Blood Glucose...Getting better all the time...

After my June scare with blood sugar number, and becoming a Vegan, my blood sugar number are "Getting better all the time" Beatles.

Not sure of the exact reason for my blood sugar numbers going down, but I'm liking it.  It could be that I stopped taking methylpredisilome, or eating vegan, or taking the pill they make me take.  Whatever the reason, I am seeing a steady decline.  I really want to be back under 100, I think as I loose more weight, I can see my numbers coming under control.

With my glucose coming down, I feel better, and have more clarity of mind.  A month ago my thinking was clouded, and had absolutely no energy.  Although I am not on fire with energy, It is drastically improved, but not where I need it to be to see large changes in weight.  This will come.

Sufferlandrian Mental Training and Goal Setting....

Sufferfest Mental Training Begun...

So The Sufferfest App now has a Mental Training Programme in it that I thought I would give a try, as my motivation is sorely lacking.  I big portion of my Masters book reviews were done on the subject of Exercise Adherence, and I have always appreciated the need for having clearly set goals.  So I like the Sufferfest's use of clearly defined goals in step one, and having a motivational extrinsic reward system for the first phase of this program.  The workbook and videos are synced together and function as one programme.  The Guide have both short and long term goals clearly set-up for you and do in a neatly organized visually pleasing format.  Although time consuming, it went by quickly as they began to create meaning.

The programme is well thought out, and well done.  Wish my printer was working so I could print the results and post them on my fridge with my photo above.  The photo is my motivator and should help me stay focused on an achievable  self image before the new year arrives.  Wish me luck.

My goal is to ride in the Two Ferry Century Ride on Sept 17.   To do this I need to ride as I have set out in my calendar, and remain a vegan.  This will help me loose weight and reach my goal of riding longer rides again and look like I did 5 years ago.  

Thanks again Sufferlandria for the motivation...Stay #CaseyStrong...

New Garmin Index Smart Scale ...First Use.

I do not like getting on a scale, as it reminds me how truly FAT I am, but I decided to get a Garmin Index Smart Scale anyway.  I have or had a smart scale before, but not a Garmin. I am a Garmin user already and do not like two and three websites to track my health/fitness data, so in comes the Garmin Scale.

I purchased it from Amazon as a refurb unit.  I have had good luck with Garmin Refurbs, so I save about $75, which is not chicken feed.  The unit came like new with the plastic cover over the unit and all.  No sign of prior use what-so-ever.  Put the batteries in, and bam, works like a charm.  I connected it via WiFi direct with Garmin Connect. All works great!  I only had to search a bit for the scale setting once on the Weight Screen the device settings were in the upper right corner.  Nice.  No need for Garmin Express either, which was a nice touch.

Once registered, connected and setting were established all in one go, I stepped on the scale, and it worked.  I had a new weight, BMI, Body Fat Percentage and more.  I love data, but even this was overkill.  The scale tells you your weight in lean body mass, water percentage, bone weight...wow.  I took the time to set my weight goal for the next three months.  Now it will be part of my morning routine to get on the scale after my morning constitutional and blood glucose reading.

My hope is that is will motivate me to loose more weight by putting pressure on me psychologically.  Wish me luck.  I have lost 10 lbs in two weeks, so I am doing something right.

*****I am having trouble with the device holding a wifi signal, and/or connecting to Ant+...It has happened twice now, and frustration is that that fixing it requires a factory reset and then the numbers are not the same afterwards - LBS.  Next time I am going to figure out how to connect via Ant.

Garmin Varia Review...

I know it has been out for awhile, but I haven't been able to ride the road for a year or so due to my Health and Hands.  My brother Nick bought me a Garmin Varia rear light/radar unit for Christmas or my BDay last year.  I have been using it this summer, and come to love it for what it does for safe riding habits.  I currently have a Garmin Edge 810 head unit which displays cars coming up from behind on the edges of the screen with a red color and dot for a location.  The dot moves up the screen edge as it move up and past.  After passing the screen turns green and then clears.

What you usually do when you turn is that you need to turn your head around to see if a car is coming, that in turn causes you to pull slightly to the left and possibly right into traffic...Not good.  With Varia it warns you so you do not have to turn your head back until the Varia signals Green that keeps you safer on a turn.  Awesome!!!😎

With me, my neck has been compromised when I was younger, so I do not have complete range of motion in my neck, therefore when I turn my head I pull out to the left even more than normal.  It is a godsend for me...Love it!  

The only down side is that it is expensive, but if you have a Garmin head unit, it is almost a no brainer!!! 

Really Psyched about riding again...Energy Back!

The more you do....The more you want to do...

This must be true, as the more I ride, the more I want to ride again...

Loved my ride with my Daughter-In-Law on the airline trail, even though I forgot my Garmin 810 and my Garmin VivoActive Died as soon as we started, so no stats.  That made for a stress free recovery ride.  We went out at 8 am, so the weather and temp was perfect.  The Airline trail from Colchester to East Hampton where we road was cool from the Salmon River and all tree lines, most importantly beautiful.

Brian had a concussion playing Hockey a week or so back, and was working so no 

Bubba.  I enjoyed myself tremendously, thanks Stephanie for riding with an old slow man!

Stopped by Cycling Concepts on my way back, and Day Break coffee (awesome).  Feeling great about where I am headed, hopefully my feet pain will wain with my weight...but if not oh well, I love to ride my bicycle, my bicycle, my bicycle!

Have to have my lunch now, hummus wrap with homemade Quack Salsa!!! Yummy!

Progress - Moving Forward...

Yesterday I went to my rheumatologist for my monthly check up and found I lost 10 lbs, my bp was 134/74, my blood sugar was 150, but my liver numbers were slightly elevated.  So it has only been 3 weeks since my serious decision to become Vegan, (Father Inspired version, meaning totally nuts), and I am already seeing signs to improvement.  Weight down, BP slightly down, sugar way down (was 270 last time), and liver number slightly down as well.  My father says I won't see real results for 3 to 5 more weeks, but I just plain feel better and stronger.  I have more energy and want to be more active, although my feet still hurt.

Some of that could be that I am off Prendisone (sp) , but I will take it.  I really need to loose weight in droves, so am pushing the biking hard for the next few weeks.  Hope the weather holds.

I am riding with my daughter in law, Stephanie today on the airline trail after riding last night.  I hope my legs hold out.  I feel a bit stiff but good to go.  I have not pain to speak of and am looking to ride hardish today.

Need to stay the course, and think positive!

Until next time...T out

Feeling Good again - Ready to ride more!... Vegan anyone?

Had a tough time this spring with illness and recovery. In June  I discovered that the medication mix I was taking, which included Metholprendisolome was increasing my blood sugar beyond humanly posible - 9.4 AIC and 270 Blood Glucose readings. For the later part of June and Early July I was down, mentally as well as physically.  My Psoriatic Arthritis was not getting better, and my blood sugar was astronomical.  I had a hard time keeping awake, let along ride a bike.  I decided, with a bit of a nudge from my Vegan father to go Vegan.  So for the last 3-4 weeks I have eaten Vegan, except for the couple of egg white breakfasts I had once a week allowed myself.

My diet now consist of No Meat or Dairy, No leavened bread, only wraps, lots of veggies and fruits.  Homemade black bean puree, hummus and salsas, Pasta, rice (No white rice), sweat potatoes, and veggie burgers.  One thing I discovered is I do not like Quinoa Burgers, except I had one out the other nice and with enough hot sauce and Jalapenos I can eat them...:)

As of mid week last week, I have a lot more energy, and am able to ride outside again.   I am starting slow with shorter rides of less than 10 miles, and will work myself up.  I plan to start mid-range rides next week 10 to 20 miles or so.  Do that for a couple of weeks then move to longer rides of more than 20 miles, depending on surface....(gravel rides will be shorter on all accounts).

Last weekend I road in Essex and felt like either my saddle height or position was wrong, due to pain in my hips afterwards.  After a bike fit with Keith at Cycling Concepts of Glastonbury CT, we found my position had moved back too far causing me to use my Glutes and hips too much. (Not my first rodeo with this problem).  My weight tends to push the saddle back unless tightened properly.  My guess is when my new wider saddle was put on during indoor riding, it was not tightened down properly, and my saddle slipped back...If you think your saddle is not right or are having pains somewhere...Get a Bike Fitting by a Pro!  Keith does a great Job! but most shops have their expert.  I really felt the difference after the last ride in my hips especially.

Riding the airline trail tonight and in the AM, or I might just go now...:)

I am not sure how my weight is going since I became a vegan.  Not sure my body had adjusted yet, but will see.  Wish me luck!  I need to loose 100lbs or more, so this should be another journey of epic proportion.😎😎