"Life is Good" Award + Update 2x

Jill over at The Sassy Pear gave me a "Life is Good" award. Thanks, Jill!  I'm finally getting around to this!

Of course, it comes with a condition: you have to answer a few questions that the Award-er makes up. Jill came up with some ring-a-dingers:

1. What do you do in the privacy of your own home that you would NEVER do in front of anyone?

As someone else said (was it Debby?), why on earth would I describe here something I would do in complete private?  Sheesh.  I guess there is one "safe for blogging" quirk:  I don't like working out to exercise videos in front of other people, even my family.  I don't mind taking classes, as you well know, probably because there is a whole group of people ripe for embarrassing themselves in some way or another.  But there's just something skin-crawlingly awkward about having onlookers as I shake my groove thing to the 15 Minutes Dance Express or contort myself along with Rodney Yee (um...well, now, come to think of it, that does sounds a little sordid...we're talking Yoga positions, people!).  I'll finish my workout video with my family in the room if I must, but I much prefer it when they blissfully sleep through the whole thing or are preoccupied with their computers or something.

2. If you could be someone else for one day, who would it be?

Do I get to pick which day, too?  Maybe Chrissie Wellington at the Ironman Championships last year, provided that "being her" meant my consciousness would be just tagging along for the ride, not actually "driving." :-)

3. What’s the bravest/scariest thing you’ve ever done?

When I was in college, I went to live in North Carolina for a 6-month internship.  I knew absolutely no-one in the area (nearest family was in New York). I drove cross-country with one of my best girl friends. What a blast! This was long before Google maps--*gasp*!  However, my parents had gone to AAA and had them make for me a little custom map booklets, from my starting point to my destination.  It was like having a hardcopy of the driving directions, in flip book form, and it came in really handy.  Putting my friend on the plane home was sad, though!  Those 6 months turned out to be one of my most amazing life experiences and it gave me a lot of confidence, but it was a little scary, too.

So now I'm supposed to nominate people and have them answer questions.  I want to nominate everyone, so if you're reading this and want to play along, please consider yourself nominated, and link up in the comments!  Or add to the comments instead, if you want.  Here are my questions for you:

1. What's the most fun travel experience you've ever had?
2. Who are your self esteem heros? (Nod to Dietgirl for that one.)
3. What things make you feel that "Life is Good"?

Update x2

Some thoughts on feeding: Well, it's been a couple of weeks since my last update!  I've been dabbling with...not sure "intuitive eating" is the right term, I'm going for something like "eating like a person who is sensible about food would eat."  I think that is, in fact, what I've been training to do over the past couple of years: eat what my body needs (and, within reason, what it wants), without having to track it or follow a set meal plan.  If I need to go back to those, or other tools, I'm fine with that, too.

So far, it's been 5 weeks since I tracked calories or followed a written plan; the "what" of my food plan is pretty much habit by now.  It's been really nice in some ways.  I wouldn't call it an unqualified success, even though scale-wise, I've stayed about the same (as of yesterday, I was down a couple of pounds since 6/2, but am back up to exactly the same today).  The "when" and "how much" and "put DOWN the nuts and step AWAY from the jar" and "I'm feeling bored/stressed/like eating that" is definitely not 100%.  There's the usual "is it emotional/craving or is it hunger" thing to listen for, and I'd say there's progress there.  However, physical hunger alone as a cue to eat doesn't always work for me as a person with diabetes, as I've written on some of your comments.  I've had experience in which my stomach was rumbling, yet my blood glucose levels tell me that the last thing I ate was still sustaining me just fine, thanks.  I've also had experience when I'm feeling content, hunger-wise, even when I could stand to eat something (such as before or after exercising) if I go by my meter reading.  Letting myself get "hangry" doesn't serve me too well, either, although I tolerate the tummy rumbles pretty well if I know I'm close to a meal and it won't hurt me to wait a little bit.  And what to do with elevated fasting levels?  Do I just not eat breakfast, even though I'm hungry and the elevation might be from my liver making some extra glucose because I haven't eaten in awhile?  For me, I have to apply common sense of timing along with the bodily cues, cross-checking with my meter as needed, and including "refresher courses" on my portions for some foods.

14 day blood glucose average:  106
14 day fasting blood glucose average: 105 (There were some funky fasting numbers with this vial of strips: 125/123 the day I started the vial, and 119 another day.  Control solution says these strips are good, but I'm wondering if I got some bad ones in this batch.  Those numbers are way out of fasting range for me.)

Exercise:  I have been faithfully tracking over on Daily Mile; had 3 rest days out of the last 14, and I definitely got at least 30 minutes per day.  Cardio intensity has been lower, though; more walking and workout videos, plus strength classes at the gym, but I haven't been to spin class since before my last tri and I haven't been running as much, either.  I'll need to step things up a notch before that Lompoc Tri in 5 weeks.

One thing that has rocked my fitness world is that the gym next to work changed to a different franchise altogether!  I'm hoping that they won't be raising my rates, or if they do, it will still be within my budget.  I've investigated other options, but I'm hoping it I won't have to change gyms.  I really like the instructors for the classes I'm taking--even though those are changing a bit--and I love the convenience of it not involving another drive.

Sleep:  You'd think this would be good, being summer and all, but our whole household is staying up later and later, and I don't get to sleep in.  Averaging about 7 hours/night.

Teeth:  Haven't tracked, but I have been better about flossing.  For some reason, mornings are great, because it seems I find it easier to convince myself to do things when I'm half-awake, and it doesn't seem quite so "last hurdle before bed."

Goals for Next Week

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

Food goals:
* Apply the "7 Guidelines", aiming for high fiber choices.

Chia seeds for your tea, anyone?

("Slimy, yet satisfying!")

* Read "Savor" (it's waiting for me at the library)

Exercise goals:
* 30 minutes of activity 5 days/week, tracking through Daily Mile.
* At least one run, bike, and swim per week.
* At least 2 strength things per week.

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