As such days often go, I eventually became self-concious of my laziness and so I went down to the man cave to retrieve some fitness books from which I draw inspiration from time-to-time. The idea was to at least read about exercising, even though on this day I was too lazy to do it. Maybe something would stick.
I have several excellent books on cycling: The Complete Book of Road Cycling Skills by Ed Pavelka and the Editors of Bicycling Magazine; The Big Book of Bicycling by Emily Furia and the Editors of Bicycling Magazine, and; The Cyclist's Training Bible by Joe Friel, which he wrote all by himself without the help of the Editors of Bicycling Magazine. These are a small fraction of my cycling collection, both hard copy and digital, mind you, but they are the ones I tend to go back to on days like this.
Last year I took up swimming and I found an excellent book about the subject, which is no easy feat. Books about swimming are few and far between. If you are interested, Swimming for Total Fitness by Dr. Jane Katz with Nancy P. Bruning is just about the only book you need on the subject.
Swimming wasn't the only thing I took up last year. I started running. Three times in fact. I am at the point I enjoy it, but I seem to have trouble maintaining regular workouts over time. I go great guns for a few weeks, then don't run for a month. This has to change. I have to say, it is a great way to drop weight and feel great. I picked up Running for Mortals: A Commonsense Plan for Changing Your Life Through Running by John Bingham and Jenny Hadfield.
I also have an excellent book for anyone who works out with diabetes. The Diabetic Athlete's Handbook by Seri R. Colberg is indispensable.
When I have a question about a gym workout, I find the Men's Health Big Book of Exercises by Adam Campbell is a good resource.
I recently picked up a few cookbooks. I have made no secret of the fact that I pay little attention to nutrition beyond counting carbs. This strategy works okay. For a year I managed to essentially maintain the same weight, even coming in two pounds less at the end of 2012 than at the start. Having said that, for the amount of working out, riding, swimming and running that I do, I should have lost a ton of weight. And, I have made little improvement to my A1C.
In 2013 I want to change this. Earlier in the year when I was on Coach K's radio program, "Total Health" the host, Rob Kingsbury, said I would wake up one morning and realize I can't go on like that. Well, it happened right after Christmas. I picked up a stomach virus and it lingered for two weeks, largely because the crap I eat wouldn't allow my stomach to return to normal. Once I watched what I ate for a few days, I returned to normal. The fact that my pancreas only works at 20 percent or so and I have no gall bladder leaves me with little wiggle room. Let me tell you, when I hear Jamie Lee Curtis' voice in those Activia commercials, my ears perk up.
Anyway, two excellent cookbooks from that American Diabetes Association in my possession include Fast and Flavorful: Great Diabetes Meals from Market to Table by by Linda Gassenheimer and The Diabetes Comfort Food Cookbook: Foods to Fill You Up, Not Out! by Robyn Webb. They have some great recipes and I vow to try them this year.
Anyway, I've got a bit of studying to do, so that's all for now. Maybe I'll get motivated and walk the dog after the kids go to bed.
