Best of Both Worlds

TRIgirls could easily undertake this type of training camp.

Though it seems this clip is missing the most important feature????

Not A Diet, But...

Ironwoman Canada had the nerve to leave her guppies and masters students for a whole month to train in Colorado because she was preparing for one of her biggest races of the year - Ironman Lake Placid. Hmph. We plugged along without her on Monday mornings, but it was wonderful to see her again this week - during her brief hiatus home before she leaves for Lake Placid this weekend.

And, boy, is she lean and in top condition. She looks like she will be kickin' some butt on July 22nd.

Which motivated me a bit to take a look at my diet. These past few months I've been eating way more than ever - because I can. A welcome relief from the constant calorie counting and food restrictions I've obsessed about my entire life until this Ironman training. The TRIgirl nutritional clinics have reinforced the idea that this is not the time for deprivation. But in retrospect, did I really need the extra side of cheese at lunch - or the second helping of whatever at dinner because I've been able to get away with it? Would it have hurt to eat a little more consciously?

So, for the past few days anyway, I've been trying to break my gluttony, gleeful, hand rubbing habit of wolfing down whatever looks tempting. I don't know if I'll lose any weight - and I've come to terms with the current number on the scale. Just a few small changes that could lead to losing some fat and gaining some lean muscle mass.

And I'm putting the disclaimer out there now - I'll still be in complete denial about any reports about the wasted calories from wine.

That's It!

The Patriot Sangria!

Where's my bottle of wine to christen my new bike with her perfectly combined, official name?

"The beauty of the Patriot Sangria is that it's as delicious as it is easy...The brandy adds its own unique zest to give this Sangria just a bit more hype."

Seems like a hopeful description for a bike, don't you think? Still gotta work on the "easy" part when hitting those uphills, but loving the Patriot Sangria just about all other times.

And here is the inspiration recipe:
http://wine.about.com/od/howwineismade/r/patriotsangria.htm

Did you notice the red, white and blue ingredients?

Patriot

I love my new bike. I LOVE my new bike.

At the suggestion of Triathlonmom, because she is red, white and blue and because we will be doing the Patriot Half later this year and because it is so close to July 4th, Patriot will be either her first or middle name. Still need a wine related one, too, though.

Yeah, Patriot and I are getting to know each other, though our first outing went wonderfully. Not sure how she felt about her new Sip Away cup and Bento Box, but she tolerated it. Her seat is way too low (got in a great quad workout today) - and the aerobars need to come up and maybe in a bit, too. She is happy I not only adjusted to, but also love, the gear shifting on the aerobars, her responsive brakes and the way-cool clipless pedals that may actually need to be tightened. We are already making progress on flats and downhills, but I need to figure out how to work with her on the uphills.

Patriot and I have many miles ahead of us - and if she can deal with her less experienced rider, she may just have the satisfaction of seeing her new owner become a more confident and possibly faster bicyclist.

Words of Wisdom - By Buttercup

Now that Mommy is officially over 40, I believe she has earned the privilege to learn my secrets for aging gracefully. Most people don’t believe it when they hear my age – and my youthful glow is due to certain rules I’ve followed ever since being a puppy.

1. Rest your body only on the softest materials – Why should you ever expose yourself to hard surfaces? Personally, I insist on at least one pillow, even if it is already on something soft, like a bed or couch. Sometimes I am lucky enough to score two pillows. In addition to being comfortable, soft surfaces are also very good for your joints and promote restful sleep (see number 2).
2. Take naps – Beauty rest is very important. Spend at least six hours a day napping. On pillows and blankets.
3. Demand body rubs (Mommy calls these massages) – Between keeping blood circulating and reducing stress, I recommend the rub as often as possible. Preferably several times a day and preferably while resting on soft surfaces. If someone stops the rub, nudge them with your nose or swat them in the face until they start rubbing you again.
4. Give in to your cravings – Remember, if you do not occasionally give in to your cravings, you will end up becoming obsessed with your desired delicacy. For some reason, Mommy does not understand my penchant for poop. That is alright, but I must point out, I, on the other hand, am very enlightened and respect all of Mommy’s hankerings for cheese, steak – and even wine.
5. Show your independence – I’ve never understood those dogs that just blindly follow every command. Now, I know all the words Mommy uses with me. I just choose when to listen. It is important to be your own person, especially if you are a woman. Mommy recognizes my "You've got to be kidding look" when she asks me to do something I would rather not do. Especially if it involves leaving a cushy surface.
6. Exercise moderately – I have never been one for extreme exertions. That was always up to my brothers. There is no need to dart from window to window frantically chasing squirrels. For goodness sake, they are outside and can’t be caught. It is going to take a lot more for me to leave my pillow throne. Since I have never overworked my joints and muscles, I move very well now. I am bit worried that Mommy is ignoring this rule since she is training for these silly triathlons. Maybe some good new pillows would convince her otherwise.