Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Shakin' the Post-tri Blues

Well, I had a fun time at the belly dancing class at my gym yesterday evening. It was great for the core and I got slightly sweaty, which was good. I amused my classmates and instructor with my "Unapologetically Myself" t-shirt. Being my first time trying this, I did feel quite a bit awkward at first, but it was fun after awhile. It was a brain challenge, too, to move one's feet in the right way while simultaneously shaking isolated segments of one's body. I would have preferred that the instructor explain the motions first; rather, she had us try to follow along, and then she broke it down. Maybe she was trying to assess where the newbies were at. (There were a few of us, identifiable by our lack of bangles.) I liked the energy of it, and I could see where one could really get into the flow of it. What I liked the most? It didn't feel like a workout, yet it was a good hour of gentle moving and working on developing abdominal strength. I'm still learning to trust that every exercise session does not need to be at spin class intensity levels to meet my health objectives (although intensity does have its rightful place).

Shrink for Good Challenge Update

Well, it was a "no change" week, and I'm feeling grateful. I'm still down for the challenge a net of 3.2, which means that I'm maintaining. After years of seeing my weight go steadily up-up-up, having it hold steady at a weight I'm feeling good and healthy at is pretty darn nice for a change.


Good Little Cans

So...why go for more? I don't think it's so much the scale number I'm chasing, it's health, so I have been looking for cross-referencing health indicators to help me know when I've "arrived" at the right shape for me. I've been doing a bit of reading about visceral body fat. According to the Mayo Clinic article, over 35" in the waist is not good, and I'm 38" right now. But the medical web sites also mention a waist-to-hip ratio of .85 or less. I've noticed, since I've been keeping measurements, that I've consistently had a 5" difference between my waist and hips, from the very start of my taking measurements. So I'm not sure that I'd ever be able to get both to a point at which there would be .85 or less. So I guess I'll do my best at targeting the coveted 35" and let the ratio fall where it will (even though--sigh--it's supposed to be the better indicator, according to this Harvard Health article). Which makes me also wonder where they came up with this formula; I haven't been able to dig up anything about that.

I did get a little postcard this week...looks like I'm not the only one shakin' it!



Underlying image credit (and apologies to): "Moulin rouge Paris Cancan 1890," Jules Chéret (from Wikimedia Commons)

Progress last week

7-day blood glucose average: 103 (met goal of less than 120)
7-day fasting blood glucose average: 103 (met goal of less than 120)

Weight goal: No change this week. Still 5.7 away from breaking into the 170s.

Food goals:
- Got in 3 meatless meals and 0 fish meal. (Not met)
- Fiber: at least 5/7 days were over 30.

Exercise goals: Well, not exactly what I had planned, but it worked for me this week.
- Wednesday: 60 minutes BodyPump class.
- Thursday: 20 minutes strolling
- Friday: Nothing
- Saturday: 60 minutes "playout" at park with Thing 2
- Sunday: 35 minute run and 45 minutes "playout" with the kids at the park
- Monday: 45 minutes at gym - 35 run, 10 arms & abs with weights
- Tuesday: 60 minutes belly dancing class

Goals for this week


7-day blood glucose average goal and fasting numbers: below 120.
Weight goal: Maintain or make progress toward goal.

Food goals:
- Keep tracking.
- 4 or more meatless, low-fat meals and 2 or more fish meals.
- Track fiber. Minimum 30 grams fiber/day. (Include both insoluble and soluble sources.)

Exercise goals:
Minimum of 30 minutes of activity 5 days/week. Prepare for the Pumpkin Run 5K on 10/18 and the Theta Breakers on 11/8.

Misc. goals:
- 7 or more hours sleep/night.

6 comments:

Lori said...

I had the post-tri letdown as well. I felt a little aimless after that, even though I was still doing my NROLW program (and still doing it!!).

That feeling took a few weeks to go away, and it was so weird not swimming! I am not a swimmer, so I dropped that like a hot potato :D

I think the health parameters are a great thing to strive for rather than just a number on the scale.

Brooke said...

i have the same thoughts about working out as you. i went to a pilates class and felt like i hadn't achieved anything - since i didn't compare to a 5 mile run, or 45 minutes of weight lifting. but you're absolutely right, we need to train our bodies at different levels

Christie O. said...

HAHAHAHAHAHA I LOVE THE POSTCARD! You kill me with your cans! hahahaahah

i am going to DIE when this next tri is over. i will have no new tri until next spring and i really don't know what it's like to have no goal. i have a couple of runs to look forward to but i don't feel like that's the same. i am really scared of what that's going to feel like!
wah.

anyhoo, we can console each other. hahahaha

cheers to maintenance! i want me one of Miz's shirts, I love them! Would've loved to be at belly dancing! Watching though, I am so unhipcoordinated. I do that back and forth awkward thing like Baby does when she first learns to dance in Dirty Dancing. Hula hooping is a sad state of affairs as well.

I'm with Lori on the health thing. That's really what it's all about anyway!

debby said...

Hi Pubsgal, Love the postcard! And am so amazed by your racing and goals. I am with you on working on the health. I have to remind myself of that often when I find myself getting tired of 'working on it' all the time. One good encouragement is that I really can feel a difference in my energy level and my ability to run with just a few pounds off. So it makes me want to see how good I will feel with a few more pounds off.

Anonymous said...

You and the cans CRACK ME UP!

I totally agree with you - exercise comes in many forms. Oftentimes we feel judged if we don't do the "right kind" of exercise but that is a fallacy!!!! Finding the exercise that works for each of us is the key. :)

Courtney said...

THANKS SO MUCH FOR COMMENTING ON MY BLOG!! Because it led me to find yours!! So exciting to read about your journey to your first tri...sounds like you have the bug now too! I can't wait to do another one, but have to wait until spring since I live in the midwest!
I didn't have too bad of letdown, mainly because I took my ACE personal training certification exam 2 weeks later so I was cramming and going crazy studying. But I passed that on Saturday, so now I think I might have a double whammy of let down!
I will be following your blog...good luck on your goals!! I'm in the market to lose a little weight/body fat myself!
Courtney
Adventures in Tri-ing