From Chocolate To TRX

I recently declared one up on chocolate and now I have to eat my words (which-btw-I’d eat any time over the horrific chili flavored dark chocolate I tasted the other day).  Anyway, chocolate got the better of me.  Guess how?  I gained back the pound I’d worked so hard to lose.  I know you’re thinking what’s one pound?…But I’m a very small woman, and so every pound shows.  The lesson here is that chocolate, whether or not it tastes good, has a lot of calories.  And while I’m talking about weight, this is a good time to mention the amazing stuff I’ve been doing in the gym- I’ve been using the TRX suspension system.  Seriously, the TRX workouts have been the best ones I’ve ever had.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qESBNiRKo48[/youtube]

I’m seven months after my second cesarean-section, and though I’ve been doing ab exercises for a few months already, I really wasn’t seeing any change in what I call my spaghetti muscles (that’s cooked spaghetti I’m referring to, not al dente, but very cooked).  What I mean is that my muscles have felt weak and saggy, and even doing hundreds and thousands of crunches didn’t seem to help.  Then a trainer in my gym introduced me to the TRX.  After six workouts I started to see definition coming back into my abs.  Yes, there’s still a ways to go, but it’s a great beginning.  It’s also just kind of fun to be suspended.  I don’t mean for this to sound like an infomercial, but I have to give credit where credit is due.  I’m going to be all about the TRX from now on, so expect to hear more.  (Also, blood sugar has been good on the TRX days).

In other stomach news, though not workout related, baby Adam has finally gotten over a bout of constipation and is sleeping—and giving me a chance to sit down for a second and blog.  And Bougie the cat  had an unfortunate episode – he didn’t exactly make it to the litter box on time, meaning he got himself pretty dirty, meaning that’s what I had to deal with at 6 a.m. today along with the needs of my three boys.  Lucky for Mike, he was not around to help since he was out marathon training.  He ran 22 miles this morning.   I’m too impressed to complain about his absence.   In all the mess of the kids, getting them dressed, making breakfast, making their lunches for school, and the cat running around the house with excrement in his trousers, I did neglect myself.  I completely forgot to check my fasting blood sugar.  One of the hardest things, I find, is remembering to take care of myself.  I know I don’t have to tell you this, but it feels good to point it out, so I will: diabetes is a full time job!

Don’t forget tomorrow is World Diabetes Day.  Go Blue!

Jessica Apple

Jessica Apple grew up in Houston. She studied Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Studies at the University of Michigan, and completed an MA in the same field at the Hebrew University. She began to write and publish short stories while a student, and has continued to write essays and fiction while raising her three sons (and many pets).

View Author Blog

Jessica Apple

Jessica Apple grew up in Houston. She studied Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Studies at the University of Michigan, and completed an MA in the same field at the Hebrew University. She began to write and publish short stories while a student, and continues to write essays and fiction while raising her three sons (and many pets). Jessica’s work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The Financial Times Magazine, The Southern Review, The Bellevue Literary Review, Tablet Magazine, and elsewhere. She is the diabetes correspondent for The Faster Times. In 2009 she and her husband, both type 1 diabetics, founded A Sweet Life, where she serves as editor-in-chief. Jessica loves spending time with her sons, cooking with her husband, playing with her cats, reading, biking, drinking coffee, and whenever possible, taking a nap. Follow Jessica on Twitter (@jessapple)