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.