Decisions, Decisions!

So I had already made the decision to resume training! After all, it had been over three weeks since my last incidence of knee trouble.

The day before yesterday I opted to do a zoom ride on the recovery route so it involved long incremental hill up and down and then back on the paved trail to the apartment. I hung at 13, but got 11 something. No ride the day before, Sunday, so I was fresh. 

Well the next day, Monday, without time (no ride before) and spent nearly two hours sitting through a nutrition presentation which was great. When I got up to stand in line to eat my knee gave out. 

Verdict, I will have to do rehab and re-strengthen that knee. I will keep trying to expand my hill-work and improve on distance. I'll keep tryin' zoom sessions and my long ride while being super careful. Mostly flats and spinning in my small crank.

A regular ride with the Krew will get pushed on. Not giving up like I had before, but super cautious on everything.

So What Should Have Been Positive

Did my Saturday longer ride and Danny Vega stopped me to introduce me to Rodrigo Pedrotti. I joked that he got my best side showing my belly. So after the picture I decided to check my weight.

I came to find out that I'm close to 20 pounds over from the last time I checked.

What was supposed to be a win was being able to go multiple days wirhout riding and scoring decent blood sugar numbers in the range of 90 to 123. I maintained my speed work and my longish ride. My hour test has been consistent as well as my longish ride up to less than thirty. A little info, I have been limited to an hour with my knee rehab. I have tried to stay away from hills, but have done 300, 500, nearly 800 feet of elevation. I did find one route I had to drive to that was less than 50 feet. 

Last year, I tried rides of 30 minutes to 45 minutes and was not successful in keeping my numbers down, so it was surprising that rest and relax kept my numbers in line and short rides didn't do trick.

Being sick is impactful as well as getting hurt with my knees and my back. I used the bike for the rehab, but still don't know the extent of my knee injury.

From Dave:

Perfect, that’s a killer little “greatest hits” box set:

Today’s solo 12 mph cruise → current Bobster 2.0 baseline (knee‑aware, diabetes‑friendly).

Fastest ride from last year → your top‑end “engine at its best” template.

Most altitude last year → your absolute ceiling for vertical load (we don’t copy this, we use it as an upper boundary).

Fastest attempt but bonk ride → textbook example of what happens when pace/fuel don’t match conditions and your engine.

+

Put together, they tell me:

You are naturally a diesel: steady, long, and mentally tough, not a spiky sprinter.

Your knee can be happy as long as we:

Keep most days like today (smooth cruise),

Use the knickers/compression trick,

And keep the “push” stuff to short, controlled doses on friendly grades.

For diabetes control, you respond really well to:

Long, steady rides (even in ugly weather),

Then refueling with a normal‑person meal — your metabolism stays revved for a long time afterward.

+

Here’s what I’d suggest as our next move, now that we’ve got the four pillars:

I sketch you a simple weekly pattern that fits:

Your part‑time work Mon–Thu,

Summer South Texas furnace,

Knee management,

And sugar control.

Something like:

X days = “today‑style cruise”

Y day = 3–5% stretch at 12.5–13.5 mph (knickers on, short & focused)

Z day = longer Krew ride when weather/time allows, with a fueling plan that avoids another Air Force bonk.

+

Quick reminder from Coach VHS before I roll the credits today:
with how “fresh” your recent load is, the next ride you log—especially one of those 3–5% knicker sessions—is a perfect chance for a quality effort, not just a placeholder spin.

Whenever you’ve got that next ride done, drop it in and we’ll keep tightening the bolts on Back‑Happy, Knee‑Chill, Sugar‑Smooth Bobster 2.0.

Tone it. Torque it. Track it.

So that's where I'm at,  not going to change anytime soon because all those factors will need to stay consistent. So will stay fluffy for a bit. That's hard to swallow. Oh well! Good numbers but fatter what?

Cycling and Healing

Cycling helps soothe me, escape the chaos, bring peace, and clarity in my day. My road bike gives me a form of mobile meditation, a therapeutic way to reconnect with nature in a busy city. My rhythmic pedaling and steady motion help quiet racing thoughts, and reduce stress. I live for the sunlight and healing through movement and the simple rhythm of a bike ride. 

Muscles: Noli contendere

Being sick and not doing regular activity has its consequences. The one obvious to me in the shower were my gams or quads. Normally they're big blocks of ice to where when I'm dressed they bulge out past my waist! Not the case today. My gams are still big and toned, just not oversized. 

I got sick! I am staying away! I am masking up! I only speak to others when absolutely necessary! I only go out to buy groceries and medicine! At home I stay in my room! At the apartments, I only go out to take out the trash!

I got sick because someone else was not as cautious as I'm being. I don't want to get anyone sick. That's not right! I missed four events in three days, but was sick and contagious a full week. It hurts in many ways that I won't get into. There were times when the symptoms became flu-like even though we had our shots. We checked for COVID twice and it wasn't that. I do remember doing a little too much a couple of days before thanksgiving. We need to simplify. It's not training since I was doing every other day. It's not nutrition or overwork.

I wish we were still masking up like during the pandemic. But then at the same time we still have to live our lives.

Cycling is a Pain in the 4$$!

Recently finished a big charity event, the Bike MS 150 otherwise known as the Ride to the River, where Whitney and I finished 106 miles over two days, and Yvonne (pictured above) finished 104 in the first day. Long hours in the saddle don't come without a significant cost. In my case, hopefully a benign, cyclist's lump located at the point of contact between the saddle and my posterior. 

Mostly, it is due to long hours in the saddle where friction is taken beyond comfort in a place you don't want friction.

At this point I have done all the basic stuff: take a week off in order to heal, changed saddles on all my bikes to saddles that are more arse friendly (preferably split or medicinal - brands Serfas and ISM). Allow time for the blemish, if there is one, to heal. Allow time for lump to disappear or become smaller. 

Once back to riding modify style of riding to focus on out of seat efforts. Thanks to Goodness my knees are currently feeling strong! (Be ready for an extreme shock to your gams - it's like focussing on sprints without the speed).

Speed is a natural response, but that is not the focus! 

Do this too:

Rides are less than one hour.

No intervals.

No aero riding.

Wear embrocation (slight layer where it counts).

No massive hills.

No long efforts without changing position.

No competitions or events (duh)!

Of course this will happen to you when you are comcerned about reaching your exptremely official / unofficial goal of 5 thousand miles for the year. BTW I'm currently 300 miles away from achieving that or two weeks of regular mileage of 150 miles so no biggie! My big goal for the year of surpassing my altitude or vert (vertical) from last year is already done and smashed by 16 thousand feet of vert!

If this turns out to be malignant, a mystery yet to be solved when economics reach governent assistance, will be figured out ASAP through a sonogram and a biopsy.

I am following a prescribed plan that allows me to train through the efforts to minimize damage to my hiny.

I am an everyday rider (of course not now).

I ride year around, see parentheses above.

I see a recurring theme! This is my third blemish on my tush! A special ISM seat with two noses was employed on both previous times. Both times before involved open sores and special care had to be facilitated with over the counter medications. The very first time was when I reached over 7 thousand miles by the beginning of November and once the dual nosed seat by ISM was utilized it went away without me even noticing it in a week's time. The secong time took more coaxing to get rid of it, but it eventually went away in close to a month. This is the first time a lump was found and also the first time an open sore was not associated. 

What I have read is that this is often misdiagnosed, or never found, or it comes as a surprise. Most are benign and go away on their own. Also, one should change their seat often, but an erroneous figure was given for amateur cyclists that of 12,000 miles and I would guess that 1,200 miles is much more likely. Perhaps 12,000 miles is for professionals. Heck, I only know a couple of guys who even achieve 12K miles per year.

The adventure has started...no idea if and when...ignoring may be something that is done due to economic constraints and insurance coverage...the suggestion from octogenarians and nonagenarians will continue to be adhered to as much as my ability allows...it is what it is...6 ≈ 7.

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!

My Current A1c Number

My A1c number last night post prandial (after eating your main meal) after being ultra-hydrated (drinking close to 3.5 liters of water per day) was 5.4 or 107!

A1c is a three month average of you blood glucose levels! I am apprehensive over this change because as far as my diet is concerned it came at a cost! I regularly tell people going in to remission is very difficult! Maintaining remission levels is difficult, as difficult as my initial diagnosis! I just told someone I am back to the Induction phase of Atkins to hold on to those numbers! That is the price to pay! I have also said I will work to reduce my numbers further! It is difficult to stay motivated to do one's very best! I have also lost 10 lbs. in this process! I can do this! Thanks for reading my blog! Find me on Facebook or Instagram. Get some help from me on BezzyT2D or Glucose Guide where I serve as an Ambassador and a Helping Hand respectively. 

Yes, I'm crying while I write this!

Hi Y'all just had to share, I'm very close to remission with my diabetes! 60 day blood glucose readings average is at 111 which for me and one of my doctors is 5.5 A1c and is Remission! My 90 day average is at 111 too as of 10-29-2024! I'm doing my darnedest to stay there or drop even more! It's unbelievable after my numbers not budging for 18 months! What is different water intake! Water, the miracle cure! Drink your water! Yes, I ride my ass off and small portions make a huge difference, but water regularly brings down my glucose levels by 30 or 40 points! 7 day average yesterday 98, 14 and 30 day average 102! 60 day average is 110! I need to get ready for my numbers to get even lower! Wow!

Very Close to Remission, Yay!

Hi Y'all just had to share, I'm very close to remission with my diabetes! 60 day blood glucose readings average is at 111 which for me and one of my doctors is 5.5 A1c and is Remission! My 90 day average is very close to that at 112, one little point away! Thank you Gayle Sharpley for helping me get here! Thank you to everyone else that said a word of encouragement, said that's the best way to do it, and on and on, y'all got me here! I'm doing my darnedest to get there and then stay there or drop even more! It's unbelievable after my numbers not budging for 18 months! What is different water intake! Water, the miracle cure! Drink your water!

Healthline Interview

Athlete Spotlight

So, this passed week yours truly was interviewed by Healthline! Healthline is the parent company to BezzyT2D the website and application! I have been working as a volunteer, an ambassador for BezzyT2D for 14 months now and it fulfills my need to help others! This role will soon be expanded and I look forward to the future possibilities!

Link to Healthline

Anxiety After Imminent Danger Is Hard to Overcome

Sure enough the first revolutions were sketchy while still in the parking lot and looking for my friends. But I had a job to do in support of my friend and follow through on my plan to get passed the previous week's 'did not finish' (DNF) and rescue off the HWY 46 which was terribly unsafe with a light rain on all those precarious inclines and cars just inches away from where I was on the two foot shoulder!

As we spun up the slight incline at the beginning of the day's event my fear fell away to curiosity and ambition and what the heck, let's try fueling this ride differently!

By the last few miles we were up to 12 mph. And a new plan emerged not to simply get by and overcome, but to finish strong and conquer!

Numbers are meaningless but give true to life plans concrete substance.

I was excited and terrified of this unknown ride. I was looking at 30 plus miles at speed. Beforehand, I had prescribed the load and planned on spinning comfortably.

By the time we got through the first few turns with great communication and pleasant repartée I had an indication of what a positive experience this was going to be! 

We soothed each other's fears, propelled ourselves faster than anticipated, and had great success in our fueling strategy!

Every once in a while we were greeted with the friendliness of the volunteers and the positivity of team: The Street Ratz of San Antonio! 

Met Mark, a Type 1 Person with Diabetes on an insulin pump whose blood was cgecked every five minutes during the event! We were wearing the same exact jersey and so many parallels! #weridetothrive

After the event I met up with a rider from the previous week's horrendous experience on Le Petit L'Étape where I had to be rescued by my beautiful wife Gayle, I was informed that she bailed at the last stop on the road to Bandera and that while we were on HWY 46 with the light rain a car had spun out due to the conditions that day and careened passed the two foot shoulder where all of us riders were riding and into the barditch! There by the Grace of my God, Yahweh, go I! Thank you Lord for keeping us safe!

Thank you Tim Walker and Whitney Wilson for your kindness and perseverance and allowing me to step in at a moment's notice! 

Thank you Tour de Castroville for a well organized and well run event where participants were informed, cared for, and kept safe from the elements and Saturday traffic! The post ride feast was excellent! Thank you volunteers for everything!

Stress Test and T2D Lonely Journey

So, two weeks ago I had a minor heart issue, tightness on the right side of my chest, (tighness on the left side means a heart-attack, seek medical attention ASAP), I was going to blow it off, but folks at Ironheart Connect on Facebook and Nurse Karen on BezzyT2D set me straight and told me to go get it checked. Yesterday, I took a stress test, Bruce Protocol, which I've done many times but not like this!

I aced the test! Did it in it's entirety without any blood pressure issues! My rating was over ten METs or above average and felt like I was running for my life!

7K on the bike did the trick! Sean at Heart Clinic of San Antonio said, "all that exercise is paying off!" Thank you Sean, fellow musician, and thank you Dr. Colligan!

Today, I ride again!

"Only You ☝️ can prevent forrest fires 🔥!" From Smoky the Bear

In this case the Forrest Fire are rising blood sugar numbers! As a representative, an ambassador, and a sharer of T2D knowledge, I have a responsibility to my community! Yet, I'm back to using food to celebrate accomplishments! Yesterday, after Acing the stress test I went and had two tacos and a vanilla coffee and later at night I had two ounces of my favorite fruity trail mix! This morning's blood sugar numbers 141! Yowza! I have been trending up since being off the bike for two weeks, but it's the food as a celebratory means that really chaps my hide!

I tell our community members that, "it's a combination of everything that really brings one's numbers down," but if the exercise component (done in the way that is beneficial to you personally) is missing, then of course you will continue trending high! 

If you continue not exercising like you should and using food in a celebratory fashion then you will continue getting the results you are getting! Only you can make the difference in your numbers. It's not lonely in the sense of "I don't have any friends!" But lonely in the sense that the singular most important factor in your diabetic T2D remission is you! You control what you put in your body! You control how you exercise!

Thanks for coming to my epiphany Ted Talk to myself! If this helps you great! We are all in this together, but making a difference in a very solitary manner! Thanks Smoky for helping me put out the fire!

Time to ride!

Gregório's Circle of Life Memorial Ride

Quick before heading out on Greg Wilson's Solo Memorial Ride! We were riding buddies when we were kiddos! I didn't know how much his life and death would affect me. I spent the first half listening to Rock n Roll and the guitar riffs just kept flooding me with memories even now! The second half I fell on Samba de Janeiro another high energy song list! The energy was needed to tackle hills like this:

Luckily for me those hills were at the beginning at the one hour mark! Strava was glitching due to fog and interference from powerlines!

Smileage was 67 smiles in 6 hours at 11.1 smiles per hour! I had a feeling Synday's rides might be affected by the dangerous weather and flooding that was forecasted. Like Danny Vega says, "Ride when you can!" And today we couldn't! Maybe after a few hours of heat and sun we can try the SCG to Bullis - Eisenhower; I hope so!

The beast is different now:

48 lbs. Down since incorporating weights 3 or 4 days per week. I could feel the strength during the 67 miler, speed is still elusive!

Endurance Athletes Serving the Community by Giving the Gift of Life

I gave whole blood yesterday and three people will benefit from my gift!

Eight weeks ago I suffered adverse effects from giving platelets through a process called aphereses by no fault of the local blood bank or their top notch phlebotomy technicians, but by the ignorance of the athlete, namely me!

 I knew I had to take it easy the day of giving blood and work diligently to regain my fluids that day and that night!

But that's not all, unfortunately I did not know how long and involved the process really was and foolishly went ahead with training plans that had me straining at every spin! 

The scary one was the day after when I joined a local legend while he and a friend did the fourth installment of the five 100 mile attempts he was completing that week for Earn-a-Bike! I was working above my level which I wanted, but was unconsciously putting myself in harms way because soon I would be suffering gastric distress and some mild vertigo! So at the half-way mark I decided to dial it back (I had set a PR for 25 miles but at what cost?), but by the time we stopped at the 3/4 way stop and it still had not dissipated I decided to just subsistence ride it back home and bid my farewells to my friends and legend. Despite these symptoms I was still clueless, after-all, "I am Batman!" 

The next day was a regular Street Ratz Ride and I thought nothing and volunteered to do the traffic blocking since Rapha was at Earn-a-Bike! I thought, "no big deal! It's just a sprint here and a sprint there!" It took way more out of me than I anticipated! Good work Rapha! Thank you! That is some hard work!

On Sunday I arrived at the Boyz Ride spent, yet we decided to do Babcock and Scenic Loop! Spinning up hills, no problem! I had no get up and go for the OofSs (Out of Seat efforts)! Monday is regular day off although this year I have been riding almost every day and racked up seven thousand plus miles so far!

Tuesday is normally speed play and I went in to Hollywood Village to practice bikes, with nothing but poor results so after an hour and a half of torture I gave up and rolled home! That Strava post it finally dawned on me, "it must have been the blood donation!" Duh!

Yes it was the blood donation! But not just any blood donation! BTW the center's app can provide you with all the details of your donation! The blood draw was supposed to be a triple platelet, but we strated having issues and the draw was amended by asking me would you mind doing such and such and of course not thinking I said, "nah, go ahead and do whatever!" 

Well, whatever was a double platelet, a double RBC, and a plasma! 

One recovers from a plasma pretty quick, in 24 hours! Platelets are next with a 72 hour recovery! But the RBCs, or Red Blood Cells, the ones that carry oxygen to your muscles, take the longest with four to six weeks recovery! Although one can start checking the fires in the furnace at the end of three weeks according to Judd et al! The rest of this information comes to you from the Red Cross and the NASM and these guidelines are specifically tailored to Endurance Athletes and Performance!

So, yeah, I gave blood yesterday whole blood which puts me eligible to give again in January! No Prob! Today's ride less than twenty in less than two hours at a comfortable ten plus smiles per hour. Again, no prob! So now I have recovery rides through three weeks from now and then I can start checking and seeing if I am up to par to start building back!

This mistake cost me in pain and suffering! I overstressed my calve, my quad, and overworked my back and still uncertain if it was sciatica (which I have had and it did not feel like that this time), a disk issue, or an extra vertebrae in my back due to a vertebrae not fusing on my tail bone! This costly mistake was definitely not worth it and I have resolved to be more cautious until this is ironed out and possibly go back to giving platelets regularly. 

Red Rider Year One Done and Dusted

What did this year of immense change look like?! I know I have covered a lot of this in individual posts, but I need this and I appreciate you coming along for the ride!

This was just last week at the time of my one year anniversary of being diagnosed a Type 2 Diabetic!

If you'll look at the bottom right that picture was one month in and I was large and in charge! Then look up towards the top right with my yellow shirt on don't know when this was, but I remember it was at the Red Barn looking larger! Top right and top left pictures were when I was at my smallest and very fit! My friend Ralph (Rapha) Ximenes found a couple of old Red Rider jerseys for Bexar County and San Antonio (old because the ADA no longer does events in San Antonio! Don't ask me why!?). Rapha is part of The Street Ratz of San Antonio and I could not have succeeded on this journey without their support, help, and encouragement! Thank you David, Anna, Bella, Steve and Marc! I needed the help and you were there for me!

If you look in the second column in from the right you will see the guys that motivated me day in and day out, our fearless leader Jason Mirault (who is my T2D example), Brad Cleaves, and Chuck Brooks! My sister and my wife for encouragement and daily or hourly reminders of what the goal was! In fact, Kay was my inspiration for walking that got me from over 300 to closer to my last weight check of 293 lbs. Gayle, Gayle I can't say enough about everything she has done and does regularly! She is my conscience and constant reminder when I lose my way! This is a huge thing, she is, I call her, my nutritionist! She is the Atkins (with some keto) expert that guided my eating to a nebulous T2D diet that is surprisingly satistying and still fuels my workouts and brought blood glucose numbers down to 5.8 A1c and lost a surprising 55 pounds in first three months! Then, I corrected some (meaning after denying all year some items came back in to my regime like bread, but it is Sam's Choice Keto Bread and the baby Mission Keto Tomato and Basil tortillas that we use for hamburger buns as an example! If I eat more than two of those baby tortillas, I spike which means my blood sugars go to the upper limit of the optimum range) and have gone up to 5.9 A1c and 43 pounds lost with a trend where my blood sugars were higher but still in range when I checked them regularly 2 to 3 times per day! Now, I'm trending down again and am still trying to figure why that is happening so I can continue this good trend! The other pictures or memes that you see there are the ones that really motivate me to do the right thing! I have set a long-term goal of 5.5 A1c and 200 pounds (fifty more to go). Dr. Gabe Mirkin of RoadBikeRider.com and Internet fame says, 5.6 A1c is still prediabetic and I want to go into remission so 5.5 it is. Now even when remission hits the work is not done because in order to stay in remission one has to maintain the strict diet with once a week excursions in to regular esting if your body can tolerate it. We have played around with this possibility and it is encouraging to have a 96 blood sugar morning after having burgers the night before! A word about the picture with me in the México polera, I would not have had initial success if it weren't for La Madeleine French Restaurant! Their menu includes many items that are diabetic friendly! The bread they use on the Croque Madame and the Nouveau Breakfast not to mention their great salads and soups. We still regularly frequent the store in Alamo Heights and the Northwoods location! 

Those gentlemen in my pictures inspired me and allowed me to see the possibilities! Later after losing 55 lbs. I find out that I was returning the favor! Yes! This meme speaks to this and even yesterday my Paved Trail Buddy Roland Gibson says while yelling as we ride by each other in opposite directions, "I want to be like you!" The addage, "You never know who is watching you and being inspired!" is true in real life and this keeps ne going past the current achievements! 

This also reminds me of BezzyT2D.com and the accompanying app. I went there as a newbie seeking even more information about T2D and found a home away from home, a group of Diabuddies (a term I stole off of a new friend in Glucose Guide a diabetic app. [no matter what type 1, 1.5, and of course 2] that is run by my friend and Colleague Mila Clarke! So excited about helping Mila at Glucose Guide!) The future's so bright! Paying it forward is critical for me because I know I need to be helping in order to feel accomplished as a human! 

We celebrated one year by going up to Carrolton and visiting with my sister Kay, she wined and dined us in great extravagance enjoying a ton of Brazillian food! What a treat, plus we manged a visit to Michael and Alli with antique gifts being brought! We swam at Kay's, walked, and compared blood sugar numbers! Tricks were traded and beautiful memories were made with Kay's friends!

Thanks to our paved trail system!

Here is my most current picture before my ride yesterday!

Recovered Training Effect

My first attempt at this didn't pan out so here we go again! Recovery didn't work either, but try, try again! Hope springs eternal!

Recent rides have raised my spirits and opened my eyes to the possibilities! I rode 45 with Action Bikes at 15 mph, then I rode with CRSA Puppy Pack for 57 miles at 15 and was still feeling good! So I tried the Cyclones All-Stars and stayed with them to New Berlin, but then faltered and got dropped and when I checked my  mileage I was at 17.1 so still encouraging! A couple of weeks later I tried CRSA big dogs and came up short because of all the hills. So, yeah, I gotta do hill-work! Took me a couple of hours to get a rhythm on the hills, but even then it wasn't right because it was still torture. The ride with the Puppy Pack taught me I have to do it my way! Still work to do and I'm game!

Sometime at the end of 2022 I made it as an ambassador for BezzyT2D and am still motivated to help people. There are feelings and politics so I deal with that but focus on helping folks! 

The flute is still incommunicado! We are certain we'll still find it. It's in a bin! We are slowly dealing with the amount of stuff we have stored which is good. The first to go will be bike storage.

As for church we have not made a move or gone back to in-person services. Online services still keep me going week in and week out!

The city and the trail steward job never got back to me and here I am after a huge 225 mile week still wanting to ride!

Last thing on my T2D is I'm very close to being in remission. I have been hanging out at 5.8 for a while now and remission is three months at 6.5 or less!

Next pic is a dream come true! I ride to improve not to just improve, but to ride with my friends. So I am back to riding with my old team and am getting a kick out of it and am not the slowest so I'm not holding anyone back!