completion reminded me that I can accomplish what I put my mind to. It may take more planning and worry, but it CAN be done. A year ago I would have never pushed myself out of my comfort zone like I have been doing, but each time I get through another obstacle I am that much more motivated. 

Before driving home I made sure to test and I was 114. PERFECTTTT :) When I got in the car I literally cried because of all of the adrenaline, emotion and feeling of accomplishment. (And because I was STARVING yet again..plus no bar time). That was soon fixed after getting home and having a great BBQ dinner! Steak, ribs, salads..not the healthiest, but it was Saturday after all and my eating all day was pretty limited. I helped mom finish her steak too. :)

The day ended with a trip to Starbucks for my iced coffee and my bar for dessert. :) It was a perfect ending to a rewarding day. Bar time and also one of my favorite movies, New Year's Eve was on.

 

If you haven't seen I HIGHLY recommend, no matter what time of the year it is.

 

 

My message for all of you is to step out of your comfort zone! I am so glad I chose to do this. I have always wanted to do something fitness related so I thought it was the perfect opportunity. I hope I make a good spin instructor and can motivate people the way I have been motivated by my own spin instructors.

Gym Fools & Sweetener in my Starbucks

Well it is more than half way through this Friday and it has NOT been good. I am beginning to see more and more that COMMON SENSE JUST AIN'T THAT COMMON!

This morning while I was at the gym I ran into a guy who I used to see there all the time. About a year ago he moved upstate and now I only see him occasionally when he is in town visiting family and uses the gym here. Each time I run into him he always makes a comment on my appearance. He used to tell me that I look too thin and sickly. Today he asked me if I had put on some weight since the last time he saw me. Like REALLY?! First off you are a 50+ year old man, leave me alone. Second, haven't you ever heard of the old saying "If you have nothing nice to say don't say anything at all?" I don't think he meant any cruelty by it, I almost wish he did because at least then I can just write it off as the guy is a mean person... but this guy is just plain old fashioned STUPID. I think I can deal with mean people better than I can with stupid people.

This kind of goes back to my message in my post about the pizza. People really need to think before they speak.

I don't know of any person, but females in particular who want to hear that they have looked like they "gained weight." Now I have lost a significant amount of weight in the past two years,

but I know that since my lowest, the number on the scale has gone up due to muscle (hopefully). I personally hate getting on the scale and avoid at all costs. Seeing your weight can make you go from feeling great to beating yourself up. I almost get into fights with the nurses at doctors offices when they need to check my height and weight every visit. The number on a scale can definitely mess up a persons head, I will be the first to tell you. Many doctors and health professionals always say to go by how your clothes fit, but then the first thing they want you to do when they step in your office is step on the scale... really?! It just does not make sense to me.

Like a lot of people, I have struggled (and still do) with self image. Nothing too severe, but your typical female insecurities. Especially when I am forced to eat when I do not want to because of a low blood sugar. I feel like it is necessary to "un-do" that "damage" and will not feel better until I work out.

What if I did struggle more with these issues than I do? The idiot gym guy's comment could have taken a much deeper cut. What if I was recovering from an eating disorder? Would that be something I really have wanted to hear? Not going to lie, I was definitely upset at first and shed a few tears before yoga... no one ever wants to hear that they look like they have gained weight. However I highly doubt that he thought of these possibilities before making that comment.

I really wish I could have said something to him, but I was just standing there asking myself "did that really just come out of his mouth?" Hopefully one day I will have the opportunity to say something to him and hopefully he will start to think before he makes comments on a female's appearance.

Then to add to my annoyance.. after my daily Starbucks run I return home to discover that they put sweetener in my iced coffee when I specifically say everyday "no room and no sweetener." Luckily mom saved the day by bringing it back and correcting it. I would have, but I had taken my insulin for my bar and feared waiting to long could result in a low blood sugar which would not have been good while driving. Everyone makes mistakes, ill give them that, but I wish they would have made their mistake on a different day. LOL :) 

So everyone hopefully this is just another reminder to think before you speak! I feel silly having to say this, but apparently people do make these comments. 

Lighting Round

Favorite TV Show: The Hills (when it was on MTV). Don't watch anything too religiously anymore.

 

Hidden Talent: Saying the alphabet backwards.

Go to Comfort Food: Cheese or chocolate chip cookies.

Favorite Artist: Michael Jackson.

                                               

Celebrity Crush(es):
   
      
  
 
  

Favorite Princess:
 

Favorite Place: Aruba
 

Dream: A Cure...

    

Long Term Goal: To go Skydiving in Aruba wearing a YOLO t-shirt:
    

Someday....



Gym Pet Peeve: Grunting

 

Seriously, if you need to moan and groan obnoxiously...you may want to try a lighter weight. Just sayin :)

WIAW - Bleu Cheese Burgers!

Breakfast started with my usual egg white omelet and paleo toast. When I am working out I like to stick to what I know works. After breakfast it was off to the gym for some interval sprints on the treadmill and a total body circuit! 

Since yesterday was one of those hot summer days it was perfect for the pool. Actually it was a little too hot out! Usually my blood tends to drop when I sit out in the sun so I tried to adjust accordingly when I had lunch. Usually post gym I like my apple with PB but there were these new wraps I wanted to try a sandwich on. It took me a good 10 minutes to decide what I wanted to eat. I would have been very disappointed if I wasted a meal on something that wasn't all that great. 

Luckily I was not disappointed. These tofu wraps found in King Kullen were good and less calories and carbs than my trader joes wraps. 

As I said I was going to be sitting outside and it was the first time trying these so I didn't know exactly how they would impact my blood sugar. There are 18g of carbs in one. I take 1 unit of insulin for every 9g so that's two units. Typically my other wraps I need to take more than what the carb ratio tells me, but for these I stuck with the 2 units. 

Could have gone with some more because by bar time I was 209 when I was 114 at lunch. Failed attempt. :( 

Ahhhhh.... 

Dinner was the highlight. Bleu cheese burgers with mushrooms! On my cruise on the Norwegian Epic back in January these were discovered at the Buffett for lunch. All I have to say is WOW. Mom did a good job of recreating them. 

Not the Epic, but still pretty good! 

Stay cool during this heat wave. Water, water, water!

Cheers, Surprise!

So far 21 has been great! My official celebration happened this past Saturday night at my favorite restaurant, Dazies. It was a great night with great people and great food! I was feeling the love. :) 

I was so excited to wear my new LBD from my favorite store White House Black Market. I made sure to wake my butt up that morning in time for both spin classes. As I said June is a caloric month so I have been really pushing it in my workouts. 

One of the highlights was being surprised by my best friend Tanya! I have always wanted a "surprise moment" and my mom and her pulled it off. Apparently there were some Facebook messages going on that week that I didn't know about. ;) 

 

I was so excited to receive so many beautiful flowers! 

Then the real fun started... 

                               Yikes! 

I didn't snatch any food pics except of the cake because I was too busy enjoying the moment! I didn't want to be on my phone all night. 

Not gluten free but I was very content with my tartufo! 

It was a really special night and I am so glad my best friend and her bf JT pulled off the surprise. In my old age I am beginning to treasure the little things more and more. 

Life is just beginning, cheers! 

🍸

Birthday Goods!

I'm legal!!! Not that I'm going to make alcohol a part of my regular routine, but it does feel cool/weird to be able to go into a bar and have a drink just because I can lol. I had a really great day Wednesday and there are more celebrations to come! 

The day started with me going to Starbucks for my free birthday drink. I went all out and got a venti coffee then had a think thin chocolate brownie crunch bar. 

I was saving my appetite for the food I knew I would be splurging on later in the day. With that being said let's get to the good stuff. 

For lunch mom and I went to Bare Naked Bakery in Bellemore. It is 100% gluten free which can be very dangerous. 

 

I got a turkey panini and a red velvet cupcake. Mom had a slice of pizza which I tried and it was really good! (Tell that to the pizza lady from an older post). 

Oh so good! I was really proud that I only left with some of the chocolate cookies and not brownies, crumb cakes and cupcakes like I have done in the past. 

After walking around the mall during the afternoon it was bar time number 2! (And maybe a cookie too) 

The best part was the cake. Gluten free and sooooo good. 

My friend Andrew came by too! 

I had a really nice day. As I get older I realize more what is important and becoming more appreciative. 

As I mentioned earlier, there are no "off days" from T1D. Days like Wednesday where you may be eating out of the normal can send blood sugars on a roller coaster because it is difficult to determine how many carbs are in a slice of cake with icing, etc. however I am happy to say I did really well considering! My morning blood sugar was 116, lunch 112.. After lunch I went into the 200s, but I just corrected with some insulin then by bar time I was 130. Dinner I was 168 and took a little extra so I would be close to range for the cake. I actually took too much because I quickly began to drop and right before cake I was 92 and dropping fast according to my sensor. 

So instead of giving more insulin I had the cake and then covered after as my blood began to increase. I always get nervous because the worst feeling is waking up the next morning at like 300. So to try to avoid this I increased my nighttime long acting insulin dosage by one unit. I went to bed at 143 and then....

Woke up at 168! A little high but better than I ever expected. It is funny how the days I feel like will be the worst make me feel better than a normal day. 

I am trying to step up my workouts this week to help un-do some of the damage lol. More celebrations to come later this weekend which I will catch you all up on! Thank you for all of the cards, well wishes and beautiful flowers from my Aunt Pat and Uncle Tom! 

Who doesn't love to get flowers delivered?! 

Enjoy the first day of summer! 

Workouts and a Vent.

There is no place like home! (Unless you are in Aruba). Not going to lie it has been nice sleeping in my own bed and getting back to my usual gym/eating routine. Monday morning I had a great spin class taught by one of my favorite instructors, Erin. I love her classes because you are DRIPPING wet after. It was my first spin class in about a week and a half and I definitely felt it! 

So I recovered by the pool....

Today I got back to running and it felt great! I don't know if I was more excited to run or wear my new shorts from under armour that I got in Myrtle Beach. 

After about 45 mins on the treadmill I was really annoyed because my sensor read I was 296 and increasing rapidly. However when I tested my blood about 5 mins later I was happy to see a much better result....

Clearly the sensor was not working its best. 114 though, #winning.

However lately I have been really frustrated. I feel like no matter how hard I try I do not have control. The past week was rough because I was away, but even still I felt I had done everything in my power to control my blood sugar in a "good range" (80-150). Taking injections does not bother me, what bothers me is that I feel I try so hard only to be frustrated with higher levels more often than I would like. It's not like taking a pill and being done for the day (or an injection in this case). 

Every endocrinologist visit I have to get bloodwork done to check my a1c which is an average blood sugar over the past 3 months. Ideally it would be nice to have it at 7.0 or below, but I have struggled with it being 7.5. I eat right and exercise on a daily basis and it is just really frustrating! Don't get me wrong, I know things can be A LOT worse and I very fortunate, but it is hard to feel like a number defines me. Everyday I try and be positive and tell myself it is a new day and that I will have a good day without lows or spikes, but that rarely happens! 

Should I stop working out and doing what I enjoy? It would probably make my blood sugar a lot easier to manage because I would just have to worry about sitting around from one meal to the next. Sometimes I feel like its a lose lose situation because I am doing what is supposed to be "healthy," but still struggle with blood sugars. 

I dream of being able to take "days off" and go for my annual Aruba vacation and leave Diabetes at home. Just take 2 weeks and not have to worry about what my BS is and promise to come back. 

I keep hearing "we are so close, so close" but are we really? 

Anyway enough of what I feel is like a doomsday post. I promise the next one will be less depressing lol. 

Myrtle Beach Highlights

It's been awhile! After my 4 day trip to Myrtle Beach turned into a 6 day one, I am ready to come home. It was fun to experience someplace new and see a great show! (4 times lol). 

Let's take a look...

   Gluten free Chinese food from PF Changs! 

     Justin Timberlake!

The Blues Brothers were a lot of fun! 

Gaga! 

My friend J does a FANTASTIC job as Michael Jackson! Definitely a must see. 

Elvis ;) 

J (MJ) as J! 

Bar time is a must! 

I've been on a chips and salsa/guacamole kick... But I've had my fill for awhile. 

If you happen to be in Myrtle Beach, go see Legends in Concert! As a huge MJ fan it is so cool to watch J pay tribute with such passion. I saw him back on the Norwegian Epic in January and his performance had only gotten better. 

It was a fun getaway but I am looking forward to getting home and back to my routine! I miss my workout classes and eating schedule. Also my dad, brother, bffl Tanya and my work friends! (And favorite customers, hi Mary Ellen!) Traveling can also make my blood sugar crazy which it was this past week. Getting back to my routine will hopefully get it back on track. 

Later!