Back To School.

Well, not literally - but my body definitely has some re-learning to do.

In my adult life, working out has tended to go in cycles.  I can be really motivated and dedicated to it for a few weeks or months, but then "life" gets in the way - or, ahem, excuses get in the way - and I stop working out.  (Not all-together; I do two 15-minute walks during my workday.  I'm talking about work-outs where I'm in gym clothes, break a sweat, and can feel it the next day.)  I believe I have just wrapped up another "off" cycle.

A and I both know that the key to being less squishy (and healthy overall) is three parts - what you put in, what you work off - and how you balance those two components.  In looking at our food and beverage choices, we know there are a few things here and there that could be better, but for the most part, we're making good choices.  Mostly organic foods, not alot of highly processed stuff, plenty of veggies, and lean meats.  We cut out egg yolks, I switched to soy coffee creamer, and we've been frequenting the farmer's market near our house.  Pretty good start, right?

So, our problem would appear to be the "working it off" part.  We agreed that we should make ourselves go for a walk every night after dinner, even when we don't feel like it - even if it's only for 20 minutes.  Not only will walking help us feel better overall, but for me specifically, it will help with post-prandial peaks after dinner.  It would also be great if regular exercise could bring down my insulin requirements.  Over time, I've acquired more and more insulin resistance, and I feel that I take quite a bit compared to other diabetics.  Maybe this is due to weight I've put on, and losing that weight will put me back to those original insulin requirements; but some part of me fears that insulin needs will just keep going up and up and up.  And that totally scares the sheet out of me.  (I should perhaps make a glossary for my Censored Swearing, aka Work Swearing To Get Past The Email Filter, but I feel like they're pretty self-explanatory.  Maybe?)  Thus, for many, many logical reasons, I need to keep moving.

I've gotten myself in pretty good shape before (and was always in good shape, up until college), so I know I can do it again.  It's a very long road to get myself back there, and sometimes seeing the length of that path discourages me - but maybe I should focus more on putting one foot in front of the other, than how many footsteps I have to take total.

I'm telling you all this, in the hopes that it will keep me accountable.  I did the same thing when I signed up for my first half-marathon this year; I announced it on Facebook and told friends and family, a bit so that the fear of shame would keep me motivated to prepare myself.  And, it worked - I trained for three months prior, and although I didn't have stellar results in time or blood sugars, I finished.  (My goal was to finish without passing out or throwing up - gotta start somewhere.)  This takes it up a notch, since I'm now pretty much announcing to the world that I need to do this.  No turning back after I click "Publish Post", right?  :)

So that's the goal - exercise.  Every day.  No excuses.

Who's doing this? YOU ARE!