You know that internal motivational speaker that I called on the other day? That guy is one mean motha... ahem.
Anyway. I have to endure a speech from that Hell Raiser just about every morning: No, you can't slow down yet... yes, you can make it to the next light pole... deal with the pain, it's good for you... that guy you see running every morning can do this, so can you.
So, the walking routine has been going good. I often really hate it while I'm doing it, which is a feeling I thought would have passed by now because for the most part I really do enjoy the walking. And I'm definitely enjoying what it's doing for my blood sugar management.
I still haven't quite figured out the mornings (I go high about an hour or so after my walk) and I fear that I'll have to start eating something before my walk, which I really REALLY don't want to do. But I can tell a difference in my numbers throughout the day, which is a big plus.
Aside from sore muscles, it is taking a slight toll on me: I'm incredibly tired all the time; going for a full-tilt workout at 5:30 a.m. can definitely do a number on your exhaustion level.
I'm not seeing a difference on the scale, but I'm not surprised at that. I heard once that if you want to lose weight you have to exercise eight days a week and I typically go five days. And I'm not getting bent out of shape when life gets in the way of a morning walk -- a doctor's appointment, early meeting, whatever.
Despite the cries of "Boo" and "Hiss" from the Drill Sergeant, I have allowed myself to go for shorter walks if my blood sugar is too high for a full-tilt walk or if I feel particularly lousy, and I have also allowed myself to start my cool-down process much, much earlier than usual if I work up the courage to tell the Drill Sergeant to shut it. OK that only happened once and it was because I thought I was going to barf. That was the week The Mr. asked me every morning if I was able to go for my full walk.
It's learning and it's baby steps. And it's knowing what my mind and body are capable of.
