First Cheat on My Vegan Diet...

Well back to school today for PD, and a free lunch, meaning no vegan options, but vegetarian.  Had two slices of tomato basil and cheese pizza.  I feel badly about it, but really could have been worse:  I could have had the chicken and bacon pizza.

I was debating on whether to bring my leftovers from last night, but figured one of the options would be to have salad, but no, too small a school and no budget I guess.  I will bring my own food starting tomorrow.

School:  I have been reassigned to the school I was at last year, but this year have my own room.  Nice!  I will make classroom management sooooo much better.  I don't have to drag my stuff all over the school, and I can set my own expectations and not have to worry about others.

Now I have to write my Lessons: Cockiness.

Need to get an outside ride in today!

Still loosing Weight! Nice!!!!

Well it keeps coming off. Down to 287 lbs. this morning after a great BM.  Only 17 more to go to my 1st weight goal.  I start working tomorrow, and have to somehow keep my diet going.  Plan, Plan, Plan...

I guess I have to get some hummus and wraps and stuff to keep at work, otherwise...NO GO.

Riding also must be a priority and must maintain some kind of routine to keep my miles up.

Eating out all 3 meals cost me...

Yesterday, I went to my Dad's in RI, and we ate out twice, and I had already eaten out for breakfast, so it cost me almost 1.2 lbs.    I ate very healthy, but eating out always has more sodium that cause retention.  This morning I feel bloated and in need of a good poop.

Really need to get a longer ride in today (20+) but I do not have the motivation right now.  I need to get my spirits up and gut this one out.  Only 2 days left of freedom, and need to make hay while the sun shines or so they say.

I have to get my head on straight for this coming year.  Wish me luck...

19 lbs away from my 1st goal weight!...

After another 1.1 lbs lost, I only have 19 more lbs to go to my 1st goal weight.  Motivation FOUND!  This is why goal setting is key to gains.  When you have a target and you can see it in your future, you have a chance to make it happen.  A self-fulfilling prophecy of sorts.  Setting a goal you can reach is also important for this reason.
Going to Essex today to ride the Chester Loop and maybe extend it out a bit.  We will see how I feel in Killingworth.  I love riding down there, all the memories of a better time for me.  Although times on my bike were alone times, or times I was feeling lonely, they were good times.  I should be looking forward more, but in looking back, I find the motivation and mental clarity to move forward...

Weight Still Coming Down....Slowly but Surely!

Weight as of 8-17-2017

No you doesn't have to call me "Surely".  😁

As you can see from the graph of my weight above, I have been loosing weight steadily, albeit slowly, (A good thing).  My vegan (well almost anyway) has lead me to true weight loss, and within the year I will be at a much healthier weight.  This hopefully will lead to my feet feeling better and some improvements in other areas of my health as well.

Road a short ride of the airline trail last night.  Riding the trail to me is harder than the road, although flat. One way was up a slight upgrade (false flat) the whole way.  There are problems and benefits to such are ride. Problems: 1. Boredom 2. Fatigue (mentally and physically). Benefits: 1. endurance improvements, 2. Controlled effort and HR, 3. See improvements more easily through data.

In this case the boredom and fatigue out weighed the benefits, and shorted my ride.  Today, weather permitting I am going to ride on the road, we shall see to where yet.

Blood Test Results and more...

Yesterday I got my blood test results back from the lab, and most signs are good, except SED Rate is back up a bit, not bad though.  Liver enzymes went down a bit. Most importantly my blood sugar levels were down a lot...Nice!  I worked hard to get them down, and have kept my diet mostly vegan for the past 5 to 6 weeks.  Riding more has also helped and has brought my weight down as well.  Another .5 lbs. this morning.

I know where I will be teaching this fall, and am happy to have any job really.  I think now that I am feeling better, I can manage to do a better job than last year.  I am going to focus on my health, and by doing so hopefully impact theirs.

I have to get a bit of a ride today, I might go down to Essex again and ride the Saybrook shore.  Have not done that In some time.  Depends on the weather, really.

Keep'em turning!!!

OK longer rides yield....

My fasting blood sugar levels have been good for a week now, and my weight is coming down again after a rise.  I have been riding a bit longer rides, that causes more rest days, but is yielding better results.

Today I need to ride another longish ride on the road.  Hopefully this time without flatting.  Not sure where I am headed but somewhere around here.

Yesterday, a rest day where I marshaled the Lake Tokeneke Road Race out in Barkhamsted.  I used to live not to far from there in Pleasant Valley, and cycled around there.  I do not remember the gigantic hills, I was only 25.  I do not think I could even do one of those hills today.

I need to get motivated again, to ride somewhere.  Need to keep it going.

Yesterday's Longish Ride Yields Results Elsewhere...NICE!

Took a longish ride out to Willimantic via the Airline Trail and Back to the Commuter lot at exit 16.  Was a tough ride for me, as it is the longest ride in 2+ years.  However, I must extend myself to yield results, and results I did get...

This morning at weight in i lost another 1.8 lbs., and my blood sugar was 110...Wow!  I feel so much better, but am sore from the ride.  No damage done, recover ride today, hopefully with Alberti.  If not, on the road somewhere.

Stay focused and stick to the plan, with some longer rides coming in the next to weeks I will be well on my way to my goals.

Finally got off my ars...

Well I finally got on the bike, albeit for a short indoor ride.  Still was on the bike, and put 5 miles in the books.  I felt really strong, and could have pushed it a bit more, but did not want to strain myself.

Lost another pound or so today, feeling great about that.  I know it will continue. My blood sugar was 130 again, so I need to watch that a bit more.

Went to Healthtrax and did 3 sets with a bit more weight on most exercises.  Increased weight on pull downs, chest press and ab machine, while still doing the same number of sets - +10lbs.

I was unable to stretch as much as I wanted as someone was Bogarting the raised bench. I stretched on the stretching machine for a bit, and got in most of my stretches except my hip flexor and IT band stretches.  He was still there 1/2 an hour after I wanted to leave, so I just left and showered.

Post Rest Day....

Lost some of the weight I gain on Saturday, but not all.  Following a complete rest day, my legs feel great, I feel like I have gained some fitness back, although a TON left to go.  However, on a positive note, I think there is definitely progress.

When working out today, I can remember first beginning on the machines and barely being able to get on the machines, let alone do three circuits...Walking up and down the stairs was an Extreme sports event.  Today I was able to complete three circuits of back/chest/shoulders with abs and stretching no problem.  My heart rate never went over 100 bts/min. .  I almost extended my workout and added another small circuit to the routine on the universal machine, but thought that would take away from my ride this afternoon.  A good feeling.

I used the stretching belt again today which enabled me to really dig deep into those hard to get muscles.  As I become more flexible, I notice my back is much better, no soreness..  I have a ton more weight to loose in my stomach and chest area.  Just keep poking at it, and it will come off.

Going to get in a ride today, this afternoon, not sure where yet, but hopefully 20 miles or so.  No speed or elevation expectations, just miles in the saddle.  Some call this base training, I call it burning fat...hopefully!

Weight Gain...:(

First day I have have gained 1 lbs.  I blame it on the Veggie Lomein I had last night...too much sodium for the day.  This caused water weight game...Goal today is to stay under my sodium daily goal.

It was raining, so maybe another day for rest, but need 3 miles to reach my goal for the week, so...maybe not.

Off the Bike Rest Day....Maybe?

Well my legs are feeling like I might need an off the bike rest day, but we shall see what the afternoon brings.  Want to ride my Longish Chester-Essex loop down Dennison Rd into Ivoryton.  Tomorrow is the Ivoryton Farmers Market, and love the live music.  Might get a short ride in this afternoon, if I feel like it is warranted.

Went to the Gym this morning and did a arms circuit with 3 sets, then abs and back, finished with stretching.  I used my stretching belt to get a much deeper stretch today and it felt great.  Need to remember to get that out each time from here on out.

Lost another .5 lbs this AM. even though I thought I might gain after eating so much yesterday.  I know I should not push the weight loss but I want to be as light as possible before summer ends.  This keeps me riding maybe when I should be resting off the bike...

My sugar has been below 125 for 3 consecutive days, and that is great!  Hopefully if it keeps up this pace I will be below at or below 100 soon, which would mean off the drugs!  Hopefully.  It will happen if I stay the course with the diet and exercise, especially the diet!!!

Time to go clean the green machine!!!

Cleaned the green machine and found that the rear brake was not springing back off of the rims properly.  Took it to CC and the Boys, and they fixed it temporarily, but brought it back to them to have it properly fixed after my ride.

I call BS on myself,  Rest day my butt...Road the Airline trail in the heat for 14+ miles all the way to the end and the Airline Bike Shop.  Which is out of the way, in the back with very little signage.  Nice little place.  They carry the usual small bike shop fair...Giant.  They must give there stuff on loan to the shops...  Well anyway, nice ride, and my legs are done.  I will see what I feel like tomorrow, but I see a short easy ride from Essex to Ivoryton in my future...:)

Not a great night's sleep, but ...

From the way I felt, I thought I had gotten a poor night's sleep last night.  However, my VivoActive HR data tell a different story.  Apparently I slept more soundly last night than any night this month...Wow!  Must have been the longer ride.

Another 1/2 LBS.  lost, but was hoping for more, ate too much.  I am headed out to the gym to lift and stretch.  Then going to get in a short recovery ride somewhere.  Maybe inside, maybe on the meadows, we shall see.

Need to stay positive, and get something done, need a recovery ride to ward off the negative effects from yesterday.  Keep those wheels turn'n...

Positive note, my blood sugar was 118 this am.  Nice!!!

Hot Ride on the Cromwell Flats...

It was a hot ride on the Cromwell Flats today on my way down to Old Wethersfield, cut I made it...Almost.  I managed to drop my chain in the front at an intersection, not good.  I also had to walk up the last bit of Nott Street, just overheated.  No cramps but pooped out.

I managed to loose another bit of weight as of my morning weigh in.  I predict tomorrow will see a more significant loss.  After today's ride of almost 20 miles I should see some good results.

My Blood sugar was 133 this morning, up a fraction over yesterday, but good overall.

I am feeling better all the time!  Stronger on the bike, and better physically which in turn make me mentally feel better about where I am at.  Need to keep my wheels turnin' and stay the course...:)

Another good morning...

Another good morning because:

1.  I lost another 2 lbs.
2.  Had a great breakfast
3.  Did another resistance training workout at the gym.

All good reasons to feel great...Was extremely motivated this morning, and felt great.  I am waiting until it cools off a bit to ride today, as I want to get in a bigger ride.

Got in my GREEN silicone case for my new Garmin 820...Now it is lookin' good!  So I am ready for a big ride!!!!

Got my mess from my new chair cleaned up and boxes in the recycle bin ready to go out.  I need to go refill my seat bag with a new tube and clean the R5 clain...Later