<p>Punched the clock with a basement workout. I really needed a rest day. My hips are sore from hiking yesterday. I cut the workout a little short, just doing two sets of the strength supersets instead of the usual three sets of each. It’s still a good solid hour. Glad I got ‘er done. Rest day tomorrow, well, maybe except for just a little dancin’ in the aisles:</p>
<p>[Dwight</a> Yoakam](<a href=“Dwight Yoakam covers ZZ Top's 'I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide' - YouTube”>Dwight Yoakam covers ZZ Top's 'I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide' - YouTube)</p>
<p>Thanks, tons. I will pass all that along. This guy likes his data, so he will appreciate this.</p>
<p>Good morning. Thanks, idad, I’m going to ask my doc to run those tests on my next physical just to see.</p>
<p>I have a nouvelle excuse for not getting on the treadmill this morning…the pool house appears to be populated by remnant bodies from mcson’s party sat night. Blasting daft punk and gasping along on the dreadmill may not amuse said guests this early. That leaves aquajogging or the hill or maybe both…the airdyne makes an awful racket and will also wake the dead ;)</p>
<p>I also ended up skipping yesterday but I was going to be painting the house and I just didn’t want to start out a sweaty mess…though I became a sweaty mess in short order. Who knew one coud burn 2100 calories painting a house in the hot sun? (I am dubious, but that is what netdiary tells me it was worth.)</p>
<p>Sabaray and pizza girl, in my imaginary “American Wellness Scrapbook” I was thinking maybe one part cookbook but one part meal sample planner…(and activity, and philosophy) that includes things also helpful to folks who don’t necessarily cook but want to increase healthy living. The point of a round-up style would be to show different avenues toward the same goal. So if a participant wasn’t a cook, their page might be “places to get fast healthy food, exercises to fit in, tips like the gym bag tip”. Kind of in the spirit of celebrating different ways of approaching lifestyle improvements. Something authentic as opposed to prescribed.</p>
<p>I think a whole chapter could be devoted to the “century club” – eg idad and counting down who lost dramatic amounts of weight and dramatically altered their health – that might be really motivational for folks with big goals.</p>
<p>Just a flight of fancy…after all, they could just come to the thread and read up for te same effect :)</p>
<p>10.1 miles done! Humid but no rain. Ran from the house- lots of rolling hills but no horrible climbs. That’s back to back 10 milers, which I haven’t done since the marathon/half marathon double weekend in April. We’ll see how that translates into getting through a night marathon in 2 weeks. I may do about 12-13 next weekend when I’m in PA on my flat, shaded path. (going to see the family, including my mother, who removed her own ventilator tube last Sunday night, is breathing fine on her own and going home from the hospital on Tuesday…still lots going on, but sort of a miracle…for now).</p>
<p>5.4 hot/humid miles. Hadn’t run since last Sunday (biked 22 miles in between though) so it felt good even with the rivers of sweat. Did push-ups,planks,kettlebell afterwards. The rest of the day will spent floating on the river.</p>
<p>Wow, MOfWC, about your mom! Great job running today.</p>
<p>I’m taking a day off - just a short 3 mile walk and some core stuff are in the plans.</p>
<p>MOWC:</p>
<p>Good luck with your mom. Those ups and downs will give you whiplash. I went from being told in the evening that my father would not make it through the night to being told the next day that he was up and around. </p>
<hr>
<p>If your friend likes data, then, here’s the link to Dr. Peter Attilia’s 9-part series on cholesterol. This is literally an encyclopedia on the current state of the research in this field, complete with copious references to studies.</p>
<p>[Cholesterol</a> Archives « The Eating Academy | Peter Attia, M.D. The Eating Academy | Peter Attia, M.D.](<a href=“http://eatingacademy.com/category/cholesterol-2]Cholesterol”>Cholesterol Archives - Peter Attia)</p>
<p>This is the search page for the articles. The actual series is: The Straight Dope on Cholesterol. If I really wanted to take control of my own cholesterol decisions, I would wade thru these. Anyone who can digest this series will likely be way more current than their doctor, which opens up another can of worms. But, seriously, the current medical guidelines are probably 20 years out of date with the research. And the marketing push that established cholesterol numbers as the end all and be all of US medicine, propelling Lipitor to the biggest selling drug in history, makes it almost essential to take control of the decision making at least to the extent of making a doc explain his thinking.</p>
<p>Did a yoga stretch class early this morning. Then did a 24 mile bike ride. More core and stretch after.</p>
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<p>Around here, the two big national labs are Quest and LabCorp. I know that Quest can do the NMR, but nobody seems to know what it is. It’s a standard test in LabCorp’s computer and just as easy to order from them as any other test, although your doc may or may not have heard of it.</p>
<p>In my case, the combination of very low triglycerides and high HDL made it almost certain that would have a fairly small number of LDL particles. My LDL cholesterol and LDL particle counts track very closely. So, I just got the NMR test out of curiosity more than anything else. I don’t have a doc even whispering about statins.</p>
<p>If I didn’t have a convenient LabCorp, I’d probably ask for the apoB test that any lab can run. That gives a good particle count, too.</p>
<p>Decided not to go boxing - I would have to pay and between paying for yoga, Pilates, circuit training w a trainer, there’s only so much I can spend. Did 45 min on stationery bike, did upper body weights to build muscle, then walked 3 mi downtown w my 70 yo mother. Going off to a hot yoga class later. Gorgeous weather here.</p>
<p>Much needed rest day for me. I’m glad that I kicked my own butt down to the basement for a workout last evening, but my legs are toast.</p>
<p>Happily indulging in a rest day here as well.</p>
<p>I went out to cut the grass, since DH refuses to do it and S2 grouses that the lawn mower doesn’t work. (Hint: when you let the grass grow long, the mower doesn’t work as well!) Apparently I am the only one who knows how to operate the ^%$# machine. NOT good for the neck/rotator cuff, though that doesn’t seem to matter to the rest of the family. ;(</p>
<p>I’m ashamed to admit that I don’t even know how to start a lawnmower. H enjoys doing yard work, happily. </p>
<p>3.14 miles completed today right before a huge thunderstorm pushed through. Roasted Brussels sprouts, beets and tomatoes this morning before it got too hot (not one dish, all individually).</p>
<p>1 mile run - essentially a rest day. I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night and overall feel crappy. It may be like this for a few months.</p>
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Same. Except I’m shameless.</p>
<p>PG- glad you found something new to wear, that underscores your progress. I have to say, that despite the superficiality of it, nothing has made me feel better about all my work, than looking and feeling so differently in clothes. I just exchanged a few recent purchases for the same things in a smaller size. I also find that at the lighter weight heels are so much more comfortable than when I was carrying extra, so I have a few new, utterly unnecessary, sky high platform heels, that I never would have even considered a couple of months ago.</p>
<p>Cardio weekend for me (blasphemy, I know!) Yesterday cardio dance class. This morning I had to drive someone on about 3 minutes notice. After I dropped them off, I realized it was a gorgeous day and I wanted to do something outside. BUT no Garmin, no HR monitor. Found a pair of headphones in the car and an ipod interval run workout on my phone, so that for 35 minutes. Then walked a bit on the trail and did a meditation app sitting in the sun. More of that and floating in the pool on tap for the rest of the day.</p>
<p>Finished first walk on conservation trail–flat and sandy; straight out to the beach and back (6.1 miles). Got started later than I wanted, so it was hot. Went to pick up D at gym and she wasn’t ready so I did 30 minutes on the elliptical. Will get more beach walking in this evening, because we’re having our first beach picnic of the year. This entails carrying stuff for about a mile or so and arguing over the perfect spot to set-up. This is the part I hate because no one ever agrees. Menu is good for me: oyster stew (basically cream and oysters), sword fish on skewers, green gazpacho soup (all green veggies and a little plain yogurt), tomatoes, strawberries, and Somemores. I’m going to summon all my will power and avoid the Somemores (these are roasted marshmallows, a piece of Hershey chocolate, and graham crackers–carb city!!).</p>
<p>"PG- glad you found something new to wear, that underscores your progress. I have to say, that despite the superficiality of it, nothing has made me feel better about all my work, than looking and feeling so differently in clothes. "</p>
<p>Oh, this is really what it’s all about for me. My health is fine, but I wanted to look better in clothes (and out lol). In fact, I hit 3 milestones -</p>
<p>-went running on treadmill after pilates class (this isn’t where i normally run). 2 mins into the run, my pants were falling off me! I had to stop, go buy a cheapo pair of shorts from the pro shop at this place, to continue running! </p>
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<li><p>(guys, look away) Realized that my sports bras weren’t giving me enough support. Upon further “investigation,” realized that since probably 15 of the 20 pounds I lost came off the top, the sports bras are simply too big and not supportive. So, have to get new ones. Any suggestions appreciated - I just have the Champion ones from Target and maybe oneNike one.</p></li>
<li><p>normally wear Capri-length workout wear. Decided to buy a pair of shorts for hot yoga class (they’re pretty short) and I was so pleased I felt I could wear shorts without being embarrassed. Not that I’m up for a Victoria’s Secret contract here, but that I could wear them and feel good. </p></li>
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<p>This is motivating to me, to be honest. I don’t have bp, pre-diabetes or any health issues, other than mildly elevated cholesterol which I suspect is down with the diet and exercise. </p>
<p>So I hear you, sister!!</p>
<p>I like LuLu sports bras and so does Bunsen. They have various styles. Moving Comfort also is popular.</p>
<p>Well, if it is vanity what makes us stick to healthy lifestyles, then there’s no shame in being concerned about the looks. 
99% of the ladies here on the beach are wearing two piece suits, and I’m happy that I’m not the one percenter. Five years ago I would have not dared to show up on the beach in a two piece suit.</p>
<p>As far as bras go, I became a fan of Anita sports bras. They are not cheap ($50-60 apiece), but they do the job much better than anything made by Nike and the like (Anita’s main business is bras, after all). Lulu makes a fantastic bra with a silly name - the TaTa Tamer.</p>