tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26244177028801089892024-03-05T03:44:29.822-06:00Vegan Dude's BlogGabrielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151147177274086935noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624417702880108989.post-76646980747909305932017-01-02T15:06:00.001-06:002017-01-02T15:14:13.189-06:00Happy 2017! I'm moving soon!It's hard to believe that another year has passed. We often talk about how time seems to go by faster the older we get, and it's absolutely true. Every year seems to go faster and faster. Logically it makes sense. The more years we've lived, the smaller the percentage of your life a year is. The net result can be that your life feels like it's just passing you by. I've had this experience for a few years. The good news is that this can also be used to our benefit. For one, bad times never really seem to last that long. When experiencing challenges, we know that change is going to come. Of course the flip-side of that is that the good times don't necessarily last that long either. But this is what life is really about, i.e. dealing with inevitable change and adapting to make the most of it. <br />
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The other huge benefit to time seemingly going faster is that we learn to not take it for granted. It's easy to get caught up in work, in minutia, in wasting our lives away. By not taking life for granted, we can focus on what's important. I know that in my own life I have often focused too much on little details. In the last two years, I focused almost entirely on work and on building a business. This has been on purpose, as I have a mission. However it's been really unbalanced, and I have consequently felt the results of such imbalance. Reminding myself of how quickly life passes by and how precious it is leads me to realize that I need to work less and have more time for other things in my life. I often joke about how much I work, which really is around 70 hours a week. But the truth is that it isn't funny. In working so much, I not only use up a lot of my time right now but I also could be shortening my life. I'm ready to change that.<br />
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There are a lot of changes I have planned for this year, but I only want to focus on one here. I am moving to a new place next month! A comfortable living space always been important to me. As an introvert, this is where I recharge, where I get away from the world when I need to think. And of course, it's where I spend time with my cats, where I prepare meals, and where I sleep. What I've found is that when I don't feel grounded at home, I tend to experience chaos in my life.<br />
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For the last few years, my living situation has been less than ideal. For a year I lived in what can only appropriately be called a slumlord situation. I rented a tiny house in a neighborhood that was very nice and centrally located; the house, however, was a dump and the landlord was slow to fix anything and many things were not fixed despite the rent being ridiculously high. It had mold and was falling apart. I experienced severe depression when I was there and couldn't wait to move. Sadly, two of my elderly cats died while we were living there, and I was beginning to wonder if the conditions there played a role. I was completely broke. My life was a wreck.<br />
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As soon as I could, I got out of there. I moved back into an apartment for the first time in over two decades. This is where I am today. I've been living here for a little over two years. It's not a terrible place, but I don't like it. I've never really liked apartment life because I need privacy, and there is little of that when living surrounded by other people on all sides. I find myself dealing with noise, people smoking when I walk outside my apartment, constant intrusions by apartment personnel, and parking issues. I do realize that I'm lucky to have a decent place to live and know many people are not so fortunate. It is worlds better than the previous place. Still, it is not ideal, and I believe in aiming for something better. My situation has changed from when I first moved in, and I can afford to go somewhere more in line with what I need to be happy. So, that is what I'm doing.<br />
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In February, I will be moving to a bungalow in Hyde Park. It was built in 1940, which seems to be my favorite year for houses. I'm super excited about this! The location is better than I could have ever expected, and the house is completely redone and amazing. It is literally just a few feet away from one of my favorite restaurants. I have wanted to live in this neighborhood as long as I can remember, but somehow I never found a place that worked for me. The house has a super sweet sun room in the back, which the cats are going to love, and an amazing deck and backyard. The space is perfect for me, and I am looking forward to living there.<br />
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<br />Gabrielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151147177274086935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624417702880108989.post-4330563844592378382016-12-13T16:07:00.000-06:002016-12-13T16:32:59.181-06:00Recommitting myself to this blog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My life has changed drastically since I last posted to this blog. I've never been a regular blogger, however I'm going to change that now. I plan on blogging regularly on a number of topics. I have a lot to say, and I believe that it's important that I get it out there. Get ready! <br />
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So what's new?<br />
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What isn't new? Seriously, so many things my life changed that it almost doesn't make sense to talk about most of them, because you're going to figure them out through the context of what I write and my life will continue to change and evolve. I will say this, my daily personal life is very different today, and my work life is completely different and insane. I work about 70 hours a week between Rabbit Food Grocery and my day job, mostly my day job right now, but also a lot of after-hours work for Rabbit Food Grocery. I try to take one day off for a week, but I usually end up doing some kind of work on that day. My goal is to reduce the amount of time that I work. I don't want to be less productive, but I want to be more efficient and to have more time for leisure in my life. Right now I don't have that; honestly it just seems like a luxury. But I'm working on that. ;-)<br />
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I've learned a lot over the last several years, especially from running a business but also from being down on my luck for a good part of that time. 2013 to 2014 were perhaps the most difficult years of my life. I won't go into too much detail right now, but let's just say that my life felt like a cesspool in some respects. I felt like I had no control and was being swallowed up by my circumstances. I returned to school during this time with the intention of continuing on to an advanced degree to eventually pursue a career in academia. Instead I completed the requirements for a second bachelors degree in religious studies and enjoyed learning some new things. But, I was depressed and broke and found it hard to concentrate on what I was learning to the extent that was necessary. I couldn't continue down that road and also have Rabbit Food Grocery, so I made a choice. I won't rule out an academic future, but it may not be for a while. I think I would be satisfied with taking classes and also learning on my own without the academic career. A lot of politics involved in that right now, and the jobs are rarer. I can learn/teach outside of that setting with a lot of the same benefits. And I can do it while pursuing other goals and while still having an income.<br />
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Being broke is never fun, but it takes on a whole new meaning when you're in your 40s. At least it did for me. The truth is what things mean has everything to do with our own perspective. There are many penniless people around the world who are happy and fulfilled because other areas of their lives are working for them and the financial aspect is less important. In the United States and in Austin specifically, that's a bit more difficult. Here we have tremendous costs just to be able to live and survive. Most of us have to work to be able to pay our bills without even considering what it is to have leisure in our lives. Either we have rent or mortgage. Even if we own our house with no mortgage, we still have property taxes. We decide what things mean or we let others decide what they mean but there are some real challenges when our resources become limited. In any case, for me being broke in my 40s made me feel like a tremendous loser. It isn't really fair to beat yourself up for that, because it can happen to anyone; but that's part of the programming that we have in our culture. I had to get over it to start moving forward again. I'll talk about that more in a different post, but suffice it to say that you have to change your mental/emotional state if you want to change your life. This can be challenging when the circumstances still suck, but it's really the only way to change them. So the good news is that I'm in a much better situation now financially. I'm still paying some debts but I am not broke, and that is huge.<br />
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There are a lot of things I'm working on right now. My life is about to undergo some big changes this coming year. And I want to document that, so this blog seems like a natural choice. 2017 will be a big year for me in many ways. Stay tuned and find out how!<br />
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And if you can, please go support us at Rabbit Food Grocery either by going online at www.rabbitfoodgrocery.com or visiting the store at 2210 S. 1st Street, Austin, TX 78704! Right now, I make no money from this, basically I am just trying to grow it and any money made goes to expenses or to expansion. Gabrielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151147177274086935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624417702880108989.post-34904987594615489662012-02-06T10:57:00.002-06:002012-02-06T11:16:19.709-06:00Running Inside<span style="font-family: inherit;">We've been busy the last three weeks with RFG, trying to balance building our inventory while selling as much as we can. Sales have been good, steadily building up as people hear about us or see us at our delivery spots. There's so much to learn, and it seems like getting out there and doing this is the best way to get a quick education. I think we are going to experience tremendous growth this year, and both of us are really excited about it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Through it all, I have managed to keep up with my average 5 miles per day despite not making it to my running group for all the workouts. I won't lie that some days it has been difficult to find the time, and often I find myself going to the gym late at night just to get 5 miles on the elliptical machine. Last night I was headed to the gym when Jessica suggested that maybe I should just try running inside so that I could avoid the trip to the gym on a night when people might be out drinking and driving (Super Bowl Sunday). I initially pooh-poohed the idea, but then we worked it out together. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We measured the main pathway from the front door to the back door at 40 feet. At 80 feet per lap, 330 of them worked out to five miles exactly. With a clicker in hand to count my laps and headphones on listening to old Metallica, I ran the entire five miles in the house! It took me a little longer than running the same distance outside, and I'm hurting some today. I suspect that that it has to do with the constant turning. All those turns surely helped me to work some muscles that I don't normally engage, so I'm glad about that. I did try to turn evenly on both sides of my body by changing directions halfway through. It was exciting to find another way to get my run in. It reminded me of some of the unique ways that imprisoned people have used to exercise in small areas, though they certainly wouldn't have the luxury of a clicker, music, or a straight 40 feet. I could see incorporating inside running when running outside is not an option and I can't go to the gym. I wouldn't want to do it every day though.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In looking at RunKeeper, it's exciting to see how many more miles I covered in January than in December. My overall miles in December were 75.9 with 24.6 of those as running miles. In January, I covered 171.4 miles, which included 84.7 running miles! I likely won't ever see this kind of increase again, so I'm enjoying thinking about it. It's a real turning point in my running, and I feel like there's no going back.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Exercise Log:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1/18: <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Walking (3.99 miles); </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Running group - short loop + small hill training (2.46 miles - distance includes some of the drills); </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 3). Total Miles for the day:</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"> 6.45</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1/19: Elliptical (5.45 miles); <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 4). Total Miles for the day:</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"> 5.45</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1/20: Running (5.06 miles); <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 5)</span>. Total Miles for the day: 5.06</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1/21: Walking (5.30 miles); <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 6)</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">. Total Miles for the day:</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"> 5.30</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1/22: Elliptical (5.13 miles); <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym Ab Crunch workout</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">. Total Miles for the day:</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"> </span>5.13</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1/23: Walking (5.06 miles); <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 1). Total Miles for the day:</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"> 5.06</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1/24: Elliptical (5.01 miles); <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 2). Total Miles for the day:</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"> 5.01</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1/25: Running group (5.06 miles + drills under Mopac bridge); <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 3). Total Miles for the day: 5.06</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1/26: Elliptical (5.32 miles); <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 4). Total Miles for the day: 5.32</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1/27: Walking (5.41 miles). Total Miles for the day: 5.41</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1/28: Running (5.05 miles); <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 5). Total Miles for the day: 5.05</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1/29: Running (5.06 miles); <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 6). Total Miles for the day: 5.06</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1/30: Running group @ TSD (4.98 miles - distance includes the drills); <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 1). Total Miles for the day: 4.98 (averaged with previous day: 5.02)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1/31: Elliptical (5.53 miles); <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 2). Total Miles for the day: 5.53</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">2/1: Walking (5.11 miles); Running group - short loop (2.02 miles) + small hill training; <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 3). Total Miles for the day: 7.13</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">2/2: Walking (4.67 miles); <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 4). Total Miles for the day: 4.67 (averaged with previous day: 5.90)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">2/3: Elliptical (5.37 miles); <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 5). Total Miles for the day: 5.37</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">2/4: Running (5.00 miles)<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">. Total Miles for the day: 5.00</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">2/5: Running inside (5.00 miles or 330 laps of 80 ft); <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 6). Total Miles for the day: 5.00</span></span>Gabrielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151147177274086935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624417702880108989.post-15785383397482444002012-01-18T10:01:00.000-06:002012-02-06T11:16:43.203-06:00Rabbit Food Grocery is open for business!<span style="font-family: inherit;">We did it! Jessica and I launched the web version of our all-vegan grocery store Rabbit Food Grocery. Our ultimate goal is to have a brick-and-mortar store, but we're starting with an online store with free delivery to select locations in Austin. </span>We're very excited about it and can't wait to see it grow and evolve. Jessica did all of the difficult, frustrating work of creating the website, and I'm really proud of her. We're both excited about working with some really cool vendors to bring more unique vegan items to Austin and to the online marketplace. Read more about this initial phase <a href="http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=dc5336d9e8c1ba123d584ad0f&id=8f4baf5cee">here</a>, then please go make a purchase at <a href="http://www.rabbitfoodgrocery.com/">Rabbit Food Grocery</a>. We can really use your support! <br />
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Our friend Molly had some nice things to say about RFG in a <a href="http://www.lonestarplate.com/2012/01/17/rabbit-food-grocery-virtually-opens-literally/">recent blog post</a> on her famous vegan blog Lone Star Plate. Thanks, Molly!<br />
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Life is extremely busy with our full-time jobs, <a href="http://texasvegfest.com/">Texas VegFest</a>, a house full of furry animals, lots of exercise and reading, and now RFG. We love it!!!<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Exercise Log:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1/11: Walking (4.34 miles); <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Running group (2.62 miles) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">+ hill training drills @ 7th St; </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 3). Total Miles for the day: 6.96</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1/12: Walking (5.47 miles); </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 4). Total Miles for the day: 5.47</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1/13: Running (5.93 miles); </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 5). Total Miles for the day: 5.93</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1/14: Elliptical (5.46 miles); </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 6). Total Miles for the day: 5.46</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1/15: Elliptical (5.25 miles); </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym Ab Crunch workout. Total Miles for the day: 5.25</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1/16: Running group (2.37 miles) + drills @ TSD; Running after group (3.00 miles); </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 1). Total Miles for the day: 5.37 </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1/17: Elliptical (4.93 miles); </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 2). Total Miles for the day: 4.93 (averaged with previous day: 5.15)</span>Gabrielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151147177274086935noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624417702880108989.post-20934327523136250532012-01-11T12:11:00.002-06:002012-01-11T12:11:49.355-06:005 Miles/Day = Good<span style="font-family: inherit;">My goal to average five miles per day of running, walking, etc. has been going well. I actually am finding that I am running more of the miles than I expected. Running is so much more efficient, and I often choose it over walking to get the miles in within a reasonable period of time. I'm a busy guy and walking five miles takes almost 50% longer. I do want to have days where I don't run for recovery purposes. Interestingly enough, though, it seems that I'm adapting to running more miles more often. I do feel a little more tender in some muscles after running, but the tenderness seems to mostly go away after a good night's sleep. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My inspiration for my goal was the Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami. Recently I listened to the audiobook version of his nonfiction book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307269191/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=vega0eb-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0307269191">What I Talk About When I Talk About Running</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=vega0eb-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0307269191" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />. (I highly recommend it!) I listened to it mostly while hiking and walking, and it really made me think about how running fits into my life and how I'd like to adapt my running. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Murakami talks about how important distance running has been to him and how it has helped him to be a stronger novelist (more endurance). He's been running everyday since the early 1980s and didn't start running until he was 33. In the time period covered in the book (mostly 2006 - 2007), he talks about how he recently made a goal to run an average of six miles a day and how this goal had a big impact on his running and his body. This is from someone who had already been running for over 20 years! Of course, that got me thinking about how a similar goal could impact a novice runner such as myself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A few highlights from the book and what they mean to me:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">- Crying/screaming muscles will eventually stop making a fuss when they understand through repetition and perseverance that a certain amount of work (in my case, my new distance of five miles) is expected of them. Also, how taking time off makes them scream again. I had been running three days a week most weeks with days in between running, and my muscles always hurt when I ran. Now I'm training them to work daily and they still hurt sometimes, but I think that it's a different, more bearable pain. Also, I do have more moments of pleasurable running. It'll be interesting to see how things change after a few months of working them every day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">- Murakami runs for distance, not speed. I'm a pretty slow runner, and I enjoy running more after I've been going for a couple of miles. In my running group, we mostly do short runs (~ 2.5 miles or so). This was pretty much all the running I was doing before. Now, I am running on my own in addition to what I do in the group. When I run on my own, I don't try to go fast. I just run for the distance. This seems to be working for me. However, I don't want to quit the group. The group is good because I get training that focuses on different areas (speed, hills, form), and I am starting to see that as a supplement to my running rather than as my actual running. I don't know if I will eventually become a long-distance runner, but I would like to work my way up gradually to greater distances. This year, my only goal so far is to continue my average five miles per day and to do the <a href="http://www.statesman.com/cap10k/">Capitol 10K</a>. I may add more goals to my running later, but for now that's it. I have no plans to do a marathon this year, though I would eventually like to complete one.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">- Running longer distances makes your body adapt so that it can handle these distances better. It changes your body. After just 10 days, I'm noticing that it has really has amped up fat loss. That's good. Even though I have seen tremendous changes from following Dr. Fuhrman's dietary recommendations and exercising regularly, it's nice to see that accelerate even more. While all of this is ultimately about health and feeling great, it's still nice to see my love handles start to shrink away a little more quickly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">- Running makes you stronger and that carries over into other areas of your life. I'm sure that Jessica gets sick of hearing me talk about running, but she has also said that I have become a more positive person since I started running. I do feel stronger, like I'm capable of doing more. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Murakami doesn't proselytize about running since he thinks it may not be for everyone, but he shares his own experience for what it's worth knowing that some may gain from it. In doing so, he definitely motivated me to think about my running and my goals. This is a book I will listen to again, and I'm sure that I will gain more insights from doing so.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Exercise Log:</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1/3: Running (5.03 miles); <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 2). Total Miles for the day: 5.03</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">1/4: Walking (4.11 miles); Running group (2.48 miles) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">+ hill training drills @ 7th St; </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 3). Total Miles for the day: 6.59</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">1/5: Walking (5.45 miles); </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 4). </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Total Miles for the day: 5.45</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">1/6: Walking (2.51 miles); Running (5.08 miles); </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 5). </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Total Miles for the day: 7.59</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">1/7: Running group (5.04 miles - ran some of this on my own after training) + drills + circuits @ Clark Field; </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 6). </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Total Miles for the day: 5.04</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1/8: Running (5.23 miles); TotalGym Ab training. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Total Miles for the day: 5.23</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">1/9: Running (5.01 miles); </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Running group (1.84 miles) + drills @ TSD; </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 1). Total Miles for the day: 6.85</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">1/10: Running (3.69 miles); </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 2). </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Total Miles for the day: 3.69 (averaged with previous day = 5.27 per day)</span></div>Gabrielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151147177274086935noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624417702880108989.post-85233505116283662422012-01-03T09:26:00.003-06:002012-01-03T09:26:47.678-06:00RunKeeper Accuracy and a Deer on my WalkYesterday, I was walking one of my normal routes near my house and heard some rustling as I passed over a bridge on Bluff Springs (Southeast Austin). When I looked down, I saw a deer! It's not the first time I've seen deer in this area, but it was still very cool. It's one of things I enjoy about walking in that area. I snapped a few pics with my phone before she took off. See if you can spot her in the one below:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLggFptvwl_weR511gCwV08EmKbVOC3SVV6O825BcpeiUza18GDaUHmYdNx6YYKw6qt430n4njdNgPcVbg57PLZA8MaOuUoxPuAaW3hq4EPL0oP8UZBgXi4ka4coFKJQk-nuemMhDGllY/s1600/IMAG0626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLggFptvwl_weR511gCwV08EmKbVOC3SVV6O825BcpeiUza18GDaUHmYdNx6YYKw6qt430n4njdNgPcVbg57PLZA8MaOuUoxPuAaW3hq4EPL0oP8UZBgXi4ka4coFKJQk-nuemMhDGllY/s320/IMAG0626.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
After she ran off, I walked to what I believe is the 1.5 mile point and checked RunKeeper since I was trying to walk an even 3 miles. It had me as having walked 2.72 miles! This is the first time I've ever noticed a discrepancy like this. I stopped, restarted my phone and the app, then walked back. I kept checking it on the way back and it was fine up until one point when it seemed to lose the GPS signal a few times. Then, the distance shot up some. When I checked RunKeeper, the maps had me on my regular course but also had me in some areas I never went. I removed the maps and edited the distance to 1.5 miles for each leg. It's a bit frustrating because I really need it to be accurate so that I can measure my distance and achieve my goal. I read their FAQs and they had some recommendations on how to improve accuracy. I downloaded an update and made sure all the settings were right. Later I ran a couple of miles with my running group and it was accurate. Since that walk was the first time that I've noticed any issues with the distance, I'm hoping it was just a one-time occurrence. In any case, I'll be keeping my eyes on the maps after runs/walks, since those seem the best way to determine if I am being properly tracked.<br />
<br />
Exercise Log:<br />
1/2: 3 miles walking; <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Running group (2.37 miles) + drills @ TSD; </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 1). Total Miles for the day: 5.37</span></span>Gabrielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151147177274086935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624417702880108989.post-49686498013456709262012-01-02T13:30:00.000-06:002012-01-03T09:27:07.175-06:00Goodbye 2011, Hello 2012!<span style="font-family: inherit;">What a year 2011 was, with lots of challenges, changes, and personal growth! As stressful as this year has been, I feel like I've grown more this year than I have in a long time. I am exiting the year in a much better place than I was when it started. I turned 40 in April, and as cliche as it sounds, it really has felt like "life begins at 40." I don't know if that number really has an impact, though it's completely possible that on some subtle level it has, but I do know that I changed my path for the better in a lot of ways. It definitely feels like it's the beginning of a new phase of my life. I want to keep the momentum going into 2012, and so I've set some new goals for this year. You can call them resolutions if you'd like, but I don't want to treat them the same way that most people treat their resolutions. I want these to mean something. I want them to continue to evolve and develop throughout the year. They are not static goals that I drop in two weeks. They are a road map for where I want to go in 2012. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A few highlights and lowlights in 2011:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">- Jessica's injury + 3 surgeries, which were stressful and difficult but brought us closer together and gave us more perspective.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">- Job changes and moving to 100% working from home.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">- Becoming completely dissatisfied with my physical fitness and health and making a total change in how I eat (from junk-food vegan to healthy "<a href="http://www.drfuhrman.com/library/are-you-a-nutritarian.aspx">nutritarian</a>" vegan) and beginning a vigorous exercise regimen.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">- Resolving some long-standing financial issues.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">- Getting a new Kindle Fire!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">- Changing my mindset to healthier one in many ways.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">- Taking some initial steps with my partner Jessica to start <a href="http://www.rabbitfoodgrocery.com/">Austin's first all-vegan grocery</a>. (Note: The store will be open this year!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">- A healthier year for all of our animals.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">- Helping some with the upcoming <a href="http://www.texasvegfest%2Ccom/">Texas VegFest</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm not going to list all of my goals/resolutions here, but I will share one of my physical fitness goals for the year. I've decided that I want to average 5 miles a day of running/walking/hiking/elliptical. I'm allowing myself to carry over from one day to the next to average five miles per day, but I am only averaging over two days and have to do at least two miles every day. Some examples:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 1 @ 8 miles + Day 2 @ 2 miles is acceptable.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 1 @ 3 miles + Day 2 @ 3 miles + Day 3 @ 9 miles is not acceptable, as this leaves me under the average for two days combined.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Day 1 @ 10 miles + Day 2 @ 0 miles is unacceptable, because I am supposed to do at least 2 miles every day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Giving myself the flexibility to run or walk/hike or even use the elliptical machine for the mileage will allow me to avoid both excuses and injuries. RunKeeper is my friend, as it has been since I started to use it in November. If you'd like to add me to your RunKeeper Street Team and see my activity maps to see where I go when I run or walk, please feel free to do so:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://runkeeper.com/user/vegandude/profile">http://runkeeper.com/user/vegandude/profile</a>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Exercise Log (from memory + RunKeeper):</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">12/15: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Days 2 & 3)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">12/16: Walking (4.21 miles)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">12/17: <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Days 4 & 5)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">12/18: <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 6)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">12/19: Walking (3.17 miles) - sick</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">12/20: 0 - sick</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">12/21: 0 - sick</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">12/22: Walking (3.08 miles)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">12/23: 0</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">12/24: 0</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">12/25: 0</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">12/26: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Running group (1.95 miles) + drills @ TSD; </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 1)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">12/27: Running (3.0 miles)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">12/28: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Running group (2.60 miles) + hill training drills @ 7th St; </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Days 2 & 3)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">12/29: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 4)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">12/30: Hiking (3.17 miles); <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 5)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">12/31: Hiking (6.07 miles)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">01/01: Running (5.55 miles); <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 6)</span></span>Gabrielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151147177274086935noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624417702880108989.post-50922092471575844572011-12-15T08:24:00.000-06:002011-12-15T08:24:47.533-06:00Exercise Log<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Sorry for not posting anything interesting lately. I will write something other than my exercise on here very soon!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Exercise:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">11/28: Walking (3.35 miles); </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Running group (2.56 miles) + drills @ TSD; </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 1)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">11/29: Walking (3.71 miles); </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 2)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">11/30: Running group (2.49 miles) + hill training drills @ 7th St; </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 3)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">12/01: Walking (3.62 miles); </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 4)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">12/02: Elliptical (5.38 miles); </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 5)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">12/03: Running group (5.06 miles)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">12/04: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 6)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">12/05: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Running group (2.50 miles) + drills @ TSD; </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 1)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">12/06: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Walking (3.62 miles); </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 2)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">12/07: Walking (4.14 miles); </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Running group (3.06 miles) + hill training drills @ hill by Long Center</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">12/08: Walking (4.00 miles)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">12/09: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Days 3 & 4)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">12/10: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Running group (1.38 miles) + circuit training + boxing drills</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">12/11: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Days 5 & 6)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">12/12: Walking (3.72 miles); </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Running group (2.62 miles) + drills @ TSD; </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 1)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">12/13: Walking (1.67 miles)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">12/14: Elliptical (5.43 miles); </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Running group (2.44 miles) + hill training drills @ 7th St</span>Gabrielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151147177274086935noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624417702880108989.post-66893675567452848242011-11-28T00:28:00.002-06:002011-11-28T00:28:38.086-06:00Exercise Log<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Exercise:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">11/18 continued: TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Days 3 & 4)</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">11/19: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Running group (1.49 miles) + circuit training; </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 5)</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">11/20: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 6)</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">11/21: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Running group (2.07 miles) + drills @ TSD; </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 1)</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">11/22: Hiking at Barton Creek Greenbelt (3.94 miles); </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 2)</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">11/23: Running in Hyde Park (3.00 miles); </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 3)</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">11/24: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 4)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">11/25: Walking (3.66 miles); </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 5)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">11/26: Elliptical machine (5.21 miles)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">11/27: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 6)</span>Gabrielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151147177274086935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624417702880108989.post-20704941948363865482011-11-18T14:48:00.000-06:002011-11-18T14:48:20.602-06:00Tracking my miles now with RunKeeper<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">At a recent potluck, I was talking to my friend Erick about running, and I mentioned that one of the many things I liked about running is that it's so low-tech.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">"I never run with my phone, " I said.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">"You don't run with your phone?!!" He responded, clearly thinking that I was insane. He then proceeded to tell me about how he used the <a href="http://www.runkeeper.com/">RunKeeper</a> app to track his miles. Even though I knew such apps existed, I really hadn't given them much thought until then. So, on November 10th, I started to use my phone on my walks and runs. I think I might have been overestimating the distance of some of my runs, so it's nice to have more accuracy. Also, this will allow me to increase my distances over time on long runs. I decided that I am going to start doing an extra run on my own, in addition to the ones that I do with my running group. I started today at lunch with a run that was exactly five miles. For now, I don't plan on doing drills on my personal run unless I miss one of my group runs. I want to keep the drills to three times a week and keep my focus on the running when I do my personal run.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> Exercise:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">11/10: 3.71 miles walking; </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 4)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">11/11: 6.64 miles walking; </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 5)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">11/12: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Running group (1.49 miles) + interval training + boxing drills</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">11/13: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 5)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">11/14: 4.60 miles walking; Running group (2.65 miles) + drills @ TSD; </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 1)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">11/15: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 2)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">11/16: Running group (1.70 miles) + drills @ Long Center</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">11/17: 0</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">11/18: 5.00 miles Running + 5 minutes walking</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span>Gabrielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151147177274086935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624417702880108989.post-51233215555920769312011-11-10T12:40:00.001-06:002011-11-10T12:49:23.204-06:00Some pics from my 5K on 10/29<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHvnkc6BTSHLbgNMe7fMjdkjYACBZ38PBNpTdQ65iOIFDlQGn60WG-dG-6t36kyuMf3iyBNa0v1wayX3geaxvSFPeSlEWtXEf76n1TynbsdtrqSTI6SDSgBSJFl1Pwca4F5vEt58zH5Is/s1600/6669496_t3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHvnkc6BTSHLbgNMe7fMjdkjYACBZ38PBNpTdQ65iOIFDlQGn60WG-dG-6t36kyuMf3iyBNa0v1wayX3geaxvSFPeSlEWtXEf76n1TynbsdtrqSTI6SDSgBSJFl1Pwca4F5vEt58zH5Is/s640/6669496_t3.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_xNI-wHvt3iOW8Xp0l-yYko9bf9CXrH82nB-w_mj62aHMiUbkyGe9t9kZYBQMdinELm3E9FKaY4BIgJB6i_VaKUi-Ag3C_oYYzWz8dwpVA70IG-M_8uMlOBiRxxcbm9fIdh3P8Bgims/s1600/6668700_t3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_xNI-wHvt3iOW8Xp0l-yYko9bf9CXrH82nB-w_mj62aHMiUbkyGe9t9kZYBQMdinELm3E9FKaY4BIgJB6i_VaKUi-Ag3C_oYYzWz8dwpVA70IG-M_8uMlOBiRxxcbm9fIdh3P8Bgims/s640/6668700_t3.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqg1tZ9gQNF-nNarh5nE67Tu6cHd0mHduPBrH5NyFV92q3qU56v6XPRKUczh4S2KmzDOthEMJBNde9OmLOA5CShPv1ml0pWqPAfg2XJ6rPOnKXcAK7iVuUrxIV_nTRVOeHy5brH4BODM/s1600/6669533_t3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqg1tZ9gQNF-nNarh5nE67Tu6cHd0mHduPBrH5NyFV92q3qU56v6XPRKUczh4S2KmzDOthEMJBNde9OmLOA5CShPv1ml0pWqPAfg2XJ6rPOnKXcAK7iVuUrxIV_nTRVOeHy5brH4BODM/s640/6669533_t3.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Twycb1UG9LFuqKSISJIGZOf58itYTfjTzLMcgb2yDy5y_FUk-l5IOk-BkaLsWqyG5uDuA759zEzEVN_rGkXCP1ziLgBKjjJCwW4-3UFpfH99LwwkScKY7b0ZxRMkoxoIBHDimg6NI3c/s1600/6670474_t3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Twycb1UG9LFuqKSISJIGZOf58itYTfjTzLMcgb2yDy5y_FUk-l5IOk-BkaLsWqyG5uDuA759zEzEVN_rGkXCP1ziLgBKjjJCwW4-3UFpfH99LwwkScKY7b0ZxRMkoxoIBHDimg6NI3c/s640/6670474_t3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFbNyINN2LhEBxUImIbobSn0zkn7mALgMA96uAYnw_gIpNSEEJ1pVNjENBQU3MQWQKmL6P3Ic3A9RNGj8-taLMg7raACqe4gkgbLwc2v8X7a54oy5DuweRiAXU53Ua-F7migyYkgDts4/s1600/6670427_t3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFbNyINN2LhEBxUImIbobSn0zkn7mALgMA96uAYnw_gIpNSEEJ1pVNjENBQU3MQWQKmL6P3Ic3A9RNGj8-taLMg7raACqe4gkgbLwc2v8X7a54oy5DuweRiAXU53Ua-F7migyYkgDts4/s320/6670427_t3.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Exercise:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">10/29: 5K running 27:19</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">10/30: 0</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">10/31: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Running group (~3 miles) + drills @ TSD</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">11/1: 65 minutes walking</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">11/2: 65 minutes walking; </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Running group (~4 miles) + hill training @ Norris Hill</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">11/3: 65 minutes walking</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">11/4: 0</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">11/5: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Running group (~1.5 miles) + interval training + boxing drills</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">11/6: 0</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">11/7: 65 minutes walking; </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Running group (~2 miles) + drills @ TSD; </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 1). 400 meters timed at 2:04.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">11/8: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">65 minutes walking; </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 2)</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">11/9: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">65 minutes walking; </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Running group (~4 miles)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"> + pull-ups (3 sets x 5); </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 3)</span></span>Gabrielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151147177274086935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624417702880108989.post-82785595814341087372011-10-29T11:28:00.001-05:002011-10-29T15:55:41.085-05:00Dell Children's Medical Center 5K results!I ran my second 5K ever this morning and have established a new PR! The <a href="http://site.runtex.com/index.php/2011/05/3rd-annual-dell-childrens-5k-and-family-fun-fair/">Dell Children's Medical Center 5K</a> this morning was to benefit the Carl Teel Music Therapy Endowment at Dell Children's Medical Center. My first 5K was the Run With the Heroes on September 11. You can read about the last run <a href="http://www.vegandude.com/2011/09/run-with-heroes-5k-success.html">here</a>. My time in that race was 30:29. My coach, Alexis Camacho, told me this week that shaving off a minute would be great. Well, I'm pleased to say that I shaved off 3 minutes in just under 7 weeks!!! My time today (and my new PR) was 27:19. Not only that, but this course had some slight hills whereas the last one was totally flat. I guess the training is working. :)<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>Today I felt great when I finished, which is nice considering how achy and exhausted I felt last time. I am going to do a few more 5Ks just to keep an eye on my time, but my next big goal is to run the <a href="http://www.statesman.com/cap10k/">Capitol 10K</a> in March!<br />
<br />
ETA: 4th in my division! Overall 37 out of 162.<br />
<a href="http://onlineraceresults.com/race/view_race.php?race_id=22723&relist_record_type=result&lower_bound=0&upper_bound=162&use_previous_sql=1&group_by=default#racetop">http://onlineraceresults.com/race/view_race.php?race_id=22723&relist_record_type=result&lower_bound=0&upper_bound=162&use_previous_sql=1&group_by=default#racetop</a></div>Gabrielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151147177274086935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624417702880108989.post-46725021308272318282011-10-28T23:40:00.000-05:002011-10-28T23:40:21.416-05:00Exercise Log<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Exercise:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">10/20: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Days 1&2), walking 65 minutes</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">10/21: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Days 3&4)</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">10/22: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Running group (~1.5 miles) + interval training + boxing drills</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">10/23: 0. Drove to and from Dallas to attend Texas State Veggie Fest. Ate oily, salty food at Quickstart Veggie Garden.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">10/24: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Running group (~3 miles) + drills at TSD</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">10/25: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Days 5&6), walking 45 minutes</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">10/26: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Running group (~1.5 miles) + small (easy) hill training</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">10/27: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Days 1&2), walking 45 minutes</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">10/28: Walking 65 minutes</span>Gabrielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151147177274086935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624417702880108989.post-36974074850322698682011-10-20T11:46:00.001-05:002011-11-10T12:48:18.946-06:00Ginny Messina blog post on monitoring versus supplementing<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This post by Ginny Messina, a vegan RD, is worth reading:</span><br />
<a href="http://www.theveganrd.com/2011/09/vitamins-b12-and-d-monitoring-versus-supplementing.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.theveganrd.com/2011/09/vitamins-b12-and-d-monitoring-versus-supplementing.html</span></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Her recommendations on vegan supplementation are not too different from my own and are certainly worth reading:</span><br />
<a href="http://www.theveganrd.com/2010/11/recommended-supplements-for-vegans.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.theveganrd.com/2010/11/recommended-supplements-for-vegans.html</span></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I have purchased her book (co-written with Jack Norris, RD) <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0738214930/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=vega0eb-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=0738214930">Vegan for Life: Everything You Need to Know to Be Healthy and Fit on a Plant-Based Diet</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=vega0eb-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0738214930&camp=217145&creative=399373" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />, though I've only skimmed it so far. I have great respect for the nutritional expertise of both authors, so I am really looking forward to reading it. When I do, I will be certain to post a review.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Exercise:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">10/17: Running group (~3 miles) + drills at TSD. Difficult as always, but I took a bigger water bottle and think that helped. 1200 meters in 7:51. Last lap in 2:25.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">10/18: 65 minutes walking in the neighborhood. Right knee locked up in the morning and felt excruciating pain for a few minutes any time I tried to stand up. (Runner's Knee?) When I was confident that I wouldn't injure myself, I took this walk to help loosen up the tight muscles around my knee. I haven't experienced the issue again, so I hope this is all it was.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">10/19: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Running group (~3 miles) + drills on 7th Street hill. This hill always kicks my ass, but I am noticing that it takes longer to do so each time. This was my third time, and I noticed significant improvement from the last time.</span></span>Gabrielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151147177274086935noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624417702880108989.post-29718589038878911712011-10-17T14:50:00.001-05:002011-10-17T14:51:45.053-05:00Back to work<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Last Monday, my girlfriend Jessica had her third surgery this year for an injury she sustained in February. I took off all of last week from work so that I could focus on taking care of her, driving her to physical therapy, and just being able to be there for her without any work distractions. Her surgery went well, despite a complication and some pretty intense bruising. We are hoping that this is the final surgery and that she regains the full motion and function of her hand soon without any symptoms of RSD (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome), which was something that she dealt with after a previous surgery. Despite the fact that I work from home and have some flexibility with my schedule, I still believe that working last week would have been difficult to pull off. I do wish that I could have spent more time outside hiking because the weather was BEAUTIFUL around here. Oh, well. I still have some time off in November and December coming up.</span></span><br />
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</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">I'm back at work today and am trying to get back in the groove of things. I've had some issues with our VPN this morning, which makes that a little difficult. Luckily, that gave me a little extra time to write this post. For that I am happy.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">My exercise regimen was a little less consistent last week. I actually missed a day of my running group for the first time since I started, and I only used the Total Gym one evening. Of course, I had a good excuse, and I'm very happy to be back at it. I still need to incorporate some yoga into my routine, but I just need to find the time to work it into my schedule.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">Exercise:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">10/6: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Days 3&4)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">10/7: ?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">10/8: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Running group (~3 miles) + interval training</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">10/9: 0</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">10/10: 0</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">10/11: 0</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">10/12: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Running group (~3 miles) + drills on 7th Street hill</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">10/13: 0</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">10:14: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Days 5&6)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">10/15: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Running group (~1.5 miles) + interval training</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">10/16: 0</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span>Gabrielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151147177274086935noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624417702880108989.post-54753525019827068612011-10-06T13:36:00.003-05:002011-10-06T16:07:38.024-05:00Hill Running/DrillsMy running coach Alexis has started to incorporate some pretty extreme hills in our running drills once a week. While I've never had much trouble walking up hills, it's an entirely different matter to run up them or to do any of the following while going up: sidesteps, over/under foot drills, buttkicks, skips, and high knees. It doesn't seem like it would be as hard as it is, but it's unbelievably difficult. First, your legs start to burn in key areas like the quads or calves. Then, as the pain intensifies, breathing becomes more difficult. By the time you get to the top, you find yourself practically out of breath and your legs are struggling just to move. Walking back down isn't even easy.<br />
<br />
Last week, we ran from RunTex through the trail alongside Town Lake (Lady Bird Lake), up Robert E. Lee (alongside Zilker Park), and turned on a couple of streets until we got to Norris Drive. Just getting there was difficult, as Robert E. Lee is pretty steep. I pushed through and then we arrived at Norris. The hill was pretty brutal, but I worked through the drills. I do think that Alexis gave me a little bit of a break on the last couple of drills and let me do them halfway because I was severely dehydrated and in pain. We found some water at Zilker and ran back. Up until yesterday, this was the most difficult workout I'd had since joining the group. <br />
<br />
Yesterday, we ran from RunTex to West 7th Street (at Blanco). The run there wasn't as intense and the hill up 7th didn't look that bad. When we started doing the drills, it quickly became apparent that the hill was worse than the one at Norris Drive. The first third or so is not too bad, but then the incline gets really steep. By the time I would get to the halfway mark during each drill, I'd be breathing heavily and struggling to maintain the exercise. It was so difficult that after finishing my third or fourth drill, I had to sit for a minute because I was a little dizzy. Alexis reminded me that he'd found himself needing to crawl that hill once before. Laura, another group member present for the torture, said she loved the hill because it truly was an equalizer - <b>everyone</b> struggles regardless of fitness level. As much as I struggled, I finished all of my drills, and after a recovery walk I was able to run back to the store.<br />
<br />
I have a love/hate relationship with these hills. I hate doing them in the moment, but I love having done them. This is where it's really great to have a coach. There's no way in hell that I would have pushed myself to keep going up those hills. It hurt too much. But because I had a coach who did push me, I did more than I thought I could do and that means more growth. And I think the consequence of surpassing these self-imposed limitations will be that I will learn to push myself more and believe in my power and strength to succeed.<br />
<br />
Exercise:<br />
10/4: 60 minutes walking<br />
10/5: TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Days 1&2), Running class (~3 miles) + drills on 7th Street hillGabrielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151147177274086935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624417702880108989.post-11825392535522045002011-10-04T00:18:00.002-05:002011-10-04T00:20:13.504-05:00YogaNow that I am in my 11th week of running at least three times a week for my cardio and now that I am using the TotalGym for resistance training, I've decided that it makes sense to add yoga to the mix to work on my flexibility. I'm going to be looking at different types of yoga and will probably try out some introductory packages to save money and to experiment with different teachers and schools. Eventually it would be nice to find a yoga that I can stick with, but for now I will experiment. Of course, if something just knocks my socks off and nothing else compares, then I will reserve the right to go back to it and stick with it.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>I have done yoga in the past, though not many times. I am, however, very familiar with at least some yogic philosophy. (Much of the spiritual/philosophical side I believe comes originally from Jain teachings, though I would guess that many Hindu yogic practitioners would disagree.) What I am seeking right now, though, is less of the spiritual side of yoga and more of the physical side. While I am someone who deeply values spirituality, I believe that spiritual practice is very personal and there are <b>many</b> "spiritual" people out there with agendas and products and gurus to sell. Don't get me wrong. I will listen and be open to those whose teachings seem genuine to me, but I will also feel free to reject those things that don't make sense. </div><div><br />
</div><div>The idea to do this arose from not only my need to become more flexible and remain injury free; it also was inspired by a really good movie called Enlighten Up, where the director takes an unemployed skeptic and has him go to different yoga schools to try them out. The director who is into yoga wants a certain outcome, but the experimenting student doesn't always follow the path that she wants him to. He does score a trip to Hawaii and India, where he meets some yoga gurus and stays at some cool Ashrams. I may not get to go where he did, but I will definitely try some schools in Austin and post my thoughts here. Hell, maybe, I'll even try some classes in Houston or Dallas. We'll see where this leads me.<br />
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</div><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=vega0eb-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B002MFTZY8" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br />
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</div><div><br />
<div>Exercise:</div><div>10/3: 45 minutes walking, Running class (~4 miles) + drills</div></div></div>Gabrielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151147177274086935noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624417702880108989.post-52802956546734151922011-10-02T22:00:00.025-05:002011-10-03T01:10:51.082-05:00My 21st VeganniversaryThis weekend marked 21 years of being vegan for me. It's interesting to think back about all the changes in my life over those years. Some changes I expected and others I didn't, but I knew from the start that for me being vegan was a lifetime commitment. <br />
<br />
When I started out as a vegan in 1990, I knew no other vegans personally, but I was ready to make a break from animal exploitation and so I did. I know that some people assumed that it was just rebellion, but it was something I felt very strongly about. Today my feelings about commodifying animals are as strong as ever. I've learned a lot of new information over the years, and I am amazed and heartened by how the vegan movement has expanded. Still, I think that we still have a long way to go. We are still just a very small percentage of the population, and being vegan is easier than it's ever been before. If you're vegan, share a vegan meal with someone who isn't vegan. If you aren't vegan, please consider going vegan. It's easy, healthy, and delicious. There are many amazing vegan cookbooks and more and more vegan restaurants are popping up all over. I am glad to help if you have any questions.<br />
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Exercise:<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">9/30: TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 5)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">10/1: Running Class (~3 miles) + circuit training drills</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">10/2: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 6)</span>Gabrielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151147177274086935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624417702880108989.post-7903188988286640492011-09-30T10:36:00.000-05:002011-09-30T10:36:05.302-05:00Exercise Log9/14: Running class + drills<br />
9/15: 45 minutes walking<br />
9/16: TotalGym Starter Program<br />
9/17: Running class + drills<br />
9/18: ?<br />
9/19: Running class + drills<br />
9/20: TotalGym Starter Program<br />
9/21: Running class + drills<br />
9/22:?<br />
9/23: TotalGym Starter Program<br />
9/24: Running class + circuits<br />
9/25: 0<br />
9/26: TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 1), Running class + hills (first time to conquer hill near Zilker)<br />
9/27: TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 2), 60 minutes walking<br />
9/28: TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 3), 45 minutes walking, Running class + speed drills<br />
9/29: TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 4)Gabrielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151147177274086935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624417702880108989.post-30955985222191640672011-09-14T13:27:00.029-05:002011-09-30T10:30:19.239-05:00Run With the Heroes 5K - success!I ran my first 5K on Sunday! It was very exciting, even though I am very slowwwwwwww. It was great because there was a significant presence from my RunTex running group. Everyone gave it their all and deserves to be proud. Our awesome coach, boxer <a href="http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=248520&cat=boxer">Alexis Camacho</a>, placed third overall and first in his age group running it in just under 17 minutes! Wow!!! I set my first PR at 30:29 and plan on beating that at my next 5K.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>I went through a range of feelings in the race. It was exciting that morning before the race. I was nervous, but I felt pretty confident that I could run the entire race. Alexis was the most excited. He was smiling uncontrollably and actually bouncing around!!! He suggested that some of us go to the front to the starting line. I didn't expect people to let us up there, but no one objected. We listened to remembrances of 9/11, as well as to a moving piece by a Special Olympics race participant, and talks by the APD Chief Art Acevedo and Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell. Then, we lined up and were off.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Immediately after we started running, a lot of the runners behind me started to pass me. My ego started to kick in, but I kept going in spite of it. I reminded myself that I was there not to beat anyone but to challenge myself. It was hard to fight against some of the feelings, especially when I'd see a 10 year old pass me, but I tried to focus solely on finishing. Alexis was too far ahead for me to see, but every once in a while I'd see Wilson from my group at one of the loop-arounds. She was also very far ahead of me, but it was helpful somehow seeing her. Marcy, also from the group, was behind me initially. She was beside me later at a time when I was really feeling particularly challenged and was losing steam. I think she just asked, "How are you doing?" before passing me. Somehow that got me to refocus and continue. Not long after, I saw Alexis on the side telling me that I was getting close. This made me push harder, and I ended up passing about 7 or 8 people before getting to the finish line.<br />
<br />
Jessica was waiting for me, cheering me on, as were those on my team who had finished before me. I have to say that finishing was a damn good feeling, and I can't wait to give it another go.</div><div><br />
</div><div>As far as I can remember, this is my first race ever, with the exception of perhaps some little races during a very short track stint in elementary school or informal races in PE or against peers or siblings. I wasn't very athletic, but I do remember making it to a single track meet. Unfortunately, that's all I remember. I can't remember if I ran or just sat in the bleachers. For sure, I had never run in a 5K before September 11, 2011. I'm excited to start this new chapter in my life.<br />
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Here are some pictures:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuioAPMUVXD5A7oGejnBc5kSmir0RnCQcrcGlxxoE_0NfkBML2y25DwBss-xWowojY7RDAwQtxvLs1KjeO76MbpcXBVQ2Fsf3aFK_d9sUWrg7pTfes8mb8MkOtBRHdsm07V6rjBYjGoSg/s1600/323346_10150286746506918_654271917_7910721_750481158_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuioAPMUVXD5A7oGejnBc5kSmir0RnCQcrcGlxxoE_0NfkBML2y25DwBss-xWowojY7RDAwQtxvLs1KjeO76MbpcXBVQ2Fsf3aFK_d9sUWrg7pTfes8mb8MkOtBRHdsm07V6rjBYjGoSg/s320/323346_10150286746506918_654271917_7910721_750481158_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxe8HPHB9gIvYZURGue-iPsEuEKwNC5UGO5DOMbOuP1WS4rmLB82GivAc_JEgThfwV3-5-YIGqJ_ij-Gp8cALu91tWWfw3pN-Jyuq4JUqOMAAQ-ZEsGX1leWb5FhaaRT6plOVShVH1ePs/s1600/307143_10150286813821918_654271917_7911210_1007879206_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxe8HPHB9gIvYZURGue-iPsEuEKwNC5UGO5DOMbOuP1WS4rmLB82GivAc_JEgThfwV3-5-YIGqJ_ij-Gp8cALu91tWWfw3pN-Jyuq4JUqOMAAQ-ZEsGX1leWb5FhaaRT6plOVShVH1ePs/s320/307143_10150286813821918_654271917_7911210_1007879206_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41Pf86rJpbJV38Nyg9ZuklkeRGKeFSJv8diH9lxa5RxHzPt8hCHOrptF-CCsyj8jmwmbk2ALdm4J01b3sPFjXYl-4V6dqFvfVhlkDLSZGF4gFpdm_tAPnvpVsIkhbe5v_FK6uOj2-OPw/s1600/294023_259335377431009_100000636468947_880470_686247714_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41Pf86rJpbJV38Nyg9ZuklkeRGKeFSJv8diH9lxa5RxHzPt8hCHOrptF-CCsyj8jmwmbk2ALdm4J01b3sPFjXYl-4V6dqFvfVhlkDLSZGF4gFpdm_tAPnvpVsIkhbe5v_FK6uOj2-OPw/s320/294023_259335377431009_100000636468947_880470_686247714_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Exercise:<br />
9/8: ?<br />
9/9: ?<br />
9/10: Running class + drills<br />
9/11: 5K<br />
9/12: Running class + drills<br />
9/13: 45 mins elliptical trainer<br />
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</div>Gabrielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151147177274086935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624417702880108989.post-14146587552470041742011-09-08T11:23:00.000-05:002012-03-19T09:34:25.425-05:00Supplementation in a vegan diet<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I often hear vegans state that if one follows a vegan diet, supplementation is unnecessary. While I used to believe that for the *most* part (I was educated on B12 pretty early on), I consider it irresponsible and potentially dangerous to tell vegans not to supplement. There are some key areas that need to be addressed in a vegan diet (just as there are in non-vegan diets). If they are not, the results can be devastating. Does this mean that I don't think a vegan diet is healthy or that I don't recommend it to others? Not at all. I want <span style="font-weight: bold;">EVERYONE</span> to be vegan, but just like I would not recommend an unhealthy donut-based vegan diet devoid of vegetables I'm not going to recommend that someone follow a vegan diet that is missing key nutrients, even if some of those nutrients have to come from a pill.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">As previously mentioned, I decided to follow a vegan lifestyle nearly 21 years ago (my Veganniversary is coming up!) to avoid exploiting and harming animals. This remains my primary motivation as a vegan. I wasn't sure if avoiding animal foods was the healthiest thing to do, but I had no doubt that it was more ethical than consuming non-vegan foods. It didn't take long for me to become acquainted with some of the health arguments of a vegan diet, and I soon came to believe that veganism was the perfect diet and that supplements were largely a waste of time and money and were "unnatural." I was a Natural Hygienist for a long time. While I still believe in many of the tenets of </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthopathy">Natural Hygiene</a><span style="color: black;">, I have learned a few lessons since then, some the hard way. I'm not nearly as rigid about living in accordance with NH now, and I recognize that NH philosophy was missing some key components. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">But, getting back to veganism, particularly to the health aspects of vegan diets, it's important to note a few things.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">First, there is no single vegan diet, so statements about "the" vegan diet being healthiest are not accurate. A vegan could subsist wholly on potato chips and beer while another vegan could live on organic fruits, vegetables, legumes, nut/seeds, etc. The chip-eating, beer-guzzling vegan is almost certain to be more unhealthy than the average omnivore whereas the whole foods vegan is likely to gain some benefits over the average omnivore. Few would disagree with that, but it's worth noting because there are too many generalizations made about how a vegan diet prevents ABC or XYZ diseases. Which vegan diet? The first one or the second one or some other one? It may seem obvious that it is not the first, but we can't assume that everyone knows this when we state it as a generality about vegan diets.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Second, from a health perspective, even the best diet can have certain pitfalls. A healthy whole foods vegan diet can prevent/reverse heart disease, reduce chances of cancer, and help prevent or reverse Type 2 diabetes, but if not supplemented in key areas it can lead to a host of issues. Even "whole foods" such as fruit, grains, or nuts can be over-consumed, leading to obesity. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Third, animal foods are <b>not</b> the only foods that lead to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Vegan junk food can do the same. Most vegans that I know are *NOT* eating healthy whole foods vegan diets and still have a considerable amount of junk food in their diet, though they may or may not be including some very healthy foods. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Getting back to supplementation, there are three key areas to which vegans should pay attention: Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, and Omega 3 fats. It is possible to be deficient in other areas, but a healthy diet and good multi will generally cover you. Of course, it's always wise to get checked out regularly just in case you are falling short somewhere.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Vitamin B12 deficiency is nothing to toy with, particularly considering that you could end up paralyzed or with irreversible nerve damage. (See some videos from vegan physician Dr. Michael Greger on the topic of B12 here: </span><a href="http://nutritionfacts.org/topics/vitamin-b12/">http://nutritionfacts.org/topics/vitamin-b12/</a><span style="color: black;">.)</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Vitamin D is an area of concern for everyone vegan and non-vegan, but vegan sources in the diet are even more limited (certain mushrooms and fortified foods). I'd recommend an annual blood test to everyone (vegan or not) to ensure that they have adequate levels. It is imperative to supplement even if you go outside regularly if your levels are insufficient or sub-optimal. Vitamin D deficiency can also lead to a lot of problems, not just rickets but also cancer, issues with glucose metabolism, multiple sclerosis, and cognitive impairment among other things. See <a href="http://www.drfuhrman.com/library/vitaminD_update.aspx">http://www.drfuhrman.com/library/vitaminD_update.aspx</a>.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Another area of concern has to do with Omega-3 fats. Dr. Fuhrman has clinical experience with many thousands of vegans over a ~25 year medical career and has stated that in long-term vegans he has seen a lot of issues with Omega-3 fatty acid levels. Some of this has to do with overconsumption of Omega-6 fats and underconsumption of Omega-3 fats, but even in people consuming adequate Omega-3 fats in the form of flax and walnuts and other seeds/nuts there can be issues because the short-chain Omega-3 fatty acids need to be converted to long-chain Omega-3 fatty acids. Long-chain Omega-3 fatty acids like DHA and EPA are now available in completely vegan forms, so vegans can take them to avoid issues. Vegan DHA has been around a long time now, but vegan EPA is relatively new.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">There are other areas that can also get low in vegans or others who rely on non-animal foods for the bulk of their calories, so if you don't get annual blood tests, it's a good idea to take a multi to avoid issues with trace minerals.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I was a non-supplementer for much of my early vegan career. I didn't have any significant issues, but was experiencing some fatigue and fogginess at one point after 10 years. I went to a physician and had my blood tested. We found that my B12 was on the low side of normal, even with some fortified foods. (Dr. Greger doesn't recommend relying on one fortified source like nutritional yeast because it is too inconsistent and instead says to also include a regular supplement.) A low normal on a B12 test can actually still indicate a deficiency, so I should have taken an MMA test to rule one out. Unfortunately I didn't know that. Still, I was concerned enough that it was in the low end of the normal range, and so I changed my attitude towards supplementation. The last decade I have been an on-and-off supplementer, getting more serious and regular in the last year or so. Unfortunately I did not get regular blood tests, so it's hard to assess if I was supplementing properly or not. I also struggled with my weight and binge eating, so it's tough to determine whether I had symptoms from unhealthy eating and excess weight or from improper supplementation. The two may even be interwoven. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Last year, I decided to have some of my levels checked. I was concerned about Vitamin D after reading about the connection of deficiency to disease and I was experiencing fatigue and back pain. The doctor tried to talk me out of getting tested, saying that most of what was being said about Vitamin D was hyperbolic. He looked at me and said, "You look pretty tan, so you must get enough from being in the sun." I pushed the issue until he agreed, and I found that my Vitamin D was in fact a deficient 15. Everything else was normal. My B12 was in the adequate range (no additional tests). </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I recently had a lot of labwork done, because I changed (improved) my diet, started exercising more vigorously, and wanted to make certain that I didn't have any underlying issues not only from my new stricter diet but also from years of not always eating a balanced diet or supplementing right. I've gotten most of my results back now, and it's kind of interesting. I will post more about my blood tests separately. I am going to start testing annually to avoid future issues but also to see what effect physical fitness, an improved diet, and smart supplementation have on my blood levels.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Most of my numbers were awesome (protein, calcium, iron, cholesterol, glucose) after 21 years as a vegan and three months on a strict <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Eat-Live-Amazing-Nutrient-Rich-Sustained/dp/031612091X?ie=UTF8&tag=vega0eb-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Eat to Live</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=vega0eb-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=031612091X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> regimen, but there is definitely room for improvement in some areas. My B12 was normal, but I went ahead and did a separate MMA test and will post the results when I receive them. My Vitamin D was a 26, which is considered sub-optimal by the new standards. This was actually up from last year when I was a deficient 15. I have been supplementing regularly with a lot of Vitamin D2 (4,000 to 8,000 IUs) but still was lower than where I should be, particularly after more than a year of supplementing and several hours of sunshine a week. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Vitamin D2, aka <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ergocalciferol">ergocalciferol</a>, is the non-animal version of Vitamin D. Vitamin D3, or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cholecalciferol">cholecalciferol</a>, is generally derived from animal sources so is not usually vegan. There is a lot of debate about whether D2 is as effective as D3, but it is generally agreed that D2 is not as well absorbed and requires higher dosages to match D3's effectiveness. This has always been kind of bummer for vegans. Just recently, though, an exciting product came out! It's called <a href="http://www.vitashine-d3.com/">Vitashine Vegan Vitamin D3 Spray</a>, and it is derived from lichen. Because I've had such a tough time getting my Vitamin D to an appropriate level, I'm excited to be trying this new product. I started taking 15 sprays a day (3,000 IUs ) on September 1st. I plan on retesting my level in December to see if it has been effective. I have to say that the spray tastes kind of odd, like movie theater popcorn "butter," so hopefully they will encapsulate it in vegan gel-caps at some point. (Edit: My new vegan grocery store is now carrying the vegan D-3 in vegan capsules: </span><a href="http://www.rabbitfoodgrocery.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9&products_id=73">http://www.rabbitfoodgrocery.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9&products_id=73</a>.)</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I have never had my Omega 3 fatty acid levels checked. I didn't check mine because I rely on a supplement already, so my levels would reflect that rather than show whether I am an efficient short-chain to long-chain converter. If you want to determine whether or not you actually need a supplement and you are not taking any currently, you can have a test done that determines if your levels are sufficient. I'm okay with taking the supplement and since conversion can get more inefficient as one ages, I just take it without worrying if I might be okay not taking it. At present, I am taking the <a href="http://www.futurebioticsstore.com/2540/new-harvest-vegetarian-epa">vegan EPA by Futurebiotics</a>. I have taken <a href="http://www.v-pure.com/omega3/">V-Pure</a> in the past, which contains both DHA and EPA, but it was sometimes unavailable for months. I may add DHA back into the mix at some point, since it's possible that there are some benefits found in DHA and not in EPA. I'll have to evaluate that and decide.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In summary, for vegans, I suggest the following:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1) Eat as healthy as you can. I am a big fan of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Eat-Live-Amazing-Nutrient-Rich-Sustained/dp/031612091X?ie=UTF8&tag=vega0eb-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Eat to Live</a>. While Dr. Fuhrman doesn't only promote vegan diets, E2L is very compatible with veganism and easier to do if you are vegan. It is groundbreaking stuff. In a nutshell, base your diet on dark leafy greens, a variety of vegetables, beans, some fruit, nut/seeds, limited grains, and avoid or minimize oils, sugars, and other unhealthy items. Read the book to get complete details.</span></div>
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2) Take a good quality vegan multivitamin that includes B12. I take <a href="http://www.drfuhrman.com/shop/GCF.aspx" style="color: black;">Gentle Care Formula</a> because it's the only one I found without some harmful and possibly cancer-causing toxins. Dr. F is good about keeping it up to date based on the latest research. If you are female and of child-bearing age, you may want to consider his Gentle Prenatal formula. Generally he recommends non-pregnant females who still are of menstruating age take one capsule of the Gentle Prenatal and one of the Gentle Care. Pregnant females should take two of the Gentle Prenatal. Of course, individual needs may vary, which is why blood tests can be helpful.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">3) Get your Vitamin D levels checked annually to see if they are in a good range or more frequently if sub-optimal or deficient. Take a regular Vitamin D supplement unless your levels are too high. You may have to experiment with the dosages some, but 2000 IUs is safe for most. If you are deficient, you may want to try </span><a href="http://www.vitashine-d3.com/">Vitashine Vegan Vitamin D3 Spray</a> (As mentioned earlier, I just started taking 3,000 IUs. Check back in December, 2011 to see if it raises my levels as desired.)</div>
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4) Check your B12 annually, as some people may need more than what is in the multivitamin, particularly if they have been deficient for a long time. Get an <a href="http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/mma/tab/test">MMA test</a> if you are under 500 pg/ml.</div>
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5) Take some long-chain vegan Omega 3 fatty acids. There are several good ones out there. The best bet is probably to take something that contains both DHA and EPA. Read my blog regularly for updates on new products.</div>
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6) Don't forget to engage in some form of healthy exercise!</div>
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Exercise:</div>
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9/7: Running class + drills</div>
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</div>Gabrielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151147177274086935noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624417702880108989.post-76793993289029245652011-09-05T23:54:00.001-05:002011-09-05T23:56:09.321-05:00First Race coming upJessica and I have been keeping up with our TG workouts a few days a week on my non-running days, and I'm still religious about my running group. So far I'm the only person who has never missed a class, and that's including our coach! I'm excited to say that my running has improved significantly in the past week. I am now able to run continuously rather than having to stop and walk in the middle of my runs. This is a HUGE accomplishment for me. It started last Wednesday, when I just kept running at the point where I was supposed to walk. Then, Saturday I repeated the same thing on a longer run, and I even had a really strong finish. Today, I also went for a relatively long run and I actually felt good the entire time!!! I think I'm starting to get the hang of this after 6 weeks!<br />
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My coach talked me into running in the <a href="http://www.active.com/running/austin-tx/run-with-the-heroes-2011">Run with the Heroes 5K</a> that's taking place on September 11th. I was initially worried that I wouldn't be able to run the whole race, but with my improvement over the last week I should be able to handle it! The goal is to set a PR for myself, so that I can beat it the next time. No problem, I can run slowly. :)<br />
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Exercise:<br />
8/28: Total Gym Beginner's workout (2 miles + drills)<br />
8/29: Running class<br />
8/30: 0<br />
8/31: Running class (2 miles + drills + speed work)<br />
9/1: Total Gym Beginner's workout<br />
9/2: 0<br />
9/3: Running class (4 to 5 miles + drills)<br />
9/4: Total Gym Beginner's workout<br />
9/5: Running class (3.5 to 4 miles + drills)Gabrielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151147177274086935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624417702880108989.post-20553454917629155292011-08-28T19:15:00.002-05:002011-08-28T19:26:10.043-05:00Running and the Total Gym (or is it TotalGym?)It's been a couple of weeks since I last posted, and things are progressing along exercise-wise. I actually took it easy and only focused on my running the week immediately following my last post. I bought a new pair of shoes (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/ASICS-GEL-Kayano-Running-White-Lightning/dp/B002EQA3PU?ie=UTF8&tag=vega0eb-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">ASICS Men's GEL-Kayano 16 Running Shoe,White/Royal/Lightning,13 M</a>) that was recommended by my running coach. Of course they're vegan, as most running shoes are, and they address my overpronation while giving my knees some cushioning. I'm still very, very slow, but I am running for longer periods of time and noticing an improvement in my technique. My coordination in the running drills is also getting better, so I am feeling pretty good. So far, I am the only person in my class to have attended every single time. What can I say, I'm motivated! The more I train, the better and fitter I'll get. As I drop more weight and the weather cools, the running should get easier. I'm excited about that!<br />
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I'm planning on signing up for a run in October, and the <a href="https://www.racetechs.com/register/dell-childrens-5k-2011">Dell Children's Medical Center 5k</a> looks perfect as far as giving me enough time to train for it. Even though a 5K may seem relatively easy, this will be my first race. My goal is to run the entire race. I'm not at all concerned with speed right now, particularly since I am regularly passed on the trail by young and old, fit and fat. :) I haven't signed up for the race yet, but I'm fairly certain that this is the one that I want to participate in. <br />
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As expected, the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Total-Gym-XLS/dp/B00169CU66?ie=UTF8&tag=vega0eb-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Total Gym XLS</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=vega0eb-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00169CU66" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> that I ordered arrived on Monday, August 22nd. (Jessica likes to say "TotalGym" running the two words together. I was giving her a hard time about it, and then I noticed that one of the personal trainers on the beginner's DVD says it like that too. :-/) I also purchased the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Total-Gym-TGACB2-Ab-Crunch/dp/B004L913R0?ie=UTF8&tag=vega0eb-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Total Gym Ab Crunch</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=vega0eb-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B004L913R0" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Total-Gym-DBS-Dip-Bars/dp/B004L913U2?ie=UTF8&tag=vega0eb-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Total Gym Dip Bars</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=vega0eb-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B004L913U2" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> and a boatload of DVDs with a variety of workouts. I opened it up immediately and have to say that I am impressed with it. It allows you to do a variety of exercises, is easy to store, and both Jessica and I are having fun using it so far. We've only done the beginner workout, but I anticipate that we'll move into the more sophisticated exercises within a couple of weeks. One of the criticisms I read on the web is that it isn't for people who are very advanced, and that at some point, you will surpass the machine. If that's the case, then I am okay with that because that means I will have reached a certain level of fitness. There are so many things you can do to amp up the workout that I think that is something I won't have to worry about, at least for a long while. For right now, it's very challenging as it is.<br />
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I'm certain that training with the TG will help me with my running, so it'll be interesting to see what kind of difference I notice in the next few weeks. It will be impossible to know how much of the improvement is from the TG and how much is just from running itself or from the drills. Regardless, it has been proven that cross-training makes a difference in running and improves overall fitness. Besides, anything I can do to lose fat and gain muscle will help me achieve my goals.<br />
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Exercise:<br />
8/15: Running class<br />
8/16: 0<br />
8/17: Running class<br />
8/18: 0<br />
8/19: 0<br />
8/20: Running class<br />
8/21: 0<br />
8/22: Running class + Total Gym beginner's workout<br />
8/23: 45 minutes walking<br />
8/24: Running class<br />
8/25: Total Gym beginner's workout<br />
8/26: 65 minutes - treadmill incline work<br />
8/27: Running class<br />
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Gabrielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151147177274086935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624417702880108989.post-91254898726859044202011-08-14T22:07:00.000-05:002011-08-14T22:07:30.313-05:00Current StatusI have started to enjoy my running class a lot more and am going to start doing runs outside the class soon. I finally had my running coach assess my feet and running stride to determine what shoes I need. I'm an overpronator, with medium to medium-low arches. Unexpectedly, he told me that the shoes I have are perfect for me, except that these are worn out. I'm also wearing a shoe size smaller than I should for running. I need to be in a Size 13. That explains the pain in my toe and the black nails (bruising). Ouch! <br />
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He made some recommendations for me, but I have to wait for RunTex to get my size in next weekend. I will definitely buy from them, since they have helped so much. I am wondering if I should go ahead and get another pair online though. It would allow me to have another pair to alternate so that I could run every day.<br />
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I'm also really excited because I ordered a Total Gym XLS. Yep, that's the one that bad-ass Chuck Norris hawks on paid infomercials. I've heard a lot of good things about them over the years, and I think it would allow me to work out on a more regular basis. I have a gym membership that I don't use enough, mainly because the gym is not that close or convenient for me. I'll keep that because it only costs me $54 a year (yes, you read that right), as long as I keep it active, and they do have some good equipment there and free classes. But, you can't beat having something in your home that lets you do all kinds of crazy exercises that easily stashes under your bed. Now I have no excuse to not exercise!<br />
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Exercise<br />
8/10: Running class that was pretty intense<br />
8/11: 75 minutes walking<br />
8/12: 0<br />
8/13: Running class<br />
8/14: 0Gabrielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151147177274086935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2624417702880108989.post-39606240279150024982011-08-10T00:18:00.000-05:002011-08-10T00:18:27.382-05:00Running Gets EasierMy right knee is still acting up a little after each run, but I noticed on Saturday that I was able to run much longer. I also became aware that when I run, my right foot doesn't land pointing forward but points to the right instead. On Monday, I consciously tried to land with it pointing forward and my knee did feel better. I still need to get some new shoes.<br />
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Exercise:<br />
8/4: Not sure, so I am going to call it 0<br />
8/5: 50 min walking<br />
8/6: Running class with a long run<br />
8/7: 0<br />
8/8: Running class<br />
8/9: 65 minutes walkingGabrielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04151147177274086935noreply@blogger.com0