I have been inspired to start a blog by my SIL Marylinn. I have recently "gotten back on the horse" so to speak and started cycling again. I bought a Cannondale road bike last April to help me achieve my century, and it has become a great friend to me. When I ride, all my problems go away. It is just me and my bike. Flying over pavement. I usually do between 6-10 miles each day, depending on my work schedule, and it is usually a different route everyday. Lately though, I have been sticking to one particular route because I hadnt been getting any satisfaction from progress, since I didnt really have anything to measure. The route I take is about 6.5 miles, and takes about an hour. I measure myself by points I need a water break and how I feel after conquering certain hills. I felt really good today, the hills are getting easier for me. The first time I went up "the North Ridge Hill" I thought I was going to pass out and die! But each day I go back for more, and now look at it from a new perspective. Each day when I stop at that stop sign and look at the monster in front of me, I know I can do it. I have done it everyday for the past 2 weeks. I can do it today. I secretly look forward to climbing that hill everyday. It is a challenge I know I can conquer.
I have decided to log my food intake as well, just for kicks.
Breakfast: Bowl of Kashi Go Lean (awesome stuff!) with milk
Snack: 2 peanut butter choc chip cookies(cant deny my sweet tooth)
Lunch: Turkey and swiss with slice of tomato, jalepenos and mayo, and I ate the rest of the tomato;)
Snack: Glass of chocolate milk. I drink this after my ride to replenish my blood sugar so I dont crash.
Dinner: 2 Hamburgers with swiss, tomatoes and jalepenos with mayo.
I have found that denying myself pepsi is a huge mistake right now, so I drink some, but not as much as I drink water. I also found that I am not as hungry since I started excersising everyday. And denying myself certain things or following a strict diet is setting myself up for failure, so my two cookies a day and a pepsi makes everything so much easier and is not hurting me one bit. And some days, I dont even think about having a cookie!
rach this is awesome! i'm in agreement about not making ourselves feel there is food we can't have. so that's why I have reward meal once a week. (just 1 meal for me) but I found it helped me last week- of course I did it the whole day on brians bday- but the point is the same as what you said about your sweet tooth- and eventually all things you don't want will fall out on their own- such as pepsi- but the way you're excersising - i can see why none of it is affecting your progress..that is so awesome what you're doing on your bike.. you are an inspiration - literally!!
ReplyDeletealso - i loved reading everything about your challenges, desires, and abilities.. etc.
i'm excited to read about your progess everyday- it's awesome that you are recording your experiences. in some ways its like that feeling you said you get when its just you and the bike- as far as - it is a release/relief to write, and to record progress, goals, losses, etc.
way cool!
marylinn
oh yah- thanks for the response about the Honey..very informative.. I think I understand it a little better, and i'll try to find some natural honey, and get some yogurt sometime soon to try with it :)
ReplyDelete