Well, It's been a long time since I wrote last, I feel like I just didn't have anything to say and who wants to read my jibberish anyway. Its been a long few months and my kids lives have been so busy that its just been the status quo of a life with 4 kids.
It's been almost a year since I last raced a triathlon and about 6 months since my marathon in November. I am biting at the bit to race but as you know I need to fit it into my family schedule.
I unfortunately was unable to race IM Texas due to the lack of training since January r/t many things but that decision was at least made by me and my family about 8 weeks out from race day. I guess I could of just gone down and raced with the fitness I had but in hindsight and based on what so many athletes experienced I'm glad I decided not to go. It's one thing to race ironman when your completely prepared but its a lot different to race it when your not and in the conditions that the experienced that day. Congrats to all the athletes that competed that day especially if your from the NorthEast, way to tough it out.
Anyway, I took a small hiatus from 1:1 coaching and just trained on my own, tooled around and kept my fitness up. I also had my annual visit to my cardiologist and my every 3yr calcium CT scan and cardiac stress test. If you guys don't know I have familial hypercholesterolemia and elevated lipoprotein A levels which increases my risk for blood clots and athersclerosis. I have blood work every year and these tests every 3. I am trying my hardest to not go on medication to manage my cholesterol so diet and exercise have to be the way I control it. My last round of blood work last June was ok, but my TC was still a bit too high. With the rough winter I had put on a few pounds ( not a ton) but enough for me to be pissed at myself and I had to take a long look at my cardiac health. My calcium ion CT scan came back perfect and my stress test was great, its so funny to see the nurse who has to monitor my blood pressure when I'm at a 22% incline on the treadmill and at 6.0mph, they always say they never get patients to this point so they never know what to do, its really funny. anyway, no immediate signs of death on my EKG during the stress test so all great news.
What I go out of my meeting with my cardiologist was that if I want to continue with no meds I need to continue what I'm doing but maybe take a look at my diet and try to tweak things and see if we can drop my TC with dietary changes. I also had my weight checked that day which showed a slight increase in poundage and I wasn't happy. I left that day needing to make changes especially with wanting to be around for my kids for as long as I possibly can.
So with that said I decided based on my visit to the doctor, my long history of GI issues and my need to lean out I went completely gluten free the following day and have been following as close to a paleo diet as possible. It has been 4 weeks and 2 days, its the longest I have ever gone without any bread or any products with wheat in it, Im eating tons of fruits and veggies ( just more than I did in the past) and I've added in aloe juice to soothe my GI tract and probiotics twice a day. Well I feel really great, I am significantly less bloated and I am leaning out, the most important is that I'm less gassy and feel like I can actually mingle with people more ( ha ha)
Anyway, I'm back with my coach again since I've gotten my life back on track, I'm leaning out and have lost those pesky pounds I gained. I am hoping to lean out more and keep on the healthy track. I hope to be racing soon in a sprint but finding a local sprint the weekend I have to race is posing a problem. My goal races this season are Pumpkinman 1/2 in September and the Baystate marathon in October. I hope to race some other small tri's in the area but at this point its about getting really healthy nutrition wise, getting leaner and being happy.
I do want to thank all my friends who have been super supportive over the last 5 months of family craziness and to my coach Pat from QT2 who never ceases to amaze me with his support and kindness. Thanks so much.
