Choir Directing Again

I prayed for this and felt it deeply today when I was called up to direct the Northwood Presbyterian Chancel Choir! What a joy! What a blessing! 

2 years on the sidelines with the Pandemic and Type 2 Diabetes. COVID is still around, but weakened. Type 2 Diabetes is in remission thanks to good nutrition with Mrs. Gayle and a whole lot of Bike Riding. I'm in a good spot for singing. Soon, I will sing at the Karaoke opportunity at the senior center in a couple of duets.

After two years of not singing my high baritone has morphed to a basso profundo singing a low B natural recently audibly. For the 4th of July I have to sing lead which is challenging!

I look forward to more opportunities at Northwood Presbyterian Church. For July I would like to sing a duet!

More on, not moron, pacing!

Based on the pacing article on roadbikerider.com, I was not realistic in my expectations!

If I was regularly knocking out rides at 15 smiles per hour then what I attempted Monday for Memorial Day with AFCT would have made sense.

Three rides at 15 MPH does not make it a done deal or regular! Most of my most recent rides were at 13 miles per hour! 13 or 14 would have been more logical!

As it was, heading out at 16 smiles per hour was in the heat of the moment. But no one wants to be relegated to group C but my ability should have led me there! 

I burned way too many matches early even though it didn't seem like it! So then on the way back when faced with a fierce wind I was not able to hang on to anyone's wheel until it was do or die!

Finally, I was able to avoid a slog to the end by latching on to the guy that had stopped with what looked like a nechanical. He was coming at pace and I did something smart, put it in a big gear and did my best to haul ass to the end!

I did not have the 16/17 pace of the ladies, nor did I have the 18 that great group of friends was able to muster despite them saying they did no such thing!

One has to save energy/speed for the end, one has to be realistic about their pace capabilities, and one has to pick the appropriate speed and concentrate on enjoying the ride.

Less people means less groups to latch on to to fulfill what you believe to be the best option for your abilities! Barreling through the wind worked at one point but it was short lived, perhaps fueling played a factor, but honestly I don't know. It was only 40 smiles! Less people and less miles on which to practice!

Performance

Whitney and I discussed the ability to barrel through the wind and still achieve a certain time and speed plan for the event.

Help from groups of riders with similar skill level can be harnessed in attempts to carry-out the plan. A brief respite helps to recover and gives one the ability to carry-on at higher levels of activity.

This can only be done unencumbered! If the group you're using to propel further is at a higher level then maintain contact in whatever way you must with a mash or higher spin RPM. 

This may seem haphazard, but these lessons have been learned and repeated! 

Get out there and carry-out your plan for further enjoyment!

I don't like the word Goal, I prefer Plan..

So about three weeks ago after my third passing-out episode where no matter what I tried I could not keep my eyes open and was going in and out over a period of three hours, we had a come to Jesus moment with my doctors and Gayle Elaine was with me. 

The horror story we avoided was: what if this had happened while on a bike ride or while driving my car?!

We caught it while it was happening when I lain in my bed relaxing after an exercise bout! Still three hours of in and out while I know I was actively trying to stay awake and aware of what was going on. Our doc and Gayle found it, pointed us to what I assumed was a little known prescription for higher numbers if one is T2D and presenting with cardiac issues.

Basically raising the number to 7.5 or less which means a blood goucose level of 166 or lower. 

We kept shooting for numbers at 5.4 and lower and starving both my heart and my brain in the process. Not good!

The prescription aims for numbers at 7.5 and less or 166. What this meant was that I could take in more glycogen and feed my heart and my mind more to prevent having extreme lows for me at 86. 

It is difficult to retrain yet again the numbers we are shooting for because all the numbers that were verboten are now acceptable. In less than a month I am back at 5.8 which I had for two years after my initial diagnosis. 

I have continued to test my glucose, but not only post workout and post prandial or spot check when I felt a low coming on. More tests at different times to make sure I'm still on the right track. The question comes to mind was 5.8 my ideal glucose level in the first place.

I have not overly modified my nutrition to eating more. I'm still using keto products when I can, I am not limiting my fruit and fruit juice intake (still within the alotted 5 to 6 portions of fruit per day). When I'm eating keto tortillas with baked chicken, I don't limit myself to two only. If I want two or three tacos no problem. The rest is still the same. 

According to my doctor I'm still in remission for an older than 65 year old with cardiac issues! I'm good with that! All I have to do is get used to a whole set of numbers!

Still Diabetic Even in Remission

Hi I'm Bob in South Texas at 5.4 A1c without meds and I was diagnosed T2D in Sept. 2022! 

I write to share the realization that I made again that I need to ride vigorously for many miles (close to 30 for two full hours) in order to be able to eat more or less normally (still keto/atkins blend)! 

Yesterday, I ate hardly anything, yet my numbers didn't show that! It makes for very frustrating time and questioning of every routine and every decision made!

So go work your ass off vigorously for two hours and about 30 miles!