Not listening to your body?

This morning I woke up and wanted nothing more than to go back to sleep. It was late, considering the fact I’ve been getting up around 4:30AM, and all I did not want to get up. It took a few minutes but I got up anyway. I took my Calcium tablets which are supposed to be taken before a meal and got on the recumbent exercise bicycle. About 5 minutes into the ride I saw a lump laying in the living room floor. I had to get off to see what it was. I stopped the timer and walked over to the lump. It was a present from my cat – a freshly killed mouse. I disposed of the mouse and got back on the bike. I rode for a full 20 minutes. I felt better but still sluggish. It’s 10AM now and I feel like exercising. I’ve done two full Anderson stretching sessions (they last about 10 minutes each). One was meant to be done before you take a walk and one is titled Computer & Desk Stretches. Both felt really good. I have some energy now.

On the other hand – what about listening to your body. Wasn’t my body telling me that I needed sleep? Should I have listened to it and gotten a couple of extra hours? What about taking a day off every now and then? Isn’t that ok? I’m so new to all this that I don’t have answers, just questions. Any help would be appreciated.

More later….

Truman Capote

Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.- Truman Capote

Healthy Ashley and the Urbanathlon

Check out Ashley's posts on her experiences with the Nike Urbanathlon in Chicago. Great posts and great pics. Thanks Ashely for the inspiration one more time.

http://healthyashley.blogspot.com/2010/10/men-health-urbanathlon-race-recap.html

Cholesterol

I had my blood drawn this morning for a lipid panel (cholesterol test). The blood was drawn at just after 7:30AM and I got the results before noon. I was quite surprised. My cholesterol values were:

Total: 146, optimal is less than 200

LDL: 75, optimal is less than 100

HDL: 33, optimal is greater than 50 for women
Triglycerides: 192, optimal is less than 150

Looks like I still have some work to do. The nurse told me to keep exercising because that would help bring up the HDL. In fact, it was 28 when I had my heart attack so it's already come up some.

Have you had your cholesterol checked lately?

Quote from a Shape Reader

"I think about how lucky I am to have a body that can be so active -- health is a gift, and it shouldn't be taken for granted." -- Candida Junor, Shape Reader p. 199 Sept 2009.

Bill Cosby

"In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure."
Bill Cosby

Early to bed...

Early to rise. I don't know why but I've been waking up around 4AM for the last couple of weeks. My alarm is set for 6:15AM so that's a BIG difference. I've been using the time to do such things as pick-up the house, sweep, do dishes, clean the bathroon and EXERCISE. This morning I rode my recumbent exercise bike, did 30 minutes of yoga on the mat, and did an entire upper body workout with 5 pound weights. 5's are really too light but I can't manage a full well-executed 8 reps with the 10's. I need to find some 8's. I'm really enjoying getting things done. I have so much energy. Then at sunrise I take a walk. This morning it was raining so I didn't but hopefully I can when I get home this afternoon. The orthopedic doc hasn't released me to do too much on my ankle so I only walk around my block but that's more than I could do a week ago. I see him in 2 weeks and I'm hoping he'll release me from some more of the restrictions. Wish me luck.