Spring Came and Went! and So Did Coke in the Morning

Well, phooey! Sparky thinks Bradenton/Sarasota had the shortest spring ever--like just a few days? We started the warming trend after a nice enjoyable winter, and BAM! Mid eighties hit and are staying! Record high today--88! Hope this is not a harbinger of the worst summer ever for heat index and humidity and not enough rain! Sparky is going on record as forecasting that kind of summer, hoping she's wrong.

Sarasota had spring break this week, so Sparky didn't sub...Eldy worked the Valspar golf tournament as a volunteer this week. He enjoys that very much although it is exhausting--on your feet a lot and hot. One of the pro golfers got mad at how he was playing and shoved a very expensive driver club  (he probably didn't have to pay for it) to one of the volunteers, and said, "HERE! You take this...Maybe you'll play with it better than I am!" Eldy said he wished it had been him. He would have LOVED to have been given a nice driver. (Like he needs another club, but hey---in all fairness, Sparky really doesn't need any more craft supplies either!)

So...what's new? Sparky was diagnosed with type II diabetes. It's not super bad, but it's definitely in the "you have type II diabetes range." She had to buy a glucose monitor and test strips and all that stuff. BUT--Sparky said to the doctor, let me work on this for three months and see if I can't get my numbers down with diet and exercise, and the doctor said ok. So, Sparky is:
1) drinking LOTS more water
2) totally giving up Coke for breakfast and all sugary drinks (you have no idea how hard THAT was, says E.)
3) trying to count carbs somewhat--no more than 35 g. for breakfast, 45 for lunch, and 45 for dinner.
4) switching to whole wheat bread for sandwiches
5) Giving up breads, eating smaller portions, using minimal amounts of diet drinks 'cuz they are not good for you, either
6) Eating more salads and veggies, using balsamic vinaigrette dressing instead of creamy dressings and making her own dressings
7) Reading the stack of books her daughter sent about diabetes, (thank you, Kelly!) meal planning, etc. etc.
8) keeping a food diary to see patterns of spikes in sugar....
9) riding her bike 4-5 times a week as opposed to 2-3 times per week
10) reading labels and trying to watch for "hidden sugars" in sauces and condiments
11) eating protein within 90 minutes of exercising
12) exploring SparkPeople website for healthy tips, exercises and recipes  (WHAT???!!! You are going to cook more??? asks a hopeful E.) Don't hold your breath, honey..but maybe.

Sparky is NOT going to eat oatmeal, quinoa, bulgur and things like that, but never say never. What she is doing now seems to be working for her.

So far, Sparky has lost 7 pounds in three weeks and the high sugar numbers are coming down. Sparky has discovered a nice protein bar from South Beach called Good to Go bars in double peanut butter flavor to appease her sweet tooth. 150 calories, 10 g. protein, 5 g. fiber, 6 g. sugar, and it doesn't affect her sugar hardly at all. It also has "ancient grains" in it-- quinoa, amaranth, hemp seeds, and other stuff. Sparky is also exploring apps for diabetes, but hasn't come up with any outstanding ones yet.

So that's the latest on this end of things...Here are a few more photos of the week from Sparky's bike riding.....A wasp hanging on for dear life in 15-20 mph winds. And yep, Sparky got a good workout on this 15 mile bike ride today in those winds! He looks like he was riding a bucking bronco! (taken with an iPhone 5S--doesn't it take great photos for a camera phone?)

There is only one single marsh plant left blooming out of the entire side of one marsh Sparky rides by every day....

And the scenery is just wonderful...and the weather, too, although it's getting hotter.....

A turtle rescue! Sparky saw a big, slimy, muddy, grass covered turtle in the center of a street trying to cross. Cars were swerving trying to avoid it...So she got off her bike, and nudged the turtle along by stomping her foot behind him to get him to move along until he was off the street but stuck up against a big curb. "C'mon, big guy. Move it, move it, move it." Sparky was debating on picking him up to get him over the curb when along came a couple of runners. The guy had no hesitation in picking up the turtle and deposited him back along the OTHER side of the street by the pond's edge. Mission accomplished! A turtle saved from turtle soup, maybe.

                                                     

               
                                                                         The End

Dad and Daughter Day

Elkhart, IN    High:  55  Low:  38 (!) Br-r-r--r...Is the heat on?

Yep, we are running the furnace which got fixed back in Wayland, MI. It's working great! Most of the time we use our heat pump, so we really don't use much propane as long as we stay in warmer locations. (WARMER, WARMER...remember that, Sparky! reminds E.) Yep, but I'm sure enjoying the crisp fall weather! Love it!

I've been riding my bike around the Elkhart Campground neighborhoods......Not the best views in residential neighborhoods except for the beautiful summer homes on the shores of Simonton Lake here in Elkhart. Sometimes there are beautiful or interesting sights to see, but not always!

But, it gets the job done. I'm up to 6-10 miles almost every day on my bike, so whatever it takes to get the job done, I'm gonna get out there and RIDE! I love riding my bike in this weather!

Today, Eldy's daughter, Kristi, her husband Ted, and their son Connor, came for a visit on Ted's birthday....We had a great visit that took up much of the chilly afternoon as we chatted the day away....

Kristi has been on a weight loss journey and lost over 50 pounds this year with mentors Chris and Roy Pickler  from Middlebury who were on the TV show America's Biggest Loser last season. Kristi never exercised when she was growing up and has always struggled with her weight. She is now running 5K's, riding a bike, drinking special shakes called Visalus, Body by Vi 90 Day Challenge, she's walking, using exercise equipment and working very very hard to maintain her weight loss and take care of herself for herself and her family.  WOW! She also has the support of a running group of friends who cheer her on and help keep her going. But it takes a strong person to decide to take better care of oneself. It all starts with the inner YOU. We are very proud of Kristi, and her husband and son are very proud and supportive of her, too.

Connor, her little son, 7 years old, has ridden as many as twelve miles with his mom on his little bike!   Here he is on his little scooter, wanting to show Sparky how he does a "pop wheelie" on his scooter...all of three inches off the ground!

I didn't get a good photo of Kristi's husband, Ted, the birthday boy, but we'll get one in here soon. It takes a good man to support his wife losing all that weight and letting her have all the time she needs to get her workouts and exercise in.

It was a great fall day spent with family! Thanks for spending time with us today.......