Here's why I was a winner and a loser

I took a new job on Aug. 22nd.  That required a lot of my mental focus and energy and time.  I let that throw me off track.

Secondly, I spent some time with some new people who are into some different things.  That is also part of a healthy lifestyle.  And I am happily investing free time in that.

Third, and most devastatingly, I had to travel for the week immediately leading up to my 42nd birthday.  There is no snow on the ground in Minnesota right now, so no cross-country skiing option.  I haven't been working out a lot and had to stop the running due to back issues.  I didn't sub anything in.  I sort of talked about it and never committed. 

I totally unravelled right in the last month.  The most important month.  Ever since I finished my epic 42 bike rides on Labor Day, I admit that I lost focus. 

HOWEVER, :)
I showed up pretty well this year.  I had never done anything like Warrior Dash and I undertook that daunting task with enthusiasm.  I had never biked so much or with such purpose, and that was a wonderful experience.  I have re-gained a little fat, but I am still in size 8 clothes and I'm aware of my error in ways. 

Setting BDC goals was a fun way to motivate myself, and I will concoct another set for this year and try again.  The measure of a person is not only how we behave when we succeed, but also how we behave when we fail.  I'll learn from my derailment and get back up and try again!

Veggies, yes, climactic finish to my 42BDC, no

Eating 10 servings of raw veggies per day was a piece of cake.  Started every morning with a green smoothie:

Convenient, tasty, three easy servings of veggies.

Snacked on veggies and had some kick ass salads for lunches and dinners.  Experimented with raw squash, raw beet, and some other veggies.

This doesn't look like a chore, does it?  I never got sick of eating vegetables during this 42 days eating ala La Lanne. 

Problem was, I did not lose any weight.  In fact, I gained a few pounds.  I think psychologically my guard and vigilance was down about everything else I was eating.  How could my diet NOT be healthy with all those raw veggies? 

Apparently, that was an effed up way to spend the 42 days, b/c I thought I would get wicked lean, and instead I got a little muffin top.  Damn it. 

Fitness in Japan

Japanese people are pretty healthy folks.  In Okinawa, military men and women are up early working out, and I had a run along the sea wall alongside Marines while the sun was rising on the other side of the island. 

The food is excellent, but I was surprised by the high ratio of carbs to veggies.

Before, well, except for the tofu/tomato salad.  I already ate that.

After.  No idea what kind of fish this was, but it was fresh.

I also swam laps in the East China sea a couple of times and rode a crappy old, rusty bicycle around, thereby proving that one can stay reasonably active while on vacation.  I actually didn't 'recover' from the jet lag until after I worked up a good sweat on day 3.

The sea wall is covered in 'jacks' like the ones, above, to protect the coastline.  I'm holding a crab, you can see my awesome bike set-up there, too.

This was an unplanned part of my 41st year, so doesn't have any 42 BDC in it, but I did commit to and succeed in finishing all 42 bike rides to the Cedar Ave bridge PRIOR to my departure. 

4 runs in and feeling alright, but...

My 4th three-mile run felt good, and I ran it at 8:33/mile, which isn't as lame as prior runs.  But my back the next day gave me pause about continuing.  Trying to think of a good substitute and missing my bicycle lately.

Then Yom Kippur came, and I fasted and atoned.  Feeling serene and thirsty, I decided to focus on the raw veggie challenge starting at the end of the month.
Mine is hot pink, though.  way cooler.
I am enjoying a smoothie made in my one serving, hot pink, blend and go smoothie maker. 
It contains:

• the awesomest, high protein Greek nonfat unsweetened yogurt of all time (23 g protein/130 cal per cup, Fage brand)
• 1/3 cucumber
• 1 whole carrot
• some fresh cranberries
• splash of grape juice and a cup of water
• ~ a tbsp of sugar free instant vanilla pudding powder

Delicious!  Trying to incorporate raw veggies in a snack or b-fast item. 

Also made a raw squash salad with winter squash from local farmer's share.  It was hard to peel the raw squash, but once grated, mixed with green onion, chopped eggplant, chopped heirloom tomato, a few dried cranberries and some light balsamic dressing; yum. 

Also took a trip that allowed me to swim laps in the East China sea, run along the sea wall at 5:30 a.m. with Marines, and road my bike all over.  But that's for a different post.  Today is all about the new smoothie maker -- Huzzah!

42 bike rides, a run and a picnic

The bike riding to the Old Cedar Ave bridge was kick ass.  Finished on Labor Day and the kids met me down there for a celebratory picnic. 

Even though my spinal surgeon says no running, ran my first 3 mile run and it didn't hobble me. 

The weather is changing and I'm going to have to think of good activities as the environment becomes hostile.   Looking forward to the ten veggie challenge!

Biking in August is so awesome, it makes us jump for joy

42 trips to the bridge continues

I've got Max along most of the time, too.  It's such a great bike ride.  Riding down into the valley is beautiful, then the wetlands are peaceful and lovely, and the ride back up and home is challenging.  I'm not tired of it at all, and we are more than half way done.

We took two rides in one Saturday; one at sunrise and one at sunset.  We've had many hot and humid days, but we rode anyway.

Half way done, on the pylons beneath the bridge. 

Today, 75 deg F and gorgeous outside!