9 Months to Tri

Its been a while since I updated here last. Workouts have been averaging about 3 per week. Days like today are too abundant. Since Brett left and Jim moved from the multimedia group, we’ve gone from 3 people to handle all of these graphics project to just me. Monday night I was up until 3:30 AM for a last minute rush job. My manager is pushing back as hard as he can, and we’re looking to hire help (we’ve got an empty headcount), but help or no, until this new intranet launches in June, I’m not anticipating that things will get easier.

The other thing is that we’ve got a new communications exec who’s all fired up. Don’t get me wrong, he’s got some GREAT ideas, but the fact is, there’s no one but me to really support the graphics end of his plans, and I’m already up to my neck in the routine stuff and the new intranet. In fact, people are starting to get mad, because we’re saying ‘no’ as much as we are.

So, life is beyond hectic for me. The wife was out of town for 4 days last weekend, and time to workout completely vanished. The kid and I were active, to be sure, but its just not the same as a run or a workout at the gym. Its VERY easy to see how single parents might never have the time to work out. But even when the wife is here, my time seems to be fleeting.

Last week should have been the 8 month weigh-in, but I was so tired, I was ready to fall asleep. I just couldn’t make myself do more than a basic workout. I felt like I was a member of the walking dead.

And now, its 1 a.m., and its the first time in a long while it seems that I’ve been able to make the time to sit down and blog. In fact, I had to FORCE myself to sit down and do this, and the only reason I felt so strongly is because I’ve got some numbers I need to share.

Anyway, these numbers, amidst all of this feeling like I’m not getting anywhere, are a strong notice that I HAVE gotten somewhere. Looking at the big picture, I’m pretty happy with where I’m at, even though I know I still have a lot of room for improvement. Yes, I’m still holding steady at 266 lbs. Been there for the better part of 2 months it seems.

That being said, for the last few weeks, I’ve been out running farther than I have in years. I can easily run a 5K, and a couple of weeks ago I ran 4.3 miles. Taking some advice from Scot Little, I’ve started riding the stationary bike for 8 miles, then jumping off and heading out onto the road for a 2 mile run. Next week I’ll get myself up to 12 miles on the bike, then the 2 mile run. When you consider that when I started this I could barely do the 2 mile run, I’m feeling pretty good about myself.

Yesterday the Health Center had a Health Fair. I got my cholesterol screened and my blood pressure taken as well, so I thought I’d compare those to numbers that I’d gotten way back when this all started.

Optimal blood pressure is 120/80.
My blood pressure when I started was 150/100.
My blood pressure is currently at 136/90.

Optimal total cholesterol is 150 mg/dL or less.
My previous total cholesterol was 238.
My current total cholesterol is 223.

Optimal Glucose is 100 mg/dL or less.
My previous glucose had no number, but was rated as ‘normal’.
My current glucose is 90.

Optimal HDL (good) Cholesterol is 40mg/dL or higher
My previous HDL cholesterol was 42.
My current HDL cholesterol is 46.

Optimal TC/HDL Ratio is 4.5 or less
My previous TC/HDL Ratio was 5.67.
My TC/HDL Ratio is currently at 4.85.

Neither my LDL (bad) cholesterol nor my triglycerides were measured at the health fair, though I think its safe to say that based on my total cholesterol count, my LDL, while its probably down some, is most likely still high.

This wasn’t a full work up, and its time I actually went in to get a current test from a lab, but all of the numbers here have improved. Its been a while since I’ve gotten that ‘rapid heartbeat’ feeling from just getting up and moving around. That’s the kind of feeling that makes you feel like you’re on the edge of dying.

In a few more weeks, I should be getting a full workup from Mike as well. We’ll see how the new measurements add up to the old ones.

Now, if only I could find the time to get to making updates to the tri-team website. Egads.

I’m planning to workout tomorrow. Not sure what I’ll do. Then Monday is Memorial Day, so there’s this 3 day weekend ahead. I’ll be out of town on Saturday and Sunday. Might hit the hotel gym Saturday night, or if they have a pool, I might go for a swim. Monday, there’s a congregation picnic. It starts kind of early and goes all day. Lots of fun to be had there. Volleyball, baseball. Just kickin’ around. And the talent show, too!

Have a great weekend, all of you!

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