Tuesday, September 29, 2009

I was wrong...

I like the Biggest Loser. I like the heart and soul that often comes with the workouts and results... I was looking forward to this season. Bob and Jill working together. Dan, such a nice kid, back to finish what he started... I thought this was a season of good people. But after tonight, I am just disappointed! Where do some of these people come from? My wise crack answer is their mother, but come on! Today Steve Quick wrote the Biggest Loser is officially a freak show. I guess there is a freak on the show... Does Tracy really have anything going for her? There are those people like the red team who are just great human beings. I feel sorry for Mo! To have such a idiot for a partner, what a bummer! And how can you lose 11 pounds without a trainer and injured, plus eat four cupcakes and supposedly be under such stress... When I stress out, weight gain is the only result.

Oh well, I walked at 15% on the treadmill again for 30 minutes which was 1.7 miles and then rode bike for over an hour. Felt good! On my way up... Looking so forward to Shelley (My girlfriend) finishing her first half-marathon at Whistlestop in 11 days. Looking forward to volunteering at Surph the Murph. Look forward to the treadmill at 15% tomorrow... Yep, looking up!

Carry on...

Friday, September 25, 2009

Ups, downs, biopsies...

I had a great start to the week. PT on the shoulder has me lifting weights pain free (about 60% of what I was before the bike crash). The Doc has not given me clearance to run, but walking is not even slightly painful. So I jumped on the treadmill, cranked it up to 15% (the maximum there is) and went for a mile walk. That is 20 minutes and was a good workout. So I did it again the next day, and it felt great. I am not running but I was perspiring harder than I have in a long time. And all I could think of is Diane Farmer's successful ST 100 training... Cranks the treadmill high and walk til you die. I felt like I could walk another mile but wanted to ease in...

Then I woke the third morning and did not feel pain, but my knee was bruised. It look like I hit on something but have no clue what that may have been. Looks like a vampire bit me! The bruise over the size of a dollar coin! Oh well, I had to take time to do other things anyway as I am referee for the NCAA Regional and had to get the draws set up.

Besides the NCAA Tennis referee thing, I have had some problems in my esophagus, I have been horse for some time and as reported earlier, I went to the Doc and got medicines to cure the pains. But my throat was not better at all. Today, I had Upper GI endoscopy, sometimes called EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy). This was intended to be a visual examination of the upper intestinal tract. There were unexplained growths. So several biopsies were taken and now I get to wait a few weeks for the results. (I should have asked for a few for Steve to analyze? I think he loves that stuff...) Sucks but I think of about Don (Check out his blog about running or the blog about his illness) and many others who have much more demanding issues and realize, I am blessed to have had so few issues my whole life!

Been keeping up a picture a day on the other blog... Hard to find or take really cool pictures each day. Although, the one from earlier this week is just cool. What a great idea Emily had... Would have liked to seen the look on Steven's face, whoever he is!

As I close this post, I am preparing for winter... I am actually looking forward to the cold weather. Not sure why, but I want to feel that crisp air in my lungs, I want to get that sense of tranquility from the white of new fallen snow, and I want to get through 2009. Not been a good year. Last time I had a bad year, I had a few outstanding year... Looking forward to that.

Carry on!

Saturday, September 19, 2009

One Sick Ignoramus

I finally went to the regular Doc today after feeling like crap for weeks. I just brushed it off as seasonal allergies and have been putting up with the crap that comes with it. But I was getting worse and now that I have been pain free in the knee and riding bike (PT has done wonders for the shoulder), my lungs and energy level were just not there. I was so tired but could not breathe when I laid down and woke often in the night...

Well he stocked me up on meds... WOW. I have a sinus infection, bronchitis and a middle ear infection. My head was in so much pain. We also did a blood test and my Vitamin D level is low again? My Doc is sending me to a nutritionist to evaluate what may be going on. I think I eat right, but I guess I will find out?

So I have four medicines of a variety the guy on the street corner would be envious of? I hope by Monday I am better so i can at least enjoy a workout without feeling dizzy, weak and light headed. Well, ever since my bike crash my head is still an issue bit some think I was born that way. Either way, drugging myself up and looking forward to improving... Why is is men take so long to go to the Doc?

Although I am very superstitious and today is my birthday! So I take all this as a 47th present to myself!

Carry on...

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Been busy. (And keeping up a second blog with daily entries is not easy. Check out one picture, cool!) If you missed the previous post, I am going to try to post an interesting picture every day at Time to picts - Daily Shot.)

Work is picking up and Fall tennis is here. I have complained twice on this blog I need to quit officiating tennis, but I enjoy it, more than running... But that is not fair, I still cannot run and I am sure if I quit tennis for 2 months, I would not miss it either. (Although, I feel like I could run which means the knee is getting better!) I have had two PT sessions and my shoulder feels much better. Amazing what the right exercises can do for a ailing body.

Superior has come and gone but I am surprised I have not seen many reports yet? A few good ones but still waiting to hear about the run from a few pals... Especially some who have the hated DNF... I am interested in hearing what they thought went right, what went wrong...

Oh well, I will keep looking for posts, keep up the PT. Maybe before I know it, I will be able to run and looking to have a DNF myself? They are the best sources to learn from, nothing to be ashamed of. Especially on that BEAST - Superior trail!

Carry on!

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Superior Blues

The past three years, I had journeyed to the north shore to run a looooonnnnngggg race. First the 50 mile in 2006 which was a success and then 2 attempts at the 100 mile where I did not succeed. Although this year, sitting home watching the first football game of the season (a real bore), I can not help but think about the many friends and others who are about to venture out to finish a great race. It is a great race because of many factors, but in any event I have ever been involved in, it is the people who make it great!

The core of compassionate, caring and knowledgeable friends who put this on year after year is unmatched in any other armature event I have participated in. Larry, Don, Bonnie, Scott, Colleen, and so many others put that event on, without pay. I do not want to diminish the great successes of all those who will finish, but without that core group and all the volunteers, they would not even start. They can never be thanked enough...

Good luck to all and I am saddened that I will not be there with you running or volunteering. Life just throws a curve ball and I am smart enough not to swing.

Carry on...

Monday, September 7, 2009

Burger verdict / new blog & more

Well, I have made a conclusion that real beef is better. Hard to believe but true in my mind. I have decided that veggie-burgers are OK, but the best nutritionally overall is real beef (97/3) and my dry pulp left from the morning juice. I feel better with that combination. I also will make them with a little coconut oil... No sodium... I do not even season them... M M GOOD. Maybe next year at a fat ass run that I can actually run, I will supply the burgers? Any interest?

I have been biking/walking more. Total 47.5 miles biking last week plus 12 miles of walking. Sure feels nice to get some workouts under the belt, even though they are not killers, they still push the knee a little. I see the Doc tomorrow (Tuesday, September 8) but have no hope of getting clearance to run... I know that based on the pain. I also will start physical therapy on the shoulder next week. Hope that is all I need? I am almost thinking I should tell the Doc that I could do therapy on the knee at the same time? Physical therapy on the right knee and right shoulder... Nothing is left. (pun intended)

Last, I have started a new blog. It is called Daily Shot. (http://timetopicts.blogspot.com/) I did so for two reasons. 1) I have my new camera and I-Phone 3Gs and practically everyday I see something that is cool and deserves to be preserved in a picture. 2) Friends have been talking about Julia/Julia (the movie) and how the younger cooked her way through a the elder's cookbook each day and put it on a blog (The real blog).

Well, I am going to see if I can post 365 consecutive, interesting pictures (or possibly a video's from the I-Phone). One each day... All unique from my daily experiences... I was thinking why a new blog as opposed to putting them here? It allows me to post daily without comments and here, this is more about my life, that is about other subject matter. Some may not care about the pictures, other about the life, so separate Blogs is the final answer.

Carry on...

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Veggie-burgers? A short review

I have read on many blogs lately about many ultra runners trying the Vegan diet. I declare up front, I am a meat lover, period. I wonder if there I am other than a white male as my favorite foods are BBQ ribs, BBQ chicken, corn bread and watermelon... Although, with some fine reading, I have been open to trying some vegan burgers lately. I find like the flavor and taste of some over a regular burger. But I recently did a nutritional comparison and found some Veggieburgers are not much better for you than 97/3 beef.

There are so many different brands and flavors out there now, the selection can be a little overwhelming. I found three brands at Target and Cub. Some burgers are made with soy and others with grains. I have read about some veggie burgers are just that and made from veggies. Sunshine even makes their burgers with sunflower seeds (I have not found this brand yet but I know it is out there…) Depending on the main ingredients, all your options will differ in calories, sodium, carbs, and protein, so check out this breakdown to see which one satisfies your needs.

This may be hard to follow but here are the nutrition information for a variety of burger options using a 2.5 oz patty (Common Veggieburger size)

97/3 beef has 88 calories, 3 G fat (1 Saturated), zero Sodium, zero carbs, zero fiber and 15g protein.

Veggieburger comparisons were broad – Boca original seemed to be the best and less expensive than beef…

Boca original has 70 calories, 0.5 G fat (0 Saturated), 280 mg Sodium, 6 g carbs, 4 g fiber and 13g protein.

Boca Grilled Vegi has 80 calories, 1 G fat (0 Saturated), 300 mg Sodium, 7 g carbs, 4 g fiber and 12g protein.

Boca All American has 90 calories, 3 G fat (0.5 Saturated), 280mg Sodium, 4 g carbs, 4.5 g fiber and 14 g protein.

Gardenburger Garden Original has 100 calories, 1 G fat (0 Saturated), 230mg Sodium, 12 g carbs, 3 g fiber and 10 g protein.

Gardenburger Original
has 100 calories, 3.5 G fat (0.5 Saturated), 420 mg Sodium, 14 g carbs, 5 g fiber and 5 g protein.

Morningstar Classic has 120 calories, 4 G fat (0.5 Saturated), 260mg Sodium, 11 g carbs, 2 g fiber and 11 g protein.

I have found the Boca Original to be far better balanced and about 30% less than the cost of others and comparable to beef. In addition, I found that a properly dressed 97/3 beef patty would be a better option than some others calorie wise but it still has the 3 G of fat...

So I had another alternative. I have a juicer and most morning I juice 12 OZ of many flavors. Carrots, apples, blueberries, ginger, Kiwi, green pepper and so on. Tonight, I mixed 4 ounces of my dry pulp into 2.5 ounces of 97/3 burger. It was GREAT! I may experiment more like going down to 1.5 ounces of burger and adding egg whites to the mix.

Anyone out there have any thoughts on this topic or suggestions?

PS: This week, my knee feels it but so far, 12 miles walking and 3.5 on a bike... But it hurts a little.

Carry on!