8 rides

I really know I need to train more. It seems that so many things impact that ability. I was checking out my stats on Strava, and found that I only had rode 8 times in 3 weeks. Somehow I rode better though throughout. Certain reactions are going on, which is always promising.

My goal for this week was to have some good training and then race this coming weekend. Rain on Sunday was expected, so I rode hard on Saturday. Then I get a cough, runny nose and flu like symptoms. Wonderful, those plans are thrown out the window.

We will see by the end of the week if a race is possible. I am fooling myself, but I want to get a race in, and motivate further to get my house in order. I was hoping with some riding that I would lose weight this week. So much conspires to ruin those best laid plans.

Well, it is Doctor time tomorrow morning. Another change which should help me out is in the works. I am happy so far this year, this is the best I have done since having cancer. I am happy as well since I know much more is possible.

Another week down

Well, another week in the books. Although there was not many entries, only two midweek rides, and a little weights, I did improve again. I have a new focus and motivation for the week to come, and things seem to be moving correctly forward.

Last year at this time I was having troubles reaching max heart rate. This year things are working correctly. On 2/25 I reached 199, chasing down a cat 1 in the Saturday sprint. Caught him also, and was happy that I stayed on, and had recovery from surges. I put in 45 miles on Saturday, and 50 on Sunday like I used to, both on group rides that can be fast and taxing.

I got dropped on Sunday, which is to be expected, considering the lack of endurance. My heart rate only peaked in the low 180's evidence that I need more time on the bike. I know cardio wise that I still have some gifts there. Now to get my weight down further this week, and some rides in to build endurance.

I am happy that medically things are finally working. I saw an improvement over 7 days, and I am recovering from workouts finally. I had decent recovery in the last two days, which is far better than I have seen in years. I am finally finding confidence that I can get back to a high competitive level, now just to reach a few other goals, which is to get my weight down further prior to racing in California in 2 months.

Am I finally getting somewhere?

Just a few days ago I achieved one of my goals for the first part of the year. That was to get below 200 pounds. Since Christmas I have lost right at 20 pounds. When I first got going, my heart rate was not going up, so efforts were minimal. I think I finally have a handle on what my issues were and am making true progress again.

Through blood tests in December and January I found a few things out. My testosterone was quite low. Through the bottom of the range type low. I was originally trying to do injections as replacement, and the prescription only allowed for 10 cc every 2 weeks. It was not doing anything for me at all. With my insurance I have been able to change protocols and use a patch now. I am up to 200-300 on the T level. Still quite low, but allowing me to lose weight finally.

Also on my tests my vitamin D was super low. After 4 weeks on a supplement, I am doing better. Amazingly it does make a difference. I also quit sugar, no sodas and controlling a variety of other things in my diet.

Basically, if stress is not an issue from work, I am able to train, and recover. That is a major change from before. Recovery was a massive issue. I have done weights, multiple 40 mile days, and can recover from day to day. I couldn't do that before. I am aiming to race next month, about 30 days from now. I should be 10 pounds lighter, heart rate able to hit my true max, and better training. It has been rare in the last couple of years that I could do a race, and hit max heart rate. Now just to train so I dont have to ride at my anaerobic threshold.

Trying to stay on track isn't so easy

I am quite happy. Since the first of the year I have lost 10 pounds, and I am feeling much better. I have effectively cut sugar out of my diet. No more soda. Sweet foods are at a minimum. It is really amazing how when you begin reading labels how sugar is in so many foods, and HFCS is in so many juices as well.
This past week I didn't get as much bike time as I was hoping. This week I have other plans so that I ride rollers, walk, and work on some core strength. I calculate that I am only slightly behind on my training schedule, which is promising since I am making progress. Before, there was little progress made. Warmer temps this week, and longer days are certainly going to help.
I don't have delusions that I will race any time soon. If anything maybe once at the end of February. In reality March might be more like it. And even then it is just to train, get experience and learn. Other instincts will still be there. I am more confident that I will lose the weight I need to so that training will be more effective, and I can actually ride rather than fake it.

Looking fat

So I went out to this crit training this morning as a great way to start 2012. I had no expectations, just wanted to go and ride. I had my wife come out and shoot some video. Ouch, do I look fat?

It is weird when we look in the mirror, or maybe we look down and accept and not think much of it. Seeing ourselves in pictures and videos sure changes things. When I started to have problems from cancer I was at 174 pounds. I remember it since I was trying to get into shape, and was making strides of getting down into the 160 range. I was doing ok for early in the season.

In the 6 months trying to figure out what was up and leading into surgery I gained nearly 60 pounds. At the hospital I weighed in at 228. Not a pretty picture, and not much I could do about it. Post cancer, and feeling better finally, I am doing something about it, and after so many problems I am getting results.

I got dropped an lapped a few times today. Considering what has happened, and the size of my midsection, I can accept that. In a month things will improve, 2 months even more. Time to go ride rollers, and do my night time work.

Motivation

I have been seeing a number of people posting Dalai Lama sayings and one in particular caught my eye several months ago. He was asked what surprised him about humanity. "Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived." We only can make ourselves happy ultimately, but how we do so is just as important.

Trying to be motivated, or even motivating others is difficult. There are thousands of things that make us tick. Realizing that we have skills, some of which are untouched, and trying to make the most of them should be an important part of our lives. When I switched careers, I had realized that I wasted years of my life in the computer industry never applying myself, or having my employer tap into what I was capable of. It disappointed me so much that I left and never looked back.

Teaching allows me to professionally apply many skill sets and try to get great outcomes. Being creative, tapping into others abilities, and trying to turn those into positive outcomes is a great thing. However, I wasn't applying this to myself.

We are ticking clocks. We can't live forever. Every second that ticks off the clock and is not applied to getting the most out of yourself is a wasted second. This past week I was disappointed that I have lost a few years, and resolved to not allow that to happen. On the bike, I became motivated differently, knowing that there are skills and potential that haven't been tapped into. Despite my age, there is still a possibility of success. Resolving to not allow those seconds to go away without applying them to your own development can be a great motivator to start 2012.

The real start for 2012

I posted a few months back that I was getting started again. That didnt work out as good as I had hoped. Teaching was in the way, and getting comfortable. Now that things are rolling, I have been able to pull things into order and truly get on my bike.
Just this week has shown good success. I have dropped 3 pounds, and rode 4 of 5 days. One day I didnt ride because of blood work and doctor appointments. I have a routine down now that I plan on sticking with. I look forward to 2012 knowing that I can make progress, and have a workable plan.
By the end of January I will be down to 200 pounds or lower I hope. Judging by this week, I know I can do it. I will push very hard to get to 190 as quickly as possible. During this time I am just putting time and getting miles in. I am not doing anything crazy, just using my time wisely to something I want to do.
I am planning my first race the last weekend of February. I will just ride it for experience, but have no expectations. In March I will do other races locally for training and to get back in the swing of things. I hope to have my weight down below 180 by then. With the diet I have set, that shouldnt be an issue.
In April I will do my first race in California. I look forward to it since I miss racing there so much. The competition, the feel and the events are so much more fun. I will race in Ontario or Dominguez at least once in April and then go on from there through the summer.
I am more motivated now than I had been before. Seeing progress is important as well. My wife is making changes as well, so having support, and a lack of temptation to slack will help considerably.