God's Plan on my Heart

Last week I agreed to fill in for a co-worker to teach Cardio Camp, a program we devised to help people get their bodies moving in a different way. Each week we come up with different workouts challenging our participants to think outside the box to get their cardio exercise. The camp meets at kaleidoscope of outdoor locations to keep the muscles from plateauing. 


Yesterday when I woke up.....and it was raining. Karma - I'm telling you.
But no worries. I'm convinced the rain will go away. 


By the afternoon, the rain changed. It was a now a downpour. Now I had to come up with a plan to move Cardio Camp inside. 


What 
To 
Do? 


Eat. Obviously the answer was eat. 
And I ate a lot.....until I sat down at my computer and decided to work on a plan. 


I came up with a workout combining step aerobics in our group fitness room and cardio intervals using walking, hills, and speed  on the treadmill followed by a few fun drills, such as walking backwards or shuffling from side to side. All in all a good plan and made for an hour which went by quickly. 


I went home from the camp feeling great. Not only did I complete the workout with my participants (Can you say endorphins?) but I also did something that I love....spreading the passion for exercise to the people in my community. 


When I got home, I took a minute to reflect on my evening and thought I heard God whisper....."personal trainer".....


Hmmm, maybe it was time to stop denying God's plan and do what I feel is most important. I did a little research on personal training certifications, but decided to sleep on it. 

I started my morning by taking my fasting blood sugar....147. What?!? Are you kidding me? 


Oh yah, did I mention Karma? 
Ummm, did I mention my little carb rampage yesterday afternoon?
Yah, I probably deserved this. 


Fine. I was off to teach Body Flow. I decided to take my blood sugar again after class to see how I was doing. My class was wonderful. Seven women of varied ages and sizes trying to do what is important...keeping their minds and bodies healthy. 


I came home to take my blood sugar only to discover....oopf....no more lancets. Yes, I am brilliant. I forgot to put them on our shopping list. Ugh. 


Well, I guess taking my blood sugar will have to wait. Now I need to plan some exercise. 

Somebody just like me

One of the biggest side effects of diabetes is the feeling of isolation. Many diabetics feel as if they are going through this disease process alone. However, with today's online community there is no reason to feel alone. 


Unless you are just like me. 


If I am wrong, shout it out! Let me hear from you. I need to find someone just like me. 


I read tons of blogs. I listen to podcasts. I "LIKE" people on Facebook. But none of them are just like me. 


Why am I so different? 
I'm a Type II Diabetic. 

That's me on the right!

• Not all that unusual. 230 million people worldwide have diabetes. 95% of those are Type II Diabetics. 

I love to work out. 

• I have always been someone to work out. Exercise is my release. I love to challenge my body in many different ways. I have a workout library in my basement with DVDs ranging from The Firm to Denise Austin to Kathy Smith to Cathe Friedrich. Three years ago when I was training for my first triathlon, I found out I was diabetic. I was swimming 1000 yards, running 6-9 miles and biking 12 miles a week when I received my discouraging diagnosis.  

Because I work out, I do not fit the typical image of a Type II Diabetic. 

• My BMI is 25.0 - just outside of the normal weight range. So, yes, I should lose some weight. My goal is 10; My body is not perfect and I constantly fight the battle of the bulge, but I try my best to keep it all in check. 

Why do I want to find someone just like me? Because I want to swap stories. I want to share my successes and failures with other Type II Diabetics. I want to find people who are motivated to feel good about their goals & successes. 

Do you know a Type II Diabetic who works out 5-6 times a week? If so, let me know!

30 Things You May Not Know

Apparently, I missed National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week last week. But I thought this was interesting when I read a couple of blog posts. So I'm going to take a stab at it.

30 THINGS ABOUT MY INVISIBLE ILLNESS YOU MAY NOT KNOW

1. The illness I live with is: Type 2 Diabetes
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: 2009
3. But I had symptoms since: I still don't think I have any.
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: Being aware of carbs.
5. Most people assume: That I did something to cause it....But I've always been a health "nut" with a dose of reality mixed in. It's genes people. Sorry.
6. The hardest part about mornings are: Cringing when I read my blood glucose monitor
7. My favorite medical TV show is: Who watches TV?
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: My computer
9. The hardest part about nights are: Knowing how much/what to eat before bed so I can have a good reading in the morning
10. Each day I take 2 vitamins.
11. Regarding alternative treatments I: Would be interested in reading, but I'm not going to do anything radical
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: Hmmm not sure. It all makes me crazy.
13. Regarding working and career:  It causes more stress in my life than it should - therefore affecting my blood sugars.
14. People would be surprised to know: that I'm diabetic. People are always stunned.
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been:  realizing my disease is progressive and fearing the path on which it will take me
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: Run a half marathon....now working on new goals
17. The commercials about my illness: frustrate me because I don't fit a stereotype
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: Just eating or drinking without thought
19. It was really hard to have to give up: the idea that I am a picture of health
20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: reading diabetes blogs
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: probably not change a thing. I like to eat healthy. It's just hard to do sometimes.
22. My illness has taught me: an deeper awareness of what I'm doing to my body with every decision I make
23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: Type 2 Diabetes is a choice. I'm not obese. I didn't eat myself into oblivion. I am type 2 diabetic due largely to genes.
24. But I love it when people: Are shocked when I tell them I'm diabetic, "You're diabetic?" Yep. That's me.
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: "Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."
~ Thomas Edison
26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: Have a good cry. Then pick yourself up by the boot straps and move on.
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: The sad fact that it never goes away.
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: left me alone. Don't try to talk to me when I'm ill.
29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: I want to be an advocate for diabetes
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: Like you love me!

I am a good diabetic

I am a good diabetic. So my good doc says.

But what does that mean?

My a1c tends to be 6.4 converting to an average blood sugar of 136. I exercise just about daily.

So why am I frustrated? Because after two years, I am still trying to lose this final 10 lbs. I mean COME ON ALREADY!!!!!  I mean seriously.

But who am I to blame? No one but me. You can't follow a plan for 21 hours of the day. Those three hours....three hours.....in those three hours you can take in a lot of carbs. Believe me. I know. And when are those witching hours?  Between 3 pm and 5 pm & anytime plus or minus one hour on either side of that range.

Finally, I decided I needed something to focus my energies. A reality check so to speak. I listen to a lot of podcasts. Some of them about diabetes, most about health & exercise, some about Disney.

One of my favorites is Dr. Fitness and the Fat Guy. If nothing else, they make me laugh. Dr. Adam Shafran and the Fat Guy, Lee Kantor, use their witty interview skills on many popular guests. One recent guest, Candice P. Rosen, discussed her book, "The Pancreatic Oath" which used blood sugars to identify.  foods which triggered symptoms in PCOS patients. Unfortunately, I was not able to find the book in my local Barnes & Noble store. Instead, I picked up Bob Greene's "The Best Life Guide to Managing Diabetes and Pre-Diabetes." The concepts were similar. Track your food. Test your blood sugar. Log the results.

I started testing my blood sugars almost daily. I tested in the morning. I tested after meals. I tested after exercise. I'm still testing. I'm still learning about how my body reacts to various foods. I'm a work in progress, but I'm no longer frustrated. I'm working toward a goal. A goal of understanding my body and how it functions.

And one day maybe - just maybe - I'll get there.

Exercising with Type 2 Diabetes

I'm trying to be a better diabetic. Really I am. I hate to admit it, but I rarely test my blood glucose prior to exercising.

I know. I know. Yes, I will try to be better. However, I do test my BG AFTER exercising and it's normally higher! Last week I tested it after Body Pump and it was 191. Not horrible. Certainly not where I want it to be. I'd be happy with 100 at all times, but I guess that's asking too much. Instead I try not to let my small fluctuations affect my daily life too much. They are usually all within a "normal" range, or at least normal for me.

BUT just in case you need a friendly reminder, I'm including an article from Spark People about Exercising with Type 2 Diabetes.

5-Minute Hover Challenge

Have you ever hovered?
I mean really hovered....just inches off of the ground.

A hover is similar to a plank, but you are on your elbows....butt is low...no pikes and absolutely no arch. (If you are arching your back, please come to your knees.)

We started a 5-minute hover challenge at the fitness center last week after Body Flow class. Seven women in the middle of the fitness center, down on our elbows and toes trying to hold for 5 minutes. Well, let's just say I didn't make it, but we did have one person who did.

And then I brought the challenge home to Camo-Man and the kids. One of the things Camo-Man learned last week at physical therapy was that he needed to work on his core strength. So I issued "The Challenge". Hollywood and Camo-Man got down in position to compete against each other right away.

 Yes, this was definitely a victory for Hollywood as her daddy has a long way to go. Later when Diva Princess came inside after a long day of play, she took up the challenge as well; however, her form was not quite the best. The butt was a little too high in a pike.

 Princess did feel the burn though and dropped to her belly in exhaustion. A little dramatic maybe since I don't think she held it even 60 seconds.

The next challenge involved Hollywood and introducing her to the Lola, an ab exercise from Body Flow where you put your hands below your shoulders on the floor and try to lift your body off the floor. 

Let's just say there are some body mechanics that Hollywood needs to work on.....

Back in the Saddle Again

Good things happen all the time and sometimes I feel like we get caught up in the negative and forget to focus on the positive. So here is a positive story:
I was convinced Camo-Man needed surgery. We aren't sure exactly how it happened, but in May he started having a lot of pain and swelling in his right leg after working out. He tried to ignore it for a while, but shortly after the Turkey Festival Bed Races he knew he needed to see a doctor.

The good doc sent him for blood work, x-rays and an MRI. After all of the results were in, we found out that he had a "complex tear" in his meniscus. Uh-oh. I was convinced this meant surgery and several months of recovery. After a visit to the orthopedic surgeon, he suggested physical therapy to strengthen certain leg muscles. He also said Camo-Man could work out as long as the activity didn't cause him pain. The doctor advised Camo-Man to ease back into a workout routine and see how it goes. If he experiences pain, he'll need to return to the doc to see about surgery after all.

Diva Princess ready to work!

Over the weekend, he started running again. This time he had a new training partner. Our park district is holding its first youth triathlon this year on August 13th. Kids 10 & under will swim 100 yards. Kids 11 & up will swim 300 yards. Everyone will bike 4 miles and run 1 mile. Being a true Princess, my little darling asked almost immediately, "What am I going to wear for the triathlon? I can't run in a bathing suit!" Ahh, that's my girl. Always thinking.  (Should I be worried that Diva Princess is actually sucking in her gut?)

With Camo-Man's release to work out for the first time since mid-June, he was anxious to get started again. I was anxious to make sure he didn't push it too much. So we compromised. Diva Princess was so excited to get started on her triathlon training. We thought pairing her up with Camo-Man for his first steps back into training would be a great way to get them both moving.

We started out with the 3 of us riding the youth triathlon bike course. Let me tell you. That was quite an experience. Diva Princess, well, she's a talker. She talked through the whole thing. You know her every thought because she talked OUT LOUD through the entire route. She almost bit the road a couple of times because she was talking so much and kept turning her whole body from side to side instead of focusing on the road. We talked about rock on the road which can make you fall. We talked about passing kids. We talked about the importance of going for time in the triathlon. We talked about potholes in the road. She talked. We listened and smiled. Our 9-year old is growing up. It is so much fun listening to her think through all of these different topics.

We followed the bike course back to the pool where Camo-Man and Diva Princess were going for a 1 mile run. I decided to opt out of this part because after a 12 mile bike ride, 2 runs, teaching 5 Body Pump & 2 Body Flow classes in the last week my old body sure was tired. I'm a firm believer in listening to your body and my body was telling me to rest. Instead, I followed my two triathlete wanna-bees on my bike snapping some pictures and of course, listening to Princess chat through the whole thing. Finally, about halfway through the run, Camo-Man had to give Princess some tips on breathing - and not talking so much! They finished their mile while I rode my bike home. Eight easy miles on a rest day isn't so bad, right?

When they arrived back home, I thought for sure Princess would be ready to settle down for the night. Oh boy was I wrong. All she wanted to talk about was going lap swimming on Monday and meeting her friend, Ally, to train more for the triathlon. I may not ever win my age group in the triathlon, but I do believe my daughter, Diva Princess, is ready to take on the triathlon and kick some booty!